Passion Projects
As we listen to others and deepen our own ecological thinking, we putter away at making change in ourselves and community through our passion projects. These projects are just in the beginning stages or that we have recently joined. We invite you to dig in and participate as well, through one of our projects or your own.
All we need to do is start.
River Run
Communal Garden
The River Run Community Garden has been operating in the community of Montgomery for the last 40 years. Inspired after hosting a meeting with Paolo Friere a group of neighbours started the garden on private land.
In 2024, after some downturn in participation in the garden, two of the original founders decided a reboot. We, together with Vicky from Basil Ranch joined and helped reshape the garden to a Communal Garden where all participants make decisions and work together on the whole garden as opposed to individual plots.
Creative ReUse Project
In partnership with the Calgary Reggio Network Association we’ve launched a creative reuse project at the ReImagine Centre. It is modelled after the Remida Centre in Reggio Emilia. The ReImagine Centre is a visionary space that embraces waste pedagogies with the dynamic convergence of creative expression, environmental consciousness, and educational innovation. It will embody opportunities for creativity using "waste materials", fostering dialogue and collaborative action for local artists, schools and families serving as a catalyst for transformative change in Calgary. The Centre is located in the community of Franklin in NE Calgary. The website is in development but in the meantime follow the @ReImagine Centre on Instagram.
Work:Shop for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities
In the Fall of 2014, we began a pilot project partnering with the Janus Academy, a school for people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. For one day a week for a year we worked on developing nature-based vocational skills, teaching and learning together about vermicomposting, growing seedlings, nature-based art projects, planting, maintaining and harvesting a garden, and starting a green bag program. We are very excited to announce that we are returning to this project once again - offering day programs and classes at our instructional facility in NE Calgary.
River Run FibreShed
In partnership with Basil Ranch we are plotting away at a FibreShed of growers and makers in the Calgary and surrounding area. In the spring of 2024 together, we began a pilot project of growing flax for fibre and flowers for pigment at two private plots in Calgary. One plot is at the River Run communal garden in NW Calgary. River Run has been a community garden for the past 40 years and we are so proud to be a part of it. Watch for more information coming soon on the FibreShed project.