Cochrane and District Horticultural Society – 20th Anniversary (2025)In 2025, the Cochrane and District Horticultural Society celebrated its 20th anniversary with a joint celebration alongside the Cochrane Community Gardens Society, which marked its 15th anniversary. Together, the two groups also partnered on several community initiatives under the banner “Gardeners for Greater Good.” These projects included fundraising for the Coldest Night of the event and the Helping Hands Meal Teams by growing and cooking food for local residents in need.
Anniversary Highlights
A special members-only celebration was held on August 9, 2025 at the Westerson Cabin at the Cochrane Ranche. We are proud to maintain the gardens at this local historic site.
The day featured a variety of activities, including:
Scavenger hunts (with prizes) and children’s crafts
Displays highlighting our histories
Community Gardeners displayed garden produce, seeds and local gardening information
Refreshments featuring lemon, lilac and rhubarb lemonade
Guided tours of the community gardens
Anniversary Highlights
A special members-only celebration was held on August 9, 2025 at the Westerson Cabin at the Cochrane Ranche. We are proud to maintain the gardens at this local historic site.
The day featured a variety of activities, including:
Scavenger hunts (with prizes) and children’s crafts
Displays highlighting our histories
Community Gardeners displayed garden produce, seeds and local gardening information
Refreshments featuring lemon, lilac and rhubarb lemonade
Guided tours of the community gardens
Community Projects
As part of Gardeners for Greater Good, the two societies collaborated on several community-focused efforts:
Participated in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk. We were one of the largest groups (25 walkers). Despite this being our first year participating in this community event we placed 5th out of 57 teams in fundraising.
Donated proceeds from plant sales to the Big Hill Lodge and Helping Hands Meal Team
Created a volunteer Meal Team, gathering for a few fun evenings of cooking to help fill the Helping Hands freezers with nutritious, home-cooked meal
Beautify the community through gardening. Library, planting caring for and harvesting and donating the produce to the Food Shed.
As part of Gardeners for Greater Good, the two societies collaborated on several community-focused efforts:
Participated in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk. We were one of the largest groups (25 walkers). Despite this being our first year participating in this community event we placed 5th out of 57 teams in fundraising.
Donated proceeds from plant sales to the Big Hill Lodge and Helping Hands Meal Team
Created a volunteer Meal Team, gathering for a few fun evenings of cooking to help fill the Helping Hands freezers with nutritious, home-cooked meal
Beautify the community through gardening. Library, planting caring for and harvesting and donating the produce to the Food Shed.
We would like to thank all of our sponsors/partners for helping to make our events successful. Companies who donated to help make our anniversaries special: West Coast Seeds, McKenzie Seeds, Heirloom Seeds and OSC Seeds.
Members of both societies were thrilled to receive “celebration seeds” to add to the diversity of their gardens.
Big thanks also go out to Cochrane Environmental Action Committee, The Cochrane Public Library and Cultivate Cochrane and the Gardeners of Cochrane for raising funds, hosting and participating in our events.
We are also lucky to have very generous sponsors who made this anniversary year very special:
Anything Grows Garden Centre, Badger Ridge Farms Greenhouse, Branched out Nursery, Doug Feel Good Fertilizer, Home Hardware Building Centre, Home Treasures, Just Digging Plants Greenhouse,Little Daisy Florals, La Greenhouse, WaterValley Forest Nursery and West Fraser.
Little Daisy Florals also supported us with their donation of fresh flowers for the anniversary event and by “loaning” us their Olds Student staff member to assist both with our fundraiser, and with the harvest of food that was donated to our Free Food Sheds.
Members of both societies were thrilled to receive “celebration seeds” to add to the diversity of their gardens.
Big thanks also go out to Cochrane Environmental Action Committee, The Cochrane Public Library and Cultivate Cochrane and the Gardeners of Cochrane for raising funds, hosting and participating in our events.
We are also lucky to have very generous sponsors who made this anniversary year very special:
Anything Grows Garden Centre, Badger Ridge Farms Greenhouse, Branched out Nursery, Doug Feel Good Fertilizer, Home Hardware Building Centre, Home Treasures, Just Digging Plants Greenhouse,Little Daisy Florals, La Greenhouse, WaterValley Forest Nursery and West Fraser.
Little Daisy Florals also supported us with their donation of fresh flowers for the anniversary event and by “loaning” us their Olds Student staff member to assist both with our fundraiser, and with the harvest of food that was donated to our Free Food Sheds.
