HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-17-079 - Community Garden Program
REPORT TO:Community and InfrastructureServices Committee
DATE OF MEETING:October 30, 2017
SUBMITTED BY:Denise McGoldrick,Director of Operations and
Environmental Servicesx 4216
Josh Joseph, Supervisor of the Neighbourhood
Development Office x 7082
PREPARED BY:Yvonne Westerveld Cardoso, Landscape Architect x 4216
Darren Kropf, Neighbourhood Development Associate x
7083
WARD(S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:October 12, 2017
REPORT NO.:INS-17-079
SUBJECT:Community GardenProgram
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Community Garden Program, as outlined in INS-17-079 be approved;
and,
That theCity’s existingCommunity Garden Grant Policy (I-525) be rescinded and
replaced with an updated Community Garden Grant, as outlined in appendix Aof
INS-17-079; and,
That the Deputy Chief Administrative Officers are authorized to execute
agreements with recipients pertaining to the City’s Community Garden Grant;
said agreements to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and further;
That staff be directed to implement and fund insurance coverage for new and
existing community gardeners who have been permitted to have a community
garden plot on city-owned land.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Kitchener has taken a strong leadership role in supporting community
gardens over the past 20 years. During those early years, the internal process to
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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establish a new community garden was informal. Operations provided grant funding as
well as in-kind assistance through previous community garden-related policiessuch as
I-525. At that time,the city’sprogram was held in high regard and used as an example
for other municipalities.
Expanding the community gardens program was an action identified under Strategic
Priority #3, Safe and Thriving Neighbourhoods of the Kitchener Strategic Plan in 2017.
Driven by the objectives of the strategic plan, through the business plan staff were
directed to explore opportunities to accelerate/increase the community garden program.
During the consultation phase of the LoveMyHood Neighbourhood Strategy (CSD-17-
008), community gardens were identified by residents most frequently as a way to
improve a place and connectpeople. In addition, as the city intensifies, the need for
more community garden space is expected to grow.
This report includes updates to the city’s community garden program, including:
Increased funding for new gardens through the Community Gardens Grant
Available funding for enhancements to existing gardens through the
Neighbourhood Matching Grant
Developing agreements and providing insurance coverage for gardeners
A step-by-step guide and an easier process for residents to start a new garden
An easier application form and streamlined grant review process
BACKGROUND:
Community gardens are defined as places where people come together to grow
vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowersin designated plots, on a volunteer-driven,non-
commercial basis.
Community gardens would not be possible without the leadership of volunteers, and
Kitchener is fortunate to have so many passionate residents providing their time and
expertise. Not only do they tend to their own plots, but collectively they perform tasks
such as garden administration, financial management, maintenance and general
upkeep, social events or gatherings, safety inspections and communications.
REPORT:
Existing Community Gardens in Kitchener
Currently, there are 15 community gardensproviding 241 plotson city-owned land in
Kitchener.There are an additional 20 community gardens on other non-city owned
lands, such as non-profit organizations, schools, faith communities, and housing
cooperatives. These gardens play animportant role in creatingsafe and thriving
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neighbourhoods. A map of all gardens in Kitchener is available in Appendix C.
