Edible campus growing
Posted: June 9, 2015 6:00 a.m.
Grade 5 class from École Mgr de Laval with their teacher, Anaclet Mwarabu (l) and Frédéric Dupré, Chairperson for Regina's Edible Campus. (Photo courtesy of Trevor Hopkin - U of R Photography)
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The University of Regina’s Edible Campus is ready for another growth spurt.
By next spring, the University will expand the Edible Campus by establishing a permaculture orchard, that will be located close to the Academic Green in the heart of campus.
The campus area has three gardens - the First Nations University of Canada Shared Garden; Le Potager (Institut français); and the largest at around 1500 metres (5,000 square feet), the Regina Public Interest Research Group (Green Patch, located south of the Dr. John Archer Library).
“Regina's Edible Campus unites all of our projects and people that help to create more edible landscapes at the University of Regina,” says Frédéric Dupré, Chairperson for Regina’s Edible Campus. “By establishing edible landscapes at the University, we aim to foster education and action toward sustainable development, urban agriculture and to directly address food insecurity by producing high quality vegetables for people in need.”
This growing endeavour is made possible with support from the U of R’s Facilities Management, student volunteers and the Regina Public Interest Research Group. They all help to bring in people from the community to help cultivate and make use of the Green Patch.
On average, there are 50 volunteers who help plant and harvest the gardens which produce over 800 kilograms (about 1,800 pounds) of food. Of that, 75 per cent is given to Carmichael Outreach in Regina - providing meals for the poor.
“This initiative contributes to the sustainable development goals as outlined in the University of Regina's Strategic Plan,” adds Dupré.
In the past, the Regina Public Interest Research Group has been recognized for its work, receiving the Spirit Award from Farm Credit Corporation.
The award supports community enhancement projects by charitable and non-profit organizations in Regina.
There was also a Recognition Award in 2010 from RCE Saskatchewan – Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development.
For more information on the Regina Edible Campus please visit here.