Exciting news for Stittsville – after a successful first season of growing vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, flowers and more in 2017, Jo Jo's Community Garden is preparing to launch Phase 2 which will further develop the grounds to offer additional plots including above ground accessible plots. The Kassis family of Jo Jo's Pizza continue to offer the property behind their restaurant on Stittsvi
lle Main Street for the garden. As a symbol of their generosity, the garden is called "Jo Jo's Community Garden.”
The garden design is in the style of a Potager (also known as a kitchen garden). This type of garden is a blend of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and cutting flowers. Also, the garden is organic. Garden development is divided into four phases.
2017: Year 1/Phase 1 offered Stittsville Gardeners 30 plots varying in size: 5 x 5, 5 x 10, 10 x 10 and 10 x 20. Additionally, a sunflower garden was developed to encourage children participation, as well as a flower garden area and insect hotel to encourage pollinating..
2018: Year 2/Phase 2 will consist of preparing the ground for additional plots including above ground accessible plots. Year 3/Phase 3 and Year 4/Phase 4 will be a little different. Year 3/Phase 3 will be for family collaborations (e.g. if you want to share a plot with a family member who lives outside the community, this option will be available). Year 4/Phase 4 will be for special projects. Single plots will be dedicated to the Food Bank, a school (to support classroom education), and for children to learn to be responsible gardeners. Additionally, sixteen plots will be dedicated to above ground vegetable tables to support accessibility. The garden committee has applied for two grants. The first is with the Stittsville Horticultural Society and the second is with the Just Food organization. Depending on the amount of funds received, it will
determine how far development will go in Phase 1. The goal is to have the garden open to the community on the May 2-4 weekend. So, Stittsville we need your help. We need community volunteers. There's a lot of work ahead! Here is a list of things that we would like to call out to the community for support:
(1) Prepping the land. We will begin with sectioning off Phase 1 and will be renting rototillers. We will need at least 10 - 15 volunteers to assist. We plan to schedule this over two weekends. Depending on how fast the snow melts, this will be needed mid-April. This is hard work. (Anyone who wants a break from the gym, this would be a great change to your normal workout that will really show a great result). :)
(2) Assisting with the tearing down and re-building of the storage shed that the Kasis family donated. (This may already be filled) Any construction trades persons that have experience with concrete, carpentry and roofing. We need 3 - 4 volunteers. We have applied for a permit to take down the old shed and another permit for the building if the new shed. Many trades’ persons have already offered
their help. (3) Sectioning off the garden plots. This would require at least 10 volunteers. This would be required the May 14th weekend. (4) Organizers. We need 2 – 4 persons who will be able to assist with be managing the new applicants. Each garden member has to fill out a garden application form. Once their spot is available the person in charge of organizing will assign a plot to the gardener and record it on the master sheet. This will also include passing the garden info along to the person. (5) Making a compost area. For Phase 1, the compost area will be put the farthest away from the garden. Over the next few years, a more permanent area will be made for it. This compost would be fairly basic. The plan would be to attach some wooden pallets together. We need 2 – 4 volunteers for this. (6) Social media and news release help. We need help getting the word out and getting the community excited about the project! We are seeking beginners, intermediate and advance skill sets in PR and social media marketing. (7) Fund raising,
Possible ideas are to sell T-shirts. (8) Being part of the garden leaders team. Currently we are only four persons, and we need help with this! It’s a lot of work. Although this is completely non –profit, there is still basic accounting, expertise with gardening, help with letting the public know, and promoting this beautiful garden to all community members. We would like at least another four persons for this. One of the most important roles that we need help with is scheduling. We need someone who can keep us on track! (1 position filled) We have the assistance of an Ottawa Master Gardener who has offered to provide advice to garden members that would like to know how to grow organic vegetables. (9) Kids projects. This garden is really trying to encourage as much interaction with kids as possible. If we could have someone who is “crafty” be part of this, it would be a great asset. (10) Making signs. High school kids who need to get their volunteer hours, this is a great way to lend a hand and get your required hours! Other community members are welcome to join too. The signs will be basic, but creativity is definitely an asset. The garden project has the support of city councillor, Shad Qadri, The Stittsville Horticultural Society, and The Stittsville Village Association. CONTACT US
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 613-858-8465 (text or call Kim).
