Report to/Rapport au :

 

Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee

Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux

 

18 September 2003 / le 18 septembre 2003

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Jocelyne St Jean, General Manager/Directrice générale,

People Services/Services aux citoyens 

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Colleen Hendrick, Director

Innovation,on Development and Partnerships/Directrice, Innovation, développement et partenariats

(613) 580-2424 x 24366, colleen.hendrick@ottawa.ca

 

Ref N°: ACS2003-PEO-IDP-0020

 

 

SUBJECT:

COMMUNITY GARDENING IN THE CITY OF OTTAWA

 

 

OBJET :

JARDINAGE COMMUNAUTAIRE DANS LA VILLE D'OTTAWA

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee receive this update report for information

 

RECOMMENDATION DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux prenne connaissance de cette mise à jour à fin d’information
 

 

BACKGROUND

 

At the March 20, 2003 meeting of the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee the following motion was carried:

 

“That the Health Recreation and Social Services Committee direct the People Services Department to lead a multi-departmental review of COMMUNITY GARDENING IN OTTAWA: A PROPOSED ROLE FOR THE CITY and report back within two months with recommendations for an appropriate form and level of municipal support.”

 

An inter-departmental workgroup was established April 15, 2003, with representation from Development Services, Corporate Services, Transportation Utilities and Public Works, and People Services.  It was recognized that, given the short time frame, a complete review of community gardens would not be possible.  The staff working group identified a need to develop an inventory of the current community gardens, review the City’s current role and discuss potential options regarding municipal support.

 

Staff developed and distributed templates to collect information; one was sent to the community gardens and one to City departments.  The Community Garden Network – le Réseau de jardins communautaires d’Ottawa (CGN-RJC) coordinated the dissemination and collection of information for the community gardens.  Development Services coordinated the dissemination and collection of information for City departments.  Completed templates were forwarded to People Services and the information collected formed the basis of this report.

 

The staff working group met four times from April 15 to July 11, 2003, to review the City’s current role with community gardens, discuss potential options and draft recommendations.  The CGN – RJC was consulted throughout this period. 

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

It is well documented that gardening is one of the most popular recreational activities in Canada.Community gardens are community based projects, cooperatively planned, and managed by local residents.  They are designed to provide community members with access to space and other resources for gardening.  Community gardening offers a range of benefits that includes: increased physical health, social interaction, and self-esteem, as well as opportunities to improve skill building and build self-reliance.  Community gardens provide a low cost, barrier free, inclusive form of community activity recreation that supports intercultural and intergenerational participation.  There are 19 community gardens currently in the City of Ottawa, with approximately 1,080 gardeners.  (Please see Attachment 1 for details on the location of the 19 community gardens)

 

Allotment gardens are gardens planned and managed by a public body for public use on a first come first served basis.  Individual garden plots are rented out to gardeners on a seasonal basis.  In Ottawa, allotment gardens initially existed on National Capital Commission property and were managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC).  In the 1980’s these allotment gardens were transferred from the NCC to the former City of Ottawa.  Currently there is one City allotment garden, the Dempsey Allotment Gardens located at Kilborn and Pleasant Park in the Alta Vista ward.

 

In Ottawa, community gardens initiated and managed by local residents began to develop in the 1980`s.  In 1997 the Community Garden Network – le Réseau de jardins communautaires d’Ottawa (CGN-RJC) was created to share resources among gardens and to promote and foster community gardens.

 

Community Based Gardening in the City of Ottawa

 

Community Gardens

 

City staff have received information from 19 community gardens, 13 of these are member gardens of the CGN-RJC and 6 are non-member gardens.  Two of the 19 community gardens are former allotment gardens and still refer to themselves as the Gloucester Allotment Garden Association and the Nepean Allotment Garden Association, but are community run gardens. 

 

Community gardens that are members of the CGN-RJC receive services such as: the sharing of resources and information, communication links through the web site and newsletter, advocacy and support.  Membership in the CGN-RJC is free.  The CGN-RJC does outreach to the community gardening community across the City, holds regular workshops and events open to the gardening public which are promoted on the CGN-RJC website located at http://www.flora.org/cgn-rjc/e_index.html.

