BARRHEAD – Barrhead's Community Garden's future is in jeopardy.
If the not-for-profit society which operates the garden cannot find a suitable location (and relatively quickly) after this growing season, it could cease to exist.
For the last nine years, the garden has called a five-acre plot on the west side of town, just north of the apartment buildings on 53rd Street home.
However, Community Garden Society treasurer Marilyn Flock said the owner of the property has informed them that after this year, they will have to find a new location.
In recent years, she said, the society was aware it was living on borrowed time and have already been looking for potential alternate sites.
"We have some ideas, but unfortunately, they have all fallen through," Flock said.
The garden is on what is commonly known as the Schneider Lands. Several years ago, the town purchased the property and an adjacent parcel (about nine acres in total) to build a new aquatics centre.
But when the municipality decided to build the new swimming pool on the old site, the town started to focus its efforts to develop the property commercially. In October 2020, the municipality sold a three-acre parcel of the Schnieder Lands, specifically the portion that the garden is on.
In the summer of 2018, the town gave the Community Garden until the spring to relocate. After extending it by an additional year, the agreement ended in November 2020.
The municipality deemed the move necessary after it decided to intensify its efforts to develop the property, engaging the Edmonton-based real estate firm Cushman and Wakefield to market it.
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 50th Avenue and West Boundary Road in the southwest corner of Beaver Brook Estates. The offer was later rescinded.
The municipality also suggested a location in Millennium Park, but it never went past the preliminary stages. Part of the issue was that nearby residents started an informal petition against the garden being moved there, partly over concerns that it would attract crime.
"We checked all the land bordering the edge of town and some spots in town, and so far, nothing has come to fruition," Flock said. "It's been frustrating. If anyone has any ideas, or better yet, a suitable location, we would welcome the help."
Flock noted that currently, the garden has about 70 members farming about 55 plots. She added the community garden also has a long waiting list of people wanting plots.
"If we lose the community garden, it would be a big loss for the community," she said.
Every year, Flock said, community gardeners donate hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to the Barrhead Food Bank, which is on top of the plots reserved for that purpose.
"The Grade 1 and Grade 4 classes from Barrhead Elementary School are also frequent visitors and we give talks and tours. There is a lot to learn in a garden," she said, adding seniors and arts groups are also frequent visitors.
Flock noted the garden's importance grew with the pandemic as public health restrictions limited the activities people could do.
"Gardens are very good for emotional development and help people who may be struggling with their mental health," she said.
Ideally, she said they are hoping to find a suitable site (about two acres, to allow for the garden plots and room for parking) in town or just on the outskirts of town, noting that many of the garden's patrons walk or bike.
"Many don't even have a car," she said, adding they are also looking for someone willing to sign a long-term lease of 10 years or more as the society does not want to be in the same predicament again in a year or two.
The uncertainty surrounding the garden's future has limited its ability to plan for the future.
"Going year-to-year also makes it difficult to apply for grants and to do a lot of the long-term work that we would like to do," she said, adding it would also take several years to build up the soil of a new location so that it is as productive as it can be.
As for what happens to the society if they do not find a new location for next year, Flock said they do have some time.
"The garden would have to take a hiatus until we found a new location, but we have five years to get up and running again," she said, adding after that the society would eventually dissolve with its assets going to the Barrhead Food Bank.
But Flock is confident that with the community's help, it will not come to that, adding she believes the garden has a bright future.
If anyone has suggestions or potential land that would be suitable for a community garden, contact Flock at 780-305-4317 or e-mail at [email protected].
