Community gardens « Transition Brockville

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Tag : Community gardens (106)

Giving the green thumbs up to community gardens in LG&L

Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit / Press Release / 1 May 2020

Residents in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark will be able to start planting in community gardens soon. On April 25, 2020 the government of Ontario lifted restrictions, allowing community gardens to operate following the guidance of the local Medical Officer of Health. Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit supports Ontario’s decision. ”Community gardens increase access to healthy foods, provide a sense of community belonging, and support mental well-being, and physical activity”.

Under the provincial Emergency Order, only gardens with the capacity to follow the requirements are permitted to operate.The Health Unit has prepared safe operating requirements for local municipalities, community organizations related to: entrance restrictions, physical distancing, hand hygiene, sharing and cleaning of equipment, signage, and communication.

In addition, rules and guidelines for community gardeners have been developed and should be followed by all users.

[ FULL PRESS RELEASE ]

Seed sellers see business bloom as pandemic pushes demand

CBC News / Christine Maki / 20 April 2020

After three decades producing organic vegetable and flower seeds, [Greta] Kryger was hoping to retire after this year. But instead of winding things down, she’s dealing with three to four times the usual demand, all thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I could close today and have enough for my whole year of living,” she said. “People say they’re scared they won’t have enough food. And because they’re home now they have nothing else to do. It’s an activity to do together with the kids.”

[ FULL ARTICLE ]

Declare community gardens essential, non-profit urges

CBC News / 02 April 2020

Currently, the province has lumped the gardens in with “community amenities” and ordered them closed amid the effort to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.

There are approximately 100 community gardens in Ottawa, and “if we even put a very conservative estimate of 1.5 people benefiting per plot in Ottawa … that is a minimum of 7,000 people in Ottawa accessing food through these food gardens,” said Moe Garahan, executive director of Just Food.

“Outdoor community gardens being listed under recreation activities would have made sense if community gardening was strictly a recreational activity. But for most people across Ontario that are engaged in community gardening, it is actually … an essential food service,” Garahan told CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning on Thursday.

[ FULL ARTICLE ]

Think the world is ending? Grab a shovel, not a shopping cart

The Guardian / Adam Liaw / 15 March 2020

My late grandmother lived through poverty, wars and military occupation – if you had asked her how to prepare for hard times, she’d grab a spade and start digging a vegetable garden.

If things really get bad, the garden growers will be better prepared for the future than the bunker stockers.

If you planted the likes of spinach, Asian greens, snow peas or cabbages this weekend you’d be knee deep in homegrown fresh produce within a month or two, and it could last you all through winter.

[ FULL ARTICLE ]

Seedy Saturday a growing concern

Recorder & Times / Nick Gardiner / 10 March 2020

Organizers hope for great things to grow from Seedy Saturday’s free exchange of seeds and gardening tips at the Brockville Memorial Centre.

Plant seeds and gardening advice went hand-in-hand at the annual event and the growth of youth engagement was an encouraging sign for organizers with the Brockville Public Library and Transition Brockville.

“It’s great to see how many young people are here,” said library chief executive officer Emily Farrell, who exchanged seeds with people of all ages nurturing their green thumbs as sure signs of spring – a warm sun and bright skies – ruled the day.

Farrell said she is encouraged by a continuing community interest in all elements of gardening from composting to harvesting and how it bodes for a better future.

[ FULL ARTICLE ]

Mark your calendar: 6th Annual Seedy Saturday, March 7

Transition Brockville / 31 January 2020

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