Sad news for Garden 579

R.I.P. Garden 579

Please join together in feasting, in work, in recognition and in remembrance.

The last community potluck at Garden 579 will be held on Wednesday, November 10th 2010 from 6pm-8pm. Bring food to share, a dish to eat from, instruments, warm clothes and well wishes.

Help us get the work done and join together for an Eviction Day Community Workparty on Thursday, November 11th, 2010 from 8am until 5pm. We will be attempting to safely remove perennials for transplant, removing out tools, soil, compost, fences, gate etc. *Pick up trucks an asset!

A life celebration for Garden 579.Gather for the very last time as a community at Garden 579. Share your remembrances, light a candle, share in a minute of silence and then a moment of hooting, hollering, howling chanting, crying, and singing our love and respect to the land just before we leave. Thursday, November 11th from 7pm-8pm.

The following is a letter written by the organizers of Garden 579:

DEAR COMMUNITY:

It is with great sadness that we bring news that Garden 579 is being shut down.

The owner of the land at 579 George N. has written a letter to members of Garden 579 instructing that it is now time to vacate the property, that they will be securing the property, denying entrance and posting no trespassing signs. They’ve given us just under a week to clear out.

The letter claims that landowners have received a number of complaints regarding the community garden and that, in their opinion, the use we have made of the property is not as it was originally described. Garden 579 has only ever received complaint from our most direct neighbour, whom we have consistently regarded and attempted to work towards resolution with. We assert that the garden has been used as described: to provide a place to collaboratively grow food, to have community potlucks, garden workdays, skillshares, kids days, open art and music jams, support groups, social justice meetings, food focused workshops, solace and peace.

Although the circumstances of the garden’s end are frustrating and saddening, those involved with Garden 579 understand that the garden’s denouement is the result of a combination of community, neighbourhood and societal problems and complexities. We acknowledge our part and responsibility to all that has occurred and do not seek to ascribe blame to neighbours or to the drop in centre- which has consistently had problems finding a neighbourhood to receive it. We do hope, however, that as a wider community, we can use the story of the life and death of Garden 579 to grow in understanding and to nurture and enrich a community’s capacity to meet the complexities of neighbourhoods with a diversity of interests and needs.

Garden 579 has been an experiment- and experience- in building capacity towards food security and empowering grassroots community building. Every single second of this journey has been amazing and filled with incredible lesson and insight. Though the garden itself will no longer be, the seeds of unabashed, creative and loving grassroots community will sprout and sprout and sprout through the continued passions and efforts of all those people who have had their lives touched by this beautiful three year opportunity to try to live in the healthy community we’ve envisioned.

Firstly, to the hundreds and hundreds of people who have taken part, given so generously of their time, resources and passion to create, empower and sustain this project over the last three years: thank you and thank you and thank you. You are all really, really shiny super stars. Secondly, to the neighbours and neighbourhood who have welcomed, encouraged and nourished this garden and its vision for three years; thank you so much. Next, to those who own the land and have opened themselves to allowing our use of the land for these three years, thank you. And finally, to the sacred little piece of land itself- land that had been left, neglected and unloved for so long but renewed to become a place to grow food and a place for community to belong- thank you, we love you, it has been an absolute wonder and honor… adieu

See the Garden 579 Website for a look at all of the amazing work they have done over the years!