The community gardening movement has been growing in
Ottawa since the 1980's. In 1997 the Community
Garden Network of Ottawa- Réseau de Jardins Communautaires d'Ottawa
(CGN-RJC) was created to share resources amongst gardens and strengthen the
movement. In 1999 a seasonal part-time
Coordinator was hired to further facilitation of resource sharing, partnership
creation, education and promotions. The
City of Ottawa has been a leading partner with the CGN-RJC supporting the movement
through in-kind services, leasing of surplus land, coordination efforts and
grants for human, educational and material resources. There are currently 11 community gardens in Ottawa with 400
participants.
A recent phenomenon facing three Community Gardens in the
Network is loss of land. Where
vegetables, flowers and people once flourished, parked cars now occupy the
space which was once Mechanicsville Community Garden. Still many other individuals and groups have shown interest in
this community building activity and would like support in starting a community
garden, especially with regards to finding suitable gardening sites. As many other cities across North America
have adopted formal policy agreements we wish to do the same in Ottawa.
The current evolution of the community gardening
movement in Ottawa is an opportunity to take another step toward a livable,
more sustainable City. The CGN-RJC
looks forward to building on our current partnership with the City of
Ottawa. In doing so we strongly feel
that our shared vision of promoting the health of the individual, community and
environment will be enhanced.
Background Information – CGN-RJC
A Community
Garden Is:
·
A collection of garden plots in an urban or suburban
setting
·
A way of providing citizens with access to sites for
gardening
·
A place where neighbours meet and work together
·
A place to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers
·
Run by community members
Our
Goal:
·
To promote and foster community gardens and community
gardening in the City of Ottawa
Our
Vision:
·
A stronger and better-defined partnership with the City
of Ottawa
·
Information about and access to community gardening in
all neighbourhoods, especially high density, low-income areas
·
The infrastructure in place to create and sustain at
least one community garden in each City ward by the year 2004
We
Believe:
·
Community gardens beautify previously barren or unused space
·
Community gardens enhance the quality of life of all
citizens by promoting the health of individuals, communities and natural
environments
·
Through community gardening individuals and
neighbourhoods contribute directly to the City’s goal of sustainable urban
development and livability
We Are
Committed To:
·
Ecological stewardship
·
Democratic processes
·
Working with diverse populations
·
Building individual and community skills and capacities
·
The development of community partnerships
Benefits of Community Gardening
3 Affordable,
Healthy Fresh Food
3 Increased
Nutritional Awareness
3 Popular
Recreational Activity
3 Increased
Physical and Mental Health
Community Building:
3 Cross-cultural
sharing
3 Active
Civic Participation
3 Symbol
of Community Pride
3 Bringing
People Together
Empowerment
3 Skills
Building
3 Increased
Social Participation and Inclusion
3 Culturally
Appropriate Foods
3 Democratic
Processes
3 Increased
Urban Biodiversity and Green Space
3 Energy
Conservation
3 Water
Conservation Principles
3 Waste
Reduction and Diversion Principles
Economic
3 Increased Food Security
3 Local
Food Production and Distribution
3 Increased
Property Value
3 Potential
Tourist Attraction
Community Gardening in Ottawa:
Current Profile and Highlights
1. Bethany
Baptist Church Community Garden 18
plots
Baseline and
Centrepointe
Highlights: 9 children’s plots, one collective tomato plot, Pea and Potato Parties,
secure land and partnership with church, hold gatherings once a month, very
intergenerational, Four-Directions Garden, strong links with Nepean Community
Centre
2.
BUGS (Bytowne Urban Gardens) 25
plots
Catherine and Metcalfe
Highlights: won City of Ottawa
Environmental Award in 1998, plots dedicated to Food Bank, Lifeline Centre and
YMCA-YWCA, site of Ottawa University organic insect repellent research,
innovative compost collection from local neighbourhood partners
3. Blair Court
Community Garden 10
plots
1566 Station
Blvd.
Highlights: created in 2000 by community
members with a grant from City of Ottawa, multicultural meeting place, communal
mint plot, partners with South East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community,
Blair Court Community House and Nativity Church
4. Carlington
Community Garden
150 plots
Merivale
and Coldrey
Highlights: 13 different languages
spoken, 66% of participants estimate annual income as less than $15 000, 80% of
participants reported that having a garden made their money go further, 93% of
participants reported feeling more like a member of the Carlington
neighbourhood
5.
Debra Dynes Community Garden 1
plot
85-959 Debra Ave.
Highlights: collective gardening
approach, source of cross-cultural sharing, increased food security and social
inclusion
6. Lowertown
Community Garden 6
plots
40 Cobourg St.
Highlights: established
in 1995 as outreach to francophone community, hosts placement for Masters of
Social Works Student each summer, located and partnered with Lowertown
Community Centre
7. Mechanicsville
Community Garden 15
plots
56-68
Carruthers St.
