Dr. Sara Williams
College of Agriculture & Bioresources
Dr. Sara Williams is a renowned horticulturist, educator, and author whose lifelong passion for gardening has had a profound influence on prairie horticulture and community education. She is also renowned for her dedicated humanitarian work helping underprivileged girls in Tanzania.
Sara received a B.A. in English and History from the University of Michigan at a time when women weren’t generally accepted into agriculture programs. She joined the Peace Corps in 1963, moving to Africa to teach at a school for girls in Tanzania. She learned Swahili—a language Sara says expresses hospitality, thankfulness and sympathy—underlying values of the Tanzanian people. She later moved to Saskatoon with her husband, where she earned a BSc in Agriculture with Great Distinction.
Sara was appointed Horticulture Extension Specialist in 1989 and completed a MSc in Agricultural Extension. She became widely known for her engaging teaching style and commitment to outreach. She delivered workshops and courses across communities and helped establish programs to support home gardeners and the horticulture industry.
She has written and co-written Creating the Prairie Xeriscape, Best Trees and Shrubs for the Prairies, Gardening Naturally, and with Bob Bors, Growing Fruit in Northern Gardens, emphasizing sustainable, climate-appropriate gardening practices.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Sara was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2013. However, Tanzania never left Sara’s heart, and she has for decades supported the Canadian Harambee Education Society, improving access for Tanzanian girls to attend high school by providing them with scholarships.
With the generous help of others, Sara has raised money for a hostel complete with a large kitchen garden for girls, who are mostly from impoverished families, to attend secondary school. The hostel provides a supportive environment for their studies and has become a model for other communities.
In 2015, Sara received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from USask, in recognition of her humanitarian work in Tanzania. And through her dedication, expertise, and enthusiasm, she has inspired countless individuals to connect with the land and appreciate the beauty and resilience of prairie landscapes. Thank you and congratulations Sara!