Good
Gardens
YOUR RENT
Good
Communities
COMMUNITY
GARDENING
HANDBOOK
Your Guide to Gardening at
Metro Vancouver Housing
important phone numbers
Use this page to log important information
Contacts
Garden Contact:
Your Garden Plot Number:
Tenant Programs & Services Supervisor..................... 604-451-6141
Head Office Reception........................................................ 604-432-6300
Important Dates:
Garden plot renewal notification: April 15th Annually
Please notify your garden contact no later than the above date
if you wish to renew your garden plot.
Putting your Garden to Bed: Annual Garden Clean up:
2
November 10th Annually
community gardening
Community Gardening at Metro Vancouver
Welcome to community gardening at Metro Vancouver Housing
Corporation. MVHC recognizes community gardening as valuable
activity that contributes to environmental awareness, increased
safety, positive community development and neighbourliness.
MVHC is committed to assisting tenants develop thriving,
sustainable community gardens. In this handbook you will find:
◆Information
to assist your community plan, develop and
manage a community garden
◆ What
supports are available from MVHC for community
garden projects
◆Related
◆A
MVHC programs
Gardener’s Log
3
contents
Starting a Community Garden at MVHC...................... 5
Site Selection...........................................................................6
Organizing the garden Community....................................... 8
Developing a garden Charter................................................. 9
JOINING AN EXISTING GARDEN............................................12
SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM MVHC........................................ 13
Supports & Expectations......................................................13
SPECIAL PROJECTS...................................................................15
Funding Special Projects......................................................15
Giving Back ...........................................................................15
RELATED MVHC PROGRAMS...................................................16
Community Kitchens.............................................................16
MVHC Zero Waste Program................................................. 16
APPENDIX 1 SAMPLE GARDEN CHARTER............................. 17
APPENDIX 2 GARDENERS LOG...............................................19
4
starting a community garden
Starting a Community
Garden at MVHC
I’m interested in starting a community garden,
what should I do?
The first step is to notify the MVHC Tenant Program & Services
Supervisor that you are interested in developing a community
garden at your building.
Once the Tenant Programs & Services Supervisor has been
contacted he or she will survey your building to determine if
other members of your community are interested in gardening
also. If sufficient interest exists, an invitation to attend a
Garden Development Consultation will be mailed to all
residents of your building.
Garden Development Consultation Process
The planning process is a critical component of developing
community gardens. More goes into planning your garden than
picking a site for your plots. Community gardening requires clear
systems of communication, garden management and an agreed
upon set of garden rules. The planning process provides an
opportunity to establish these procedures and to identify skills and
resources within your community that will contribute to the success
of your garden.
All tenants are encouraged to attend the Garden Development
Consultation. You will be provided with information that will aid
in making decisions that affect your community and will have a
chance to voice your goals and concerns about developing a
garden at your housing complex.
5
site selection
During the Garden Development Consultation MVHC will assist
your community to achieve the following:
1.Select a garden site location
2.Organizing the garden community
3.Develop a garden charter
1.Garden Site Selection
There are many important issues to consider when choosing
the location of a community garden, particularly in multi-family
housing. Prior to the Garden Development Consultation consider
the following and bring your ideas to the consultation process:
◆
Where is the closest water access?
◆Is
there suitable sun exposure?
◆Is
this site appropriate for those with limited mobility?
◆Is
there sufficient space to expand the garden
and add new plots?
◆Is
there a neglected common area on the property that would
benefit from garden development?
◆Keep
in mind that garden beds can be built over many
mediums not just grass and earth
◆Please
be aware that MVHC retains the right to approve the
location of the garden
6
site selection
Water Access
Water access is a common challenge
in community gardening. MVHC will
ensure that there is suitable water
access for the needs of your garden.
Sometimes this means the installation
of taps or water collection barrels,
while other times hoses and hose reels will be provided for
use at the closest available outdoor tap.
Unfortunately, MVHC cannot guarantee that water taps
will be installed at the garden site. In some instances the
investment required far surpasses the resources available
to the garden program.