City OwnedYear
Garden
Landvs # of plotsestablishWard
Othered
Bread & Roses Container Gardenother4-9
Chandler-MowatCommunityGardencity land2219996
Courtland-Shelley Community Gardencity land20-3
Crestview Community Gardenother620131
Doon -Pioneer Park Community city land1620004
Garden
Eastwood Healthy Food/Healthy other12201210
Planet Community School Garden
Eden's Gate Community Gardenother5020076
Forest Heights Community Centre city landn/a-7
Food Forest Guild
Forest Hill United Church Community other1319968
Garden
George Lippert Community Gardencity land10200210
Green Valley Community Gardencity land20144
GROW Greenhouse and Herbal othercommunal199810
Gardens
Guelph Street Gardencity land24201310
Gzowski Park Community Gardencity land4320138
Hacienda Demonstration Community othercommunal201210
Garden
KCI Community Gardenother17-9
Kingsdale Community Gardenother920023
Kitchener Downtown Community otherdemonstrat-9
Health Centre Gardenion
Mansion Greens (formerly Central city land20 + 201210
Frederick Community Garden)4
communal
May Place Community Gardenother10199910
Nature's Gardenother1220089
Old Willow Green Community Gardencity land20-9
Peace and Carrots Labyrinth and other1620001
Community
Queen's Greens Community Gardenregion and 2519989
city
Ray of Hope and Nexus Centre other5020129
Community Garden
Rosemount Millennium Community other14-1
Garden
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Salvation Army Hope and Unity other10020126
Community Garden;
Sand Hills Co-operative Community other141994/20126
Garden
Stanley Park CC Community Gardenother1620172
Supportive Housing Community othercommunal20139
Gardens
Trinity Village Community Gardenother10+20003
Victoria Hills Community Gardencity land26-3019938
Victoria Park Food Forest Guildcity landn/a20169
Weed'um and Reapother1020078
Willow Green Extension Gardencity land12-9
Community Garden Council
The Community Garden Council of Waterloo Region envisions a strong, supportive
infrastructure that supports residents in the promotion and sustainability ofcommunity
gardens. They are avolunteer-driven groupandthecityowes many thanks to their
passionate and effective leadership towardsthe promotion,sustainability and increased
awareness of community gardens.They are a key partner forthe City of Kitchener and
play a vital role in supporting community gardens by providing essential gardening
advice, resources, mentoring and networking opportunities for new and existing
gardeners. Past initiatives and partnerships include:
The Community Garden Council partnered with the city to provide accessible
garden plots at Chandler Mowat Community Garden
TheCommunity Garden Council secured $140,000 through a Ontario Trillium
Grant to hire a temporary garden coordinator who oversaw the installation of four
(4)community gardens in Kitchener
The Community Garden Council established a partnership with the Region of
Waterloo to supply compost to community gardeners. Compost is loaded and
delivered by a truck coordinated by gardeners and/or the city.
T
he City of Kitchener looks forward to continuing thisstrong working relationship with
the Community Garden Council inthe future development of additional tools,resources,
templates, training, establishing minimum standards for community gardensand other
garden support. For more information on the Community Garden Council and the on-
going support they provide to community gardens, see http://community-gardens.ca/
ASt
ep by Step Guideto Startinga Community Garden
S
tarting a community garden is a complex task that requires support from city staff, the
Community Garden Council and other organizationssuch as the Community Garden
Council. To assist volunteers in this process – and to minimize unexpected red tape –
city staff has developed a step by step process to starting a community garden, as seen
in Appendix B.
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A draft version of these steps was shared during a community garden workshop and
online through an Engage Kitchener survey. 79% of survey respondents thought the
steps were clear and easy to understand.
Agreements and Insurance Coverage for Community Gardens
As part of the City’s Community Garden Program, it is proposed that an agreement
between the community garden group and the City be established. The agreement is
intended to provideofficial approval of the site location and clearly identifyroles and
responsibilities for both the start-up phase and long-term care and ongoing
maintenance of the garden.
The agreement will also include insurance requirements and coverage that is necessary
to protect the city and the gardenersthemselves. The city has taken a leadership role in
working with an insurance brokerto underwrite a policy for community gardeners that
has not existed in the past. Through this policy, gardeners are adequately protected to
participate in preparing and maintaining the gardenand play a more active role in using
tools at the garden to make repairs and upgrades as needed.
Community Garden Grant
Starting a new community garden without any city support is very challenging for
residents and likely only feasible for neighbourhoods with sufficientresources, capacity
and personal connections. A Community Garden Grant provides a more equitable
distribution of community gardens across the city.
