[All] Interest? Critique?

[Susan Fulop]

 Hi Tony,I think this is a wonderful idea. I feel this year  more people will want to grow their own vegetables (victory gardens) and connect with nature. Since the community gardens have been closed many people will need alternative places for growing plants. I can not provide technological/administrative  skills but I am a keen gardener who will gladly provide gardening knowledge and manual help in the gardens.Susan F.
    On Sunday, April 5, 2020, 09:22:55 a.m. EDT, Tony Christie <tonynancymisha at hotmail.com> wrote:  
 
  Dear Grenners, et al, especially Community Garden folk. Please take a minute to glance at this and send/post your thoughts.Thanks,Tony
I've long been curious about co-operative social and economic relations. Done a little reading, taken a few courses, bought a couple of sleeping bags etc. at MEC...

With the pandemic upon us and the rapidly unraveling economic and social order, it seems like as good a time as any to get off the sidelines; to jump in and become an actual, no longer a mere armchair, co-operator. My idea is a Co-op devoted to promoting small scale urban and suburban agriculture; focused (at first) on urban and sub-urban private residential (and perhaps commercial) land. People's yards. There will, I predict, be an enormous surge in interest in family-scale subsistence and perhaps even market gardening, and I'd like to help organize it (before the wicked capitalists figure out how to exploit it).

I'm floating the idea to a few curious if still un-committed people. Ideally I'd like to involve my 20 year old son and his friends; a group of somewhat disengaged youth; somewhat "at risk". (As if we're not all, suddenly, "at risk"!) I have a few acres, a bit of beat-up machinery, a bit of cash and credit. Not much free time yet, as my day job of driving trucks, regardless of what's being hauled, is deemed an Essential Service and trucking is still a surprisingly busy industry. (Activity will, no doubt, decline precipitously as the economy shudders to a halt in the coming days and weeks). 

My sense is that small crews of two or three workers, each with with a pickup truck, a walk-behind tractor, hand tools, and necessary materials (seeds, manure, mulch, fencing, etc.) could very quickly and safely be deployed to help people establish and manage back-yard and front-yard gardens throughout the region. Payment could be in cash or perhaps in shares of produce as it's harvested. Relationships could be between the Co-op and individual landowners, community groups, municipalities, other co-ops... All sorts of arrangements could be imagined.

Simple enough idea on its face, but I'd need guidance in (at least); business planning, governance, incorporation, financial, legal, and tax issues, etc... The whole enchilada from scratch, in other words. Much would have to be done remotely, while this infection rages, so help with all things digital and interweb also crucial. Care would have to be built in to all systems, such that physical distancing and other anti-infection strategies were excellent.

Initially I'd need at least one other "adult" with some administrative and organizational talent to help me propel and steer until a critical mass of engaged and capable members was in place. Preferably someone with a passion for and experience in gardening. I have a few people (friends) in mind for this role, but suggestions would be welcome.

And, crucially, a professional Co-op Consultant providing planning, guidance, general hand-holding, cheerleading, etc.
Would you, or someone you know, possibly be that Consultant?
Thanks for any help, ideas, suggestions... anything at all,
Sincerely,

Tony Christie321 Dodge DriveKitchener, ONN2P 2N2
tonynancymisha at hotmail.com604-845-8822
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