Community Gardens

Food insecurity stopped at its roots with the help of community gardens, our Seed Bank, and Plant a Row, Grow a Row, Share a Row initiatives.

Sustainable Roots

Community Gardens

Edmonton’s Food Bank supports community gardens across Edmonton by providing equipment and resources that help local communities grow fresh food and create welcoming green spaces.

We supported 20 community gardens with equipment throughout Edmonton.
We added more than 130 potato plants to McCauley Gardens.
A dedicated pollinator flower plot was established to support local pollinators and biodiversity.

Through these community garden initiatives, we’re helping strengthen local food systems, encourage sustainable gardening, and bring communities together.

Sustainable Food Edmonton helps coordinate community gardens throughout the city. They will help direct you to the garden closest to you.

A sustainable cycle

Retailers are asked to cull unsold seeds and instead of waste, we can use them for next year’s garden

Collection of unsold materials

At the end of the growing season, we rescue unsold seeds, soil, trays, and tools from local retailers. Instead of letting these items go to the landfill, we store them over the winter and distribute them the following spring to low-income Edmontonians, schools, community gardens, and local agency partners. It’s the ultimate full-circle moment: turning retail leftovers into backyard abundance

Seed Donation

Do You Have Extra Seeds? We would love to add them to our collection! Donated seeds help more community members grow their own food and achieve food security

Harvest Collection

Have too much produce at time of harvest? Consider donating your extra vegetables to us! Due to the sensitive nature of fresh produce, these donations must be made at our main warehouse (11508 120 St., NW, Edmonton). Thank you!

Seed Distribution

Seeds are available early in the year for clients and partners who want to start seedlings indoors. Seeds remain available throughout the growing season. Please contact our Seed Bank Team for more information

Sharing the seeds

The Seed Bank

EFB’s Seed Bank is a free program that provides seeds to low-income Edmontonians to grow vegetables and herbs at home, work, school, or in community gardens. Inspired by past community seed initiatives like the Edmonton Public Library’s program, we saw an opportunity to create a sustainable seed-sharing model.

Seeds are free for clients and partners, because growing your own food is a meaningful step towards a food-secure community. Our mission is to give more than food for a day; we give the power to grow it for a season.

Food security starts with a single seed!

OUR IMPACT

By the Numbers

Thanks to this sustainable model, in 2025 …

Vegetable seed packages and growing tools

Saved from the landfill

130+ kg

We diverted more than 130 kilograms (300+ lbs) of seed packages, soil, fertilizer, and equipment from landfills

Distributed

Seed packages

8,000

We provided over 8,000 seed packages to support local gardens with their food security initiatives in Edmonton

Community Partners

Community leagues and organizations

50 +

We shared seeds with more than 50 other community organizations to broaden our reach

EPSB Partnership

Seed packages donated

500

We provided 500 seed packages to launch the Student Seed Bank with Edmonton Public Schools

Fresh produce from your own garden

Plant a Row,
Grow a Row,
Share a Row

The Plant, Grow, Share a Row program is a fun way to enjoy your favourite hobby and help others in your community at the same time. This program invites local gardeners to grow an extra row or earmark a row of vegetables for donation to us at the Food Bank.

Need help getting started? Check out our Seed Bank!

How it works

How often can you enjoy a favourite hobby and help others in your community at the same time? The Plant, Grow, Share a Row program is a fun way to do both. This program invites local gardeners to grow an extra row of vegetables to donate

Plant a row

When you plant your garden this season, set aside a row for Edmonton's Food Bank. You don't need a large plot. Even a few extra plants can produce a meaningful donation over the growing season

Grow a row

Tend your dedicated row through the growing season the same way you'd tend the rest of your garden. Water, weed, and watch it grow. Fresh produce is one of the most valuable items we can include in hampers; it makes a real difference. Any variety is welcome

Share a row

When your produce is ready, simply remove the majority of the garden dirt drop it off at the Food Bank warehouse at 11508 120 Street. Produce should be fresh and in good condition, as it goes directly into food hampers. We accept donations throughout the growing season, so you can drop off in batches as things ripen

What crops are best to donate?

Root vegetables are best; however, any produce that can be easily handled and stored, including broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peas, beans, tomatoes, radishes, parsnips, sweet peppers, and summer squash (including zucchini) are welcome. Your donation, whether it’s a handful of green beans, a bag of beets, or a truckload of zucchini, will be appreciated and put to good use

Annex garden — Retail Food Specialist
Melissa

Seed Bank Team

Judy Yawney
P: 780.425.2133 ext. 230
E: foodhub@edmontonsfoodbank.com

Susan Padget
P: 780.425.2133 ext. 111
E: susan.p@edmontonsfoodbank.com