Currently, the community garden grant resides in section 5.0 of Policy I-525, Community
Investment. It provides opportunity for one-time grants including in-kind and cash
support for the establishment of community gardens. The community garden grant
policy includes extraneous information and requires alignment to the updated
community garden program and Lovemyhood.
An updated Community Gardens Grant is found in Appendix A. Key improvementsfrom
I-525 include:
Removing technical information related to garden plot layout and installation
Clarifying the cash and in-kind valuesfor gardens on city-owned land vs non-city
owned lands
Clarifying and expanding the selection criteria
Making the application process more user-friendly
Adding an annual application deadline
Adding community gardens council representatives to the selection committee
At current funding levels, this grant will support one to threenew community gardens
per yearon city owned lands. However, the grant also provides financial support for
establishing gardens on private property, and this may accelerategarden expansion
depending on neighbourhood support. Based on community feedback, city staff is
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recommending thatresources be directed towards one to threegardens,ensuring their
quality and success,rather than spreading resourcesthin among many new gardens
that may then fall into disrepair or face immediatefinancial or other challenges.
Staff is proposing thenew grant process for new or expanded community gardens begin
in June 1,2018, with approvals provided for installation in 2019. In the meantime, three
community garden developments are already underway, including:
new community garden atHenry SturmGreen, as part of the Iron Horse Trail
A
redevelopment. Queen’s Green Community Garden, located at Queen St. and
Mitchell St. has offered to help mentor and launch this new garden group. It is
expected that some of the people on their wait list will join the Henry Sturm
Community Garden.Capital costs are being paid for by the Iron Horse Trail
budget(INS-15-058 - Iron Horse Trail Improvement Strategy).
Staff have received an inquiry from King East and the Auditorium Neighbourhood
Associations to consider and assess a community garden in their
neighbourhoods.
Staff have also received an inquiryfrom the CherryPark Neighbourhood
Association for a community garden in Gildner Green.
The city intends to support both requests in 2018 through the installation ofwater
connections, securing locates and soil testing and preparation. Agreements will be
established with garden groups so they understand their roles and responsibilities in
establishinga new garden.
Support Existing Gardens ThroughOtherNeighbourhoodGrants
The city’s support of community gardens is strong, but is not able to financially support
core functions of a garden on an ongoing basis, including general maintenance and
upkeep, tool replacement, repairs and upgrades to fencing or delineation, storage sheds
and more.
The city encouragesgardens to be financially self-sustaining, through a combination of
member fees, donations, fundraising, sponsorships and foundation or other community
grants. City staff can help support community gardeners who need assistance in
planning and accessing these funds.The Community Garden Council can provide
support and resources as well.
Enhancements to community gardens that are beneficial to the entire neighbourhood
may be eligible for a Neighbourhood Matching Grant or Neighbourhood Placemaking
Challenge grant. City staff can work with existing community garden groups to explain
the grant criteria and how to prepare an application.
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Zoning and Community Gardens
In 2015 the City commenced a compreshensive review of its zoning by-law (CRoZBy).
Through the public consultation on CRoZBy some residents and organizations
advocated that community gardens be established as a permitted use in zoning.Their
submission is to legitimize community gardens and make them more prevalent. There
are pros and cons to establishing community gardens as a use in zoning. While it would
provide clarity on where they are appropriate to locate it may add more layers of red
tape and make it more difficult to start community gardens.
Planning Division staff are supportive of this approach and will be recommending that
community gardens not be included as a use in the final draft zoning by-law. An internal
group comprised of Neighbourhood Development Office, Community Services, Parks
and Planning staff considered comments provided and believe that the approach to
community gardens outlined in this report will provide more flexibility regarding where
future gardens can be located. In addition, it will assist residents in creating new
gardens by removing a layer of administration and is in keeping with our revised
Community Garden program update to streamline garden applications, to the extent
possible.
