Submitted by the Golden Food Bank
The Golden Food Bank’s new Communal Garden program is an opportunity for new gardeners and experienced growers to help each other grow food in an established and beautiful garden space. Participation in the Communal Garden will increase individual food security, build community connections, and allow for the sharing of resources and skills.
Located on the grounds of the Golden Food Bank, the Communal Garden is a shared space consisting of 4 communal growing plots, 11+ educational beds, a three-bay composting system, an automated irrigation system and a greenhouse. Communal Garden Growers share in both the responsibility and the bounty of the garden.
With the help of our Growers, we hope the Communal Garden will continue to evolve in the years ahead as an accessible community gardening program.
“We are looking forward to opening up our garden space to the community. While the new program will be staff-supported for the program coordination and education aspects, member Growers will have full ownership of what is grown here. We really see this as a participatory avenue for people to gain low-barrier access to food, at a time when the cost of groceries and particularly fresh produce is so high. The garden at our location is truly such a beautiful and peaceful place, it’s exciting to be able to share it with people who are keen to garden but might not have their own space or the confidence to get started.” Julia Newbury, Executive Director, Golden Food Bank Society
Growers will join a team that works together to make decisions, plant, tend, maintain and harvest their assigned garden beds. In this garden model, the cultivated land is tended by people as a group, and the labour, knowledge and harvest is shared equally among all members.
Growers gain early-bird access to registration for our popular Seed to Supper garden workshops. Throughout the year, we invite local knowledge-keepers to present hands-on workshops where participants can increase their knowledge and skills in growing and preserving food.
This program is open to all members of our community, and is a way to learn how to organically and sustainably grow a vegetable garden; build food security & resilience in Golden, and make new friends along the way. We welcome all applications, from the never-before-gardened to established green thumbs.
Registration is now open! Growers will be contacted mid-April on whether they have a spot on the program, or are waitlisted. Garden opening day will be Saturday, May 18th, all growers are expected to participate and attend.
“ I am so excited to share our garden space and skills to help teach people how to feed themselves nutritious and tasty food.” – Karen Temple Beamish, Volunteer & Education Coordinator, Golden Food Bank Society
The cost for the GFB Communal Garden membership will be $50/Grower for the 2024 growing season. A Communal Garden Bursary is available for those who would face a financial barrier in paying the membership fee. Growers who would be supported by a bursary will be asked to indicate this when completing the online registration. Bursaries are available to cover either half ($25) or all of the membership fee.
The program is open to all, with space reserved for those who identify as low-income. The program is funded by the Golden & District Community Foundation.
