There’s nothing better than the joy and taste you get from vegetables that you grow yourself. However if you live in an apartment building, townhouse, condo or maybe your backyard just does not have the room, having a garden of your own can be a challenge. Many people do resort to container gardening from their limited spaces, but you’re still limited to the few containers you may have space for.

From a boy I’d always love to garden (I guess this stems from seeing my parents busy at work in our little kitchen garden), but living in rental units and town houses I never had the space to do so. About 8 years ago I found out that the City of Hamilton rented gardening plots to residents and I grabbed the opportunity to get one every spring since then.

This year I opted for a plot at the Churchill Park Community Gardens which I started to work a few days ago.

If you live the City Of Hamilton and you’d like to grow some fresh vegetables, you’re in luck. But as I learned this year, you must act fast to secure a plot. I’m not sure if it’s due to the fact that we’re in a recession and people are trying to save (by growing their own vegetables) or if people are just looking for a way to spend time with the family and grow their own organic produce, but these plots sell out FAST! In previous years, there were always plots left back that you could grab at the last minute.

Churchill Park Community Gardens 85 Oak Knoll Drive

The Community Gardens are an exciting approach to gardening without pesticides. If you are interested in growing your own vegetables and herbs, want to discover an excellent source of exercise and meet new friends that share the same passion for gardening – join us in the community gardens! It is managed by the Public Works Department, Forestry & Horticulture Section for the City of Hamilton.

The garden plots are available from May to late September, but you must reserve the plot as early as you can, since as I mentioned above they get taken fast. In late Winter or early Spring complete the application form and send it in with your payment. Then a 4×5 meter plot will be assigned to you. If you have an idea of which plot you’d like to reserve, do mention so in the application form.

The plots at Churchill Park comes  roto-tilled and you do have access to a tool shed where you have access to many of the tools necessary for gardening. The thing that I like best about the plots at Churchill park is that is fenced in (protect your produce from thieves and animals) and there’s a built-in sprinkler system. This means that even when you go away on that family trip during the summer, your garden will not go thirsty!

The Churchill Park Community Gardens are located on the Hamilton Aviary compound, so your kids will have a great time interacting with all the birds when they get bored with the chores of gardening. The entire compound is open from 8 am to 8 pm daily.

For more information about the Community Gardens Program, contact:
Beth Wheaton, Business Initiatives Coordinator
Phone: 905.546.2424 x 4819
Fax: 905.546.3972
Email: beth.wheaton@hamilton.ca

Note: These pictures were taken in early Spring when most people are just starting to put in their plants. I will try to update this post later in the season to show you what it looks like in full bloom.

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