[All] Help push for community gardens in Waterloo

[Gregory C. Michalenko]

I'm on the Community Garden Council and appreciate Lulu's efforts to bolster support of the gardens.  I prepared a proposal (which went on to 26 pages) for a comprehensive approach to really developing community gardens in the 3 cities and the townships.  The City of Waterloo's recent mention of encouraging a few new gardens in parks is very welcome, but stops far short of what really needs to be done.  I'll send a summary to the GREN list in a couple of days.  Maybe you could hold off any letters until then and then be able to more fully support the real development needs for community gardens.  I'll send those of you who are running for councils a full copy of the proposal - and to anyone else who requests it.

- Greg Michalenko
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From: all-bounces at gren.ca [all-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of Louisette Lanteigne [butterflybluelu at rogers.com]
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 10:59 AM
To: all at gren.ca
Subject: [All] Help push for community gardens in Waterloo

Hi folks

I would like to request that GREN send a formal letter to Waterloo Council to support the funding of community gardens.

Below is the letter I've sent to Waterloo City Council on the matter.

Lulu :0)
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Hello Mayor, council members

I read today's article in the KW record stating that the city may support the establishment of community gardens and I strongly support this idea. The article is on line here:

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/768517

Too many people are suffering from heart and stroke diseases and require salt restricted diets, but often times fast foods, canned and processed foods have very high salt levels which increases health risks and health care costs for our region.  It's shocking to see the salt levels contained in the canned products used by food banks etc.

At this time, food banks cannot adequately distribute fresh produce due to the short shelf life so community gardens facilitates an excellent way to extend these food resources to provide fresh food to all citizens regardless of income.

In the city of Vancouver, they are currently developing programs to plant fruit and nut trees in public spaces where suitable areas exist. I think it would be an excellent program to see in our community.  For more information about this program, visit here:

http://urbanwildnes.blogspot.com/2005/02/vancouver-fruit-trees-in-public-spaces.html

Thank you kindly for your time.

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2