[All] Local Gardening - Interest? Critique?

Sun Apr 5 11:22:23 EDT 2020

Hi Tony,

Thanks for reaching out and proposing the fascinating idea of small scale urban/neighbourhood agriculture on private lands and yards throughout our region.  I think that it is a wonderful idea and there is a tremendous need/opportunity.

I was contacted earlier this week by another GREN member/community activist, Alisa McClurg about concerns with the recent provincial ban on outdoor community gardens on public lands by the provincial government.  She is organizing a strong grassroots response back to the government that closing community gardens is shortsighted and needs to be reconsidered.  Attached below is her letter to Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife and information on the efforts they are undertaking to reverse this ban:

There is also an online petition to sign with thousands of signatures so far:
https://sustainontario.com/2020/03/31/community-gardens-essential-food-service/ <https://sustainontario.com/2020/03/31/community-gardens-essential-food-service/>

So, somehow Tony the challenge will be how best to get your ideas for neighbourhood agriculture underway while also successfully working around the provincial ban on community gardens.  I think that the government’s primary concern is the gathering of people and provided numbers of people stay modest with just one or two involved at a time it may be possible.  Also, the fact that you would be working on private lands could be helpful as well.

I’m not a gardener nor have I much experience with community gardens however, hopefully other GREN members who are more experienced can speak up, share ideas, and get involved.

Cheers,
Kevin.

-----------------------------------

> From: KW Urban Harvester <kwurbanharvester at gmail.com <mailto:kwurbanharvester at gmail.com>>
> Subject: Community Garden Ban
> Date: April 2, 2020 at 2:32:46 PM EDT
> To: cfife-co at ndp.on.ca <mailto:cfife-co at ndp.on.ca>
> 
> Dear Honourable Catherine Fife,
> 
> We are writing with regard to the provincial government closing of outdoor community gardens <https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus#section-1> in response to COVID-19. As a long-time community garden group, we are deeply concerned about this measure. Just like farms, community gardens are essential in allowing for the production of fresh healthy food for people in this area. Many individuals involved in these gardens fall into lower income brackets and are part of more vulnerable sectors in our community (e.g. new Canadians, elderly), making them less food secure. 
> 
> While we understand the concern about transmitting the disease, steps can be taken to safeguard gardeners. These include:
> spacing out gardening activities, through time schedules and limiting the number of people present at the community garden at one time;
> cleaning or eliminating the sharing of garden implements; and
> cleaning water taps.
> Furthermore, food from community gardens arguably receives less handling, and poses fewer risks, than food from longer supply chains like supermarkets. 
> 
> With twenty community gardens <https://sites.google.com/view/community-gardens-ca/gardens/garden-directory?authuser=0> in the City of Waterloo alone, this is a critical issue for your riding. During this time of crisis, we need to strengthen our local food system so that we have resiliency to face the challenges ahead. Knowing you are a long-time supporter of community gardens, we strongly request that you persuade your government to lift this ban. 
> 
> Appreciate very much your consideration in this matter.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Alisa McClurg
> KW Urban Harvester Coordinator
> http://kwurbanharvester.org <http://kwurbanharvester.org/> 

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com

-----------------------------------------

> On Apr 5, 2020, at 9:22 AM, 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 Christie
> 321 Dodge Drive
> Kitchener, ON
> N2P 2N2
> 
> tonynancymisha at hotmail.com <mailto:tonynancymisha at hotmail.com>
> 604-845-8822
> 
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