Accessible Community Gardens
Creating accessible community gardens is included in the city’s grant criteria. The
Accessible Design of Public Spaces standards (AODA) legislate requirements related to
paths of traveland other featureswhich will impact the design and location of
community gardens. Staff, in consultation with GRAAC, will develop a framework within
the minimum standards that will outline accessibility as it relates to the number of
accessible plots within a garden proposal.The Community Garden Council has
produced a tool that assists volunteers in creating an accessible community garden.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority:Safe & Thriving Neighbourhoods
Strategy:3.1 – Give citizens the tools and opportunities to play an active leadership role
in creating great neighbourhoods and fostering a stronger sense of community
belonging
Strategic Action:#NB1 Neighbourhood Strategy
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
No new funds are being requested, as funds for community gardens are already
available through existing budgets.
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An existing account for the community garden grant will continue to be administered,
and funds will be utilized to help create new community gardens in Kitchener. Additional
details about the Community Garden Grant criteria are available in Appendix A.
Existing accounts for annual funds will continue to be utilized to support in-kind services
and maintenance of community gardens on city owned lands.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Through a massive community engagement campaign for the creation of the
LoveMyHood Neighbourhood Strategy, 5,651 residents provided input in 3,942 hours of
conversation. Staff heard from a diversity of residents, such as neighbourhood
associations, schools, faith communities, cultural clubs, sports team, youth and seniors
groups. Staff engaged residents at parks, pools, splash pads, bus stations, soccer
games, events and shopping centres all across the city.
A community gardens workshop and online survey demonstrated strong enthusiasm for
community gardens, as many residents expressed their support. Feedback can be
summarized into several key themes:
Water – Reliable water connections are absolutely critical to the long-term
viability of gardens.
Proximity– The biggest barrier to being involved in a community garden is the
lack of one within pedestrian traveling distance.
Demand – Nearly half the survey respondents are not currently involved in
gardens but used to be or would like to be, and several gardens have lengthy
waiting lists.
Theft and vandalism – Many community gardens experience theft of produce,
damage to property, and break-ins to storage sheds.
On-going support – Maintaining community gardens takes a lot of effort and
resources over the long-term. Some gardens are struggling with volunteer
burnout and lack of financial resources for maintenance and needed upgrades.
Networking/Mentoring – Sharing best practices, tips and resources among
gardens is incredibly valuable.
Make it easy – Volunteers want to spend their time in the garden – not
navigating complicated city hall procedures.
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.In addition, key stakeholders were notified
by email and social media.
CONSULT –A workshop was held on August 31 with fourteen current community
gardeners to review, discuss and share feedback on:
Steps to start a community garden on city-owned land
Roles and responsibilities
Grant support
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esidents werealsoconsulted on components of the community garden program
R
through an EngageKitchener online survey, which was completed by 75 people.
COLLABORATE - City staff met with the Community Gardens Council on several
occasions to review draft plans and discuss on-going partnership opportunities.
PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER:
CSD-09-041 AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL POLICY 1-525 – COMMUNITY
INVESTMENTS (June 16, 2009) – established the Community Gardens Grantsinthe
Community Investment Policy
Neighbourhood Strategy & Implementation Plan (CSD-17-008) - Action item #1: Make it
easier to start new community gardens.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Cynthia Fletcher, Interim Executive Director, Infrastructure
Services
APPENDICES:
A.Community Gardens Grant
B.Step by Step Guide
C.Map of existing community gardens in Kitchener
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INS-17-079
Community Garden Program
Appendix A:
Community Gardens Grant
4 pages
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Community Gardens Grant
The City of Kitchener is a strong supporter of community gardens. Community gardens provide access to
fresh vegetables, connect neighbours, provide a sense of belonging and improve the look of
neighbourhoods.
In addition to this grant, you can find a step by step guide for starting a community garden at
lovemyhood.ca. It is a good idea to communicate with city staff before submitting a grant application, to
help you understand the process involved and do an initial screening of your proposed locations.
