An area environmental organization hopes to feed the soul and stomachs of community residents by creating opportunities for healthy lifestyles and a sustainable source of local food.
Sustainable Redwood hosted an open house at Redwood House in Redwood Meadows last month and the organization’s coordinator Shana Barbour-Welsh said she hoped to receive public input on two proposed major projects: a community greenhouse and a recreational trail.
“We want to let people know all the greenhouse and trail options and why some are better than others,” said Barbour-Welsh. “We invite public feedback and hope residents will get involved in our projects.”
The proposed recreational trail project would link Redwood Meadows to Bragg Creek and has the potential of becoming a formal link in the TransCanada Trail.
Two of the trail options Sustainable Redwood proposed at the open house included a trail along Highway 22, from Redwood Meadows to Bragg Creek, or a trail on the Redwood Meadows berm, which is already used as an existing recreational trail by residents.
Barbour-Welsh said building the proposed trail along the highway may not be an ideal option as it poses safety concerns.
“It is not the safest situation because people are riding against traffic when they return to Redwood Meadows from Bragg Creek,” she said.
Redwood Meadows resident Kim Milnes said she attended the open house to learn about different options for the proposed trail.
“Any of the proposed trails would be good, but I like the one that keeps us off the highway,” said Milnes. “The highway is a little dodgy and we certainly won’t take our young daughter (for a bike ride) along it.”
Barbour-Welsh said Sustainable Redwood is in discussions with Rocky View County, Alberta Transportation, the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association and the Tsuu T’ina First Nation about a possible trail.
“Since most of the trail could potentially be on their land, we see this as a great opportunity to partner with the Tsuu T’ina First Nation,” said Barbour-Welsh. “We really want to be respectful of the Tsuu T’ina First Nation’s perspective, and we will have to see what the Tsuu T’ina community wants to have happen.”
The other major project proposed at the open house, was a community greenhouse, the main purpose of which is to teach residents to live more sustainably by being able to grow food locally.
“For us the real motivators behind this project are to teach people to get back the sustainable skills that most of us have lost, and get kids and families involved,” she said.
Two of the options presented at the open house were a traditional greenhouse and a geodesic dome greenhouse, a sphere that would enclose plants.
Redwood Meadows has a shorter growing season than Calgary, according to Barbour-Welsh, and her committee is looking at building a greenhouse to help extend the short growing season.