 

Gardens size:

The gardens are broken into individual plots; an individual or a family usually gardens on one plot.  Garden size is reported in number of plots, ranging to 200178 plots, with an average of 39 plots per garden.

 

Period of Operation:

Most of the community gardens have been in operation during the period 1990 to 2003.  The Gloucester Allotment Garden Association is an exception, having been in operation since 1981.

 

Plot Allocation:

In general, most community gardens give gardeners from the previous year the first opportunity to register or choose a plot, the remainder are assigned on a first come first serve basis.  Community gardens frequently reported waiting lists of local residents wanting access to a plot.

 

Gardener’s Involvement:

Some community gardens require a small fee, ranging from $5 to $20, for the seasonal use of a garden plot.  Regardless of whether fees are a requirement or not, the majority of community gardens have an expectation that members will participate in the shared maintenance and operation of the garden and other communal tasks such as composting.

 

City Involvement:

In 2000, the former Regional Council allocated the CGN-RJC a one-time grant of $20,000, to offset the cost of new community gardens.  Five new gardens were developed as result of this grant.  In 2000 the CGN-RJC also received Community Environmental Projects Grants Program (CEPGP) funding of $12,270 from the City of Ottawa, Development Services Department, for remedial work on existing gardens.  These two grants resulted in a variety of supports to new and existing community gardens including: preparation of new garden sites, water efficiency, composting signage, compost and compost delivery.  In addition, individual community gardens have received CEPGP grants for specific projects such as compost demonstration projects, composts and water efficiency promotion and rain barrels.

 

Other Funding Sources:

The community gardens reported various funding sources other than the City of Ottawa including: the Trillium Fund, the Community Foundation of Ottawa, Human Resources Development Canada Summer Career Placement Program, Ministry of Health (Ontario), Toronto Dominion Friends of the Environment, local churches and tenants associations.

 

Land Status:

Fourteen of the 19 community gardens are currently on land owned by the City of Ottawa; two are on church property, two are on private land, and one is on property owned by the University of Ottawa.  The Gloucester Allotment Garden Association has two locations, one of these is on NCC land leased by the City and the other is on City property.  (Please see Attachment 2 for details on location and description of gardens)

 

The status of the land arrangements varies. For example, the Gloucester Allotment Garden Association and the Nepean Allotment Gardens have been in existence for more than 10 years.  Some of the more recently developed community managed gardens are in a more tenuous situation Community gardensThose that are in more secure situations tend to be those that are partnered with or sponsored by a Community Health and Resource Centre or a local church generally have more land security.  Seven community gardens are partnered with a Community Health and Resource Centre. Some of the more recently developed gardens that are not partnered with any community based organization tend to be in more tenuous situations.

 

Community Linkages:

The 19 gardens reported extensive community linkages with community agencies, public sector organizations and private businesses, these include: the Community Health and Resource Centres, the University of Ottawa, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), the Centertown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC), the Canadian Environmental Network Youth Caucus, the Community Garden Network, Home Depot, Lee Valley Tools, housing co ops, and local churches.  Many of these links are reciprocal in nature; for example, the Bytown Urban Gardeners (BUGS) provides children’s plots for the YM–YWCA in exchange for water access.

 

Many community gardens reported the promotion of community activities such as beautification projects, provision of community gathering spaces, donation of free plots and/or produce to organizations such as Elizabeth Fry, the Food Bank, Centre 507 and the Shepherds of Good Hope.

 

Garden Projects:

The majority of community gardens reported having composting arrangements, with most having a 3-bin compost system.  Eight community gardens reported on their water access situation; four gardens used rain barrels and four indicated that they had access to standing pipes.

 

Other Aspects of Community Gardens:

Nearly all of the gardens reported on activities that promote community building.,  Community gardening fosters community building by promoting interaction between the diverse residents of local communities along common interests, such as food security, neighbourhood beautification, health and leisure.recreation  The majority of gardens support a collective, participatory approach, fostering social inclusion and community participation.  Many community gardens are a source of cross-cultural sharing.  For example at the Carlington Community Garden, members speak 13 different languages.  Ninety-three per cent of the Carlington Community gardeners reported feeling more like a member of the community and 80% reported that participating in the garden and growing their own food made their money go further.

