70 Years of Growing Community

Prairie Gardens was founded by John and Sheena Chedzoy, after John’s distinguished career as a forester at the Alberta Tree Nursery. Under his leadership, a quiet but transformative contribution to prairie agriculture took place, as more than 22 million shelterbelt trees were shipped to farms across Alberta.

At Prairie Gardens, he continued that legacy, planting the shelterbelts and specimen trees that still shape the farm’s landscape today. Seven decades later, the farm remains a working fruit tree nursery, carrying forward the Chedzoy commitment to prairie‑hardy trees and sustainable land stewardship.

Long before the Chedzoys arrived, the land was first homesteaded in 1898 by Franklin and Florence Pearce. Their farm sat directly on the historic Athabasca Landing Trail, the vital overland route connecting Edmonton to the north during the Klondike Gold Rush. In her memoirs, Florence wrote that travellers often slept on the kitchen floor, their bedrolls spread so thickly she could “scarcely get to the hearth.” That tradition of hospitality endures. Prairie Gardens still welcomes visitors from across Alberta and around the world, modern travellers following a different kind of trail, but seeking the same warmth and connection.

Today, Prairie Gardens is owned and operated by Tam Andersen, an award‑winning agritourism pioneer recognized by Agritourism Alberta as Luminary of the Year. Under her leadership, the farm has become an innovator in immersive rural experiences:

• hands‑on farm tours
• junior farmer educational programs
• seasonal taste of place festivals (Fairy Berry and Pumpkin Festivals)
• local food celebrations and farm to table dinners
• regenerative vegetable and fruit production
• community supported agriculture local produce baskets for summer, fall and deep winter

The farm’s mission is simple and enduring: to connect people to the land, to food, and to each other.

From its beginnings as a prairie tree nursery to its role today as a vibrant agritourism hub, Prairie Gardens has spent 70 years cultivating more than crops. It has cultivated community, resilience, and a sense of place. As the farm looks toward its next chapter as a women led and run multigenerational farm, Tam’s daughter Laurel continues in her footsteps. The farm continues to honour the legacy of the homesteaders, foresters, farmers, and families who shaped it, as well as welcoming new generations of travellers along the historic trail that still runs through its heart.