Village Gardener a community affair

Local Village Brewery uses locally grown goods for featured Calgary suds

Four Calgary communities have taken local gardening to a whole new level growing hops and lavender, and producing honey, for local beer connoisseurs Village Brewery.

The community associations of Bridgeland-Riverside, Inglewood, Parkdale and Killarney-Glengarry each grew their own hops and in return are given kegs of Village Gardener Community Ale for fundraisers or community gathering events. "We believe that shining a light on both rural and urban gardening as well as bringing people together to accomplish goals makes for a better community," said Jim Button, Village Brewery co-founder.

The honey for the ale is provided by Apiaries and Bees for Communities, a local educator and the lavender was donated by a local gardener named, get this,Rosemary.

Also in on the act is ATB Agriculture who provided funds to help improve the community gardens, apiary development and lended a hand volunteering during the hop harvest.

"Agriculture is the soul of this province's economy and great community projects like the Village Gardener help urban Albertans appreciate the hard work, sacrifice and commitment of their rural farming neighbours," said Wellington Holbrook, executive vice president for business and agriculture with ATB Financial.