 

The Bethany Community Garden also has a focus on intergenerational exchange, but is also open to all members of the community.  The Bytown Urban Gardeners (BUGS) garden has a unique outreach project, Buds for Buddies, that grows and delivers flowers to members of the community who are house bound.  Many of the members of community gardens have promoted waste diversion strategies to the local community and some have partnered with neighborhood businesses and organizations to collect and divert organic waste.  Several community gardens have become sites to demonstrate aspects of the science curriculum for neighbourhood schools.

 

City Managed Allotment Garden

 

There is currently one1 City managed allotment garden in Ottawa.  The City of Ottawa Allotment Gardens/Dempsey Allotment Gardens is located at Kilborn and Pleasant Park.  The City of Ottawa has operated the garden since 1988 when it was transferred to the former City of Ottawa from the National Capital Commission.

 

The Area Recreation Supervisor and Program Coodinator from the Dempsey Community Centre coordinate the allocation of plots and the renewal of maintenance contracts for the garden.  The 355 plots are rented seasonally for $52 to interested gardeners.  Gardeners are responsible for their own tilling, planning and tools.


 

The City of Ottawa’s Involvement with Community Based Gardens

 

Direct Funding:

 

The Innovation, Development and Partnerships Branch of People Services provides $25,000 in sustained funding and $10,000 from the National Child Benefit (NCB) for the coordination of the Community Garden Network.  This funding is part of the total City funding allocation to the Sandy Hill Community Health and Resource Centre.  It is designated for the Community Garden Network, for the support and development of community gardening.  The sustaining grant has been provided annually since 2001.  The NCB funding was provided through the former Region of Ottawa and is subject to the availability of annual NCB funding.

 

The former RMOC also provided a $20,000 one-time grant in 2000 for the development of new community gardens.  Five new community gardens were developed as a result.  A Community Environmental Project Grant (CEPGP) of $12,270 was also provided to the CGN-RJC in 2000, for remedial work on existing community gardens.

 

CEPGP grants have also been received by individual community gardens for specific projects such as, compost demonstration projects, promotion of water efficiency and composting.

 

In Kind Support:

 

People Services:

The Innovation, Development and Partnership Branch (IDP), provides staff support resource to supporthe CGN-RJC.  IDP Staff have organized a forum for a wide range of stakeholders and provided a link to other City departments.  Staff have provided support to the CGN-RJC by leading the inter-departmental review of community gardens.

 

The Community Services Branch provides direct support by allocating plots in the City managed allotment garden.

 

Corporate Services:

Real Property Asset Management (RPAM) coordinates the leasing of land for three community gardens in the downtown core.

 

Transportation, Utilities and Public Works (TUPW)

 

The Surface Operations Branch has provided a mixture of ongoing and onetime support, on an in kind and cost recovery basis to community gardens, generally within the context of service delivery by the former municipal jurisdictions.  Services have continued to two gardens, previously within the former municipalities of Gloucester and Nepean, on a “business as usual basis”.  The Surface Operations Branch also administers Spring Cleaning the Capital and the Adopt a Park program, which several community gardens have accessed.

 

The Utility Services Branch has provided compost from the Trail Road site to community gardens.  The provision of compost was funded through the one time $20,000 grant to community gardens in 2000 and as in kind contribution as part of the $12,000 CEPGP grant, also in 2000.  This service was discontinued in 2002 when the funding ran out.  Currently the preference of the Community Garden Network is for existing community gardens to compost on site, within appropriate guidelines.

 

The Utility Services Branch has also provided support for waste diversion strategies and water efficiency to some community gardens.  Utility Services provides access to a standing pipe for one community garden.

 

R


Role of Community Gardens in City Growth Plans

 

It is key to recognize that community gardens are identified by the Official Plan as a component of the green space system of the City.  In addition, the green space role of community gardens will be identified in the green space Master Plan.

 

Community gardens are also referenced under the discussion of Greenspace in the Official Plan as a means to, “moderate climate and provide a place to grow food”.  Community gardens not only contribute to the beautification of urban areas but to the conservation of diverse green space, wildlife habitat and native vegetation.  Providing the opportunity to grow your own food is key, particularly as it relates to the issue of increased food security.  The opportunity to grow food stretches income, a fact demonstrated at one Ottawa community garden where 80% of participants reported that having a garden decreased their household costs.

