Help us Grow food in the community
Community gardens are an asset to any neighbourhood, bringing people together with a common purpose of building community by ensuring food security for themselves and others.
Community Gardens
We’re planting, maintaining and harvesting the Parkside Gardens in Normandeau
The Red Deer Food Bank is committed to helping more people access fresh, locally grown produce that is beneficial to their overall health and wellness. At a time when one in five households in Alberta are facing some level of food insecurity, community gardens can play a vital role in providing nutritious food to those in need.
Red Deer Food Bank is partnering with ReThink Red Deer on their Common Ground Garden Project (CGGP) initiative to maintain the Parkside Gardens in Normandeau. CGGP is an urban farming project which is located in Red Deer and works to address local food security in Central Alberta while creating a safe and vibrant public space that offers accessibility, inclusion, sustainability, and fellowship. The project intends to increase food security, to encourage social enterprise, to share knowledge, and to create social connection.
To further this aim of enhancing food security in the community, the Red Deer Food Bank will also be installing eight to twelve raised garden beds on-site at the Food Bank.
The community gardens also serve as outdoor classrooms, offering hands-on learning experiences about gardening, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and more. They provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn new skills and gain a deeper understanding of food systems.
Volunteer with us!
The Parkside Community Gardens at Normandeau needs volunteers
We need volunteers to support the work we are doing in our neighbourhood at Parkside Community Gardens. We are looking for volunteers to help with planting, weeding, watering and harvesting this garden season.
We also invite you to join our Harvest Team! We are looking for volunteers to visit City Food Forests and other Community Gardens to collect excess produce that can be used in our emergency hamper program. We’re building a team of volunteers who would be willing to help collect extra produce from gardens and trees around the city to ensure no food is wasted.
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the form on the Volunteering page, or email greenthumb@reddeerfoodbank.com.
Want to rent your own community garden plot? View the fee schedule for Parkside Gardens.
Find more information on other City of Red Deer Community Gardens here.