The volunteer-driven Community Garden Councilof Waterloo Regionhas a wealth of resourcesand
mentoring or networking opportunities. Visit community-gardens.ca.
1.Definition of a community garden
Community gardens are defined as places where people come together to grow vegetables, herbs,
fruits and flowers in designated plots, on a volunteer-driven, non-commercial basis.
2.Purpose
The purpose of this grant is to provide financial and in-kind support for starting new community
gardens in Kitchener. This is a one-time grant and does not support on-going operations of a
community garden.
3.Grant amount
On city owned lands, new community gardens are eligible for:
Up to $1,000 towards one-time capital and/or equipment costs, such as plot construction,
fencing, signage,storage shed, tools,accessibility features,etc.
In-kind services including water connection costs, locates, soil testing and preparation of the
garden.
On non-city owned lands, new community gardens are eligible for:
Up to $1,000 towards one-time capital and/or equipment costs, such as plot construction,
fencing, signage, storage shed, tools, accessibility features, etc.
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4.Who can apply
Applications from residents or community groups in Kitchener will be accepted, including:
Residents who form a committee/group for the purpose of starting a community garden.
Neighbourhood-based or community groups already formed (such as non-profit
organizations, neighbourhood associations, hobby or special interest groups, etc.).
5.Grant eligibility
The proposed community garden must:
Be located in the City of Kitchener.
Be primarily led, planned and administered by residents or community groups.
Be open and inclusive to the wider neighbourhood and encourage diverse involvement in
garden committees and plot assignments.
Include accessible and barrier free garden plot options
6.How to apply
st
Applications will be accepted annuallyon June 1of the preceding year the community garden is to
be installed.
To be considered for this grant, the applicant must submit the following details in the form of a
proposal or complete an online application form at lovemyhood.ca, including:
Organizational structure of group or organization leading the community garden.
Key contact names of individual(s) that will lead the community garden.
Description of 2-3 suggestedlocations for the community garden.
Identify how the garden can have a positive neighbourhood impact, as outlined in the Grant
Criteria in Section 7:A.
7.Grant criteria
A.Neighbourhood impact
Applicants must demonstrate their proposed community garden has a positive neighbourhood impact,
in the following ways:
Demand for a community garden (such as a list of interested gardeners or waiting list), with
high preference for neighbourhoods without community gardens nearby.
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Potential to address neighbourhood challenges or opportunities (examples might include food
security, gathering spaces for the public, educational programming, inclusion of people
needing a sense of belonging, safety/crime prevention, etc.).
Initial support from the neighbourhood, such ascommunity partnershipsor endorsements.
To ensure an equitable distribution of grants, priority is given to new or emerging neighbourhood
groups who will benefit the most from funding support.
B.Technical viability
City staff will confirmthe technical viability and financial feasibility of the suggested locations,
according to the following criteria:
Accessibility
Visibility
Soil condition and quality
Underground services
Water access
Adequate sunlight
Storage space
Existing and/or potential use of the site
8.Selection committee
Applications will be reviewed and approved by representatives from City of Kitchener staff and the
Community Garden Council.
9.Key responsibilities
Applicants are expected to:
Be open to partnerships with other community groups, neighbourhood associations or not-
for-profit organizations, to leverage additional funds/resources.
Havea bank account with at least two people who are named as “signatories.”
Provide an accurate accounting of all funds, including proof of purchases, in a final report at
the completion of the project.
Complete an agreement between your group and the city. For community gardens on city-
owned land, this will clearly define roles and responsibilities related to theinstallation and
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on-going maintenance and oversight of thecommunity garden. This may include any safety
measures that can be put in place to ensurethe safety of all users and participants.
Recognize the contribution of the City of Kitchener in the form of a plaque or other means
and at public openings or events.
10.Important considerations
While the City of Kitchener’s contribution is substantial, it will not cover the full start-up costs
of a new community garden. Applicants should be prepared to seek other funding
opportunities in addition to this grant.