 

Within the Collaborative Community Building and Community Design Plans, community gardens are noted as a community based initiative and included as a measure for the implementation of the plan.  Community gardens are excellent examples of community-based initiatives.  They are community driven, created by and for local communities.  Because they are both created and managed on the basis of participatory and collaborative efforts, they offer citizens the opportunity to contribute directly to their local community.  In addition, community gardens provide community members the opportunity to contribute to the City’s goal of sustainable urban development and livable communities.

 

Community gardens support many of the fundamental principles of the Human Services Plan.  Through participation in community gardens many citizens increase their health and well being, promote environmental awareness and enhance the quality of life for the community.  Community gardens have increased the food security not only of their member gardeners but have also contributed fresh produce to the Ottawa Food Bank and to other community agencies.

 

Community gardens offer a valuable neighbourhood resource that provides a meeting space for the community, builds inclusive social networks and enhances the quality of life for local citizens.  Many community gardens offer a green space for community members to gather or meet.  The Nanny Goat Hill Community Garden is used by the neighbouring Inuit Friendship Centre as a community meeting space.  Many gardens have partnered with local residents and businesses to support waste diversion strategies and numerous community gardens regularly donate food to the Ottawa Food Bank and local agencies.

 

The Draft Environmental Strategy addresses the need to protect and strengthen local ecological features and processes, and to reduce the City’s environmental impact.  Citizen involvement in community gardens promotes environmental stewardship and increases awareness of environmental issues.  Community gardens support activities such as waste diversion strategies that have a direct and positive impact on our local environment and contribute to the reduction of our ecological footprint.

 

Many community gardens across the City are demonstrating leadership and using innovative methods to support environmental stewardship.  The Bytown Urban Garden – BUGS was the recipient of the City of Ottawa’s Environmental Award, this is just one way to give recognition for environmental best practices.  Support for community gardens offers the City of Ottawa an opportunity to demonstrate the City’s leadership capacity in environmental best practices and in grass roots community building.

 

The inclusion of community gardens in the Official Plan and the references throughout the Human Services Plan and the Draft Environmental Strategy, provide a direction to support a more comprehensive and coordinated role for the City of Ottawa to play with regard to community gardens.

 

Community Proposal

 

Since 2001, the CGN-RJC through it’s Municipal Policy Project, has been working with municipal stakeholders to develop a more coordinated and comprehensive role for the City of Ottawa in community garden development and sustainability.  The CGN is requesting that the City of Ottawa play a more enabling role which would include the following actions:

 

1.        Ensure community gardens are a permitted land use in most, if not all land use zones, including the green space system.

 

2.        Recognize and consult with the CGN-RJC as a significant stakeholder in the urban development and planning process, as part of ongoing support for community gardening.

 

3.        As part of the Ottawa 20/20 growth planning process, establish in collaboration with the CGN-RJC standards and procedures for community garden development.

 

4.        Within these established standards provide operational support for new and existing community gardens.

 

5.        Work with the CGN-RJC to develop a model lease and user agreement that defines timeframes and the rights and responsibilities of all parties.

 

6.        Provide assistance to identify alternative funding sources to diversify the CGN-RJC’s funding base.

 

7.        Provide a City staff person as a point of contact within the City of Ottawa for community garden issues.

 

City Response

 

The City supports in principle the development and sustainability of community gardening within the City of Ottawa.  It is recommended that consultation with the CGN-RJC be incorporated into the ongoing process to support community gardens and that community gardens are recognized as an important component in the City’s growth plans.

 

Due to current budgetary restraints and pending Program Review, the City has a limited capacity to increase current staff resources and services in kind.  A cost analysis should be developed to determine the value of the City’s contribution for the allocation of City owned land, operational or staff support and other services in kind.  Program Review will also provide additional direction.

 

City staff will continue to work with the CGN-RJC to develop ways in which the City can support community gardens in Ottawa within the City’s financial means.

