Shared Spaces, Shared Plates: Community Gardens in Ward 16

Institution: Carleton University

CSWB plan priority / Ottawa's 2023-2026 Term of Council priority: Financial security and poverty reduction

Project Term: Fall 2024

Course Code: COMS2200A: DIGH2200A (314412:31522)

Professor(s): Dr. Tracey P. Lauriault

Group Member(s): Kiera Vath

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Objective(s): The goals of my project focused on supporting both established and new community gardens and examining organizations that provide resources, training, and networking for garden coordinators and volunteers. I wanted to evaluate how these organizations operate and collect data on the issues of hunger and poverty, especially in relation to the poverty reduction strategy by Food Banks Canada. A key objective was to ensure the sharing of food and gardening information, helping people build skills through workshops, technical support, and funding. I also aimed to raise awareness about food and gardening through newsletters and events. Additionally, I wanted to highlight resources like the Community Garden Development Fund (CGDF), which offers grants to support garden development, making the public more aware of these opportunities. Through the Ottawa Community Garden Network (OCGN), I discovered initiatives such as gardening workshops, tool-sharing programs, and efforts to support local food systems and sustainable gardening. I also explored the City of Ottawa's Urban Agriculture Strategy, which helps grow community gardens, urban farms, and other local food projects. Ultimately, my main goal was to promote food preservation of Ottawa’s summer harvest through canning and food preservation workshops, while raising awareness about community gardening through newsletters and events. This project aimed to inspire and encourage more critical thinking about the role of gardening in our community.

Potential for Impact: The potential short-term impact of this project would be to inspire immediate action within the community. The River Ward, being relatively small, already has active neighborhoods that support local high schools and assist emerging Carleton University students, such as through community-led activities and large city events like HOPE volleyball and the Ottawa Dragon Boat races. These are well-established programs with regular volunteer support, local radio stations, and artists contributing as well. If we can tap into this same energy and apply it to community-driven events focused on poverty reduction and food preservation, this “call to action” could turn into a reality. In the long term, community gardens could offer a sustainable solution to food insecurity, especially in areas where families struggle to afford nutritious food. One aspect of this project involves Ottawa Public Health's use of the Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) to assess food affordability. For families who struggle to afford nutritious food, community gardens offer fresh produce at little to no cost, which can help reduce some of the financial strain related to food insecurity. Additionally, community gardening empowers individuals and families to grow their own food, promoting self-sufficiency. This ability to control food sources can help communities become more resilient to food price fluctuations and disruptions in supply chains, both of which are critical factors in food affordability. The 2023 Canadian City Parks Report supports this idea, with 87% of city residents expressing interest in engaging more with their local parks and 80% appreciating the variety of activities others participate in. By implementing community garden initiatives into high school volunteer programs or offering co-op opportunities for university students, we could engage the younger generation and create long-term involvement. This project has inspired me to recognize the potential for independent work within communities and how even small amounts of time or money can make a meaningful difference in the places we call home.