Grow Strategy Mapping Working Group

Drawing of a smiling slice of cheese.

The Grow Plan Working Group is developing a “staircase of growing success” to strengthen an equitable, diverse, and community-led food-growing ecosystem in Edmonton. The initiative responds to two central challenges: widespread food insecurity and the need for better access to culturally relevant foods.

A small group of people is attending a presentation or meeting in a decorated wooden ceiling room with string lights. They are sitting on black chairs facing a woman standing and speaking at the front.
Handwritten notes on a large sheet of paper tacked to a wall, listing priorities for land, education, and funding/resources, including details about accessibility, safety, mentorship, skills sharing, certification, partnerships, funding sources, and volunteer involvement.

What we’ve done

The group has been meeting regularly to collaboratively design and refine the Grow Plan. Through ongoing discussions and iterative improvements, they have shaped a structure that reflects community priorities, equity goals, and practical pathways for expanding and growing opportunities across the city. As the end of 2025 approaches, the team is working to finalize written sections of the plan and convert them into a visual framework to improve clarity and highlight connections between components. This will be key to ensuring content is clear, actionable and accessible for feedback. The strategy also touches on and is being developed at a time when there are larger systemic challenges to urban agriculture, including funding cuts, unsustainable land access, and resource instability. The hope is to ensure the Grow Strategy becomes a catalyst for action rather than another static report.

Check out “A Grow Plan for Edmonton” for a complete overview of the work achieved by the Grow Strategy Working Groups and for ways to carry the work forward.

A cartoon illustration of a sandwich with a smiling face.
Cute cartoon slice of cheese with a smiling face and closed eyes.

Help us carry the work forward!