 

Proposed ActionsShort and medium term

 

 

The primary contact for community gardening issues will be staff in People Services.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Community gardening has benefits for residents City-wide.

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

People Services has consulted with staff from the Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Branch (Development Services), Real Property and Asset Management (Corporate Services), Surface Operations, Utility Services (Transportation, Utilities and Public Works) and People Services.

 

In addition, staff consulted with the Community Garden Network and the community gardening community.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Existing costs identified in the report are contained within the approved 2003 budget.  Further funding decisions will be subject to program and budget review.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Attachment 1: Map, Community Gardening in the City of Ottawa

Attachment 2: Community/Allotment Gardens in the City of Ottawa (Issued Separately)

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

People Services will implement the directions of Council.

 



No.

Name of Garden

Type (Community / Allotment / Other)

Location

 

Zoning and Bylaws

Size (total + number of plots)

Operating since

Plot Allocation

Gardeners’ Involvement Type (Pay a Fee, Contribute Work, Other)

City Involvement (Funding / in kind) Please Specify Amount and Type

Funding Sources (other than City)

Land Status (Owned / Leased / Temporary / Permanent)

Community Links / Contributions / Partnerships (ex.  Church, Food Bank etc)

Projects (e.g., Compost, Water Conservation, Native Habitat)

Other Relevant Information

1

3-Sisters Community Garden

Community garden

33 Henderson St

 

Henderson St (Sandy Hill), between Templeton & Mann

 

R5C [89] H(13.8):

Bylaw 2000-242, text change amends 1998-093

 

18 plots (22 gardeners including several pairs using the same plot)

 NA

Seniority, then 1st come, 1st serve

$20/yr includes compost, water, and use of tools.  Gardeners expected to contribute volunteer time to communal tasks.

Indirectly - via composting signage & water barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year.

 NA

University of Ottawa; threatened - Ottawa U.  will probably begin construction on site this yr.

CGN/RJC, University of Ottawa, Sandy Hill Housing Co-op, OPIRG_Ottawa.

Compost System, 2 rain barrels

 NA

2

Basse-Ville Jardin Communautaire

Community garden

40 Cobourg St

 

L4 [332]:

Bylaw 2000-074, text change amends 1998-093

6

1996

Seniority, then 1st come, 1st serve

All gardeners participate in decision-making meetings.

Indirectly - via composting signage & water barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year.

Lowertown Community Resource Centre makes a symbolic contribution + coordinator's time.

City of Ottawa

CGN/RJC, Lowertown Community Resource Centre.

3-bin compost system, 1 rain barrel

 NA

3

Belair Community Garden

Community garden

1785 Baseline Rd

 

R6A F(1.5) U(185.0)

Bylaw 2000-185, text change amends 1998-093

 

 NA

2003 Start-up

 NA

 NA

 NA

 NA

Private Apartment Complex Development

Private: Property owner - Dave Houston, Home Depot; CD support: Carlington CHS, Tenants' Assoc.

Compost system

Flower gardening only

4

Bethany Community Garden

Community garden

382 Centrepointe Dr

 

R6A F(1.5) U(185.0):

Bylaw 2000-185, text change amends 1998-093

16-18, some children's plots are smaller (10children, 10 adults)

1996

Seniority, then 1st come, 1st serve

Some are children from the church who each have a small plot.  Others pay $10/plot/yr.

Indirectly - via composting signage & water barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year.

Bethany Baptist Church provides tools.

Bethany Baptist Church

CGN/RJC, Bethany Baptist Church Garden Committee and Bethany's Centrepointe House has hosted workshops on gardening , wellness and other environmental issues.

Compost System

Focus on intergenerational exchange, but also open to members of surrounding community.  Whole church property pesticide free.  Many gardeners use organic seeds.  Property also offers edible fruit including elderberry, raspberries, cherry, apples, plum.

5

Blair Court Community Garden

Community garden

1566 Station Blvd

 

4A U(40.0):

Bylaw 2000-185, text change amends 1998-093

10 - 10' x 10' plots; 15 gardeners (serving 35 directly)

1999

Seniority, then 1st come, 1st serve

No fee, with expectation of shared maintenance.

Indirectly - via composting signage and rain barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year; City staff prepared site originally.

