I support community gardens on currently little-used public land, an
idea being proposed by the Guelph Food Roundtable. I understand the
2010 budget process is at a stage to consider this idea.
I feel it has a number of advantages, including:
– environmental: local food with associated low use of resources
– social: community incubators, stress release, enjoyable exercise,
satisfaction of producing your food
– economic: low cost healthy food, possibility of some rental fees to
the City, some saved property maintenance costs to offset new ones like
water provision, building community resilience to future potential shocks.
I’ve had a small garden plot at Ignatius for many years and enjoy it
very much. I recall my father looking forward to the Yarway plot each
year decades ago. I’ve read how Montreal has benefited so much from its
community gardens. I feel it would be “a natural” for Guelph with its
agricultural and environmental traditions. ES
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I am writing to state my support for community gardens in Guelph. With
other members of the Guelph Food Roundtable, I have been working to plan
ways to use city lands such as parks for local food production, and I urge
you to join us in our efforts.
Community gardens can help Guelph residents build community by working
together and getting to know neighbours better. They can help us gain better
health through physical activity and access to fresh, organically-grown
fruits and vegetables. Just as importantly, they can help our community
supply more of our food needs locally rather than dependinge on food
transported from great distances and involving major carbon emissions.
I’m asking you to support the use of Guelph’s public spaces for community
gardens and to make community gardens a priority in the 2010 City of Guelph Budget. SL