Community Gardening in Hamilton
The Hamilton Community Garden Network's own website, HCGN.ca, will soon be completed. It will great source for everything related to community gardening in Hamilton. Please use this site while the Hamilton Community Garden Network’s permanent site is prepared.
Community gardens are "growing" all over Hamilton.
Some of these include:
Green Venture Community Garden; Hill Street Community Garden; Churchill Community Garden; Victoria Park Community Garden; North Hamilton Community Health Centre: Youth Gardens, Keith Community Garden, Paradise Community Garden; Today’s Family Community Garden; Athens Street Community Garden; Dundas Olympic Park Community Garden; Jamesville Community Gardeners; West Highland Baptist Church Victory Garden & Plots; McQuesten Community Garden.
View Hamilton Community Garden Directory map
If you know about an existing or emerging community garden that is not yet listed on Hamilton's community garden directory map, please network coordinator Clare Wagner at clare.wagner(at)greenventure(dot)ca or 905.540.8787 ext 158.
About the Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN)
In 2007, a group of McMaster School of Nursing students did a community survey that indicated interest in developing a community garden network. Hamilton Public Health Services approached North Hamilton Community Health Centre about resurrecting a previously existing group called Hamilton-Wentworth Community Garden Network. Interested parties came together and the Network was formed.
The Hamilton Community Garden Network is a working group composed of community garden organizers, garden members, and local food enthusiast. The group collaboratively supports and promotes individuals and communities in developing and maintaining community gardens in Hamilton from the perspective of improving food security and increasing community involvement. Supported by a generous grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN) is growing strong in 2011. In addition to funding for Network resources such as workshops, coordinator guides, and advertising, the HCGN has a full-time coordinator working out of Green Venture.
Partners: City of Hamilton Departments of Public Health and Public Works, North Hamilton Community Health Center, Neighbour to Neighbour, the Canadian Organic Growers (Hamilton Chapter), AMH Services, CityHousing Hamilton and many citizen volunteers.
Seedy Saturday 2011
On March 26th, from 12pm-4pm almost 200 people can to Ryerson United Church (842 Main St. E) to swap and purchase seeds, meet fellow gardeners, and learn from workshops and exhibits.
Brought to you by the Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN) supported by Canadian Organic Growers, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Green Venture, the event was a successful fundraiser and outreach opportunity. We thank everyone who joined us and look forward to another Seedy Satruday in 2012!
If you are interested in being involved in Seedy Saturday 2012 contact HCGN coordinator Clare Wagner, at clare.wagner(at)greenventure(dot)ca to inquire about reserving spot.
Background on Seedy Saturday
Seedy Saturday and Sunday events come from an idea germinated by Seeds of Diversity. They are spring events that take place in cities and towns all over the world bringing people together to swap and buy seeds and gardening supplies, network with other gardening enthusiasts, and participate in workshops and demonstration.
The Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN) in partnership with the Hamilton Chapter of the Canadian Organic Growers (COG), Jamesville Community Centre, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) hosted Hamilton’s first downtown Seedy Saturday in March 2010. The day was a huge success and has become an annual event.
Community Garden Resources
Check out these links for information on how to create and sustain your own community garden or to find out about existing projects across North America.
Toronto Community Garden Animators: Community Garden Handbook
You Grow Girl - Lets start a community garden
Toronto Community Housing: Community Garden Manual (PDF attached below)
Evergreen: Common Grounds Resources
American Community Gardening Association