LARA’s Horticulture Program: Growing Knowledge, Food, and Community
At the Lakeland Agricultural Research Association (LARA), our horticulture program is thriving—and not just with plants. This hands-on, educational initiative connects students, producers, and community members to food systems, soil health, and sustainable growing practices through a diverse range of gardens and demonstration plots.
Our Gardens at a Glance:
Orchard:
Our orchard is home to a collection of hardy fruit crops well suited to northeastern Alberta, including saskatoons, sour cherries, and currants. These perennial plants provide delicious harvests year after year while also supporting pollinators and biodiversity.
As the orchard matures, it continues to serve as a living example of how productive and sustainable food systems can begin right in our own backyards.
Vegetable Garden:
We filled our vegetable garden this season with a mix of zucchini, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, peaches & cream sweet corn, amaranth and sunflowers.
Throughout the season, the garden serves as a demonstration space where visitors can see different crops at various stages of growth and enjoy the diversity that a productive garden can provide.
No-Till Garden:
Established in 2024, in partnership with Kim Ross of Rossdale Farms, our no-till plot focuses on soil health and regenerative practices.
With all the heavy rain this spring, our no-till garden is flooded! We'll be taking the season off to make adjustments and prepare for next year.
Reminder when choosing the spot for your garden- don't choose a low spot!
Greenhouse:
Our greenhouse showcases the variety of vegetables and flowers that thrive in our region.
This year we’ve planted many tomato varieties, peppers, onions, beans, beets, herbs, marigolds, loofah, and borage.
The inclusion of flowering plants like marigolds and borage helps naturally attract pollinators and beneficial insects while deterring some common garden pests, creating a healthier and more balanced growing environment.
Seeds of Purpose
All seeds for this year’s gardens were generously donated by West Coast Seeds through their Planting with Purpose program, along with some from For the Seed- supporting our goal to grow both food and food literacy.
Engaging Youth & Community
Our horticulture spaces are more than gardens—they’re outdoor classrooms. From spring planting to fall harvest, we host multiple school groups, children’s summer camps, and feature the gardens in our popular field tours. While the weather did cooperate for the Grade 6 class from Glendon School to help us plant the vegetable and no-till garden, Kristy visited them and taught them all about regenerative gardening techniques, soil health and that healthy soil is a whole ecosystem on its own!
To get involved with our gardening program please click here.