None

Temporary - Church property

CGN/RJC; Eglise de la Nativite de Notre Seigneur.

3-bin compost system, 1 rain barrel

Struggling to maintain community participation.

6

Britannia Community Garden

Community garden

2730 Carling Ave

 

L4:

Bylaw 1998-093

 NA

1990

Some assigned plots, others communally cared for

 NA

Adopt-a-Park Program, Design assistance.

 NA

City of Ottawa

 NA

 NA

Park status - land security not an issue.

7

Bytowne Urban Gardens – BUGs

Community garden

424 Metcalfe St

 

CG8 F(3.0) H(18.3) HE:

Bylaw 2000-067, text change amends 1998-093

30 (35 gardeners + 54 Children from YM/YWCA program

1997

 NA

No fee, in lieu, gardeners volunteer 1 "green" hr/mth and take turn filling water barrels twice/season.

Indirectly - via composting signage & water barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, Directly - City provides annual user agreement for use of the site.

Community Foundation of Ottawa grant; Environment Canada, Action21 as a youth project; HRDC Summer Career Placement Program; RMOC lease of land at nominal fee; Church of Ascension for start up costs.

Temporary (yr to yr lease) and insecure site about to be developed for EMS station and affordable housing.

CGN/RJC, YM/YWCA, provides access to water in exchange for children's' plot, meeting rooms; Centretown CHC provides meeting space, voicemail, fax and mail; Church of the Ascension provides workshop space, photocopying, kitchen space; Canadian Environmental Network Youth Caucus providesworkshop facilitation, photocopying; Food Bank/Centre 507 beneficiary of produce; Partnerships with neighbourhood businesses and organizations to collect/divert organic vegetable waste to BUGs compost system.  Other community relationships include Loblaws, CCOC, Great Glebe Garage Sale, , Arbour Environmental Shoppe; GO Greens Organic Farm, Lee Valley Tools,Ottawa Organic Food Alternatives, Rochester Heights Tenants Association, St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Sandy Hill CHC, United Church of Canada Ottawa Presbytery, Wesley United Church.

5 bin compost system, 12 rain barrels, garden shed.

Winner 1998 City of Ottawa Environmental Achievement Award; Host of CGN/RJC Urban Farmers' Festival (UFF) and workshop days; Bud's for Buddies is a BUG outreach that delivers flowers to shut ins; Girl Guides can attain environment badge by getting involved in BUGs.

8

Caldwell Peace Garden

Community garden

1465 Caldwell Ave

 

R6B [612] F(2.0): Bylaw 2000-185, text change amends 1998-093

 

35

2003 Start-up

1st come, 1st serve

 NA

Indirectly - via composting signage & water barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year; Some gardeners are supported by Ontario Works.

 NA

City of Ottawa

CGN/RJC, Ottawa Community Housing Corp, Home Depot, Social Action Committee of local Tenants' Assoc, Carlington CHS.

Compost system

A spin-off of Carlington Community Gardens

9

Carlington Community Garden

Community garden

900 Merivale Rd

 

I1:

Bylaw 2000-251, text change amends 1998-093

150 plots

 NA

 NA

 NA

Indirectly - via composting signage & water barrels produced by the CGN / RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year.

Trillium

Permanent/Secure situated beside host agency Carlington Community Health Services on City of Ottawa land.

CGN/RJC; Carlington CHS.

Large capacity compost system, water access via standing water pipes.

13 languages spoken, 66% with income < $15k

10

Chateau Donald Community Garden

Community garden

251 Donald St

 

R6A H(55.0): Bylaw 1998-186A, text change amends 1998-093

 

20' x 36' = 8 plots; 9 gardeners

2003 Start up

Seniority then lottery

All sign "gardeners agreement - mostly maintenance

Ottawa Community Housing Corporation provides root-tilling, soil amendment (compost, peat moss) and raised beds.

Local Tenants Association will match $ for $ to max $300.00

Temporary - City of Ottawa Property

 NA

Water access

 NA

11

Debra Dynes Community Garden

Community garden

85-955 Debra Ave

 

R3A U(40.0): Bylaw 1998-093

 

1

 NA

Communal

Open to all clients of Debra Dynes Family house (emergency food cupboard)

 NA

 NA

City of Ottawa

CGN/RJC, Ottawa Community Housing Corp, Social Action Committee of local Tenants' Assoc, Carlington CHS.

