Community gardens an idea set to grow, thanks to new grant
Steve Green, Windsor-Essex County Community Garden Collective coordinator
OurWindsor.Ca
ByMichael Michalski
A local activist has nurtured the idea of a volunteer community garden from simple seed into a paying gig, and is now – more importantly - tasked with expanding the idea even further.
However, actually earning money to do something he genuinely loves is going to take some getting used to for the new coordinator of the Windsor-Essex County Community Garden Collective.
“Its kind of surreal to think I can now do this 30 hrs a week - paid. I keep thinking someone will come around to collect all the money I earn doing the job,” joked Steve Green, the man now tasked with expanding his community garden project in Ford City, thanks to a three-year Trillium Foundation grant of $152,400 announced earlier in the week.
“Its extremely gratifying and I feel very privileged to be the one selected to lead the charge. Despite the hectic aspect of the job, it doesn't feel like work.”
To Green, being green is something that just comes naturally, he said – even though he knows the task ahead will be anything but easy.
“There's a good deal of troubleshooting for people involved in gardens. Plenty of resourcing for needs of the gardens. Physical work in gardens when requested or invited. Constant education for new and old gardeners,” said Green.
“There is (also) the additional work of helping new groups establish gardens, helping individuals find gardens to work in, policy work, food charter development, and forecasting for the future on how to make the gardens and urban (agriculture) projects successful. I'll also be exploring social enterprise and community garden networks. Just being available is half the job.”
Still, Green wouldn’t have it any other way, saying he is buoyed by the fact that others are now recognizing the need for such endeavors as well.
“I believe it is the right direction for Windsor Essex for so many reasons (including) health, social interaction, mental health, nutrition, inter-generational activity (and) food security,” he said. “It's nice to know that the community is supporting a truly life giving role in the community.
“I'd rather do this than give people parking tickets or repossess homes.”
Green said the benefits of a community garden goes far beyond simply providing fresh food for those in its immediate vicinity.
“Community gardening has a tremendous amount of social impact on people and whole communities. It empowers people who may not have had a role in the neighborhood. It gets people talking about what else they want to change in their world. It can refocus lives. It can bring families together. It draws people to free and open spaces. Its an activity that people can do and they don't have to pay for entrance.,” said Green, noting he is always on the lookout for like-minded volunteers – especially now.
“A lot of activities for people are based on how much money you can spend. Community Gardening is an activity that gives back to you a 100 times over.”
Anyone who is interested in starting a community garden or working in an urban garden/farm project can contact Green at wegardencollective@gmail.com or by calling 519-258-3033 ext.1148.
