We’ve wrapped up our work with the City of Ottawa to review their community garden action plan and community-led green initiatives on City-owned land. See the City’s Engage Ottawa page for recent updates on the exciting evolution of the City’s work.

Our work with the City resulted in Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services (RCFS) establishing a formal, city-wide mandate for the Community-led Greening Initiatives and Gardening Program, aligning with the City of Ottawa’s environmental, equity, and climate goals. The program recognizes community gardening and greening as essential tools for civic engagement, community wellness, and sustainability. See the City’s new program here.

A centralized model has been developed to:
• Support diverse community-led projects on City-owned land, including food gardens, pollinator gardens, naturalization, ornamental gardens, gardening as a leisure pursuit, and invasive species removal.

• Offer a streamlined, bi-annual intake process for not-for-profit organizations (incorporated and unincorporated), with inter-departmental collaboration and staff liaison support to reduce administrative burden.

• Provide equitable access to land, technical guidance, and a consistent policy framework that prioritizes both food-producing and non-food greening initiatives This integrated approach advances the City’s vision for inclusive, connected, and resilient communities through improved access to green spaces and support for environmental stewardship at the local level.

More info from the City’s records

We wish Ottawa friends, colleagues and communities much luck with their projects this year!