Make Community Gardens Essential: Roots To Harvest

A local organization says community gardens should be allowed to operate during the province’s state of emergency.

Roots to Harvest operates two urban farms in Thunder Bay on Lillie Street and at the Volunteer Pool, part of a network of community gardens run by various groups.

Executive Director Erin Beagle says gardens were ordered to close along with public parks as part of a provincial emergency order. However, she is adding her voice to an open letter asking the province to reconsider.

The group posted on Facebook asking people to sign the letter.

“We believe strongly that having access to growing your own food, should you not have the space to do that on your own, is an important part of being resilient during this pandemic,” Beagle notes.

The Executive Director says they don’t start planting until May or June, so now is the time to advocate for community gardens.

“We will be reaching out and encouraging our MPPs to stand behind this call for this to be reversed,” Beagle explains, “And again, coordinating with provincial partners so it is a provincial voice.”

Beagle says community gardens offer fresh produce to people who may not be able to access those foods otherwise, and she believes it can be a key resource right now.

“At a time where we’re asking people to reduce their travel to grocery stores and give some relief to those front-line workers,” Beagle says, “To relieve their reliance on public transportation to get to those places, there is a different need for community gardens.”