Zibi's community garden committees flourish along with their crops

Zibi’s community garden committees are cultivating much more than just produce – they’re fostering connection, promoting sustainability, and enriching the lives of residents.

The garden committees, which are set up by building, can include up to 25 residents who take on various roles from planning and organization to watering and weeding.

For many renters and condo owners, gardening may seem out of reach. Yet, at Zibi, residents like Lindsay Kuch, who moved to Zibi from Calgary to complete her Masters in the region, and Ashley Urban, a public servant, discovered an unexpected passion.

“I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to garden at this early stage in my life, especially without owning property, ” says Lindsay Kuch. “The access to green space and gardening is truly phenomenal and a unique offering in an urban setting.”

At Aalto II, located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, and where Kuch has lived for the past 3 years, three large garden beds and 12 smaller planters include vegetables, herbs and flowers commonly used for teas and medicinal purposes, and 81 distinct edible plant varieties.

At Voda, which is located on Chaudière Island in Ottawa, and where Urban has been living since December, 20 planter boxes on the third-floor South-facing terrace make the space feel more natural.

“We planted 83 types of plants, including edible flowers, pest-detering plants, 11 different types of tomatoes and 6 types of basil,” says Ashley Urban. “Our planters have already yielded an abundance of vegetables.”

Ashley and Lindsay both say that planning and collaboration is key to the success of their community gardens. At Voda, for example, the garden committee issued a call-out to all residents to save their coffee grounds so they could be used to deter a pest attacking their basil.

The garden committees put a lot of effort in thoughtfully and strategically designing what would go into the planters to promote growth throughout the season and deter pests. This includes voting on preferred plants and developing a matrix to select their plantings. There is even a master binder mapping out the gardens at Voda and their required care.

The Voda team started their discussions in February, and ensured the budget, provided by Zibi, was spent wisely.

At Aalto II, residents also benefited from seed and plant sharing to fill their planters. They also focused on reviving and promoting native species along with their vegetable crops.

“As the primary caretakers of the garden, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to oversee maintenance of the native species as well, which has allowed us all to practice responsible stewardship in an urban setting,” says Kuch.

But most importantly, both residents see the gardens as powerful social connectors. Ashley credits the garden community for introducing her to many new people, improving her living experience.

Lindsay echoes this: “The committee has allowed me to meet numerous people, learn their names, and build connections I might not have otherwise.”

Plus the committee gardens have led to beautiful intergenerational connections. Lindsay cherishes sharing her gardening progress with her grandparents who were the first to teach her about gardening. Committee members also enjoy working with older neighbours who share their expertise.

“The garden committees are great for beginner gardeners who want to learn,” says Ashley, who started gardening at a young age with her grand-parents. “I’ve even picked up some new tricks from my fellow committee members”

Zibi’s community gardens are helping the waterfront community fulfil its commitment to its One Planet Living® principles, which include “Local and sustainable food”, “Land and nature”, “Culture and Community”, and “Health and happiness.”

More than just siloed efforts in each of the buildings, the gardening committees have been creating a true sense of community through Zibi. The groups have even organized a “garden crawl” to visit all of the gardens at Zibi, view their progress, and share tips and tricks.

“Some of the people I feel closest to are in other buildings,” says Kuch. “It’s so inspiring and motivating to meet people who have similar goals and aspirations in terms of sustainability.”

Ashley Urban’s tips for a successful community garden:

Start early. Elect leaders, assign roles, and procure supplies in early spring.

Foster collaboration and accountability. Encourage teamwork in activities like watering and group planting. Leverage experienced gardeners’ knowledge.