We need Letters

Are you a business owner in Fairfield? We want you! We are making efforts over the next few weeks to get letters of support for our community garden. Of course, we welcome support from individuals, too, from any part of Victoria. Do you think community gardens should be supported on Park land? Let us know! Send us an email at communitygarden@fairfieldcommunity.ca.

Questions, Questions

Thanks to everyone who filled out a survey at the Community Consultation meeting. The Committee (that's us) has looked through the responses and we are building a picture of the kind of garden that residents of Fairfield want.

But we need to hear from more people, so we've put the survey online. You can find it at Survey Monkey. Please fill it out and encourage all your neighbours to fill it out, too. It takes only two minutes at most. We want to get the opinions of as many residents as possible so that we can create a garden that truly serves the community.

If you would like to be on our mailing list or sign up for an allotment, the survey is also a good place to do that.

Meeting Next Thursday, Nov. 25th

Open House Survey Results

Thanks to all those who showed up for the Open House and especially to those who filled out a survey. We have compiled the information below. If you haven't yet filled one out, look in the history of this blog and copy and paste the survey and email your questions to fairfieldcommunitygardens@gmail.com

Thanks for your participation!



Fairfield Community Garden Open House – August 10th 2010 – 7 to 9 pm

39 people signed in attendance

25 surveys were completed

Surveys
Approximately half the surveys were in favour of the garden.

THOSE IN FAVOUR OF THE GARDEN

What would like to see in the garden?
• programs involving children
• program for a community feast
• workshops
• education
• gogi trees
• cob workshops
• worm composting
• bees
• extra food given to those less fortunate
• community art projects
• perennials
• potlucks
• yoga
• tai chi
• permaculture design workshops

What are your concerns about the garden?
• deer and other animals
• fencing for this purpose
• resistant neighbours and nay-sayers
• not enough allotments

What are your suggestions for the garden?
• involve the following: neighborhood kids, seniors, adults, Sir James Douglas school, low income families, students with no lawns, babies, grandmas, the city

Half of the surveys were in opposition.

THOSE OPPOSED TO THE GARDEN

• 7 opposed the project in its entirety
• 2 surveys were incomplete
• 2 surveys did not state reasons to opposition

The main reason given for opposition was that the Community Garden would interfere with the current uses of the park.

"Most houses in Fairfield have yards, we don’t need another community garden."

"The green space will be changed in ways that conflict with its current use."

"Use of park space should not be allotted to garden ‘clubs'."

“Parks are for recreation and repose, not zucchini growing.”

"Current location is a 'savanna'; would like to see it kept that way."

"Presence of the gardens will lead to the destruction of a Garry Oak ecosystem."

"The garden would only serve 8-10 people, the park serves everyone."

"Most people enjoy it as is, it doesn’t need to change."

"Dog-walkers will be forced off flat area and on to Garry Oak trees."

"Robert Porter Park is one of the few remaining large undeveloped places for people to enjoy."

Other reasons:
• loss of nature
• students will be forced to play on rocks
• Garry Oaks are rare and endangered, vegetables can be grown anywhere
• allotments should not be allowed in parks
• already in constant use for non-gardening purposes
• loss of common green space used by school children, dog walkers, and neighbours.
• concerns over wildflower destruction
• poor choice of location
• taking well used public space away from the people
• park should be left as an open space
• concerns about noise, weeds, reduced open space, general inappropriate land use

What are your suggestions?

• find another location
• more dialogue with the neighbours, enhanced community consultation
• follow the “correct process”
• getting rid of allotment gardens
• use of Ebert park, or park on Linden and Chapmen

Open House Planning Meeting...with Fondue

Come by the Fairfield Community Place Wednesday August 4th for a planning session for the Open House at 7 pm. Ask at the front desk where the group is.

Alternatively, come by 1311 Point Street on Thursday August 5th, 6:30 p. We will be crafting and creating some of the materials for the open house that evening, as well as eating chocolate fondue. Bring fruit or sweet to dip; fondue will be provided!

Open House August 10th, 7 pm

A Community Garden? In Fairfield…

Join us for an Open House regarding the proposed community garden in Robert Porter Park

August 10th, 7 pm at the Garry Oak Room 1335 Thurlow Rd

• Listen to a brief presentation on the gardens
• Voice your concerns and ideas
• Give your input into the design of the gardens
• Discuss the gardens and their place in the community

Please contact us with any comments at fairfieldcommunitygardens@gmail.com

What is the Community Garden project?

The Food Security Branch of the Street Life Committee of the FGCA is currently working on creating a community garden in Robert Porter Park in the Fall of 2010. This project has been ongoing since the summer of 2009, and will include a commons garden for public use as well as a portion of the gardens devoted to allotments.

The commons will include various nut- and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs as well as native plants and herbaceous perennials, including an herb garden and medicinal plants. The commons is designed using permaculture principles that mimic the ecosystem creating a supportive natural environment for plants to grow and thrive.

