Evelyn's Acres

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LOCATION

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• Located in the City of Edmonton
• 140 Acres
• Prime agricultural lands and mixedwood forest

Please note this land is not open for visiting by the public

Wildlife and Habitat

Tucked away into a bend of the North Saskatchewan River is Evelyn’s Acres, a 140-acre parcel of rich agricultural land and mixedwood forest in northeast Edmonton. Its position next to the North Saskatchewan river valley makes it an important continuation of the same wildlife corridor and home to a variety of wildlife. Native bees and honeybees help pollinate the crops for a fruitful harvest, while Great Horned Owls and other birds take advantage of the strip of mature forest, helping control small mammal populations. The land’s proximity to the river and forests also make it great habitat for bats that can help manage summer insects.

Photo credit: Riverbend Gardens

Importance

Part of what makes Evelyn’s Acres so special is its location in northeast Edmonton. The land is located within a unique microclimate that affords an earlier start and a longer growing season than the surrounding areas. Coupled with two different types of fertile soil, this land is the foundation behind Riverbend Gardens’ success.

Riverbend Gardens is a beloved small-scale family farm, offering a robust selection of local food choices to market gardens in Edmonton and area. Riverbend Gardens is committed to ecologically and socially responsible farm practices, and use practices that benefit the health of the soil in the long term - and it shows! This is Riverbend Gardens’ fourth generation as local food growers, and it continues to be a core part of Edmonton’s local food scene, cultivating both community resiliency and a respect for nature. To find out more about Riverbend Gardens and its community supported agriculture, visit Riverbend Gardens.

Indigenous Connections

This land has a long history of sustenance, and Riverbend Gardens continues this legacy today by providing local, homegrown vegetables for the Edmonton community. The North Saskatchewan River running next to the land is kisiskâciwani-sîpiy ᑭᓯᐢᑲᒋᐊᐧᓂ ᓯᐱᕀ in Nehiyawewin (Cree), meaning “swift flowing river,” and was traditionally significant for many nations including the Nehiyawak (Cree), Tsuut’ina, Anishnabee (Ojibway/Saulteaux), the Nakota Sioux, the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), and the Métis. Today, the river nourishes the produce of Riverbend Gardens.