Urban Food Production
Status: Improving
The ability to grow food locally increases food security and environmental sustainability. Community gardens on public lands provide food-growing opportunities to residents who do not otherwise have access to land suitable for gardening. Gardens provide neighbourhood residents with the opportunity to engage in a healthy recreation activity while growing nutritious food, meeting neighbours, building community, learning about the growing cycle, and beautifying open spaces.
Where are we now?
The number of community gardens on City-owned and other lands is increasing. This trend reflects the growing understanding of the importance of access to local food sources for the community. For more information, please visit the City of Saskatoon and CHEP community garden websites.
Data Table
| 2008 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Community Gardens on Municipal Lands (Park & Municipal Reserve) | 3 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 |
| Number of Community Gardens on Other Lands (Schools, Churches, Other) | 17 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Area of Community Gardens on Municipal Lands (Park & Municipal Reserve): 2.44 hectares (2018)
Source: City of Saskatoon – Community Development; and CHEP Good Food Inc.
What Are We Doing?
Allotment, Community and Vacant Lot Gardening
There are three ways to access City-owned land for growing food. Residents can rent plots in allotment gardens, community volunteers can work with CHEP Good Food to form a collective that organizes and maintains a community garden, and non-profit community organizations can apply to use vacant City-owned property to grow food.
Boulevard Gardens
Boulevard gardens can create beautiful and diverse streetscapes, add character to neighbourhoods, and increase feelings of community pride and safety. They also increase ecological diversity and create habitat for insects and birds.
Gardening on boulevards adjacent to your home is acceptable, providing you read the City of Saskatoon's Boulevard Gardening & Maintenance Guidelines and complete the Boulevard Garden Agreement.
Healthy Yards Demonstration Garden
The City has partnered with the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre and the University of Saskatchewan Master Gardeners to set up a garden located at the 900 block of 3rd Avenue North to demonstrate a range of healthy and sustainable gardening techniques.
Saskatoon Food Council and Food Charter
The City is a member of the Saskatoon Food Council, a network of organizations and individuals whose work supports the food system in Saskatoon and the surrounding region. The Council collaborates on food initiatives, provides policy recommendations, and works with citizens of Saskatoon towards the creation of a healthy and sustainable food system.
Saskatoon City Council endorsed the 11 City-related recommendations from the Saskatoon Regional Food System Assessment and Action Plan in 2015, and adopted a Food Charter (in principle) in 2002.
What Can You Do?
Get the most out of your backyard garden - check out the Healthy Yards webpage for gardening basics, composting, pesticide-free yard maintenance, and more.
Find your local community garden.
If your neighbourhood doesn’t have a community garden, find out how to start a new garden on City land.
If a community garden isn’t right for you, learn about the other opportunities to grow food in your community, such as the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre’s Garden Patch.
Before installing a boulevard garden, please fill out the City of Saskatoon's Boulevard Garden Agreement. This information will be used to track the number of boulevard gardens that are enriching our city.
Did You Know?
Community gardens have been shown to increase neighbourhood property value, reduce crime rates, and reduce the cost of maintaining parkland.