2026 GRIN Grant Recipitants were introduced to our membership May 28 at the education event. We are so happy to support 3 exciting gardening projects with our grant. All of them will help us to achieve our mandate to educate, promote and support gardening in Regina and surrounding area for the enhancement of the local environment and quality of life.
The GRIN Grant expanded to 3 grants of 2,000.00 each with the generous support of the Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG), which is a student/government funded resource centre at the University of Regina who are committed to social and environmental justice.
The RHS GRIN Grant was awarded to:
Al Ritchie Community Association “Roots & Resilience Garden: Growing food, community and Biodiversity in Core Richie”
The Roots & Resilience Garden aims to create a dual-purpose community garden that balances: High-yield food production to support ARCA’s food pantry (serving 1,500 – 2,000 individuals monthly) Pollinator-friendly and native plant spaces to support biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Our vision is to transform underutilized apace into a living ecosystem and food security hub, where community members can: Grow fresh produce for themselves and for those experiencing food insecurity. Learn sustainable gardening practices. reconnect with land-based knowledge and cultural traditions. This project will serve as a mode. of urban food resilience, rooted in community, education and environmental stewardship.
North Central Community Association “Growing More Accessible” Located at the mamaweyatitan garden. The garden currently consists of many in-ground raised beds, fruit trees, grape vines and native prairie plants. The new accessible garden beds would be located just to the west of the raised beds so that they can be accessed from the paved sidewalk.
The new accessible beds will be much more easily reached by folks in wheelchairs or mobility scooters, who use walkers or canes, and who aren’t able to sit or kneel down to the level of the current in-ground beds. The new beds will be accessible from the paved sidewalk, making it easier for folks with mobility devices.
All of our plants are grown together, as a community, and all of the produce is available for free to everyone. By having more accessible garden beds, the hope is that more community members can access our events (community planting days, work bees, harvest stands) and benefit form free, fresh produce right in North Central. Each growing season we partner with CIR to plant, water, harvest, do garden-themed crafts, and simply to enjoy being outside in the gardens.
Thom Collegiate Garden Club “Far Out Foods” speaks to the necessity of far out thinking and a generative imagination in relation to small-scale urban farming. Food has the potential to be a primary driver of social change. At the same time, food can often be taken for granted, especially by those who have never experienced food insecurity.
Far Out Foods extends community care as well as the urgent need to believe in and practice the for out idea that folks can grow their own food in a sustainable way that is healthy for the planet. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. We also like the name Far Out as our garden can be space-themed which is quirky and inspires creative design elements to engage children. The garden lot began at 2134 York street. It currently has 15 raised beds, and an inground garden.
Our intention is to continue developing this garden as both an educational and community hub. The garden provides experiential learning to teach a variety of topics in the Saskatchewan science curriculum. Students in Biology 30 classes learn about plant diversity, evolution, plant communication, mycorrhizal symbionts. Students in Environmental Science 20 learn about soil health, agriculture, and water cycles. Students in Science 10 learn about sustainability. Students in Health Science 20 learn about nutrition and food sovereignty. In Science 9 students learn about the plant reproduction. Students in the Wild Router have the opportunity to meet outcomes based on leadership and community.
The GRIN Grant 2026 gardens will be in the Walk Gawk and Talk garden tour July 26. They are all very excited to show us their wonderful gardens and projects.
The RHS GRIN committee:
Susanne Ardnt – Chair
Brenda Niskala
Pamela Labelle
Katharine Garner -Board liason