Call for Artists, Musicians, and Food Trucks!

Calling all artists, musicians, and food trucks! We are currently accepting applications for our 11th Annual Art in the Garden Outdoor Show and Sale on Sunday, August 17th, 2025! This year, Art in the Garden coincides with Alberta Open Farm Days, providing artists with the opportunity to highlight agriculture and western inspired work in their displays!

We invite musicians and food trucks to apply by emailing peggbotanicgarden@gmail.com with your information and what you plan to play or sell.

We invite artists to submit an application using our online form or request a PDF copy by email. Find more information below about what we have planned for the event below. Please email or call 780-203-0331 with any questions.

We look forward to showcasing your talent!

Saying Farewell to Rural Roots Farmer Showcase

Since 2019, Rural Roots Farmer Showcase has been one of the summer highlights at the George Pegg Botanic Garden. Members of the planning committee have decided RRFS has had a great run and it is time to move on to other projects. There will be no Rural Roots event at Pegg Garden for 2025.  Committee chairman Denise O’Reilly said “our original vision for the event was to spotlight this area of farming. Each year RRFS was well received.” Adding new elements each year, the event combined an open-air vendor market, short workshops and demonstrations, an exclusive dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients prepared by prominent chefs, and always included musicians. O’Reilly calls the 6 RRFS celebrations "a total win".

Rural Roots Farmer Showcase was one of many events across Alberta participating in Open Farm Days. Along the way we met so many farmers, food artisans, and community groups with a tie to agriculture. A big thank you goes to all the vendors and community sponsors. Lac Ste. Anne County’s enthusiasm for this agricultural event along with financial and in-kind support gave a boost to the success.  We also thank all of our visitors - the market shoppers who came eager to meet the producers and buy their products, as well as the diners, who embraced the joy of eating outdoors.

For 2025 Pegg Garden continues to be a host farm for Alberta Open Farm Days.  On Sunday, August 17th the Pegg family homestead comes alive with stories about the early days of farming around Lac Ste. Anne. To make it an extra special day, we are also celebrating the 11th Annual Outdoor Art in the Garden Show and Sale.  Save the date and come meet your rural neighbours!

Check out all there is to see and do at albertaopenfarmdays.ca

Summer Jobs at George Pegg Botanic Garden

The George Pegg Botanic Garden Society is accepting applications for enthusiastic students who enjoy working with people and being outdoors for the 2025 season. The work involves a focus on landscape maintenance, botany, and historic conservation. We are accepting applications for the three following positions:

• A Garden Supervisor. We are seeking a 15 - 30 year old youth for full time work, mid-May to end of August. Apply by Monday, April 1st, 2025. Details can be found here.

• Two Garden Assistants. We are seeking two 15 - 30 year old youth for full time work, beginning of July to end of August. Apply by Friday, April 8th, 2025. Details can be found here.

2025 Membership Drive Live Now!

2024 was a busy year with several family-friendly events, welcoming visitors from June to August, offering tours for special guests, and private groups renting the site. Our four summer staff did an outstanding job of maintaining the plants and buildings and gained some new skills at the same time. Although the Garden closed for the season at the end of August, important work has continued. The machine shed, where many of our events take place, is getting a new roof.

With a cost of more than $65,000.00 to repair the machine shed roof following the standards for the conservation of historic places, we are grateful for funding from the Alberta Government through the Heritage Preservation Partnership Program and from Lac Ste. Anne County. This year we received grants for 3 of our summer staff from Canada Summer Jobs, Canadian Parks & Recreation Association, and Young Canada Works. Membership sales, special events, along with private and corporate donations, all help us pay for ongoing maintenance and conservation projects of the historic buildings and plant collection.

Plans are well under way for next summer and we are looking for new members! Our pre-Christmas 2025 membership drive is now live!

Buy a Garden membership now to be eligible to win a West End Meals on Wheels 2025 Cash Calendar. There are 75 chances to win a share of $6,500.00 in prizes throughout the year (weekly, monthly, seasonal, & holiday draws). These calendars support a non-profit that delivers meals to seniors throughout Lac Ste Anne County. The Pegg Garden draw will be made on Sunday, Dec 15 at 9:00PM.

Memberships are $10.00/person. Check out our Get Involved page for more details on how to purchase your membership.

The Garden is taking part in GivingTuesday this year! In addition to purchasing a membership, support the Garden by following us on Facebook and Instagram, sharing our content with family and friends, becoming a volunteer or donating!

Thank you for your continued support! We can’t wait to see you next year.

Rural Roots Farmer Showcase call for Ag Producers!

2024 marks the 6th year hosting the Rural Roots Farmer Showcase (RRFS) at the beautiful George Pegg Botanic Garden, just north of Glenevis, AB. The planning committee members are excited to invite ag producers from Lac Ste. Anne and surrounding counties to participate in this signature event highlighting local food and the farmers who produce it.

On Saturday, August 17th ag producers have two opportunities to participate. During the outdoor daytime market farmers sell a wide array of agricultural products. The evening event includes a concert and features locally grown products served in an exclusive meal for 100 diners.

