Several families visited Transition Medicine Hat's farm and garden Thursday to learn more about ecology and sustainability, while helping plant garden vegetables.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Transition Medicine Hat, a community organization which promotes sustainable living through education, continues to grow one year after its establishment.
Rob Gardner, local ecology and sustainability specialist, founded the organization, which primarily operates from a half-hectare demonstration farm and garden north of the city.
Gardner hosts educational tours of the farm and garden, open to all ages. Tour participants learn about a variety of plants and how they interact, as well as how to care for them.
“Transition started by talking about food security and encouraging people to grow their own food,” Gardner said. “That’s what the garden is here for. You can see kids learning how to garden, and they’re pretty excited about it. And foods they grow themselves, they are much more likely to eat.”
While the garden plays a large role in Transition Medicine Hat’s operations, the organization is working to promote other sustainable activities also. Gardner soon hopes to partner with local sustainable transportation groups.
“We have to invest some effort and some ingenuity in growing food better and having more sustainable transportation, just as two examples,” he said.
So far, Gardner has found Hatters to be open to learning about sustainability. He welcomes anyone interested, to reach out for more information or to book a demonstration farm and garden visit by calling 403-527-2052, or emailing info@transitionmedicinehat.ca.
Gardner also encourages the community to join in Transition’s Open Garden event, taking place Saturday from 3-7 p.m. A potluck meal will be served. The event will take place at the farm and garden, which can be accessed by following Box Springs Road until it meets Twp. Rd. 14-4. Signs will be posted.
