St. Albert Arts and Heritage kicks of the summer season this weekend, May 18 to 20, with a gardening program designed to bring people together.
Planting Seeds + Growing Community marks a return to grain elevator tours, visits to the city’s four heritage houses on Meadowview Drive, and call to active gardeners to drop by and plant vegetables or flowers.
The large acreage houses 40 community plots and a partner garden with organizations such as St. Albert seed library and St. Albert Food Bank. Last year, 192 pounds of carrots, potatoes, beets and beans were grown for the food bank.
This year, organizers such as Christina Hardie, public program and Heritage Sites Manager, hope to attract families to the site to help plant veggies for the food bank.
“A lot of kids don’t have the full picture of where food comes from. We show them the full life cycle before it gets to the store. This can be a very rewarding experience,” said Hardie.
After tossing a row of seeds into the ground, families can tour Riverlot 23 to view the Chevigny House and the Brousseau Grainery both built in the late 1800s. Riverlot 24 instead showcases the 1912-built Cunningham House and the 1957-built Belcourt House.
St. Albert also boasts two grain elevators that tower above the city at 4 Meadowview Drive. Visitors are welcome to drop-in for a visit and interpreters will be happy to share stories and anecdotes from the past.
In addition, Valour Park Association, a non-profit that restores and preserves Canada’s older military vehicles and war-fighting equipment, will showcase several military vehicles.
Father Lacombe Chapel at 2 St. Vital Avenue also opens to the public this weekend.
“In school we often talk about history from Eastern Canada or Europe. But we have a very rich history in our own backyard. And who wouldn’t love to sit on a tractor and have their picture taken?”
The heritage sites are open May 18 to 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Activities are scheduled between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Free admission.
