A guide to

Creating And Supporting Accessible Community, and ‘Teaching’ Gardens in Toronto

Public gardens, whether the are community gardens, or ‘Teaching Gardens’ are started by different groups – some are part of an agency – and some are stand alone groups, and some of these groups have special needs – so you will find that sometimes we will label some information for your type of group.

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This Guide has been created to help people start and continue to support these kind of gardens in our city. There are many free download-able hand books and took-kits to start a community garden, and much of the information can also apply to the ‘Teaching Gardens’. This Guide has been designed to help you to sort out all the different parts that refer to your garden, and will help you and your group identify your strengths and your needs.

There are many free download-able hand books and took-kits to start a community garden ... not too many showing how create a ‘Teaching Gardens’, or to keep it thriving or show how to accommodate those with special needs ... however, here we have the hope that there will be nuggets of information to help you to keep or restart the lively sense of community and inclusiveness needed for keeping a these garden running smoothly.

How to use this guide – After the introductions, you will see that it is divided into four separate sections – really basic needs for a community invlovment garden. And then there is a fifth section that deals with accommodating those with special needs, and suggestions on how to make them feel included and integrated with the rest of the group. You will be able to read the guide and find the parts that apply to your group and there you will find page numbers of the different hand books that deal with that part.

All the documents that are refereed to, are at the bottom of this tab. The major ones have their own link - the minor ones are in the link called "garden Guidelines & other documents"

As you gain experience you many wish to add your comments to our collection of information. We would welcome such experiences!

Download this picture as a pdf. flyer: The Steps that lead to a Strong Sustainable Community Garden ... there is an explanation of what this is and what it means on the back.

This tab is new and is still under construction. .... So feel free to contact the TCGN for help, or to share ideas - at mail@tcgn.ca

more information will be added regularly