City of Waterloo at-home garden program ‘sells out’ in just over an hour
The City of Waterloo is excited to announce that earlier this week, its at-home garden program ‘sold out’ in just over one hour.
Subscribers to the city’s Waterloo Neighbourhoods e-newsletter were the first to hear of the free garden program Wednesday, May 13. Applications opened Thursday, May 14 at 8:30 a.m., and in just over one hour, more than 130 people submitted interest in the program. With less garden kits available than the number of applications, city staff accepted applications on a first-come-first-serve basis by ward. This spring, 100 lucky Waterloo residents will be growing vegetables and herbs in their backyard or on a patio or balcony.
The City of Waterloo’s free at-home garden program is an opportunity to support resident health and wellbeing during this difficult time. This free program provides neighbours with a recreational outlet to assist with spiritual, emotional, physical and cognitive health. It provides a low-cost opportunity for access to food and strengthens neighbourhood connections through sharing of garden tips, tricks and ideas.
Each garden kit is the same and includes soil, containers, assorted vegetables and herbs and planting information. Recipients will pick up their kits contact-free on Saturday, May 23.
The Waterloo neighbourhoods team will stay connected with residents growing their own produce, whether it be through an at-home garden kit, community garden, or their own backyard garden, by sharing tips and resources from the Waterloo Horticultural Society in upcoming Waterloo Neighbourhoods e-newsletters. The Waterloo Horticultural Society is celebrating their 125th anniversary in 2020 and has a wealth of gardening knowledge.
Earlier this month, the Province of Ontario made the decision to reopen community gardens as an essential service. We are pleased to offer this at-home garden program in addition to the 73 plots in five community gardens that have recently reopened across Waterloo.
To subscribe to the Waterloo Neighbourhoods e-newsletter, visit waterloo.ca/subscribe.
Media contact:
Shelly Reed
Communications consultant
shelly.reed@waterloo.ca