Edible Gardens
Fort McMurray has received bad publicity for our oilsands developments. We're constantly accused of doing terrible things to the environment and we haven't really been recognized for the amazing things we're doing for environmental sustainability. In 2010, we adopted a bylaw eliminating the use of single-use shopping bags as a means of reducing the waste and litter in our community. Fort McMurray is the first Canadian city to use in-situ composting to reclaim our retired landfill and reduce its carbon footprint by 20 times. We're moving toward a gasification system that will provide power for an entire development. There are so many initiatives that are happening that make us a leader in environmental sustainability. Receiving a grant like this would just show the world that people in this community do care about the environment and want to make it a better place. Being a remote, northern community does come with its challenges. One being locally grown produce. To add to all the amazing initiatives the community has I would love to be able to start community gardens in each suburb. We would offer workshops and supplies to get everything going. People in the community would be responsible for maintaining and helping the gardens flourish.