Westmount Community Garden

Thanks to the funding we received we were able to add 210 plants that are indigenous to Alberta, from 28 different species to our school garden! The funds were used to purchase the plants, dirt, fencing, and signs. The fencing has already made the biggest difference and will make a huge impact long-term. Many people at school and in our community were not sure where the garden boundaries were, especially in the winter. The fencing will help protect our little plant plugs until the garden becomes established.

We are so excited by the learning that has taken place in the garden so far and for future opportunities as the garden grows with our care and efforts. The garden provided hands-on opportunities to learn about how to look after plants, the critters that call our garden home, and how being in nature has a positive impact on our health. The students wanted to share some of our learning with the community by creating signs that share the names of the plants that we added. We also had a visit with Métis Herbalist, Kalyn Kodiak. She shared some of her knowledge and stories with us. It was a wonderful experience that helped us develop our appreciation for and understanding of our garden spaces. In the fall, we plan on learning about collecting, saving, and sharing seeds.

Here is a quote from DJ Grandmont, a grade 2 teacher at our school:

“The students have been so excited about gardening club and learning the names of the different plants. The garden is such a valuable teaching tool for our school that we will be able to use for years to come. The students have begun to take ownership of the space and develop an understanding of the relationships within nature and our place in it.”

The support from the Field Law Community Fund Program was a gift that our school and community will benefit from for years well into the future. We have only just begun to develop the potential for cross-curricular teaching and learning that can happen from the land and we cannot thank them enough for their generosity!