Community Gardens in Waterloo

[RangersFan]

Waterloo may help pay for vegetable gardens

August 27, 2010
By Jeff Outhit, Record staff

WATERLOO — Waterloo wants more vegetables grown in community gardens, in part to help people eat healthier. And taxpayers may be willing to help.

Council is considering using city staff to build small gardens in city parks. Staff would also deliver water, remove yard waste and erect signs. In return, neighbours would agree to plant, maintain and harvest the plots.

Annual city costs are estimated at up to $4,500.

Since 2000, Waterloo has had one community garden in the Sunnydale neighbourhood at Heasley Park. Ten plots are farmed at private expense, typically by families who grow pole beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and potatoes.

Bill McFaddin farms there and coordinates the garden. He’s persuaded that if the city offers more help to residents, more community gardens will emerge in other parks.

“I think that’s a very smart move,” he said. “If the city promotes it, there’s going to be a lot of people jumping at this opportunity, I’m pretty sure of it.”

Beechwood neighbours hope to launch a vegetable garden in Clair Lake Park next year.

“There are people that come here from other countries. It’s part of their culture to grow their own food,” Coun. Angela Vieth said.

Vieth sees city aid as a useful way to promote gardens that will help the environment and help build stronger neighbourhoods. “Taxpayers benefit,” she said.

Kitchener has more than 18 community gardens operating under a similar program. City staff will help launch a garden on public or private land, at a taxpayer cost of up to $1,500.

There are community gardens in Cambridge but that city does not allow them on city-owned land and does not contribute to them.

Waterloo aims to have five community gardens within five years if council approves the new program.

Residents are more likely to launch community gardens and maintain them if they have some municipal support, said Rhonda Larsh, park technologist with the City of Waterloo.

“It’s always been a passion of mine to offer fresh, affordable food to people,” Larsh said.

jouthit@therecord.com

[plam]

Waterloo may help pay for vegetable gardens
Since 2000, Waterloo has had one community garden in the Sunnydale neighbourhood at Heasley Park. Ten plots are farmed at private expense, typically by families who grow pole beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and potatoes.


I believe there's also a private community garden by the residents of the Brighton Yards Housing Co-Op near my house.

[Spokes]

I believe there's also a private community garden by the residents of the Brighton Yards Housing Co-Op near my house.

I believe you're right.

[WatDot]

Waterloo may help pay for vegetable gardens
Council is considering using city staff to build small gardens in city parks. Staff would also deliver water, remove yard waste and erect signs. In return, neighbours would agree to plant, maintain and harvest the plots.

I think this is a cool idea, but I am worried about liability. As people vandalize parks, and accidents can occur from this vandalizing. What happens if someone tampers with the produce and someone gets sick, etc. Is the City (taxpayers) liable for this?

[Shawn]

I agree, it seems odd to use public parks. Anywhere is susceptible to vandalism and tampering if someone wants to bad enough, but a park, open to the public, with no controlled entry day or night, or security seems to be begging for trouble.

At least in other urban gardens, they seem to be on roof tops, courtyards or some other location that is 'out of sight' from potential trouble makers. I wish them best of luck for this project. At best it's successful and at worst it's a learning experience.

[mpd618]

I agree, it seems odd to use public parks. Anywhere is susceptible to vandalism and tampering if someone wants to bad enough, but a park, open to the public, with no controlled entry day or night, or security seems to be begging for trouble.

I'm pretty sure that most of the community gardens in the area are not any more secure than public parks are. I don't think this is an issue, honestly.

[Shawn]

I'm pretty sure that most of the community gardens in the area are not any more secure than public parks are. I don't think this is an issue, honestly.

It's not so much about security but rather exposure to temptation. My back yard is not secure, but it's safer than a public park because it doesn't have pedestrian traffic walking through it.

Parks also seem to attract freaks who perform acts of community terrorism such as poisoned dog treats, poisoned water or even glass, nails and razor blades in the sand. In other community gardens I've seen, even though they are not "secure" if they are "out of sight" (roof top, courtyard, other enclosed / sheltered area) hopefully they will be "out of mind" to trouble makers.

But like I said.. I wish them all the best and let's hope I'm proven wrong. :)

[plam]

I agree, it seems odd to use public parks. Anywhere is susceptible to vandalism and tampering if someone wants to bad enough, but a park, open to the public, with no controlled entry day or night, or security seems to be begging for trouble.

At least in other urban gardens, they seem to be on roof tops, courtyards or some other location that is 'out of sight' from potential trouble makers. I wish them best of luck for this project. At best it's successful and at worst it's a learning experience.

I've seen a couple of community gardens in Montreal. I don't know if they're actually locked or not, but they are usually pretty easy to see from the street.

If you have a park that's near enough people, it should be OK too. It's just not so good when it's actually a bit hidden but not really.