Cochrane residents build mobile greenhouse and have plans for larger facility with workshops and rentable garden beds
Grounded in vision and rooted in values is how Jackie Skrypnek describes Cultivate Cochrane, a grassroots organization promoting urban agriculture in one of Alberta’s fastest-growing municipalities.
According to its website, Cultivate Cochrane is “a non-profit society dedicated to growing a resilient and connected community through food, innovation and lifestyle empowerment centred around a community greenhouse hub.”
With a mobile greenhouse, dubbed the passive solar roller, the group has plans for the future growth, including a 4,000 sq. foot community greenhouse with workshops, bookable space and events, rentable garden beds and free access.
Skrypnek, a founding member and past-president, said the greenhouse began to take shape in September 2018.
“Winter that year was fairly slow for my bed and breakfast,” she said. “I was looking for other ideas, things to learn. I even thought about going back to school. Eventually, I realized I could use that time to start something — just doing it.”
With the support of interested friends, Skrypnek gathered resources. Experience with passive solar design and drafting skills got the idea on paper and then they reached out to potential partners — including a local towing operator and building contractors — and got the mobile greenhouse built.
Cultivate Cochrane now offers programs at the Cochrane Library throughout the summer and makes appearances at schools and around the community.
Organization president Carrie Corbin said they need to organize a team for the community greenhouse and hopes to obtain a grant to enable them to hire staff.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm for sustainable urban agriculture and passive solar design.”
The group plans to hold workshops on seed saving, preserving harvest, permaculture, indoor and outdoor growing options, and producing food for the town’s food bank among other initiatives.
The dream scenario, according to Corbin, would be a for a full-time paid executive director position.
Applications to the board are open and volunteer options are available. Even as the group plans for expansion and a more formal administrative structure, Corbin and Skrypnek are clear that the group’s roots in community and values are going to remain the foundation.
“We return to that mission statement regularly,” said Skrypnek. “We want to make sure we know what we’re trying to achieve, what problem we’re trying to solve.”
Added Corbin: “We want to provide something very tangible. Talk to somebody. Grow something. Connect to the land.”