 NA

A collective approach meant to foster social inclusion and food security.

12

Lepage Community Garden

Community garden

1400 Lepage Ave

 

R6A F(1.0): Bylaw 2000-185, text change amends 1998-093

 

Approx.  15-20

1998

 NA

 NA

Ottawa Community Housing Corporation

 NA

City of Ottawa

CGN/RJC, Ottawa Community Housing Corp, Social Action Committee of local Tenants' Assoc, Carlington CHS.

 NA

 NA

13

Nanny Goat Hill Community Garden

Community garden

575 Laurier Ave

 

R7 F(5.0) H(36.6): Bylaw 2000-113, text change amends 2000-005

40 plots; 70 gardeners

1999

1st come, 1st serve. Possible interview to determine commitment to community spirit.

$5/plot/yr + commitment to help with maintenance and composting in communal areas which includes herb and flower gardens and 2 food bank plots.

Indirectly - via composting signage & water barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year. Directly - City provides annual user agreement for use of the site. Water access via standing pipe left after demolition of adjacent property.

TD Friends of the Environment for pilot compost project; Centretown CHC provides meeting space, community development/mediation support; Richcraft Development Corp donated stones for garden borders from nearby construction site.

Temporary: was yr to yr , current lease period May 2002-Dec 31 2004 @ $1/32 mths.

CGN/RJC, Elisabeth Fry Society has a plot, Shepherds of Good Hope beneficiaries of produce, Bronson Centre offers discounted rates for space rental; Inukshuk built by individuals from the neighbouring Inuit Friendship Centre who use the community garden as a community space.

5 bin compost system which includes outreach to a nearby high-rise where 50 units are involved in a compost pilot project located in the garden, water barrels.

Host of 2002 CGN/RJC Harvest Celebration.

14

Strathcona Heights Community Garden

Community garden

430 Wiggins Priv

 

R5A [127] F(1.0) Sch.96:

Bylaw 2000-185, text change amends 1998-093

 

225' x 35' = 34, 15'x 15' plots

1995

Seniority, Strathcona Heights residents, then 1st come, 1st serve.

$20/plot/yr, most work done by core volunteers.

Indirectly - via composting signage and rain barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding, and compost delivery until last year.

Original funding for garden came from Province of Ontario Public Health.

Unknown, lease with former City of Ottawa.

CGN/RJC; Strathcona Heights Tenants Assoc; Co-op Voisin provides meeting space, photocopying, electrical outlet for charging whipper snipper.

3 bin compost system, water access via standing pipes running from adjacent Ottawa Community Housing building.

Limited community participation, current beautification project underway, plans for path system that's wheelchair accessible.

15

Sweet Willow Community Garden

Community garden

31 Rochester St

 

R6H U(127.0):

Bylaw 2000-185, text change amends 1998-093

12 plots, 17 gardeners

1998

Seniority, then 1st come, 1st serve.

No fee

Indirectly - via composting signage and rain barrels produced by the CGN/RJC with City funding.

None

Permanent/Secure - situated in raised beds on top of apartment / townhome heating plant.

CGN/RJC; CCOC provides water access and meeting space; Alex Laidlaw provided the evestroughing to directs rainwater from nearby rooftops to water barrels in garden.

3 bin compost system, water access via standing pipes running from adjacent CCOC building.

Non-gardeners from nearby residences use compost system; garden is a community gathering space.

16

River Side Park Community Garden

Community garden

700 Brookfield Avenue

 

I1: Bylaw 2000-251, text change amends 1998-093

3 plots in a 20' X 20' are+ 1 plot that is 3' x 40

1999

 NA

Work contributions

Materials donated through Clean Up the Capital Campaign i.e..  Rakes, gloves, bags/bench donated by former City of Ottawa.

 NA

Loaned from firehall; no formal agreement with City.

