By Kelly Butler
This spring, Lowertown’s Community Gardens are preparing for the upcoming gardening season with the support of the Lowertown Community Resource Centre (LCRC) and Ottawa Community Housing (OCH). In addition to approximately 60 raised beds in the area, some of which are accessible, containers will be available for residents to borrow for the season. There will even be a seed exchange on registration day, organized by gardeners to get people started.
Community gardens are a transformative way to engage local residents while adding beauty to our public spaces. They can improve the health and well-being of active gardeners and bring interest to passers-by. Lowertown’s community gardens enhance our neighbourhood and provide affordable access to healthy food.
Resident and volunteer Alec Maclaren first got involved when building the beautiful Angel Square Community Garden located at 40 Cobourg Street. As a gardener himself and an experienced woodworker, he has seen first-hand the real joy and spirit of sharing that lives within community gardening. Thanks to many helping hands, projects are typically built in one day and those who may be interested in volunteering should know that no experience is required. Activities are organized to maintain the gardens and pre-pandemic, included social gatherings.
Just Food (communitygardening@justfood.ca) is the non-profit organization which oversees all of the community gardens that are on land owned by the City and provides free online resources for anyone seeking to broaden their gardening knowledge. Community gardens are deemed an essential service and Covid-19 safety precautions must be followed by all.
Most recently, a new garden was completed at 160 Charlotte Street, and another one is scheduled to be completed this year at 312 Cumberland Street. One of the big challenges is the availability of wood and its impact on costs.
Not surprisingly, demand is higher than available plots resulting in waitlists as many Lowertown residents are interested in gardening. LCRC’s Alain Lutala said that an advisory committee is being implemented to launch a community-garden network that will share resources and advocate for expansion in our area. Some of the vacant land in Lowertown could be converted into vibrant green spaces where residents could collectively create and maintain gardening projects. Beyond the many positive benefits associated with the gardens, they also provide an opportunity to meet your neighbours, building inclusion and growing hope in our community.
Anyone interested in community gardening or becoming a volunteer can contact the LCRC reception@crcbv.ca or OCH info@och.ca for referral to your local community garden to register.