Some community gardens already taking applications

With Reginans still battling through snow and freezing temperatures, not many are even close to thinking of planting a garden.

But, many community gardens are already accepting applications for the 2014 growing season, and they’re sure to go quick.

Community gardens have been on a steady rise the past few years. Grow Regina’s Queen Street community garden sold out 280 garden plots in 2013. Five years ago, when Grow Regina moved to the Queen Street location, it had 180 gardens — and even that was a big jump from when it formed in 1994.

John Fagan, an executive member of the Grow Regina committee, said there are many reasons why people are turning to community gardens.

Many new housing developments do not have the room for a garden, while many older homes have too many trees that block the sun.

Fagan said the way houses are designed also contributes to the need for community gardens.

Large pieces of unused land in the front of the building with small backyards doesn’t allow for adequate gardening space. Apartment living also contributes to people needing to look elsewhere for green space to use.

One of the benefits of community gardens is their ability to bring different people together.

“There are a variety of people, from all walks of life,” said Fagan.

There are currently 13 community gardens in Regina.

The gardens are located in various neighbourhoods, and supported by non-profit organizations and community associations.

The gardens operate in two ways: Either through the use of an assigned plot system, like Grow Regina, or a communal system, where plots are not assigned and the produce is shared among all the gardeners.

Community gardens have even appeared on university campuses.

The University of Regina has three community gardens, which form Regina’s Edible Campus. The First Nations University Shared Garden was established in 2006. Le Potager and the Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG) Green Patch followed later on.

RPIRG executive director, Naomi Beingessner, said the Green Patch was created, not just because it’s pretty and can produce tasty food, but because of social issues with which it can help. Twothirds of the garden’s produce is given to Carmichael Outreach.

In its first year in 2012, the Green Patch harvested more than 1,000 pounds of produce.

The university garden also acts as an educational aid, she said.

Art students have come to the garden for sculpture inspiration, while daycares, new gardeners and English as a second language classes have all came to learn about the gardening process.

“There is a lot more awareness of food issues. You know where it is coming from if you do it yourself,” said Beingessner.