Fresh fruit is at your fingertips in the City of Grande Prairie’s Community Orchards.

The city’s first community orchards were planted in 2015, with more added in the following years. Several different types of fruit-bearing plants are in your community orchard and ready to harvest at various times throughout the season.

These green spaces beautify our communities and entice neighbours outdoors regularly, where they build friendships and community ties. 

Click here to view all of the City of Grande Prairie’s community orchards in an interactive map with more information on orchard locations, available fruits, harvest times and best uses for your harvest. 

The City of Grande Prairie planted its first GP Grows Learning Garden in 2020 at the Design Works Centre. The garden is part of the GP Grows Gardening Program, which helps residents learn how to grow and care for their own gardens.

Since then, the garden has produced fresh vegetables for the community to enjoy, with any extra harvest shared through the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre Community Kitchen.

In 2025, the City expanded the program by adding a new Learning Garden at the Dave Barr Centre. With irrigation and raised garden beds now in place, another season of growth is on the way.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF).
Ce projet est financé en partie par le ministère de l’Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada sous le Fonds des infrastructures alimentaires locales (FIAL).

To catch up on all our tips for growing in Grande Prairie view the videos below.

In 2014 the City of Grande Prairie committed to an Edible Landscaping Policy (Policy 212) which sees the City plant a specific portion of trees each year that produce edible crops on municipal landscapes. Since 2014, Parks Operations has planted hundreds of shrubs and edible trees, including apple, pear, apricot, plum, and cherry trees. In addition to our community orchards, you can find edible landscapes in our parks and downtown core. 

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GP Grows: On Tour is a great chance to connect with the natural environment, learn about sustainable practices, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the green spaces that enhance our daily lives. 

GP Grows: On Tour 2026 Schedule
All events run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – no registration is required to attend. 

May 27 – Discover the new GP Grows Learning Garden 

Explore the new Learning Garden addition, discover what’s growing in the space and take part in a guided orchard tour.

Location: Dave Barr Community Centre (9353 Prairie Road)

June 17 – Pollinators and Pests
Learn about pollinators, common garden pests and ways to support healthy growing spaces.

Location: Dalen Park (Patterson - 77 Avenue and 98 Street) 

July 15 – Harvest Highlights
Discover harvesting tips and ideas for making the most of your garden throughout the growing season.

Location: Highland Park Orchard - Elvera Grotkowski Park (91A Avenue and 98 Street)

August 12 – Tree Care and Maintenance
Learn about tree care and maintenance and how healthy trees support local green spaces.

Location: Crystal Heights Community orchard (113 Avenue and 89B Street)

September 9 – Putting Your Garden to Bed at Dave Barr Learning Garden
Wrap up the growing season with tips for preparing your garden for the months ahead.

Location: Dave Barr Community Centre

Events run rain or shine but may be cancelled and rescheduled in the event of severe weather.

Residents who attend any session will also have a chance to win a fruit tree and berry bush.

Never miss an event! Visit our Event Page to add to your calendar. 

Add to Calendar
 

GP Grows: Early Sprouts is a free community program that makes it easy for residents to get a head start on the growing season. From March 2 to 8, visit the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion in Muskoseepi Park between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (noon to 6 p.m. on weekends) to pick up seed packs for starting plants indoors and transplanting outdoors in the spring, typically around the May long weekend or after the final frost.

Available varieties include tomatoes, peppers, herbs and flowers. The program is designed to be simple and accessible for gardeners of all experience levels, including those trying gardening for the first time. No registration is required and seeds are available while supplies last.

Residents are encouraged to take only what they need so more people can participate. Seasonal reminders and planting tips, including how to harden off seedlings before planting outdoors, will be shared through the spring.

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Hardening Off Seedlings

Before transplanting seedlings into the garden, plants should be gradually introduced to outdoor conditions through a process called hardening off. This helps reduce transplant shock by slowly exposing plants to sunlight, wind and changing temperatures over seven to 10 days.

Suggested hardening off schedule

Day 1 to 2

• Place plants outdoors in a sheltered, shaded area for one to two hours.
• Bring plants back indoors afterward.
• Avoid direct afternoon sun, strong wind and heavy rain.

Day 3 to 4

• Increase outdoor time to three to four hours.
• Introduce limited morning sunlight.
• Continue protecting plants from strong wind and heavy rain.

Day 5 to 6

• Leave plants outdoors for six to eight hours.
• Gradually increase sun exposure.
• Reduce watering slightly to help strengthen plants, but do not allow them to wilt significantly.

Day 7 to 10

• Leave plants outdoors for most of the day and, if temperatures are warm enough, overnight.
• After seven to 10 days, plants should be ready for transplanting into the garden.

Helpful tips

• Monitor overnight temperatures closely. Warm-season plants such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash should not remain outdoors if temperatures fall below approximately 10 C.
• Wind can damage seedlings more quickly than sunlight, so sheltered areas are recommended during the first few days.
• Water plants before placing them outdoors to help prevent them from drying out too quickly.
• Cloudy days are ideal for the first stages of hardening off.

On Earth Day, April 25, 2026, GP Grows offers residents the opportunity to visit a GP Grows Seed Bar. There, they can choose from a selection of 14 diverse seed varieties to create their personalized gardens. Participants not only gain insights into nurturing these plants but also receive a tailored seed-growing kit to cultivate their chosen seeds at home.

Instructions for planting seed potatoes
Seed planting instructions 
We’ll be checking in along the way on social media with tips, tricks and troubleshooting to ensure your garden is a delicious success.

Everyone participating in GP Grows is encouraged to share photos of their gardens on social media using the hashtag #GPGrows. 

GP Grows: Dig It returns May 9 from noon to 4 p.m.  at Keyera Place.

GP Grows: Dig It continues its mission to provide residents with an engaging gardening endeavour, offering seed potatoes, seed onions, bare-root strawberry plants and triple-mix soil—all for free. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, our on-site team will be available to address any questions you may have and offer tips and tricks to maximize your plant growth!

• Suitable for all levels of gardeners
• No registration required
• Open to residents of Grande Prairie.
• Bring a bag for your seed potatoes and seed onions.
• Bring your own pail or container for the veggie mix soil. (Limit of 20 gallons of soil per person. )

Save the Date: May 9, noon to 4 p.m.
Location: Keyera Place, 9401 Park Road

While supplies last. 

Triple-soil-mix generously provided by KLon Services LTD. 

Instructions for planting seed potatoes
Seed planting instructions 

Strawberry planting instructions