Have you considered planting a small strawberry garden in your yard in Calgary ?
There are new varieties of strawberries available that are very hardy in Calgary and produce a surprising amount of fruit. My father, CJ Abbott, was the first
to have pick your own strawberry fields in Alberta. He started a u-pick farm back in 1975 just outside of Langdon, Alberta. We had success then, but now the new varieties of strawberries make it far easier to farm in Alberta.
Why plant a patch ?
Strawberries are one on of the most nutritious fruits you can grow. You can fill you freezer of a small well kept patch of strawberries, and really reduce your grocery bill. Strawberries are a perennial of course so they keep coming back year after year. After about 3 years it is wise to replant your patch and this will increase the strawberry production as older plants don't produce as well.
Cover your patch in winter.
Strawberry plants need to be covered in winter. Some time around the end of October you can begin to cover your patch with a weed free straw, leaves, or mulch. Do not cover them with plastic or anything that will prevent air flow, this could cause mildew and rot in the spring time.
Some good strawberry varieties
Kent is a June bearing strawberry that fruits heavily in late June and early July. It bares large fruit and is a heavy producer. Tristar is a everbearing strawberry that bares fruit all season long. You could plant both varieties and that would give you fruit from June to October.
Good luck with your patch !
David Abbott