Applicants are encouraged to create a sustainable plan for the on-going upkeep and
maintenance costs of gardens.
Community gardens on city-owned land are expected to have adequate liability insurance,
which will be arranged through city staff.
While existing community gardens cannot apply to this grant for upgrades or enhancements,
certain projects may be eligible through the Neighbourhood Matching Grant or
for more information.
Neighbourhood Placemaking Challenge. Visit lovemyhood.ca
The city is actively working together with the Community Garden Council and other partners to
create tools and resources on how to fundraiseand access other grantsto ensure the long-
term sustainability of a garden. Visit community-gardens.ca for more information.
11.Contact information
For more information about this grant, contact:
Darren Kropf
Neighbourhood Development Office
lovemyhood@kitchener.ca
519-741-2200 ext. 7083
This information is available in accessible formats upon request.
Please call 519-741-2200 ext. 7083 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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INS-17-079
Community Garden Program
Appendix B:
Step by Step Guide
7 pages
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Your guide to
Community
Gardens
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What are About this guide
This guide will make iteasier for youto start a
Community Gardens?
new community garden. It walks you through
Community gardens are places where people
each step and explains how city staff can help.
come together to grow vegetables, herbs, fruits
and flowers in designated plots. Thegardens are
Generally, this guide is focused on community
coordinated and maintainedby volunteers, and
gardens on city-owned land. Of course,most of
the produce is not for commercial use.
thesteps will apply to other properties as well.
Just keep in mind you’ll need different
permissionsfrom the land owners.
Benefits of
Community Gardens
Meet theCommunity
Community gardenscan provide youwith:
Garden Council!
fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables.
The Community Garden Councilof Waterloo
an opportunity to learn from others and
Regionis a volunteer-driven organization
share knowledge on gardening and
dedicated to supporting community gardens.We
cooking.
are extremely grateful for their leadership role in
achance tomeet yourneighbours.
our community.
a way to beactiveand enjoythe outdoors.
Throughout this guide, we point to even more
Community gardens are great for the
helpful resources and templates they’ve put
neighbourhood too! They:
together, especially related to the everyday
management of community gardens and the nitty
provide an inclusive gathering place for
gritty details of actually getting things to grow!
people of all ages and cultural
You can find these resourcesatcommunity-
backgrounds.
gardens.ca.
build welcoming, safer communities.
improve the look of neighbourhoods.
If you want to find a plot and gardenon your own,
support pollinator habitats and a healthy
please contact the Community Garden Council.
environment.
They’ll be happy to help!
Who do I contact to get started?
City staff is here to help.This information is available in
accessible formats upon request.
Darren Kropf
Neighbourhood Development OfficePlease call 519-741-2200 ext. 7083
lovemyhood@kitchener.caor TTY 1-866-969-9994 for
519-741-2200 ext. 7083assistance.
2
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How long will this take?
How much will this cost?
Overall, the entire projectto start a community
Community gardens can cost several thousands
garden cantake about one year from start to
of dollars depending onthe size, layout, features
finish(withno unexpected complications).
and proximity to services. Typical start-up costs
include:
We recommend you start planningin April, so
your garden can open in thespringof the
Water connection
following year.If you’relooking for financial and
Locates
in-kind assistance from the city,please note that
Soil testing
grant applications are due onJune 1 every year,
Site preparation
for installation in the spring ofthe following year.
Shed and other storage
Fencing or other delineation like shrubs
Also,the Community GardensGrantcurrently
Signage
supportsonlyone to threenew gardens a year. If
Tools, hoses, hand tools,wheelbarrows
you’re not approved, don’t let this stop you! We’ll
Plot construction and/or raised beds
check in with you in the following year to see if
Common amenities like seating, shade or
you are still interested in receiving a grant and
art
starting a community garden. You won’t have to
complete the entire application form again.
