Community gardens « Transition Brockville

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Tag : Community gardens (109)

Community hubs a vital asset in the face of climate change

NOW Magazine / 13 October 2020

There are eight officially-designated Hubs in Toronto – and many other community organizations that function as hubs, from Rexdale in the west to Scarborough in the east. Many hubs are located in neighbourhoods facing high rates of poverty and marginalization. Typically run by a local non-profit agency, community hubs offer services such as health care, newcomer support for immigrants, senior and youth programming, and employment assistance. These hubs offer valuable resources for seeding local, climate-related projects such as staff support and convening space (in-person or virtual) for residents to develop their ideas and initiatives.

[ FULL ARTICLE ]

More than half Canadians grew their own food at home this year

National Post / Laura Brehaut / 7 October 2020

The spring rush on garden centres and seed sellers wasn’t a false alarm. COVID-19 has driven Canadians to get their hands in the dirt in a major way. Just over half (51 per cent) grow at least one type of fruit or vegetable, according to a new report from Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab (AAL) examining home food gardening in response to the pandemic. And of those, nearly one in five (17.4 per cent) started growing their own food for the first time during COVID-19.

“Pandemic gardening is definitely a thing,” says AAL research associate Lisa Mullins, laughing. “(Lockdown) led a lot of people to look at their physical surroundings and say, ‘OK. What can I do to add a little joy to my life — to broaden my interests?’”

[ FULL ARTICLE ]

Community garden updates

Transition Brockville / 29 September 2020

Despite a slow start with the arrival of COVID-19 last spring, community gardens did get up and running — following guidelines established by the City of Brockville and our local health unit.

The Butler’s Creek Community Garden on North Augusta Road includes 22 householder plots, a shared herb garden, shared raspberry, black currant, rhubarb and horseradish patches, and a pollinating flower garden. A compost system is working really well, providing plenty of composted organic matter for the gardens. All were encouraged to donate surpluses to Loaves and Fishes, the Brockville and Area Food Bank or the Food Cupboard run by the Baptist Church. There are three plots still available for the 2021 season. Contact garden coordinator Nancy Raitt at nancyraitt@corptype.ca

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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 ]

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