Incredible Edible Gardens

The Incredible Edible Gardens have made their way to Brandon! Local businesses, non-profit organizations, and the municipality have teamed up with community volunteers and gardeners to bring open gardens to our city. Everyone is welcome to come and harvest these Incredible Edibles!

Highlighted in a TED Talk by Pam Warhurst Incredible Edible Todmorden, UK (a small town in the North of England) started by a group of like-minded individuals’ intent on enriching communities with access to local food. Their movement focuses on three ‘spinning plates’ working together:

The Community Plate – working together to grow produce

The Learning Plate – providing food training from field to classroom to kitchen

The Business Plate – supporting local commerce

These open community gardens are more than just gardening – it is the chance to connect and work together with the community around food and ecology. “This is more than just growing vegetables in a public space,” says Hope Switzer, Incredible Edible Team Lead. “It’s about working with our neighbours to take control of both where our food comes from and how it is grown – as well as what our neighbourhood looks like. We want to transform our community into a healthier, more enjoyable, and productive place to live.”

The BNRC is the lead on the Incredible Edible Project with support from the City of Brandon, The Co-operators, Healthy Brandon and the Global Market. Planter and other sponsors include: Brandon University, Evolution Bookkeeping, Megan Hamill Lashes, Donald & Kehler, BDO Canada LLP, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, New System Store, Meighen Haddad LLP, Zeke’s Jewellers, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, ACC Adult Collegiate and The Dock on Princess.

The self-watering planters, soon to be overflowing with fruits, vegetables, and herbs, will be positioned at various locations in the downtown area. There are a number of ways to get involved in this Incredible project, including: sponsoring a garden bed, volunteering to maintain a planter, or picking the produce to take home and eat! Contact our Community Development Coordinator for details at community@bnrc.ca or 204 729-2490.