Letter From The Coordinator

Original posting date Oct 2006 -

To the Perth Dupont Community Garden Group: Greetings and thank you for joining together to become a community. At first glance some one might think that we have nothing in common, But we all like to garden! Whether it is for recreation or to put dinner on the table, the gardening has brought us together. This year, my first goal was to get all the plots occupied, and get people gardening! Well that worked out just fine. The next thing was to start organizing us as a functioning community garden as set out in the guide lines from the city. I set out a job list and most every one took a job and kept it up. Thank you. I planned 2 Community Garden Meetings and 2 Saturdays in October for the Fall Clean Up Event. These 4 events were not just social get-togethers; they had a purpose and important decisions needed to be made. The fall clean up was also important, and a lot of work needed to be done. Sat. Oct. 14, 20 people came, 7 of them were visitors, neighbors and volunteers. There were only 13 gardeners. Sat. Oct. 21 only 5 people came. I was rather disappointed. Those that were sick notified me, but what about the others? Only 2 gardeners that couldn’t come made a donation of supplies. Those that came worked very hard to get the main path weeded so the city can bring in fresh lime stone. The triangles at the end of the path, near the shed were dug out so the bricks can be laid down for the truck turning, this is important for deliveries of compost and wood chips. The other main job that was accomplished was preparing the charity plot for next year.

Plans for next year. Faze 2 for organizing a community garden is having committees. We need committees so that the leadership role does not rest on any one individual’s shoulders. All the work I have done, hours on the computer preparing invitations, agendas and speeches for the meetings, e-mails, setting up the areas for the meetings and events, meeting with gardeners and city staff, — Its all volunteered, I’m not paid by any one. I have been assisted by 3 of the gardeners, the core group, but we should have a ‘steering committee’.

--The Steering Committee would provide direction & motivation, and develop the garden as a whole.

--Finance and Fund-raising Committee. I have spent a lot of personal money in setting up the meetings and events. The $5 that I collected from you in the beginning was to cover the cost of the lock, the key and other supplies that are in the shed. But I have also used my own money for photocopies, work gloves for the events and other things for the meetings. I met with the people at Massive Auto to request the donation for the fall Clean Up Event. Fund raising will get us flowers for the butterfly garden, a bench, and seeds and seedlings for the spring planting for every one.

--Membership Committee. Not only would they keep track of names, but skills, expertise, and interest. They would make out the job list and keep track of who is doing what. They would draw up a draft of Rights and Obligations of Membership.

--Communications Committee. They would keep track of contact info. They would also document progress and write news letters.

--Sharing plot. We should have a group working on this so the planting and weeding schedule is taken care of, and submitted to the membership committee. Choosing what should get planted and how will it be funded, or what will be donated. Now that we know that we can deliver produce to The Food Stop from 9am - 5pm, who will deliver it?

--Consequences. One issue I have is non compliance with the regulations set out by the city. Things like tending to your garden, and not leaving it for more than 2 weeks. If you are too busy, that maybe you should move to a smaller plot. The city says that it should be considered abandoned and should be given to the next person on the waiting list. I don’t want to do that, yet. But other issues have arisen and it should be a group decision on how to deal with these.

Another problem that I have issue with is poor attendance at the meetings and events. The purpose of these meetings is garden business, it really is important that you attend. How far in advance would you like to be informed, so that everyone will be able to come?

One thing that I would like every one to think about is a “Mission Statement”. It could be as simple as “Bring Organic Food To The Table”. But are we just a group of people who like to garden and landed here together, or can we make a difference in the neighborhood? Or to the community? Even though I have talked with all of you I really don’t know how you feel about the community aspect of the garden. The city has expectations of community gardens, to hold events and get involved with the community; it wants us to have a mission statement. I don’t know if I’m pulling the group in a way that it doesn’t want to go, or if I’m just asking the wrong questions. Over the winter I will be working with the core group on a draft for rules and regulations that will be adapted for our community garden. We will get your feedback on it and make a final copy in time for our spring start up meeting. For more info on this please go to

Toronto Community Garden Network

TCGN website

We also have our own website, and you are very welcome to submit ideas, and articles to me for it.

Please do the research, and give me your feedback. Think about the committees, do you want to join one or more? Do you want to head one or more? Do you have suggestions? Would you like to see things handled differently? Is there any thing that I have said that bothers you, let me know. I want to help you get the best out of gardening, but at the same time I don’t want to burn out myself. Please see if there is any way that you can help out. Please keep in contact with me if you want to share ideas so we can incorporate them as soon as possible, or at the latest by March. Despite my complaints, I am very proud of all of you and the garden. There has been such an improvement in the appearance of the garden since the spring, and the good harvest that you have brought in for yourselves. Well Done!