Restoration work at George Pegg Botanic Garden

On June 8, George Pegg Botanic Garden was buzzing with activity during the reconstruction of some of its historic fence. Garden staff and volunteers maintain the homestead of the Pegg family as a reminder of how life was in the early twentieth century. The preservation and restoration of the important buildings and other historic artifacts on site is done with the help of donations and government grants.

The fence was reconstructed to match the original fence as closely as possible. This project began with a search for tamarack rails and posts, as they are long lasting and rot resistant. As the old fence was dismantled, the original building techniques were revealed - rails were notched with a chisel to fit the posts and the hand dug post holes were packed with rocks to secure the posts.

New foundations for the Garden’s round grainery and historic outhouse were completed last autumn. The Garden is also planning for the Boys’ Shed to receive a new foundation, but it requires special attention. Other plans include repairs to the Machine Shed roof, and window repairs in the log house. All of these projects are funded in part by the Government of Alberta.

George Pegg Botanic Garden is eager for you to visit and admire all the hard work that has been put into the reconstruction of the fence. Watch out for updates on our other projects and plans for opening to the public on our website, Facebook and Instagram!