Garden Bed Types
Two types of garden beds are available to be installed at MVHC
housing sites depending on the needs of the community:
Traditional Garden Beds
Traditional garden beds are approximately 10' x 4' wood framed
plots that sit approximately six inches above ground.
Garden Boxes
Garden boxes are raised containers suitable for wheelchair users
and individuals who have difficulty kneeling and reaching across
traditional beds. They are 3'x 3.5' and sit approximately 3' above
ground.
Both garden beds and boxes can be placed on many mediums
such as grass, earth, concrete, stone pavers and unused sporting
courts. Prior to attending the Garden Development Consultation
consider which type of garden beds, or combination, will best
serve your community.
7
organizing the garden community
2.Organizing the Garden Community
Communication
It is essential that a garden community have a system of
communication in place. It is up to the garden community to
choose what is most suitable for its members. The most important
aspect of the communication system is that it is inclusive of
all those who wish to be involved in the garden. Examples of
communication systems that are used by garden communities are:
◆A
◆
group facebook page
email rosters
◆Phone
trees
◆Mail-outs
& flyers
Garden Contact
For the development of a community garden to be approved
MVHC requires that one member of the gardening community
assume the role of Garden Contact. The purpose of the garden
contact role is to streamline communication between the garden
community and MVHC.
The Garden Contact is responsible for:
◆Submitting
an up-to-date garden plot map to the MVHC Tenant
Program & Services Supervisor no later than May 15th of each
year. A template will be provided
◆Maintaining
the garden waitlist & signing up new members as
plots become available
◆
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Communicating with MVHC on garden matters when needed
garden charter development
3.Garden Charter Development
The Purpose of a garden charter is to ensure that all gardeners
are aware of their rights and responsibilities in the garden. All
garden charters are different and should be tailored to address the
needs and desires of the community. Consider the following items
and review Appendix 1 Sample Garden Charter when thinking
about what to include in your charter. Bring your suggestions and
feedback to the Garden Development Consultation.
Theft & Vandalism
While it is generally understood, and research evidence illustrates,
that community gardens discourage theft and vandalism, there is
a need to consider what you will do if your garden is vandalized.
One of the best ways to discourage abuse is to engage all
members of your community, not just the gardeners.
◆When
you see people in the garden that you don’t know
introduce yourself.
◆Invite
people that don’t have plots to garden parties and clean
up days.
◆Consider
installing a communal plot. Publicize to your
community what produce people are welcome to help
themselves to and what is private.
◆When
an incident takes place document it and survey the
community. Ask for witnesses and information.
9
garden charter development
Pests & Pets
How will you deal with owners who allow their pets to walk freely
through your garden? Is there fencing or netting that may help?
Pesticides are not permitted in MVHC gardens. However, there are
a number of strategies that can reduce their impact, from natural
remedies to integrated pest management techniques.
Talk to your fellow gardeners to come up with ideas and solutions
or contact MVHC Programs & Services Supervisor for suggestions
that have effectively managed pests and pets at other MVHC sites.
Children
Will your garden include a plot designated for
the children of your complex? If so what rules and
regulation do you think are appropriate for the
children’s garden? Should only children who have
parents who garden be eligible to participate?
Who will take responsibility for the plot?
At what age can children be allowed in the
garden unsupervised?
Putting your garden to rest
Some gardeners choose to maintain a winter garden, while others
put their garden to rest for the winter. We suggest that your
garden be put to rest by November 10th. This includes harvesting
all remaining crops to avoid rotting produce and weeding and
tilling the soil to maintain a tidy appearance. Many gardeners
will plant cover crops such as fall rye and clover over the winter
months. Doing so protects your garden from soil loss due to
run off, maintains an active ecosystem and improves soil
fertility in the spring.
10
garden charter development
Composting
Composters are an extremely valuable part of gardening that
reduce fertilizer cost, significantly improve garden yields and
contribute to the ecology of your garden. However, when
neglected they can become an eyesore and hazard. What will you
do to ensure that your composter is being utilized effectively?
How will you divide the work load? Perhaps a weekly schedule
or assigning one person to the composter will help. Will the
composter be locked in order to keep it from becoming abused?
