Welcome!

July is still very wet with some heat and turbulent weather thrown in for good measure! 

It’s been tough, even with the greenhouse, to keep all of the plants happy, but I have to say, anything that leaves here is definitely as tough as you can get for what it’s had to go through! I’m still waiting on a few species like the Meadow Blazing Star that have been having a tough time being tossed from flooding to frying in a matter of hours, but we’re slowly getting gaps filled. Please be patient if you are still waiting on certain plants as Mother Nature has caused delays on top of the long list of wonderful clients we have to get through. 

We are concentratiing on growing out our Lil’ Raptor Racers, new layers, and lambs.  Juno has been confirmed in foal to a tall, dark, handsome jack named Magnus! We will get her preg checked one more time to make sure she retains the embryo, but we would be super excited to have a long-eared mammoth foal next year!

Now to get ready for K-Days (a new one for us this year), while still maintaining everything else. We could really use some additional help in our booth in the Expo Centre, so if you would like free passes, and some $ for manning our booth, we are in need of slots filled on Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th. Reach out to me at dawnw@mmgardens.ca for more info.

We also require more volunteers for Alberta Open Farm Days (you get free products and discounts, or free spaces in our upcoming workshops in lieu, plus it’s a fun atmosphere where you can learn, and meet some other amazing people). We need people to help set up and tear down, man the gates, help with the Artisan Market, assist with the Lil’ Raptor Races, run the Hiraeth Gift Shop, and lead various tours, amongst other things so again, please connect with me at dawnw@mmgardens.ca

Upcoming Gatherings at the Manor

The orchids are pretty much done and it’s unbelievavly wet, even for a fen, so alas, we will have to forego our Whispers of the Wetlands nature walk. Fingers crossed we will still be able to have another expedition to the fen when things dry up a bit. We do have a regenerative prairie walk planned as a part of Alberta Open Farm Days. You can get your tickets for this offering here: https://www.mmgardens.ca/product/guided-nature-tour-2/

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K-Days Innovation and Sustainability in the Expo Centre – July 24th to 26th

Various local businesses and groups will be featured that utilize innovative and sustainable practices in their ventures. MM Gardens will have a number of items for sale including native plants, wool, feather products, and artwork, and will be featuring demos for workshops that we host throughout the season, including weaving natural fibres, native plant identification, and immersive nature experiences like our Wild Eyes offering, where you get to literally visualize how our wild animal friends see things from their perspective.

 

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Alberta Open Farm Days – Aug. 15th and 16th

Stop by the Artisan Market to check out Grey Owl Meadery, various ecological groups like LILSA and the Edmonton Area Land Trust, and see some amazing local arts and crafts. Join a greenhouse tour, meet and greet some of the animals including Juno, the Mammoth Donkey, and our Wiltshire Horn Sheep. Try your hand at the Lil’ Raptor Racers track and win some fun prizes! Lots more to see and do. Check out our schedule here: https://albertaopenfarmdays.ca/farm/medieval-manor-gardens-2/

These are but a few of many gatherings to be revealed in our Calendar of Teachings for 2026. Stay close, dear friends, so you do not miss what lies ahead.

Volunteers

Our Crewyrs (Creators) Tribe is looking for new members to help us with our upcoming Alberta Open Farm Days event on Aug. 15th and 16th. We are also planning our

Native U-Pick Garden (whhaat??? You’ll have to keep checking back for when we release more info about these exciting projects!). We also need to get our summer fields ready along with our ram shed. If you enjoy learning, sharing your knowledge and skills, especially in the areas of construction, gardening, livestock, and people, this might be for you! Volunteers get to learn, try out our products at no charge, and receive discounts on our upcoming workshops. You may be able to get hired on as part-time staff if the fit is right. Interested individuals can contact me at dawnw@mmgardens.ca.

Firecircle Program

We just have the business plan remaining to complete in the Firecircle Program. It is so worth the investment as it will guide Medieval Manor’s path in the short and long term. If you are considering starting a new business in the tourism sector, have an Indigenous led or rural-type business, consider this program. 

Immersive Learning Experiences

If you have a group interested in having us run a workshop or hike for you at your location or ours, or are

looking for some consultation regarding a planting project, by all means, contact us to arrange something. Teachers, groups, and corporate team builders, a great idea for this spring or next fall, is to arrange for one of our in-person workshops or tours. Whether you wish to create a mini ecosystem (woodland faerie, prairie, or puddle garden), go on a nature walk, or engage with and learn from our unique livestock and regenerative farming practices, MM Gardens can create an experience just for you! Contact us at info@mmgardens for details. We do not take any deposits until we know it’s a go, and we can always change dates if required.

Other Tidbits

We currently do not generally ship live plants out of province as they are overwintered outdoors to ensure hardiness, and may therefore contain organisms not native to other places. Some areas near us can receive free shipping, so please inquire if you are unsure or if our website is not cooperating. 

Gift certificates are a great way to gift something in advance or if you are unsure of what someone may like. Delivery is also available to a number of areas.

We aim to provide completely immersive nature and agricultural experiences and products to educate

and connect people back to the land, thus instilling a desire to take action regarding the health of Mother Earth and her children.    

Stay safe, and thank you for supporting local business and going back to your roots to grow your future.

Dawn Watts,

Owner and creator of Medieval Manor Gardens