By Brynna Leslie
With the support of the region, Centretown may be a whole lot greener this summer, and the region’s 30,000 food bank users will have a fresh alternative.
Regional council has approved a plan to give $20,000 to Community Garden Networks to help with implementation of seven new urban vegetable gardens this spring, including two in Centretown.
Network co-ordinator Brenda Inouye says support from the regional government means more than just receiving start-up money. With urban land being such a commodity, Inouye says it’s often difficult for community organizations to make a case for the value of community gardens.
There are institutional barriers when starting new gardens, Inouye says. Now when someone wants to start a new garden, they can go to the region knowing they have the full support of the council.
The region has agreed to supply rototillers and experts to help community organizations make the implementation of gardens easier. As well, the region has agreed to provide access to soil testing and water supply for the gardens.
There is already one community garden in Centretown affectionately named Bugs. Inouye says demand for added space has been so high that another garden is expected to be established beside Bugs on the corner of Catherine and Metcalfe streets.
Somerset Regional Coun. Diane Holmes has suggested an old gravel lot in her ward be used as a garden site. Right now, the lot on the northeast corner of Bronson and Laurier Avenues is barren, with only a few trees scattered throughout and graffiti covering a wall on the north side.
Holmes says she feels community gardens are important not only as a food source for low-income residents, but for urban dwellers in general.
The Community Gardens Network provides an opportunity for those without gardens to enjoy the recreational benefits of gardening, and to learn more about growing healthy food, Holmes says.
She says the gardens provide needed produce to local food banks and allow low-income families to help themselves.
But Inouye says despite regional support, she expects challenges to the project.
As some of the proposed garden sites are not on regional land, community organizations and regional partners may have difficulty establishing gardens in schoolyards, parks and at community centers. These public areas are often owned by municipalities or private companies making land tenure difficult.
Inouye says she is reluctant to fight for support from individual city governments because of the amalgamation set for Jan. 1, 2001. She opted for a partnership with the region because of its wider political scope.
As spring approaches, communities make final selections for garden sites. The gardens are expected to be ready for planting by mid-May.