Community gardens in 91原创 City and the Township of 91原创 have reopened, as of Friday, April 24th, with restrictions.
Notices issued by 91原创 City and the Township set out several rules for gardeners to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, including following a schedule to limit the number of gardeners working on their plots at any given time in order to preserve social distancing.
Shared tools will not be available for use, and gardeners have been told to 鈥渂ring and use their own tools and to wear gloves鈥� and to take their tool homes.
As well, if they use a water hose, they are expected to wipe it down with sanitizing wipes before and after.
鈥淚f you are showing symptoms or have been out of the country, please do not enter the community garden,鈥� the notice added.
Theresa Bulman, volunteer coordinator for the community garden at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum, was 鈥渋ncredibly pleased鈥� that she was able to return to the garlic, peas, carrots and sunflowers she had planted before the shutdown.
鈥淭hey survived a month-and-a-half on their own without me,鈥� Bulman laughed.
There are at various locations in both the City and Township.
READ MORE: Greenthumbs forced out of community gardens amid COVID-19 closures
The gardens were ordered closed by 91原创 Township on Monday, March 22, and 91原创 City on Wednesday, March 25.
One day later, on Thursday, March 26th, the province included all food production and distribution businesses, including those run by volunteers, on a .
The list also includes things like farmers markets, subsistence agriculture as well as more industrial forms of agriculture.
READ MORE: 91原创 community gardens are growing in popularity
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, 91原创 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) was readying their newest community garden at Douglas Park, but the unveiling and inaugural use were postponed.
Discussions about opening a new garden at Rotary Centennial Park in 91原创 City have also been halted.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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