We offer a Community Gardens Grant to help
with start-up costs. For gardens on city-owned
land, you can receiveup to$1,000 in cash plus
in-kind services relatedto water connection,
locates, soil testing and preparation of the
garden. Gardens not on city land can receiveup
to$1,000 in cash.
3
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10 stepsto start a community garden
experienced gardeners to learn from.Visit
Shapinga vision
community-gardens.ca.
Depending on your comfort level, you might want
to do the first two steps in a different order. Up to
Finding the right location
you!
3.Identifytwo to three potential
locations
1.Form a group of keengardeners
Factors toconsider include:
Start by getting four to sixpeopleinvolved and
Accessibility
ready towork together.As a group, come up with
Visibilityand sightlines
a list of goals you hope to achieve or a vision for
what your garden might look like.Soil condition and quality
Underground services
2.Contact city staff& the
Water access
Community Garden Council
Adequate sunlight
Storage space
Express your interest to city staff(contact
Existing and/or potential use of the site
information is on page 2).We’ll walk you through
this guideand grant opportunities, as well as
providesomeadvice on engaging the whole
Sharing your vision
neighbourhoodin your community garden project.
4.Do a “pulse check” in your ‘hood
The Community Garden Council can point you to
Do others share your vision? Will a community
morehelpful resources and connect you with
garden be supported by the neighbourhood?
4
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Start these conversations early to build broad Council has great templates from other gardens
support.and it’s probably a good idea to visit an existing
community garden or two as well.
Share your vision and possible locations with
your ward councillorandneighbourhood Talk with city staff to discuss how to design your
garden to be accessible, such as raised beds and
association,as well as schools, faith
communities, businessesor non-profits. barrier-freepathways.
This is also the time to make key decisions that
Confirmingcity and
will dictate the cost of your garden, like:
neighbourhood support
Pathways and access to the garden
Fencing or delineation
5.Prepare a grant application
Type of storage, if any
By June1, prepare a grant application forthe
Gathering spaces, seating or art
city’s Community Gardens Grant.The application
While the city’s grant support is substantial,it will
form will ask you to identify preferredlocations, in
not cover the full start-up costs of a new
order of priority, and describehow the garden can
community garden.Additional funds could be
have a positive neighbourhood impact.Check the
raised through member fees, donations,
fundraising, sponsorshipsorother community
grant guidelines for more details.Approval by the
grants.Remember to build a “rainy day” fund for
city will include confirmation of the best location.
unexpected costs in the future.
6.Engagethe neighbourhood
8.CompleteaCommunity Garden
At minimum, we ask that you inform residents
Agreement
within 120 metresof the proposed locationand
This agreement, between your community garden
host a public information meeting.
groupand the city, will lay out clear roles and
responsibilities for both the start-up phase and
Sometimes, there may be differences of opinion
long-term care and ongoing maintenance of the
between residents. Wecan help you respond to
garden.
any potential challengesor concernsthat may
This agreement also includes insurance
arise.
requirements that arenecessary to protect your
garden planning group and the gardeners
Planning garden
themselves.
coordination
7.Developa layout, create a budget
and look forfunding
Once your garden has been approved, you’ll
need todetermine the layout of your garden plots
and other amenities. The Community Garden
5
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Building the garden
9.Planhow to run your garden
Key decisions include:
10.Prepare the site and build the
garden
On-going volunteer roles
We’llwork with youtocreate a schedule ofwho is
Annual maintenance and operating
doing what forgarden construction.
budget and garden plot fees
How people sign upfor plots
Build community and a sense of ownership in the
Gardener guidelines
garden by hosting a work day for all gardeners.
Annual work days, potlucks or
Assign tasks, such as building the plots, installing
celebrations
fences, organizing tools, etc. Try to find
Ways to give back to the community(e.g.,
something that meets everyone’sskill levels and
donating fresh produce to the local food
abilities.Don’t forget lunch breaks or fun stuff like
bank)
livemusic.
Again, city staff and the Community Garden
Start gardening!
Council can provide templates for these details.
