Erlton Community Association

Hands-On Growing works with local community associations to help them build and sustain their community gardens. One of these community associations is the Erlton Community Association (ECA), which represents the interests of the Erlton community located in the inner city of Calgary.

After a community association and Hands-On Growing establish a collaboration to work together on a community garden, Hands-On Growing sets up a garden committee within the association. We then assist the committee by sharing and teaching ways to build, operate and sustain a community garden. The garden committee of a community association includes an active association board member to relay updates and information back to the board. This is an important role to have in the committee, as a community garden can be a large undertaking.

After the association secures land, they work to enroll volunteers, raise funds from the local community, and create a design and plan for the garden. Once these pieces are in place, the building of the garden can begin. Garden beds can be rented out to community members to fund the project, and the community association can also raise funds by hosting events and workshops in partnership with Hands-On Growing. Associations can collaborate with local schools and organizations to further educate and benefit the community. This collaboration also helps to create a larger volunteer base to grow the community connections, and help with the maintenance and operations of the community garden. 

Hands-On Growing greatly values our relationships with and connection to community associations and their members. Contact us today to learn more!