Vision Statement: Strengthening our community through growing together

In the spring of 2011 the much-anticipated community garden situated in the North Oshawa Park was launched. The garden is a community affair in the true sense of the word, in that it is situated in the ethnically and culturally diverse neighbourhood it serves. This is an area where high-rise apartment buildings predominate and where the opportunities for social interaction are few. It will give neighbours the opportunity to meet and share their common love of gardening at a location that is within easy walking distance for most of those who will use it. It aims to provide gardeners the chance to grow some of their own healthful and nutritious fruit and vegetables in surroundings that are environmentally friendly, attractive and in an atmosphere that is convivial to all participants.

The garden has been fortunate in being able to welcome the participation of two important local community groups: The Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres (OSCC), and the Northview Unit of The Eastview of the Boys and Girls Club.

The Northview Branch of the Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres is just a short walk away from the garden. Its staff will be taking advantage of the garden’s elevated beds to conduct a therapeutic gardening program for its members. Misty Mazza, Day Program Supervisor for OSCC says that to meet the requirements of a diversified community, her organization will develop a plot that is inclusive to all abilities and needs. She adds that the OSCC’s gardening program will promote the health and happiness of seniors by providing opportunities for physical functioning, social skills, education, and emotional experiences, with the hope of fostering senior empowerment, social interaction, and environmental awareness.

Bobbi-Jo Riel, Program Coordinator, Northview Unit, says that her organization will embrace the opportunity for children to work together in growing some of the healthy foods needed for their afterschool program. She continues, “The hope is to instill a sense of pride and ownership amongst our members who otherwise might never experience what it takes to have a successful garden, and that it will be a perfect opportunity to unite with the community.”

Also participating as a group are the firefighters of Fire Hall 3, our close neighbours at the garden. The majority of the gardeners, however, are apartment dwellers from varying backgrounds and ethnicities, who would not otherwise have the opportunity for gardening activities. For any inexperienced gardeners, the garden’s first coordinator, Ginette Edstrom, has assembled an excellent collection of how-to gardening books, which will be available for loan.

The Oshawa Parks Dept, which is in the process of constructing the garden, has been most accommodating in making the garden as accessible as possible for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. There are six beds, 4 feet by 20 feet, each 2 feet high, an ideal height for working from a wheelchair or scooter, or by anyone who has difficulty bending.

Also included in the garden is a 16 feet by 24 feet elevated bed which will become a sensory garden, especially for the enjoyment of the visually impaired, and for the children who will be encouraged to participate in the garden’s activities. Mr. Peter Hoogeveen, a gardener for Toronto’s CNIB, has advised us on the plant types to use in this garden and the Durham Master Gardeners have kindly agreed to design the layout. In view of the declining populations of both butterflies and bees, the center of this large bed will be planted with flowers attractive to both. This planting will complement perfectly the border of native flowers, and also the garden’s existing small-leaf linden tree and the locust trees which will be planted for additional shade in the rest area.

The garden will be fenced and gated and the pathways throughout will be formed from decomposed granite. This material is superior to other types of pathway surfacing materials in that it forms pathways that are both permeable and easy for wheelchairs, scooters and walkers to travel on. The garden will operate on a purely organic basis, using neither artificial fertilizers nor chemical pesticides. We will also take full advantage of Durham Region’s excellent composting program for its soil amendments.

Serving on the garden’s steering committee, and sharing her expertise in matters of governance and community garden coordination, is Mary Drummond, coordinator of the very successful Whitby/Ajax Community Garden.

Come spring 2011, the garden will give residents from this neighbourhood of North Oshawa the opportunity to participate in Canada’s most popular hobby and in doing so they will create a feature of beauty and community pride.

Thank you,

The Steering Committee, Mary Street Community Garden