Calgary Food Bank to benefit from 'freestyle' gardening - Action News
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Calgary Food Bank to benefit from 'freestyle' gardening

Volunteers want to grow fruits and veggies for the Calgary Food Bank on vacant plots all over the city.

Volunteers to grow fruits and veggies on vacant plots of land

"Freestyle" gardening is different than "guerilla" gardening because growers get permission to garden in backyards and vacant lots. (Calgary Freestyle Gardening/Facebook)

You've likelyheard ofguerilla gardening, butthere is a movement offreestyle gardeners in Calgary.

Unlike guerilla gardeners, "freestylers"get permission to grow produce in people's backyards and on vacant plots of land.

"Communities that are not necessarily well-off or have a lot of problems with vandalism if we implement these gardens and give the community a sense of pride in them, these problems are going to desist,"saidCalgaryFreestyle Gardening co-founderKatePugatschew.

Calgary Freestyle Gardening is looking for volunteers to grow fruits and vegetables for themselves and the Calgary Food Bank. (Graham Waugh/Facebook)

Pugatschew says the group would like to start with two main plots in the north and south ends of the city, but are hoping to expand as the movement gains popularity.

She says freestyle gardening is also different than community gardening because it's volunteer-driven and growers don't pay to garden.

"Anybody can come in and weed it and pick the fruit and vegetables," said Pugatschew.

What is not harvested by the public will be donated to the Calgary Food Bank and other non-profit or community groups.

"We're a Prairie province, we're known for our wide open space. But a lot of that is not being utilized," she said.

The first freestyle gardening location will be attheGrow Calgaryacreage near Canada Olympic Park. The group is still looking for volunteers.