Design and Process 

Located in Brandon, Manitoba, the Green Futures urban farm garden - also known as the Stickney Community Garden - has eighty-two raised beds. Most of the garden beds serve as an urban farm to provide families with the opportunity to grow and sell their own fresh produce as a way to generate extra income. Ten of the garden beds are reserved for Samaritan House to grow produce for the local food bank. 

To enhance soil health, compost or vermicompost is applied to the raised beds and the soil is covered with mulch. The garden is tended by hand. For new beds, cardboard and mulch are used to suppress weeds. Native plants feature prominently in the garden to provide for native pollinators. Volunteers, including students, contribute to caring for the gardens under the guidance of a garden coordinator, who is a Manitoba Master Gardener. 

Community Collaboration

Many groups are part of the garden - Samaritan House Food Bank, Brandon University student groups, City of Brandon, local greenhouse businesses, Bee City Brandon and Westman Gardeners Club. 

The Green Futures North urban farm garden is a member Bee City Brandon, which is a community-based organization made up of volunteers dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting pollinators.  Recent studies have demonstrated that urban gardens, such as this one, can dramatically increase populations of native pollinators

For more information about the garden, visit the City of Brandon's community garden website. 

 Photos c/o Green Futures North