The featured story for the months of July and August, is all about What Community Gardens are.

'by Susan Berman, Community Garden Coordinator

I have been asked a lot lately: What is a community garden? I realized that it is hard to articulate what a community garden is, because there are so many facets to a what a community garden is and what it can be to different people. It can't be put it into one sentence.

What is a Community Garden?

A Community Garden, by it's name, is run by using the “community process”. That is, decisions are made by the community group as a whole. The organizational structure consists of either formal or informal committees that would present their work to the general membership before any decisions are made. The meetings to make decisions are open to all the members of the garden, and all of them have a say as to how it will be run.

A community garden is an area for growing food and flowers that is used by the people who live in the community. They can have either individual plots or communal growing areas. It is easy to walk over to the garden and pull a few carrots, for dinner, or to do a bit of weeding in the evening. It is really nice to be able to give fresh cut flowers to a friend. And gardening is an inexpensive activity that the whole family can participate in. Even the very little ones can learn where the good places are to walk, and what cherry tomatoes look like.

But Community Gardens are more than just growing things and having meetings.

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They are a place to share seeds and gardening tips and to pass along gardening techniques. Zora and Kevin in the New Horizons Community Garden

Close up view of Bitter Melon Seeds. A.K.A. Karilie. It is a favorite food in China, India, and the West Indies. And each culture has their own way of growing it.

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They are a place for once isolated seniors to grow food and friendships. On the left the New Horizons group have invited the Perth Dupont C.G. to their garden. On the right they have come to visit The Perth Dupont C.G.

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They are a place where families can do a meaningful and inexpensive activity together. (Perth Dupont Aug2008)

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They are a place to grow the good organic food that you would like to eat. (The Harvest Aug 2008)

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They are an opportunity to share with the community the "extra row" The produce grown in the Garden Party Community Garden is donated to soup kitchens in their neighbourhood..

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They are a sanctuary for our pollinators and other wildlife (insects and birds )

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They are a place where you can volunteer, meet new people and learn many new things all in the same place! (Kevin, Susan, Nao)

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If you know of a community garden that you think should be featured on our web site, please contact mail@tcgn.ca

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Content last modified on February 20, 2010, at 03:17 PM EST