For more information on composting at MVHC refer to Metro
Vancouver’s website at: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/
solidwaste/Residents/composting/Pages/default.aspx
Shared tools & Supplies
If your community will have a supply of shared tools where will you
store them safely? Will you implement a sign-out sheet? Who will
be responsible for maintaining the inventory of tools?
Once the garden consultation process is complete and the garden
development has been approved by MVHC the gardeners will be
contacted with the garden installation date.
11
joining an existing garden
Joining an Existing Garden
Contact MVHC to determine who the garden contact is in your
community. The garden contact will have a list of the available
garden plots and will assign one to you. You will be given a copy
of the garden charter and rules to sign and submit to the garden
contact.
If there are no available plots in your community you will be placed
on the waitlist and contacted when a plot becomes available.
MVHC, in consultation with the garden community, will determine
when demand for plots warrants the expansion of the garden.
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mvhc commitment
Support Available from MVHC
MVHC Commitment and Support
MVHC is committed to supporting the development of community
gardens at its housing locations through the following actions:
1. Covering the cost of garden bed and soil installation
2.Covering the cost and ensuring access to a suitable
water source
3.Coordinating and facilitating the Garden
Development Consultation
4.Covering the cost of purchasing and installing a
suitable compost system
5.Providing our garden communities with administrative
supports such as printing, mail outs & flyer distribution
6.Assisting our garden communities to coordinate events
such as work parties and fundraisers
Requirements
The goal of the garden program at MVHC is to assist its
communities develop and self manage sustaining gardens. It is
well understood that community gardens are most successful
when groups work together to establish their own “rules of
play", systems of management, and resolve problems internally.
However, there are a limited number of expectations and rules that
must be adhered to when gardening at MVHC building sites.
13
MVHC Expectations
MVHC expectations of its garden communities
1.Prior to garden installation one person from the garden
community will accept the role and responsibilities of Garden
Contact.
2.During the development of the garden the community will
work collectively to establish their garden charter. The charter
must be signed and submitted to the garden contact prior to
garden installation.
3.The garden community must decide on an appropriate system
of internal communication and report to MVHC how internal
communication will be conducted.
Garden rules which must be included in the
garden charter
1. No illegal crops may be grown on MVHC property.
2.The garden community is not permitted to establish a
participation fee.
3.
MVHC does not permit the use of pesticides in the community
gardens housed on its property.
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special projects
Special Projects
1.Funding Special Projects
There are many garden tools and special projects beyond what
MVHC is able to provide that your community may wish to pursue.
Annual soil amendments, a garden shed, shared tools or perhaps
a garden fence may be features that you would like to see added
to your garden. There are many ways to generate funds and
resources that will allow you to maximize your garden’s potential,
for example:
◆Municipal
and corporate community grants
◆Organizing
bottle drives and community garage sales
◆Canvassing
local hardware stores and nurseries to see
if they offer bulk discounts and teaming up to purchase
supplies together
Contact the Tenant Programs & Services Supervisor to find out
more about community grants and ways that MVHC can assist in
your fundraising efforts.
2.Giving Back Giving back to your community is a great way to build trust and
establish effective working relationships within your housing
site. There are many ways to contribute to your community and
beyond, through your garden. Some of the ways MVHC gardeners
are giving back include:
◆Donating
excess harvest to the food bank and local soup
kitchens
◆Designating
a specific plot that everyone (not just gardeners)
can harvest produce from
◆Teaming
up. Pairing up with tenants in your complex who
otherwise would not be physically capable or have the
expertise to garden alone is a great way to strengthen
community ties and share knowledge
15
related programs
Related MVHC Programs
1.Community Kitchens
Community kitchens are a wonderful compliment to the hard work
that goes into growing your own food. They are also a great way to
meet your neighbors, learn new skills and prepare nutritious meals,
often at a reduced cost.
As with community gardening, there is no set standard for
developing a community kitchen. Some groups prepare multiple
meals at once to take home and freeze, where other groups will
prepare and enjoy their meals together.
