COVID-19 toolkit for community gardens now available

In a May 29 media release, the Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) outlines a toolkit it has developed to ensure safe practices at community gardens. This comes in response to Ontario’s announcement on April 25 amending its COVID-19 emergency orders to give community gardens the green light to ‘grow’ ahead.

“The RCDHU community garden resources translate requirements from the Ontario Ministry of Health into practical tools and tips to support gardeners’ continued enjoyment and connection with the foods that they eat, while keeping the garden safe and protecting their fellow gardeners from COVID-19,” states Carolyn Froats-Emond, Registered Dietitian with Renfrew County and District Health Unit.

The COVID-19 Community Garden Toolkit includes: a fact sheet with directives for both gardeners and garden coordinators; an action plan template for the opening of a community garden; a tracking tool requiring coordinators to maintain a current membership list for the garden; and, a self-screening tool to be used by everyone before entering a community garden. “Tracking membership helps RCDHU carry out contact tracing should someone become ill,” says RCDHU’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Cushman.

Ontario Ministry of Health guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 must be followed, and in order to open, each community garden will need approval from their local public health unit.

Garden-specific, safety measures include:

  • physical distancing with only five people in the garden at once
  • no work bees or events, no sharing of tools and equipment
  • strict cleaning and disinfection
  • no communal seating (i.e., picnic tables).
  • As they would anywhere, gardeners should continue to practice the standard COVID-19 precautions – hand washing/hand rubbing, wearing a mask, coughing and sneezing etiquette – to help keep community gardens safe this summer.

Grants available: For anyone wanting to start a community garden with a goal to help ensure food security for residents of Renfrew County, but are lacking funds, applications for grants are available through the County of Renfrew www.countyofrenfrew.on.ca.

More information: visit RCDHU’s website at https://www.rcdhu.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-2/ or call RCDHU at 613-735-8651, ext. 516.

 

Renfrew County and District Health Unit(2020,May29) RCDHU develops toolkit to support COVID-19 practices for community gardens [media release]

Photo gardencentermagazine.com

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