Neighbours: Plants Growing

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With a community garden, your plants will now have next-door neighbours. Community gardens are designated ar­eas that were set up in London ap­proximately 20 years ago for peo­ple without the space required to grow their own plants. In London, there are 14 com­munity gardens spread sporadically throughout the avail­able green spaces.

Michael Pascoe, technician and co­ordinator of Horticulture at Fanshawe, explained that community gardens orig­inated in England during the Second World War when food was scarce.

“Everybody used every bit of land they could and they got these ‘community plots' or ‘allotments' they called them, so the people in crowded urban centres could grow their own vegetables because there was a food shortage,” Pascoe said.

Currently, over 500 Londoners have ac­cess to their own lot on these community gardens. Not only is that a better way to meet new people than on Tinder, it is also a great way to grow your vegetables.

Community gardens are a great way to get you out of your house, but do require some TLC.

“You really have to be dedicated be­cause you physically go to the space and you allot time, kind of like going to the gym. You have to make time to do that sort of thing,” Pascoe said.

If you live at home, you're at an advan­tage because you have the opportunity to cultivate your own garden. Pascoe ex­plained that despite where you choose to plant, growing your own is better for your health because you know what you're getting in regards to pesticides, chemical inputs and genetic modifications.

When using a community garden, you are permitted to plant fruits, vegetables, grains, berries, beans, herbs and flowers. Gardeners are also required to use organ­ic fertilizers such as compost and not use pesticides or other chemicals.

“Real organic gardens need organic compost. Compost is organic, but if you put in fruit peelings that have been chem­ically treated, you don't know what you're getting in the end,” Pascoe said.

Community gardens are also a great way to connect with people in your com­munity, provide the opportunity to be physically active and build an overall sense of pride and individual accomplish­ment.

“They have a multitude of uses [from] engaging disadvantaged kids [to] inner city areas using abandoned lots and such,” Pascoe said.

Essentially, growing your own food is a healthier and organic alternative to store-bought fruits and vegetables and is more rewarding because you grow them yourself.

Fanshawe does own an area for com­munal gardening and space is available through a draw system for faculty, teach­ers, staff and students.

Otherwise, in order to reserve your own spot of land in a community garden in London, visit lcrc.on.ca/services/garden-locations.

Information for this article was derived from http://lcrc.on.ca/services/garden-locations and london.ca/residents/Parks/Community-Projects/Pages/default.aspx