Front Page @Instagram @Facebook @Twitter Custom Site Search



Photo Credit: Stefania Galluccio @mystoo
1116 - 7/25/2021 6:55:09 AM  

The Demand For Plots Just Keeps Growing At New Community Garden On Westwood Road
 

“The pandemic has been hard, but getting outside and in the garden has really  helped with our mental health! Gardening is also very common back home in  Croatia, so it’s been a wonderful way to practice our culture.” 
Sabina & son 
Gardeners 

On Saturday, July 24, 2021, 9:30am - 11:30am neighbourhood families  will be gathering at a new community garden located on half an acre at St  Peter Catholic School, 155 Westwood Road in Guelph. Families will be  providing ideas and input for the expansion of a garden that is only two months old. 

“We’ve been gardening a lot! It’s been a great stress reliever for me after a  long work day. Vegetables can be so expensive but growing them ourselves  has made it affordable and now we can add more to our meals.” 
Eilyn & kids 
Gardeners 

By the end of the three weeks of construction all garden plots were taken.  There was such demand that plots had to be subdivided into smaller 1.5 x 3  metre plots. There are currently 52 families, 171 adults and children, growing  produce in their gardens and dozens of families on a waiting list. 

“This space was transformed into a community garden with 56 plots in three  weeks”, says Linda Busuttil with the West Village Co-op. “People saw us  working and came down from their apartment buildings, or stopped while  walking by, they asked us what we were doing, asked us if they could help,  and asked if they could please have some space to grow vegetables”.  

“Gardening just isn’t accessible to everyone”, added Busuttil, “we facilitated this  project to provide immediate access to fresh produce for families and respond  to food insecurity in a priority neighbourhood now and post-Covid. 

The group has applied for a Healthy Communities grant for the project and has  received in-kind and other donations. 

“We were unsuccessful in the first round  of funding, but the board asked us to do what we could” says Busuttil, “you  just can't ask families to tell you what they need and then turn around and say  'sorry we didn't get any funding'.” 

A draft plan for the garden includes 80 more plots, a communal herb garden,  extension of the perennial food fence, garden shed and a shade structure.  Current and new gardeners and the rest of the neighbourhood are encouraged  to share their gardening experiences and ideas. It is anticipated that the full  garden will be completed by the end of October.

"This is my neighbourhood, I raised my kids here, and I volunteer to make a  difference for other families. People along Westwood Road told us they wanted  a place to grow food, to help with food costs and to have more vegetables for  their family. When we didn't get any funding for the project we decided to go  ahead anyway. Families look to us to act and make a difference. "
Crenda King, Vice President 
West Village Co-op



About The West Village Co-op

• The West Village Co-op has been offering programs and supports in the  neighbourhood for over 24 years 

• The Neighbourhood is a priority area as identified by Public Health’s  eight Social Determinants of Health 

• The City of Guelph 2021 Community Grant provides $2,000 funding for  the Group’s activities, additional funding is provided by other grants and  donations 

• The annual Neighbourhood budget is approximately $150,000 


- 30 - 




Send Us Your Press Release!

We welcome all Guelph and Area Press Releases | Details |
       

Front Page | About | Privacy Policy | Social Media | Join | Contact