GROWing with Newcomers

What is the “GROWing with Newcomers” project?

The Growing with  Newcomers  (GWN) project is an  initiative led by The Immigrant Education Society’s (TIES) Research &  Program Development department. Funded by the Alberta Government Community  Initiatives Program, the project focuses on using gardening as a medium to  strengthen community ties and enhance the settlement experience of newcomers  in Calgary. Participants are introduced to gardening in Calgary's unique  climate, learning about the local environment, food security, nutrition,  indoor planting and plant care, indigenous medical gardening and community  gardens in the city. The project will produce educational videos, which will  be translated into Punjabi, Tagalog, and Mandarin to cater to the diverse  linguistic needs of the community. These videos can be utilized by LINC  teachers and will also be available online, ensuring easy accessibility. In  addition to the videos, the project will provide materials for hands-on  indoor growing workshops, accommodating up to 250 participants.

How will this be accomplished?

Methodology

The GROWing with Newcomers program goals will be accomplished in 4 stages:

1. The knowledge-building phase will focus on content development with input from local climate, gardening and food security experts.

The initial phase of this project is to design video content informed by bio-regional expertise. In collaboration with committed community partners, video outlines, scripts and formats will be created to concisely and creatively deliver education on the above-mentioned topics. To ensure accessibility, all videos will be designed for general online viewing, making them apt for uploads on various platforms without the need for in-person instruction.

2. The development of materials phase will result in a six-part series of instructional videos filmed in English and translated into the 3 most spoken non-English languages in Calgary:

The cornerstone of this initiative is the production of six instructional videos, meticulously designed to cater to the needs and interests of our target audience. Recognizing the linguistic diversity of our community, these videos will be translated and subtitled in three predominant languages:Punjabi, Tagalog, and Mandarin. This not only ensures wider accessibility but also promotes inclusivity.

3. The pilot phase will provide TIES’ LINC teachers with thev ideo series and supporting documents to determine feasibility of workshop design:

To test the in-person workshop concept TIES’ LINC teachers will be first to access and use the video series within a classroom setting.This experience will provide valuable feedback for the community outreach phase of the project.

4. The community outreach and data sharing phase will include dissemination of the video series and delivery of in-person workshop activities to connect newcomer students and the general public with this educational video series:

Once the pilot phase is complete, these educational toolswill be distributed across five dedicated immigrant service provider organizations, ensuring a broad reach within the community. Complementing some of the video resources, the project endeavors to supply materials tailored fo interactive indoor growing workshops.

What are the aims of the project?

THE GWN project aims to:

• To foster community inclusiveness and strengthen ties among newcomers using gardening, thereby reducing feelings of isolation.
• To help newcomers develop a deeper sense of belonging and facilitate a more connected settlement experience in Calgary.
• To provide education on Calgary's unique climate, local fruits and vegetables, indigenous plants, indoor cultivation techniques, and the principles of food security, allowing immigrants to expand their knowledge and skills as well as share their prior gardening experience with peers.

Why is it important?

• Edible plant gardening is practiced in cultures all over the world; connecting us to the land, food and our community.
• Gardens are a source of nutritious food options and enhance physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Newcomers often have previous positive experiences or stories of gardening that can be utilized as conversation starters within the classroom setting.
• Through gardening education, Newcomers can develop a greater understanding of place, climate and the environment of their new home.
• 12.7% of Canadians are food insecure, 17% of those are Newcomers (Beyond hunger report, CFCC) Gardening doesn’t solve food insecurity, but can provide supplementary or culturally appropriate food options.