Appointment only? How community gardens are changing during the pandemic

Community gardens are plotting to get potting — so gardeners can keep growing through the pandemic.

The Calgary Horticultural Society said the city's not yet made plans to close community gardens as part of the COVID-19 response. So, they are helping support gardens as they begin working to open on schedule.

According to the organization's web page, the parks department is still working to help get the plots across Calgary up and running — with one caveat: groups need to manage their own physical distancing and sanitizing measures.

Natasha Guillot, executive director of the Calgary Horticultural Society, said there are more than 120 of these community gardens in the city.

"There is a value to them that can't be measured," she said. "Both with the wellness of the gardeners but also as far as the food that they produce. I think people underestimate the amount of food that is produced and donated to a variety of direct charities here in Calgary."

To work within the confines of a pandemic, community gardens need to track visitors with sign-in sheets, assign gardeners time-slots, and limit those working on their beds. At least, those are some of the measures Julia Hinman, chair of the Inglewood Community Garden, said they are implementing.

Not how it used to be

"It used to be come when you can stay as long as you want," Hinman said. "Now you have to come when we invite you and you have to leave when we tell you. So that's a little bit different because it's not as laid back as we would like to be."

Hinman said because plots are picked in fall they have a full roster of gardeners interested in planting, watering, and weeding their beds. But, if there are some green-thumbs with second thoughts, she said they have a waiting list. 

Guillot said so far none of the community gardens have come forward to express concerns over operating through the pandemic.

Now more than ever, Hinman said the ability to tend to a garden is very important.

"You're out in fresh air, you've got your hands in the soil ... for people's well being and mental health — nowadays I think we all need that," she said. "I think that we'll all love being here, even more, this year than we ever have been." 

Guillot said this year already they are noticing new faces. People who may not have gardened before, coming out of the woodwork. And, instead of general interest, many gardeners are focusing efforts this season on growing food.

"I think it's going to be a great season, hopefully, the weather is going to be the determinant of success at this point," Guillot said. "Certainly not the lack of interest, certainly not the lack of time."

And not just buying up already started plants, but looking to grow from seed — she thinks because some have more time on their hands to enjoy a from-scratch experience this growing season.