The goal is to increase food yield over time while decreasing maintenance needs. The allotments will serve community members who wish to garden yet do not have access to garden space. The allotment holders will bring sustainability to the project as they will be required to work a few hours a month maintaining the commons area.

The project also includes a seating area that will be crafted in a traditional 'cob' style. The bench area will be made using natural materials of clay, mud, straw, and wood. This project has been successfully undertaken by various other communities in Victoria, such as the Banfield Commons in Vic West and the Michigan Street Allotment gardens in James Bay.

Currently the group is doing outreach with the community and in contact with Parks Victoria to establish a suitable agreement. The proposal will then go to the City of Victoria for final approval.

An Open House is scheduled for public input at the beginning of August; stay tuned for this date. Community members are also welcome to give input and state any concerns or ideas to fairfieldcommunitygardens@gmail.com.

The Community Gardens hope to enhance the current use of Robert Porter Park and offer a place for community members to gather, share, and learn skills. The group also wishes to increase Fairfield's food security for future generations.

Do contact us with any questions, concerns, or ideas, or if you're interested in participating in the project in any way.

Community Input

Here are the suggestions and concerns we have received from our Community Consultations to date.

Ideas and Visions:

• permaculture principles incorporated into the design of the gardens
• getting schools involved; having a children’s garden area; garden as an educational tool; involvement of local youth and children
• cob: shed (although storage facilities are available with the Community Centre, bench, combine art with garden needs
• creative fencing ideas; trellises as fences; artwork in gardens
• rain catchment barrels
• compost area, suitable for workshops
• vegetables; common veggies patch
• herb garden section (specific pants mentioned: nettles, hops, lavender…)
• native plants mixed with edibles
• miniature varieties
• Fruiting plants: kiwi, goji, korean pinenuts (2),cherries, apples, pear, blueberries, mulberries, black cap raspberries, trailing blackberries, salal, peach
• Nut trees: edible chestnuts, hazelnut, walnut

Concerns

• maintenance/upkeep
• who owns what? Who takes car of tools?
• is there enough space for allotments?
• protecting and promoting the native ecosystem
• Garry Oak restoration areas
• the park is a potential site for blue bird nesting, although none have done so yet
• the park is a dog walking/running park, neighbours expressed concerns regarding being able to continue running their dogs up and down the park.
• public park used for private means; allotments on park lands
• shallow soil in some areas of the park
• use of park by school children
• vandalism by youth in hang out in the area
• deer and dogs
• aesthetic of the gardens
• access to water

ANYTHING TO ADD? LET US KNOW!!

Moss Street Market booth for June

Keep an eye out for the garden group at the Moss Street Market this Saturday between 10 and 2. The group will be giving out info and collecting letters of support for the garden project.

Come check us out!

Moss Street Market in May

Community gardens enthusiasts were out last Saturday the 22nd of May promoting the garden at the Moss Street Market.

For those interested in joining us, the next meeting is at the Fairfield Community Centre (1330 Fairfield Rd.), at 10 am. If it's sunny we'll be outside; otherwise we'll be in the meeting room.

We want to work on our proposal to the city, so we can submit it by the end of June.

Design sessions are underway, and we're looking to do more outreach in June at Moss Street Market.

Looking for Allies!!!

Currently the Food Security Committee of the Fairfield-Gonzales Community Association is pursuing funds to establish a community garden in Robert Porter Park. The gardens will be established in phases and will include mixture of native plants, edible vegetables, a commons, allotment gardens, medicinal plants and small trees.


The project is intended to offer the Fairfield-Gonzales community the many benefits attributed to community gardens: offering a sustainable food source, gardening space, and mentoring & educational opportunities to prospective gardeners. Additionally the gardens are intended to be a place of joint stewardship of public spaces, while creating a meeting place, and contributing to active & healthy lifestyles. The project also intends on maintaining the integrity of the garden space by respecting the current layout of the land, and planting native plants in areas that may be more vulnerable. As well the project is designed to enhance the environment and align with the various restorations areas that are in the area. The gardens also intend on being a tool for community building and strengthening, as well as a place where people can gather and engage with the earth in a meaningful way.


At this point we are looking at establishing community partnerships with other organizations in and around Victoria. These partnerships can take in many different forms be it through joint planning of educational opportunities such as workshops etc, or helping with promotion of work parties, or recruiting volunteers. As well we are looking for donations in kind of supplies and time, as well as food security allies.

Do let us know if your organization would be interested in partnering with us to support this initiative,

Thank you for your time,


Fairfield Community Gardens

Fairfield Gonzales Food Security Committee - Street Life Committee - Fairfield-Gonzales Community Association

Design Session

Come on down to the Fairfield Community Center to help design the propsed gardens on Thursday April 22nd at 6 PM, in the meeting room.

All are welcome, experience an asset but not necessary, bring your inspiration and enthusiasm!