Newmarket seeks your input on community gardens

Yorkregion.com
March 19, 2014
By Chris Simon

A community garden could blossom in your neighbourhood.

Newmarket council asked staff to seek public input on the expansion of the municipality's community garden program.

Under the plan, staff members are expected to gauge public interest through the town page in The Era, the municipal website and social media.

Each small community garden would cost about $25,000 to set up.

Water service, top soil, fencing, bench, waste cans, composting area, tool shed, paved paths and signs would be needed at each site.

Between $5,000 and $8,000 in annual maintenance costs would be spent at each site to properly grow and harvest fruits and vegetables, town development and infrastructure services commissioner Robert Prentice said.

The town currently operates a community garden, in partnership with York Region Food Network, at the Magna Centre.

Staff members will present their findings in time for the town's 2015 budget deliberations.

If you are interested in setting up in a community garden in your neighbourhood, contact the town's customer service department at 905-895-5193.