In 2009, The City of Calgary Parks planted fruit trees and shrubs within Hillhurst-Sunnyside as part of a community orchard five year pilot project.
Community Orchards Pilot Locations in Hillhurst and Sunnyside:
Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Garden Orchard – 940 4A St. N.W.
This orchard has been incorporated into an existing park, which already housed a few fruit trees. The fruit planted includes several mature apple trees as well as young cherry bushes, hazelnut bushes, gooseberry bushes, honeyberry bushes, apricot trees and pear trees. This orchard is the first to be completed.
Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association Orchard
This community orchard is tucked in behind the community association building and tennis courts. The site will include mature apple trees as well as other fruit tree and shrub selections. Up to 50 fruiting trees and shrubs will be integrated into the orchard. Planting is currently underway.
The City of Calgary Community Orchard Pilot Project is intended to:
- Encourage local food production.
- Foster community involvement.
- Educate Calgarians about techniques related to fruit tree care as well as methods for preserving and storing fruit.
- Demonstrate and test a range of fruit trees and shrubs.
- Evaluate the success of community orchard models, share results and recommend changes, if required.
The City of Calgary community orchard pilot project will determine if public and community-run orchards can grow, thrive, and produce in Calgary. The test orchards will be evaluated using indicators such as tree survival, fruit yield, vandalism, disease and pest damage, cost, orchard steward satisfaction, and the community’s capacity to manage the orchard. Ongoing evaluation throughout the trial period will be used to determine the viability and productivity of various fruit and nut trees and shrubs.