RRFS is part of the Alberta Open Farm Days weekend- an incubator for agri-tourism and rural sustainability. We welcome vendors selling meat, vegetables, and other products produced on farms. RRFS guests are looking for interactive displays and hands-on activities. We invite participation by businesses and community groups with an agricultural connection. Our visitors rate the local 4H Club’s display as one of their favourite attractions! A vendor with ready to eat food is also on our wish-list for the market. For farmers thinking about participating in Open Farm Days, RRFS is a good introduction to hosting their own event.

Pegg Garden has a creative team of volunteers and summer staff committed to supporting our farmer partners for a successful event. Alberta Open Farm Days has a substantial marketing campaign, and RRFS is hiring a promotions company to boost our social media reach. We always welcome families with activities for children and the site is wheelchair accessible. Our historic displays, nature trail, garden tours, and beautiful photo opportunities are additional attractions that encourage visitors to extend their stay so they take time to interact with vendors. Admission to the event is free.

Because our summers are glorious but short, open air events have a very special attraction. For online registration and all the details about being a vendor check out www.PeggGarden.org or call 780-203-0331. Not a farmer but interested in volunteering at this event? Contact Shelley at 780-222-0058 to learn more about volunteering!

Call for Artists! Apply for our 10th Annual Art in the Garden Show and Sale

We would like to invite all artists to exhibit at the George Pegg Historic Garden on June 15th, 2024 for our 10th annual Art in the Garden Outdoor Show and Sale! Applications may be submitted here. Registration deadline is April 15, 2024. Late registrations may be accepted but artist profile may not be included in the artist flyer. Please call 780-203-0331 or email PeggBotanicGarden@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Summer Jobs at George Pegg Botanic Garden

We are accepting applications for 4 positions at George Pegg Botanic Garden:

• A Garden Supervisor. We are seeking a 15 - 30 year old youth for full time work, mid-May to end of August. Apply by Monday, April 1st, 2024

• Two Garden Assistants. We are seeking two 15 - 30 year old youth for full time work, beginning of July to end of August. Apply by Friday, April 5th, 2024.

• A Site Supervisor. We are seeking a mature person with work experience in horticulture and supervising staff, for this part-time position from mid- May to the end of August. Apply by Monday, April 15th, 2024.

Pegg Garden 2024 Season Starts with Family Day

Soon after wrapping up a successful summer at the George Pegg Botanic Garden, the team of volunteers began planning events to welcome visitors for the season ahead.

From May to October 2023 many projects were completed- including the beautifully restored garage and historic pump house.  With funding from Young Canada Works and Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, three summer staff did a great job of garden maintenance and started a project to enhance the nature trail. Our volunteers and staff kept busy with hosting special events each month, finishing off the summer with the very special Rural Roots Farmer Showcase. 

First up on the 2024 schedule is the Pegg Garden Family Day Winter Fun event, on Monday, February 19. Bring your friends and family and drop in any time from 11:00am - 3:00pm. Admission is free! Activities include scavenger hunts, painting on snow, cooking hot dogs and bannock around the bonfire, warming up with hot chocolate in the log house, and brisk games of fox and geese. Mother Nature will determine if we can build snowmen or go snowshoeing.

Located just north of Glenevis, this historic site on the original homestead of the Pegg family depicts the significant botanical work carried out by George Pegg. Lac Ste. Anne County’s financial and in-kind support helps us protect this important part of our cultural heritage. In 2024 we look forward to welcoming new and returning volunteers and establishing partnerships with local community groups.  Looking for a job? This year we are hiring a part time Site Supervisor and three youth summer staff.

Visit the Pegg website to see photos from 2023, for event updates, plus details about staff and volunteer opportunities.

Call For Artists

Calling All Artists!

We would like to invite you to exhibit at the George Pegg Historic Garden on June 18, 2023, Father’s Day. This will be our 9th annual Art in the Garden Outdoor Show and Sale. Attached is an invitation with all the details and an artist registration form.

You may respond using the registration form or go to the link: https://forms.gle/sjDrTJRSGkG6bqsY6

We ask that each artist responds individually.

We sincerely hope that you will consider participating in this one-day event. If you know of other artists who might like to know about the show, we appreciate you forwarding this invitation.

George Pegg Garden

Barbara Daum; Artist Coordinator 780-727-2792 (home)

Pegg Garden 780-203-0331

PeggBotanicGarden@gmail.com

Summer Student Jobs at Pegg Garden

May 25, 2023- applications for Garden Supervisor and Garden Assistant (Nature Trail) are still open. Apply now!

The George Pegg Botanic Garden Society is accepting applications for enthusiastic students who enjoy working with people and being outdoors. The work involves a focus on landscape maintenance, historic conservation, and meeting the public. Please see the job descriptions for details. Working alongside peers, wonderful volunteers, and mentors, students at Pegg Garden gain an appreciation for local heritage and acquire valuable work experience and skills.

Funding for these positions is paid for in part by summer job grants. Each year we receive excellent applications and we encourage you to apply now. We apply to several grant programs, successful candidates are notified when funding is approved.