Calgary has more than 200 community gardens spread across the city. These gardens exist in established inner-city neighbourhoods, suburban communities, and newer developments where gardens are incorporated into the community plan. If access to a community garden matters to you when choosing where to purchase a new home, it’s worth knowing which communities have one, what benefits come with living near one, and how to find or start one.
TL;DR
- A community garden is a shared outdoor space where residents grow vegetables, herbs, fruit, or flowers on individual or communal plots.
- There are more than 200 community gardens in Calgary, including gardens in Legacy, Sunalta, and Capitol Hill, as well as a shared community garden serving Hillhurst and Sunnyside.
- Participating in a community garden may support social connections, collaborative learning, and mental well-being.
- To find a garden near you, search the Calgary Horticultural Society directory.
- To start a community garden, contact your community association and apply through the City of Calgary.
What is a Community Garden?
A community garden is a shared outdoor space where residents can grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers either on individually rented plots or in a communal growing area. In Calgary, community gardens on public land are generally developed in partnership with a local community association and operate under the association’s Licence of Occupation. These gardens must also comply with applicable City guidelines and provide a benefit to the broader community.
Calgary Neighbourhoods With Community Gardens
Neighbourhoods with community gardens exist all across the city. Legacy, Sunalta, Capitol Hill, Hillhurst, and Sunnyside are five neighbourhoods with documented community gardens. Some are newer, master-planned communities where the garden was built into the development plan from the start. Others are established inner-city neighbourhoods where gardens have grown over decades through community associations.
Legacy
Legacy is a master-planned community in southeast Calgary with an active community garden managed by the Legacy Residents Association. The garden is run as a volunteer-driven nonprofit with the goal of increasing biodiversity, beautifying the area, and encouraging community involvement.
Gardeners must have an active Legacy Residents Association membership and agree to the garden’s guidelines and rental agreement. New gardeners are assigned available beds according to the garden’s wait list. Plot availability and renewal eligibility may vary from season to season.
Sunalta
Sunalta is an established inner-city neighbourhood just west of downtown Calgary. The community offers several different ways for residents to participate in gardening. More than 20 individual garden plots are located behind the Sunalta Community Hall, where residents can grow food, herbs, flowers, and other plants.
The Sunalta community also operates a free collective gardening program where participants learn about planting, growing, and harvesting food together. A separate volunteer-run wildflower garden is located at 14 Avenue and 16 Street SW. It features native wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs and includes a little free library.
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is an inner-city neighbourhood in northwest Calgary, home to the Capitol Hill Community Edible Garden. Built in 2014 on the grounds of the Capitol Hill Community Centre, the garden includes 27 raised beds available for residents to rent each season, along with communal hexagon beds planted with herbs and edible flowers that the public is welcome to view and taste.
Produce from the individually rented rectangular beds is reserved for the gardeners responsible for maintaining them.
Hillhurst and Sunnyside
Hillhurst and Sunnyside are two adjoining inner-city neighbourhoods just northwest of downtown Calgary that share a single community association and community garden. The Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Garden has been active since 1989 and includes 33 plots, each roughly 4 by 24 feet.
The garden is organic, with no chemical fertilizers or pesticides permitted, and priority is given to residents of Hillhurst and Sunnyside. Demand is high, with a typical wait time of at least two years for a plot.
3 Benefits of Community Gardens
The benefits associated with community gardens generally come from participating in the garden, using the space, or becoming involved in the surrounding community.
1. Neighbourhood Appeal
Community gardens in Calgary neighbourhoods can add greenery, visual interest, and a shared outdoor amenity for residents. They can also transform underused land into active, maintained spaces where people grow food and spend time outdoors. For homebuyers who value green spaces and community amenities, an established garden may make a neighbourhood more appealing.
2. Social Connection
Community gardens bring together neighbours of different backgrounds and ages who might not otherwise cross paths, giving them a recurring reason to interact and work toward shared goals. Research from the University of Alberta suggests that community gardens can support social connection, cultural food security, intergenerational learning, and intercultural knowledge exchange. These opportunities may be especially valuable in growing communities where many residents are still forming neighbourhood relationships.
3. Mental Well-Being
Participating in a community garden may support mental well-being by providing opportunities to spend time outdoors, connect with nature, and take part in a purposeful activity. Gardening can offer a break from daily stressors while creating a sense of routine and accomplishment.
How to Find or Start a Community Garden
To find an existing community garden near you, search the Calgary Horticultural Society directory. The Calgary Horticultural Society is a non-profit organization focused on supporting Calgary’s gardening community.
To start a community garden on City-owned land, the City of Calgary outlines the following process:
- Contact your local community association to find other interested community members and discuss potential garden locations.
- Submit the proposed location and the volunteer group’s primary contact information through 311.
- If the proposed location is approved, prepare the required operating guidelines, conceptual garden design, financial plan, proof of insurance, and evidence of community support.
- Work with the City and community association to confirm that the garden complies with applicable bylaws, policies, and site requirements.
Applications are accepted throughout the year and processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Approved new gardens may receive up to $5,000 in in-kind City support, depending on the location and availability of resources.
Find Your Next Home Near a Community Garden
Calgary has community gardens in both established inner-city neighbourhoods and newer communities, each offering residents a shared space to grow food and connect with neighbours. Legacy, for example, is a newer Calgary neighbourhood with an active community garden managed by the Legacy Residents Association. Shane Homes builds laned homes and duplexes in Legacy, giving homebuyers the opportunity to live in a community with an established shared garden.
Garden plots are managed independently by the Legacy Residents Association and are subject to its membership, fee, availability, and wait-list requirements. If a community garden is on your list of must-haves, visit a Legacy showhome to explore the community in person, or contact a Shane Homes Area Manager to ask about available homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many community gardens are there in Calgary?
There are more than 200 community gardens located on public and private land throughout Calgary. Because gardens can open, close, or change names, consult the Calgary Horticultural Society’s directory for the most current listings.
Do community gardens increase property value?
Community gardens may contribute to neighbourhood appeal and nearby property values, particularly when they replace underused land and are properly maintained.
Who manages community gardens in Calgary?
Most community gardens in Calgary are managed by local community associations, residents associations, or volunteer garden committees. Day-to-day upkeep of individual plots is generally the responsibility of the gardeners themselves.
Gardeners may also be required to help maintain pathways, communal beds, compost areas, or other shared facilities. Fees, deposits, and volunteer requirements vary between gardens.
Do you have to live in the neighbourhood to rent a garden plot?
It depends on the garden. Some gardens require applicants to live in the neighbourhood or hold an active community or residents association membership. Others may accept applicants from elsewhere in Calgary when space is available. For example, Legacy requires gardeners to be Legacy residents with an active Legacy Residents Association membership.
How do you apply for a community garden plot in Calgary?
Find a nearby garden through the Calgary Horticultural Society’s directory and contact the organization responsible for managing it. Application periods, rental fees, wait lists, residency rules, and volunteer commitments vary by garden.
Are community gardens only for people without a backyard?
No, community gardens are not only for people without a backyard. People with private outdoor space may also join a community garden for additional growing space, access to shared resources, gardening education, or opportunities to meet and work with neighbours. Participation depends on each garden’s eligibility rules and plot availability.
