Province set to open community gardens
Ontario government changes emergency orders so that community gardens are considered an essential service
WATERLOO REGION — The provincial government is changing its emergency orders to include community gardens as an essential service.
In a news release Saturday, the Ontario government said it would allow community gardens to open, as long as gardeners follow advice and instruction from local medical officers of health.
“These gardens are an essential source of fresh food for some individuals and families, including those who face food insecurity,” the release said.
It’s welcome news for gardeners in Waterloo Region, including Shirley Gosselin, garden coordinator of the Old Willow Green Community Garden in Raddatz Park off Cherry Street in Kitchener.
“I’m very happy and my gardeners will be very happy,” Gosselin said on Saturday.
The province had prevented access to community gardens in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, identifying the sites as non-essential.
Gosselin said she had been petitioning for the reopening of community gardens, speaking to members of local and provincial governments. By midApril, 6,000 people had signed an online petition by healthy food and farming advocate Sustain Ontario.
“I’m crossing my fingers that this will actually happen and we can get into our gardens,” she said.
Other provinces such as British Columbia have already opened community gardens.
Gardens serve the needs of individuals as well as the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, which relies on the food produced at the gardens.
The food bank runs programs from the spaces, teaching people how to grow their own produce. The plots are tended by staff, corporate groups and those experiencing poverty.
Wendi Campbell, chief executive officer of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, said the food bank doesn’t rely on food produced at community gardens, but individuals should be able to access their own food from the gardens, if they choose to.
“It’s a piece of the food security puzzle,” she said.
Gosselin said that, as co-ordinator of the Old Willow Green gardens, she will schedule when gardeners can come to their plots, ensure physical distancing guidelines, cleaning and disinfecting commonly used equipment, and ensuring all gardeners wear gloves.
“Everyone will have to wear gloves especially if they are touching anything communal,” she said. “We will reduce risk if there is any risk.
“Plus gloves are a good tactical reminder not to touch your face,” she said.
Gosselin said she’s looking forward to getting out to her gardens, making repairs to raised beds, spreading compost and cleaning up gardens to get them ready for planting.
She’s more of a summer crop gardener, but those who prefer greens such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli and arugula will want to plant them this week.
The gardening group has 36 gardeners and has been operating for 13 years. Old Willow oversees three gardens: 20 plots on Cherry Street, another 12 plots nearby that are bigger in size and a third garden with four raised beds in Gildner Green Park off Glasgow Street in Kitchener.
Gosselin said a plant sale will be held online, likely later next week.