Highlights: established in 2000 and soon
became a veritable symbol of community pride, featured raised beds offering
accessibility to wider population, land was sold in spring 2001, members
awaiting new neighborhood gardening site
8. Nanny Goat
Hill Community Garden 35
plots
Bronson and Laurier
Highlights: project initiated by Ottawa
Food Security Group and the Special Needs Network in 2000, underwent expansion
in 2001, part of innovative high-rise composting collecting project
9. Strathcona Heights
Community Garden 36
plots
Lees Ave.
near Hurdman Bridge
Highlights: 50% of participants speak neither English nor French, garden partners and members include: City Living, Strathcona Heights Tenants Assoc., the Conservation Co-op and Co-op Voisins
10. Sweet Willow
Patch 11
plots
Rochester and Primrose
Highlights: secure and unique patch atop LeBreton Flats Heating Inc. site, community development initiative of CCOC, brings together Alex Laidlaw, City Living and CCOC residents, garden composter used by many members of local neighbourhood
11. Three Sisters
Community Garden 25
plots
Henderson and
Templeton
Highlights: located on University of Ottawa land, created in 1992 with main
goal of growing organic food, currently faced with loss of land for year 2002
12. Wesley
Community Garden 6
plots
Main and Hawthorne
Highlights: secure land on previously unused Wesley United Church land, main goal
of food security
Proposed Role of the City of Ottawa:
Suggested Policy
Please note that this policy document's purpose is to stimulate discussion and negotiation. At the same time it is a reflection of what is clearly required to enhance the community gardening movement in Ottawa. The policy document is a living document and as such should be looked at and altered on a regular basis to best meet the changing needs of the community gardening movement and the parties involved.
In keeping with the common goals of the CGN-RJC and City
of Ottawa to provide services to the citizens of Ottawa that promote healthy
communities, individuals and environments it is proposed that the City show
support for community gardening in the following ways:
1.0 Site
Specific
1.1 Support for Established Community Gardens
In support of existing community gardens in Ottawa the
city will:
(a) Actively support and advocate for the long-term and
permanent status of community garden sites on city owned and non-city owned
land
(b) Seek out and ensure alternative suitable garden sites (see definition below) in the event that the
above cannot be achieved
(c) Consult with and consider community gardens a
significant stakeholder in urban development, planning and design process
Suitable
Garden Sites
Suitable sites include sites located within
the community group’s neighbourhood, with priority being given to high-density
low-income areas. Suitable sites may
include under-utilized public and private property, as well as parklands,
community centres and schoolyards. The
gardens must operate in harmony with other activities in these suitable
sites. It should be noted that storm
water management areas are not considered suitable sites for community
gardens.
1.2 Support for New Community Gardens
In support of the growth of new community gardens in
Ottawa, the City will:
(a) Provide the CGN-RJC and interested community groups
with an ongoing portfolio of potential suitable garden sites
(b) Recognize community gardens in the design, planning
and development process to ensure at least one garden in each ward for both
urban and suburban residents
(c) Encourage non-city landowners and developers to make
available suitable sites for community gardens as part of the overall design of
development projects
(d) Support partnerships with non-profit service
providers by informing them of the CGN-RJC vision and role
(e) Assist the CGN-RJC in a land trust project whereby
property owners can donate land for permanent garden sites
(f) If required assist property owners and community
gardeners in the development of user agreements
2.0 Resource
and Material-Related Specific
In keeping with the community-administered mandate of
community gardens, when necessary and in conjunction with the CGN-RJC, the City
of Ottawa will facilitate and support community gardens in the following ways:
(a) Provide financial incentive for garden start-up and
maintenance in one or more of the following ways: creating a special community gardening fund for groups to apply
to, offering a set amount of in-kind support along with a set amount of
financial assistance to cover part of set-up costs, creating a matching fund system
whereby the City will match the amount of funds that community groups raise on
their own, informing the CGN-RJC and interested gardening groups of potential
grant opportunities
(b) Perform soil assessment of a proposed gardening site,
at no cost to the garden, to ensure the suitability of the soil
(c) Ensure access to safe water, in keeping with the City
and CGN-RJC goals of water conservation practices. Some examples may include; standpipes, large capacity storage
containers and/or rain barrels
(d) Provide materials for the construction of 3-Bin
compost systems
(e) Offer further materials and in-kind services when and
if community gardeners are unable to provide them on their own. These materials and services could include;
start-up compost, excavation equipment and/or services, picnic tables,
wheelbarrows, fencing and signage
(f) Assist with advertising and supporting the promotion
of community gardening activities and partnerships within the City of Ottawa