 

Temporary

 NA

 NA

.NA

17

DOG (Downtown Ottawa Garden)

Community garden

575 Laurier Ave West

 

R7 F(5.0) H(36.6): Bylaw 2000-113, text change amends 2000-005

Approx.  4000 sq feet.  30 plots

Fall 2002 (hoping to start gardening in 2003)

 NA

Work contributions

Land/water (stand pipe)

Youth from Youth Program at Hunt Club Riverside Community Services Centre maintain the vegetable garden. Produce is shared with five groups.

There will be an agreement with the City but this has not hasn't been signed yet. 

Centretown Community Health Centre hired part time coordinator to get garden going (this contract is almost finished).

 NA

City has agreement with Rich Craft to create the space for the garden, but currently it is being used as a parking lot by developers.  RPAM has dealt with Rich Craft regarding development.

18

Gloucester Allotment Garden Association

 NA

First site:

On Orient Park Dr (near Innes).

 

Os: Bylaw 1999-333

 

Second site:

On Weir Rd (near to Anderson and Renaud Roads)

 

Os, with a small portion possibly in HOs: Bylaw 1999-333

First site:

Orient Park: 160 plots equivalent to 25ft by 50ft (178 actual plots as some are half size)

Second site:

2.  Weir Rd: 44 plots equivalent to 25 ft.  by 50ft. 

Began operations in 1981 after NCC abandoned the allotment garden program.

 NA

After the NCC abandoned the Allotment Garden Program in 1981, a group of gardeners, with the support of the City of Gloucester, formed a non-profit volunteer organization to continue the allotment garden in Gloucester.  This will be their 23rd year of operation.  The gardeners, through an elected Board of Directors, are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the program.  They voluntarily perform the registration and collect the specified fees, conduct the requirement publicity, stake the plots in spring and perform the fall clean-up.  They hire a contractor to till the plots, buy compost, rent a tractor to distribute compost to each garden, maintain the water taps at Orient Park and buy water for the Anderson Rd. site.

They receive no financial support from the new City of Ottawa.  The City of Ottawa/Gloucester maintains the access roadways at both sites, repairs under-ground breaks in the Orient water system and stores the water troughs for the Anderson Rd. site during the winter months.  Until last year, the Region/Gloucester supplied free compost and they paid for trucking and distribution.

No other funding sources except member fees.

City owns the land at the Orient Park site while the NCC owns the land at the Anderson site.

Some gardeners donate food to the local food bank and to the Shepherds of Good Hope.  The Association has offered free plots to local residents geared to-income housing.

 NA

 NA

19

City of Ottawa Allotment Garden (Dempsey Allotment Gardens)

City Allotment gardens

1975 Kilborn

 

L2B [757]: Bylaw 2000-022, amends Bylaw 1998-093

20' to 25" x 45' to 50'

NCC ran the gardens from 1981 until 1988 when the City took over

 NA

Gardeners pay $52.00/season limited sheds available (82 sheds) for rent at $15.75/season.  Gardeners responsible for their own tilling, planting, equipment etc.

City provides financial assistance for those unable to pay full amount, approx $2,500/yr.

 

City staff manage allocation of gardens and sheds-program revenues help to pay for grass cutting and pre-post clean-up, go-huts, shed maintenance/repairs, paper work i.e..: renewal of contracts, mailing, hardware for repairs, printing.

Program runs on break even basis.

Land is leased from NCC

They provide free gardens to: St. Vincent Hospital, Centre de Transition Communautaire.

 NA

 NA

20

Nepean Allotment Garden Assocation

Community garden

230 Viewmont Dr.

 

PRP: Bylaw 100-2000

150 plots

Volunteer manage the garden since 1991

Last years gardeners have first right of the refusal then goes to first come first service

 

Preference is residents of Nepean.

Always a by waiting list - over 60.

Cost for plots: $25, $30 non-Nepean residents
$20 - seniors.
- Gardeners prepare plots in Spring and Fall

- City takes away trash bins and empties.
- City pays for insurance, water and water repairs.
- Liaison with Community Services , Area 1 South District, provides in kind services i.e.  mails applications and newsletters.

None

City property

 

Registered with the City.

Individuals donate their produce to local agencies.

Composing project

 

Awards projects - for various categories of gardens - judged by local garden centre store.

NA