on “Yardsharing”…
It’s sooooo hard to stay away! I found this on a “Hyperlocavore” blog and thought I’d pass it along. I’m convinced in the power of community building as an antidote to the malais Windsor is experiencing, and nurturing the roots of community is as easy as sharing something - especially something as basic as food production.
Get to know your neighbours! You won’t regret it!
What is ‘yardsharing’?
Yardsharing is an arrangement between people to share skills and gardening resources; space, time, strength, tools or skills, in order to grow food as locally as possible, to make neighborhoods resilient, kids healthy and food much cheaper!
Why would I want to set up a yardsharing group?
Yardsharing is a way to connect people who love to garden, people who love healthy fresh food and people who have yards! Often people who have yards have little time time for a vegetable garden. And sometimes gardeners have trouble finding soil to garden in because they rent an aparment! Sometimes older people lack stamina and are socially isolated, finding younger people to partner in growing food together works wonderfully for all. There are all kinds of reasons it makes sense.
Yardsharing works for:
- apartment dwellers
- busy parents
- older people
- frugalistas
- foodies
- treehuggers
- cheap bastards
- farmers lacking land
- land holders lacking farmers
- people sick of leaf blowers
- curious kids
- folks with a disability
- people who want to get outside more
- people that want to eat better
- people that want to eat cheaper
- people who want to make their community resilient
- people who like their food super fresh
- people worried about peak oil
- and maybe you! (if you’re not on the list - send me a note!)
Yardsharing cuts down on greenhouse gases by limiting the travel time of fruit and vegetables to your table.
Yardsharing is a great way to connect with your family, friends and neighbors!
Yardsharing helps you eat more veggies!
Yardsharing can be a workable solution for people with physical limitations who want to eat better and more cheaply.
Yardsharing is an excellent way to teach children about food and biology!
Yardsharing is a great way to get cheaper produce to older people on a fixed income!
Yardsharing helps you get enough vitamin D from sunshine!
Yardsharing is a way to avoid pesticides and other chemicals on your food!
Yardsharing is a fun activity to share!
Yardsharing helps to create independent local food systems that are less sensitive to the price of oil.
And nothing tastes as good as food you grew yourself!
Who can yardshare?
Anyone! If you don’t see a group for your area just create one! Then send invites to people in your neighborhood, your friends and their friends and maybe you will find someone willing to start with you!
OK, Sign me up! No! Wait, is it free? Yes? OK, Sign me up!
Tags: community building, community garden, urban agriculture
Post Feedback
i’ve been thinking about doing this for awhile. would loooooove to have a garden in my backyard, which is huge, but never have the time to maintain it on a regular basis or eat/give away all the stuff that grows from it! i’m giving it another go this year and was thinking of asking a few people if they’d be interested.
thanks for the info chris…i knew you’d be back
Hey Chris! Thanks so much for the repost!
I really am focused on the community building aspect of all these.
I think we will sink or swim together, so thank you so much for being part of our community!
Happy Digging!
LizM
OOOPS
That should read ” community building aspect of all THIS.”
If people want to learn more or get involved in existing programs, FedUp Windsor is an excellent resource and they have classes on different skills. I joined a CSA in McGregor so that my dogs can’t eat what I plant in my yard. I’ll still use my window boxes for my herbs and hot peppers though.