Community garden considered for north Newmarket

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 19, 2015
By Chris Simon

The community garden concept may be growing in Newmarket.

Council has asked staff to investigate the feasibility of partnering with the York Region Food Network and Region of York on a community garden near the London Road and Main Street North intersection. The garden, if constructed, would cost about $6,000 to set up and nearly $600 per year in maintenance after that.

"These costs could be split with (the) food network, or funds could be brought forward through sponsorship and advertising," town public works director Chris Kalimootoo said. "This land has access to water, a roadway for cars to park and is also accessible by other modes of transportation via bike trails and bus corridor. It is large enough to hold a number of plots as well as composters."

The town currently operates a community garden, in partnership with the food network, at Magna Centre. However, council has been considering setting up municipally run gardens in other areas of the town for a while.

The Magna garden opened in 2011 and has expanded from 85 to 106 plots.

"Each plot donates a portion of the harvest to the local food bank and provides locally grown food to the residents of Newmarket," Kalimootoo said.

Any costs related to the garden will be discussed during 2017 budget deliberations, he said.