FAQs for Volunteers and Customers
For volunteers
How can I get involved as a volunteer?
New volunteers are always welcome. We need volunteer gardeners and also volunteers for non-gardening tasks, such as promoting the garden.
Please contact us at gggarden@ualberta.ca if you would like to find out more about volunteering.
What else can I do to support Tubahumurize?
Our volunteers also sell handicrafts, including handmade cards, necklaces, cloth bags, aprons and quilts, made by the women of Tubahumurize. All of the money raised through handicraft sales goes back to the women artisans.
For customers
What vegetables will be available?
A changing variety of vegetables will be available throughout the season:
- many different kinds of salad greens, including lettuce, mesclun, arugula, kale and swiss chard
- many kinds of herbs, such as basil, cilantro, oregano and dill
- garlic, onions and leeks
- several varieties of other root vegetables, including beets, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and turnips
- corn, beans, snow and snap peas
- tomatoes, including heirloom varieties, and peppers
- cucumbers, several varieties of summer squash, zucchini and winter squash
- lima beans and heirloom dried beans
- sunflowers and other flowers
Produce availability and time of harvest depends on the weather.
Are the vegetables organic?
We cannot say the vegetables are organic because we are using land at the University of Alberta Research Station and donated plants and seeds. We can say that the produce is pesticide and artificial fertilizer free.
How will I know what vegetables are available each week?
If you sign up for the garden's distribution list at: http://www.mailman.srv.ualberta.ca/mailman/listinfo/gggarden, you will get weekly e-mails (in season) with updates on the garden and a list of the produce that will be available on the next market day.
Do I have to commit to taking vegetables every week?
No, there is no commitment. Just pick up the vegetables you want during market hours.
Where am I going to get my vegetables?
Vegetables will be available for pick up during open garden hours at the Green & Gold Community Garden at the University Farm (see below). Please bring your own bags.
Where exactly is the garden located?
The garden is easy to find.
Driving or cycling? Enter the main gate to the University farm at the University of Alberta's South Campus (115th Street and 60th Avenue). During open garden hours, you may disregard the “Private, No Entry” signs. Keep heading west until you reach a “T” in the road. Turn left. Close to the end of the road you will see a sign for the Green & Gold Community Garden on your left. The garden is next to building #88, the Plant Science Residence shown on this map.
Going by LRT? You can take the LRT fairly close to the garden. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk from the South Campus LRT station, or about five minutes by bike from the station. From the LRT station, walk towards the Saville Sports Centre, the big green building on the right side of the LRT station if you are facing south. Keep heading right, past the Saville Centre. There is a walkway that goes through past the new GO sports complex.
Once you are through this walkway turn left along the paved road, past the grain elevator on your left and keep heading south down that road, where you will pass a few University farm buildings and fields. At the T intersection where the road becomes gravel, continue until you see the sign for the Green & Gold Community Garden on your left hand side. The old barn is near us on the opposite side of the road.
How much will the vegetables cost?
We ask that you donate fair market prices for them. That is, please base your donation on what you would pay at a farmer’s market or in the supermarket.
What method of payment will I be able to use?
Cash only please.
Are my donations tax deductible?
As this is considered to be an exchange of funds for product – the vegetables – the transaction is not eligible for a tax-deductible receipt.