Many kitchen groups run successfully at MVHC sites, often in
partnership with community organizations. Outside support is
not required to facilitate a community kitchen at MVHC. However,
running a community kitchen independently requires that at least
one individual (per 20 participants) is food safe certified and that
the community acquire their own cookware and utensils.
To find out more about starting a community kitchen and about
community kitchen partnerships at MVHC contact the Tenant
Programs & Services Supervisor.
2.MVHC Zero Waste Program
MVHC housing residents produce over 2500 tonnes of waste
per year and food scraps can comprise as much as 50% of this
household garbage. Our goal is to improve reduction, reuse and
recycling efforts so that by 2015, a minimum of 70% of our waste is
kept out of disposal. You can do your part: reduce, reuse, recycle
and compost as much as you can.
To find out more about the MVHC Zero Waste program and what
you can do to help your community reduce their waste, contact
the Tenant Programs & Services Supervisor.
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Appendix 1 Sample Garden Charter
Use this template as a guide when developing your community charter
[Name of Community]
Garden Charter
Garden Sign Up & Waitlist Management
_ 1.Each person is eligible for one-half bed or one accessible
garden box.
_ 2.If extra plots are available and no one is on the waitlist current
gardeners are eligible to receive extra plots.
_ 3.Your plot is reserved for one year from April 15th – April 14th. If
you have a garden plot one year you have the first chance to
get the same plot the following year.
_ 4.You must notify the garden contact before April 15th if you
would like to use your garden plot again. If the garden
contact is not notified of your intent to garden by April 15th.
It will be assumed that you no longer wish to garden and your
plot will be assigned to the next person on the wait list.
_ 5.You cannot give your plot to another person. If you move
or no longer wish to use your garden you must notify your
garden contact.
Mandatory Garden Rules as per MVHC
_ 1. No illegal crops may be planted on MVHC property
_ 2.The garden community is not permitted to establish a
participation fee for gardening
_ 3.
MVHC does not permit the use of chemical pesticides in the
community gardens housed on its property
Suggested Garden Rules
_ 4.Do not write on your garden plot or otherwise permanently
change the appearance of the frame.
_ 5.Report any damage in the garden to the garden contact
immediately.
_ 6.The hose must be turned off and recoiled when you
have finished with it.
continued. . .
17
sample garden charter
_ 7.Weeds grow rapidly and reduce the availability of soil
nutrients, moisture and growing space. Please ensure that
your garden and its surrounding pathways are well maintained
and weeded regularly for the benefit of your garden and to
ensure you do not contaminate your neighbor’s garden.
_ 8.Please do not put weeds in the composter.
_ 9.Produce must be removed from the garden when ripe.
_10.Promptly remove diseased plants from your garden.
_11.You may only remove produce from your garden.
Unless otherwise authorized.
_12.Do not plant tall crops that will shade your neighbors’ plots.
_13.Clean up after yourself. Put tools away and recycle
your rubbish.
_14.If your garden becomes unkempt or has been abandoned you
will be given written notice at which point you have two weeks
to tend to your garden; Failure to do so will result in your plot
being reassigned to the next person on the waitlist.
Post Garden Season
_ 1.Maintaining a winter garden is permitted.
_ 2.If you choose not to maintain a winter garden please harvest
and weed your garden by November 10th.
Garden Agreement
I acknowledge that I am responsible for my activity in the garden
and agree to abide by the above garden rules.
Signed 18
Date
Appendix 2 Garden log
19
Appendix 2 Garden log
20
This document contains important information for tenants.
If you have difficulty reading English, please have someone
translate the information for you. If you need an interpreter to assist you,
you should retain one. Interpretation services are available through:
MOSAIC 604-254-8022
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. 604-408-7274
.
:
.
.
Le présent document contient des renseignements importants
pour les locataires.
Si vous éprouvez des difficultés à lire l’anglais, veuillez demander à
quelqu’un de vous traduire les renseignements. Si vous avez besoin d’un
interprète pour vous aider, vous devriez retenir ses services. Des services
d’interprétation sont offerts par :
MOSAIC 604-254-8022
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. 604-408-7274