Originally posted as part of the Ontario Barn Preservation newsletter, March 2025.

Here in Barrie, the masses of snow piles are starting to melt away. I miss the white snow. The in between seasons dirty snow is not pretty. I guess that's why I started thinking about gardens and gardening. (Also, my Mother is 80+ and still spends most of the Spring, Summer and Fall in her gardens which surround her little yellow house).

Thinking about gardens led me to a group planting trees and I discovered the grants they have available for people planting edible trees (fruits and nuts) in particular. That led me to community gardens, finding more grant money available and then, of course, I wanted to know who can start a community garden, how it works, and would it be practical for an old barn...? Read more about it below.

Laura

What About a Community Garden?

A community garden is garden space for local people to plant flowers, vegetables, fruit, maintain their garden space while paying a fee for the space and resources (water especially). The host for the community garden makes the rules for how it works, but that is the basic plan. 

What does that have to do with your old barn? 

If you have enough available land around the barn, a community garden with a barn to store: tools, seeds, plants and soil could be a great thing. If you are a gardener yourself you could offer seeds, starters for tomatoes and so on. 

A barn which is not near your home would work better for giving public access to the garden space. Of course, there would be a schedule for people, times and dates for access. I have seen local community gardens which are on properties with old farm houses, being planted on either side of the driveway to the house. So, it has been done. 

A community garden gets grant money. I found a few sources for you to take a look at. I think the edible trees were the most interesting prospect. I've looked at ideas like this before, for my brother. 

Tree Canada - Edible tree grants

Garden Ontario - Community Gardening

Garden Ontario - Grants

Sustain Ontario - Community Garden Network

A community garden isn't a project to suit everyone, or every barn. But, maybe this will give someone an idea that will work for them, or a starting place for something else. 

Posted by Laura