Community Garden’s last year at present site

BARRHEAD-Barrhead's Community Garden has received a reprieve, at least temporarily.

Town of Barrhead councillors, in a May 12 in-camera meeting, extended their agreement to allow the local not-for-profit group to continue operation for one more growing season.

And for the better part of two years, the future of the garden has been in limbo.

For the last seven years the garden has been located on a five-acre parcel, commonly referred to as the Schneider Lands, on the west side of town — just north of the apartment buildings along 53rd Street and south of the Shepherd’s Care facility.

In July 2018, the council gave the society until the following spring to relocate (that was extended by an additional year). In December 2018, councillors voted 6-1 that the Town of Barrhead enter into a 10-year agreement for the use of an undeveloped two-acre parcel of land at the intersection of 50 Avenue and West Boundary Road in the southwest corner of Beaver Brook Estates.

The municipality deemed the move necessary after it decided to intensify its efforts to develop the property which is zoned as Direct Control.

Mayor Doug McKenzie said talks with the community had been going on for about the last month and they had tentatively given the society permission to begin preparations to get the site ready for the season about two weeks before.

"We reviewed the template for the agreement and endorsed it, giving our [chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc] permission to sign an agreement with the society," he said.

MacKenzie noted the agreement comes with two caveats, the first being that the society has to make a sizeable donation of produce to the Barrhead foodbank, which is operated by the Barrhead and District Family and Community Support Services.

In recent months, the food bank's ability to collect food has been hampered, as they are no longer accepting donations of food items from the public due to concerns over the coronavirus.

The other condition is that they must vacate the property by Nov. 1, 2020.

Currently, the society is in negotiation with a private landowner for a new location. If they cannot agree, it effectively means the gardens will be put on hiatus until a new location is found.

The town rescinded its offer for the previously mentioned 10-year lease agreement for a piece of property in Beaver Brook Estates.

"It just wasn't the right fit for them," McKenzie said. "Wherever the garden goes next, we want it to be a spot where there is no danger of them being in the same situation in a few years. Plus it should be a place where they can expand. And unfortunately, at that location that is not something we could guarantee."

Before that, the municipality had suggested a location in Millennium Park but it never was formalized after a group of area residents submitted an informal petition against moving the garden there.

Barrhead Community Garden reaction

Society spokesperson Marilyn Flock said their members are ecstatic that they can resume gardening once the COVID-19 restrictions allow them to.

Earlier this year, she had told members that they would not be able to plant anything in their plots.

However, when she heard Alberta's chief medical officer Deena Hinshaw and other government officials talk about community gardens in terms not only being of a way to exercise and safely enjoy the outdoors but as an "essential service" they approached the municipality about extending their stay.

Flock added that although according to the province's official relaunch strategy the garden is allowed to open they have to follow stringent public health guidelines such as keeping the gate to the garden open, social distancing, having people bring and use hand sanitizer. People will also have to bring their tools to use, instead of using the communal tools that previously would have been provided. Gardners will also have to spray down the water station with sanitizer that will be provided after each use.

"As time goes on, things will evolve," she said. "We are working very closely with the public health inspector, who has been just wonderful in helping us come up with a plan to help keep everyone safe and we will continue to consult with him."

To honour their commitment to donate produce to the food bank, Flock noted they have dedicated four of the 66 plots strictly for the purpose, adding many community garden members donate portions of their harvests as well.

"Normally we donate between 600 and 900 pounds to the food bank and we plan to increase that this year if the weather cooperates," she said.

Unfortunately last year the amount of produce the garden and its members donated was considerably lower due to wet weather and the flooding of some plots.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

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