<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There is also an online petition to sign with thousands of signatures so far:</div><div class=""><a href="https://sustainontario.com/2020/03/31/community-gardens-essential-food-service/" class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">https://sustainontario.com/2020/03/31/community-gardens-essential-food-service/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Cheers,</div><div class="">Kevin.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">-----------------------------------</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="" style="margin: 0px;"><span class=""><b class="">From: </b></span><span class="">KW Urban Harvester <<a href="mailto:kwurbanharvester@gmail.com" class="">kwurbanharvester@gmail.com</a>><br class=""></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px;"><span class=""><b class="">Subject: </b></span><span class=""><b class="">Community Garden Ban</b><br class=""></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px;"><span class=""><b class="">Date: </b></span><span class="">April 2, 2020 at 2:32:46 PM EDT<br class=""></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px;"><span class=""><b class="">To: </b></span><span class=""><a href="mailto:cfife-co@ndp.on.ca" class="">cfife-co@ndp.on.ca</a><br class=""></span></div><br class=""><div class=""><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; line-break: after-white-space;">Dear Honourable Catherine Fife,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">We are writing with regard to the provincial government closing of <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus#section-1" class="">outdoor community gardens</a> 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. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">While we understand the concern about transmitting the disease, steps can be taken to safeguard gardeners. These include:</div><div class=""><ul class=""><li class="">spacing out gardening activities, through time schedules and limiting the number of people present at the community garden at one time;</li><li class="">cleaning or eliminating the sharing of garden implements; and</li><li class="">cleaning water taps.</li></ul></div><div class="">Furthermore, food from community gardens arguably receives less handling, and poses fewer risks, than food from longer supply chains like supermarkets. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">With <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/community-gardens-ca/gardens/garden-directory?authuser=0" class="">twenty community gardens</a> 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. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Appreciate very much your consideration in this matter.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Sincerely,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Alisa McClurg</div><div class="">KW Urban Harvester Coordinator</div><div class=""><a href="http://kwurbanharvester.org/" class="">http://kwurbanharvester.org</a> </div></div></div></blockquote></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">-------------------------------------</div><div class=""><div class=""><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><br class="">Kevin Thomason<br class=""><br class="">1115 Cedar Grove Road<br class="">Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2J 3Z4<br class=""><br class="">Phone: (519) 888-0519<br class="">Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648<br class="">Twitter: @kthomason<br class=""><a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">E-mail: kevinthomason@mac.com</a><br class=""><br class="">-----------------------------------------</div></div>
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<div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Apr 5, 2020, at 9:22 AM, Tony Christie <<a href="mailto:TonyNancyMisha@hotmail.com" class="">TonyNancyMisha@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" class=""><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Dear Grenners, et al, especially Community Garden folk. Please take a minute to glance at this and send/post your thoughts.</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Thanks,</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Tony</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">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...<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">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).<br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">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).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">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.<br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">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.<br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">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.<br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">And, crucially, a professional Co-op Consultant providing planning, guidance, general hand-holding, cheerleading, etc.<br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Would you, or someone you know, possibly be that Consultant?</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Thanks for any help, ideas, suggestions... anything at all,</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Sincerely,<br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Tony Christie</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">321 Dodge Drive</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Kitchener, ON</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">N2P 2N2</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="mailto:tonynancymisha@hotmail.com" class="">tonynancymisha@hotmail.com</a></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">604-845-8822</div><br class=""></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;" class="">_______________________________________________</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;" class="">All mailing list</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><a href="mailto:All@gren.ca" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class="">All@gren.ca</a><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><a href="http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class="">http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca</a></div></blockquote></div><br class=""></div></body></html>