Once you have plans in place, you can start
You did it! Your community garden isready to go.
receiving gardeners, assigning plotsand clearly
Host an official opening and take lots of pictures
defining roles and responsibilities ofall
to remember this specialday. And don’t forget to
gardeners.
thank all the amazing volunteers who made it
happen!
6
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Community Gardensin Kitchener
The community garden at Trinity Village features
The Gzowski ParkCommunity Gardenbrings
raised beds so people with different physical
togethermany different cultures, helping to form
abilitiescan participate.
residents’ sense of belonging.
How can your garden be accessible to all?
How can your garden reflect diversity?
Rosemount Millennium Community Garden has a
Guelph Street Community Garden hosts regular
communal plot for gardeners to tend to, with the
potlucks for the whole neighbourhood, not just
produce being donated to the local foodbank.
gardeners themselves.
How can your garden give back to the local
How can your garden be a gathering place for the
community?
neighbourhood?
7
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INS-17-079
Community Garden Program
Appendix C:
Map of Existing Community Gardens in Kitchener
2 pages
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123456789
10111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
NUMBER
INDEX
GARDEN
SCHOOL
GARDEN
GARDEN
GARDEN
GARDEN
COMMUNITY
CENTRE
GARDEN
COMMUNITY
PLANET
GARDEN
HEALTH
GARDENS
SITECOMMUNITY
GARDEN
GARDEN
GARDEN
GARDEN
GARDEN
COMMUNITY
SITE
GARDEN
GARDENS
GARDEN
GARDEN
GARDEN
COMMUNITY
GARDENUNITYGARDEN
SITE
FREDERICK)
SITEGARDEN
SITEGARDEN
SITE
GARDEN
SITE
SITE
GARDEN
GARDEN
HERBHOMES
COMMUNITY
GARDEN
SITECOMMUNITY
GARDEN
SITESITE
SITE
AND
CANDIDATE
FOREST
COMMUNITY
CANDIDATE
COMMUNITY
FOREST
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITYEATING/HEALTHY
COMMUNITY
AND
COMMUNITY
CHURCHGARDEN
COMMUNITY
FOREST
(CENTRAL
MARKET
HOPE
COMMUNITY
GARDEN
COMMUNITYFOOD
CANDIDATE
COMMUNITY
CANDIDATECANDIDATE
PARKEXTENSION
CANDIDATEGARDENERS
CANDIDATEPARK
CANDIDATECOMMUNITYCOMMUNITYFOOD
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
GREENMILLENIUM
GREENS
CHICOPEECOMMUNITYFOOD
CANDIDATE
CANDIDATECANDIDATESHELLEY
CANDIDATE
HOUSING
UNITED
REAP
HEALTHY
COMMUNITYCOOPERATIVE
ARMYCARROTS
COMMUNITY
DOWNTOWN
MOWAT
PARK
SARRIA
PARKPARK
GREENS
GARDEN
CLAIRHILLS
&
HILLSPARKHILLSPARK
PARK
GREEN
LIPPERT
STREET
VILLAGE
HILLHEIGHTS
PARK
GATE
PARKPARK
VALLEY
GREENHOUSECOMMUNITY
AND
PIONEER
HILLS
OAK
PLACE
WILLOW
QUEEN'S
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITYPARKVALEVOISINTRAILVIEWEDENCOUNTRYZELLERVICTORIACENTREVILLEBREITHAUPTBRIDGEPORTCOUNTRYWILLIAMSBURGCHANDLERCOURTLANDDOONEASTWOODEDEN'SFORESTGEORGEGREENGROWGUELPHGZOWSKIHACIENDASALVATIONKCIKIN
GSDALEKITCHENERMANSIONMAYNATURE'SNEXUSOLDPEACEROSEMOUNTSANDSUPPORTIVETHETRINITYVICTORIAWEEDUMWILLOWSTANLEYWEBERFORESTVICTORIA
3 - 25