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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWD-014-21Clarington Staff Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: February 16, 2021 Report Number: PWD-014-21 Submitted By: Stephen Brake, Director of Public Works Reviewed By: File Number: Andrew C. Allison, CAO Report Subject: Newcastle Community Garden Recommendations: 1. That Report PWD-014-21 be received; Resolution#: GG-185-21 By-law Number: 2. That Council provide staff with direction to proceed with the establishment of a Community Garden in Newcastle; 3. That the Director of Public Works be authorized to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the community garden association, in a form satisfactory to the Municipal Solicitor; and 4. That all interested parties listed in Report PWD-014-21 be advised of Council's decision. Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-014-21 Report Overview Page 2 This report addresses the formal request of Mr. Evan King to establish a Community Garden in Newcastle. Council is respectfully requested to provide staff with direction on the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding for this purpose. 1. Background 1.1 In November 2020, the Public Works Department was approached by a resident of Newcastle, Mr. Evan King, who is requesting that the Municipality provide land for the establishment of a "Community Farm". 1.2 Over the past number of months, staff have been in regular contact with Mr. King to downsize his original concept and to refine the initiative into a "Community Garden". A site selection process has also occurred to identify a preferred site for the initiative that takes into account proximity to the residents of Newcastle, ease of site preparation, presence of fencing, availability of off-street parking and access to a potable water source. 2. Discussion 2.1 Community gardens on public lands have recently become a popular alternative for urban dwellers that do not have access to gardening space that is more readily available in the countryside or in a larger private backyard setting. Community gardens are parcels of public land that are subdivided into smaller plots for local residents to grow their own vegetables, fruit or flowers for personal use. 2.2 Community gardens provide local residents with the opportunity to become engaged in a healthy recreational activity while growing nutritious food, a venue to meet other local residents, a learning opportunity and the ability to beautify open spaces. 2.3 At present, there are two other community gardens in Clarington that have been successfully operating for approximately 10 years. These sites are referred to as the Bowmanville Garden Allotments located on Haines Street south of Highway #2 in Bowmanville and the Liberty Allotment Gardens on Liberty Street south of Baseline Road also in Bowmanville. Each of these sites provide gardening opportunities for up to 50 local residents. Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-014-21 Page 3 2.4 The two existing community gardens have resulted in the formation of unincorporated associations that have come together for the purpose of operating a community garden. In the case of each garden, an executive has been established that is responsible for developing and properly maintaining a membership application, rules of garden operation and a current budget. 2.5 Appended to this report is a copy of the letter (Attachment 1) and the proposal (Attachment 2) submitted by Mr. Evan King for the Newcastle Community Garden. The proposal identifies specific objectives, an estimated cost structure for the rental beds and the names of the executive. It has been reported by Mr. King that based on a recent Facebook post he has been contacted by more than 50 residents that have shown interest in establishing a Community Garden in Newcastle. 2.6 If this initiative is approved by Council, the Newcastle Community Garden will be required to operate under the same principles and conditions as the other existing community gardens. The Memorandum of Understanding used with the executive membership of the other Community Garden associations is proposed to be adopted for use by the Newcastle group. 3. Proposed Site 3.1 The Public Works Department has conducted a review of all vacant properties that are owned by the Municipality of Clarington in Newcastle. The preferred site is depicted in Figure 1 and its attributes are noted as follows: Diane Hamre Recreation Complex • 1780 Rudell Road, Newcaslte • Level grassed area of approximately 0.35 hectares • Accommodation for an estimated 70 individual garden beds • Available off-street parking • Access to potable water Municipality of Clarington Page 4 Report PWD-014-21 Figure 1: Preferred site for Newcastle Community Garden Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-014-21 4. Concurrence Page 5 This report has been reviewed by the Director of Community Services and the Director of Legislated Services who concur with the recommendations. 5. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that Council provide staff with direction to proceed with the execution of the land lease agreement for the Newcastle Community Garden. Staff Contact: Stephen Brake, Director of Public Works, 905-623-3379 ext. 2903 or SBrake@clarington.net. Attachments: Attachment 1 - Request letter from Mr. Evan King Attachment 2 - Newcastle Community Garden Proposal Interested Parties: The following interested parties will be notified of Council's decision: Mr. Evan King Attachment 1 to Report PWD-014-21 To whom it may concern, My name is Evan King and I am the Chair of the Newcastle Community Garden. I have created an excellent board of directors to help guide this project to be successful. Board Directors for the Newcastle Community Garden: Evan King - Chair Karen Cashin - Vice Chair Adam Cranley - Treasurer Greer Donaldson - Secretary Jim Norwood - Director Lloyd Johnson - Director Sue Johnson - Director Sarah Yarnell - Director Having a community garden in Newcastle would be a great benefit to the community. It will provide local people an opportunity to grow their own food, when they would normally not have that opportunity given where they live or how they live. A poll was taken on the Newcastle Facebook group and it showed over 50 people asking for a community garden to be started. Since then we have had numerous interest from other people inquiring about it. Without a doubt there is a need and a call for this community garden to be completed. I hope we can count on the support and approval from our Mayor and Council on this matter. Thank you, Evan King Attachment 2 to PWD-014-21 Newcastle Community Garden 11.19.2020 Overview To create a sustainable and educational garden in Newcastle Ontario that provides organic food and a space to teach new gardening techniques. 1 Goals 2021 1. Work with local officials to determine and select a spot of land to develop. 2. Come up with a plan that makes the space work efficiently. 3. Plant all perennials and create rentable beds. 4. Build compost bins. 5. Build a common building for storage and seed starting. 6. Develop basic website Funding Going to need start-up capital for perennials, fruit trees, bushes, flowers, shed, fence, compost, etc. The amount is impossible to determine until a site is chosen and plan developed. Operations 1. Raised bed rentals Local residents rent raised bed allotments, where they would be responsible for that space and keeping it weed free. This target market is for people that have a desire to garden but do not have the space to do so. Educational 1. Work with local schools for field trips to teach about gardening techniques. 2. Local history and educational signs posted throughout the garden. 3. Run classes or courses for kids or adults to learn about how to grow, etc. Charity Work with the local food bank to ensure there is no waste of produce or food. Garden Volunteer structure Group of volunteers (Board) to decide the best course of action regarding the garden. Based on a majority rule vote when comes time to make a decision. Positions will include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Volunteer Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Data collector. Fundraising: Funds and materials will be needed to get this project off the ground. A list of local growers, farms and businesses will be created and contact will be made to see what can be raised in order to get this underway. Relatively low start up costs, but higher in labour. Data collection: A very important aspect of this garden that not a lot of community gardens offer is going to be our data collection. From conception we are going to track and record numerous data points. This will allow us to show a progression in certain points. This will show better efficiencies over time and allow us to show our results. Working with municipality: With all the development in the near future at the community centre, it could be a great opportunity to work with the municipality in planning and planting some beneficial plants,trees and shrubs, bird houses, beneficial insect habitats etc, to enhance the community. Board of Directors: Evan King - Chair Karen Cashin - Vice Chair/ PR Adam Cranley - Treasurer Jim Norwood - Director Greer Donaldson - Secretary Sarah Yarnell - Director Lloyd Johnson - Director Susan Johnson - Director 3 Plots: 4' x 50' with a 1 to 2 foot path in between plots. Prices to be determined. Start with 12 plots and have room to expand when needed. Lease agreement between garden and plot owner. Only organic gardening allowed. Wood chip pathways to ease on weeding and preserve water and wood chip plots if possible. Also core gardening would be ideal as well.