Gardeners getting ready to dig in to essential community plots
Niagara’s community gardens will operate a little differently this year, but the fact that they’re operating at all during the COVID-19 pandemic has gardeners rejoicing.
Social distancing, hand washing with soap and disinfecting tools between use are some of the requirements community gardeners will find in place when they return to their plots.
“It’s a little bit of work but that it’s happening is the most important,” said Yaneth Londono, executive director of Links for Greener Learning.
“We have families that have many children and they rely on that food. And food is getting expensive right now.”
About 400 seniors, children and adults use Links for Greener Learning community gardens in St. Catharines, Fort Erie and Welland.
Across Niagara, there are about 600 families who use 70 gardens within Niagara Community Garden Network. The province announced April 25 that community gardens would be deemed essential during COVID-19 emergency orders. Until that point, there was a lot of angst that the gardens would miss out on planting this season and families and food banks who rely on them would be out of luck.
Niagara Region Public Health has outlined what safety measures must be in place at community gardens.
They include ensuring that soap is available on site and participants clean their hands with soap using an available water source for 20 seconds after gardening. Gardeners must stay two metres away from each other and clean and disinfect shared items between use, such as watering cans, garden tools and hoses.
Londono said she’s hoping Links for Greener Learning will have everything ready so it can open the gardens by next week.
It’s putting up signs, figuring out hand washing stations and making some garden kits to give to participants with hand tools, gloves and masks. A schedule of garden times will be in place so there aren’t more than two or three families at their plots at one time.
“It’s going to be different but I think it’s going to be good for people,” Londono said. “The gardens are going to be a good
opportunity for people to go out and an opportunity for families to be with children in the garden and teach things, because the gardens relate to everything.”
The changes at the gardens will allow people to grow food this year, but without the social aspect and community building that are normally encouraged with community gardens.
Erin Riseing, program co-ordinator for Niagara Community Garden Network, which provides resources and supports to different agencies, said it will try to offer online workshops to maintain connections and support gardeners.
“We won’t be able to do our normal workshops or our spring clean up or things like that, but the gardeners are just so appreciative of their garden space, especially now,” she said. “They’re just excited and happy that they’re able to go out and have that outdoor space to grow.”
Jo Low, garden and wellness educator with Project Share in Niagara Falls, said everyone is excited and can’t wait to get out.
Project Share has three gardens with 145 plots that are tended by about 100 families.
One of the gardens is at Westlane
Secondary School and is still a question mark with schools closed, because the agency usually relies on students to help with planting and weeding. The organization is also not sure if it can get a grant for a summer student this year.
Otherwise, Low said Project Share is in good shape. Signs have been put up and compost has been delivered.