BANFF – Banff’s greenhouses and Canmore's community garden will be flourishing again soon.
After back and forth talks between the Banff Greenhouse Gardening Society (BGGS) and Town of Banff, a decision has been made to get the greenhouses open as early as this week, but with strict new protocols to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve worked very closely with the society and we’ve had good discussions around options available to operate greenhouses,” said Amanda Arbuckle, the Town’s recreation services manager.
Banff has one community greenhouse at the Fenlands and two at the recreation grounds.
Initially, it was decided to turn over operations of the greenhouse to the Town of Banff, with staff members planting a variety of produce that could be donated to the community to help with food security efforts and assisting the more vulnerable.
The end decision, however, was to continue with individual plots based on new information on best practices for individual gardening plots from other gardening societies. Greenhouses have been deemed by the Alberta government as an essential service.
Arbuckle said the Town will come up with protocols, which will include that physical distancing of at least two metres be maintained at all times under the province’s public health orders.
In addition, she said there will be assigned plot numbers on certain days of the week and limits to the number of people allowed inside the greenhouses at any one time. Sanitizing stations and signs about the new protocols are also being set up.
“We’re asking people to not enter into the houses at this time until we set those protocols in place and make sure all the gardeners are informed,” she said. “Once that’s all done, we’re hopeful to get everyone in.”
Kiley Torti, co-president of BGGS, said she’s excited the greenhouses will open.
“There is no template for this and each province is a little different,” she said, noting Quebec has banned all community greenhouses while B.C. considers them an essential service.
“With limited recreation activities and the fact that 85 to 90 per cent of Banff’s population was laid off, and with food security, this is one way we can provide some mental health benefits, as well as being able to watch your garden grow.”
The society has 85 gardening plots in the three greenhouses, which are typically oversubscribed each year and require a lottery.
The application period was in March, but with the COVID-19 crisis hitting the province hard at that time, there weren't as many applications as would normally be expected.
Given the circumstances, BGGS is gave its current members a May 7 deadline to indicate whether or not they still want their gardening plot.
“There may have been people who applied for beds who have since left town, or there might be people who have health conditions or are just not comfortable with the situation, and we certainly honour and respect that,” said Torti.
“Anybody that was awarded a plot this year that chooses not to garden, they will have that plot next year. They still have to reapply to show interest, but if they apply they’ll automatically get a plot.”
If there are any unused plots, the Town of Banff hopes they can become communal.
“We’ll do our best to work with the society to get some communal plots that we can still provide some level of food security in the community for those most affected by the pandemic,” said Arbuckle.
Canmore Community Gardening Centre (CCGC) has planned a staggered opening of the garden, with a calendar now created and posted on the group’s website to inform all members when work parties are scheduled. Communal gardeners and plot gardeners should check the schedule or consult their team leaders for available times for visiting the garden.
No more than 15 people may be in the garden at any time. If you arrive and there are 15 people on site, society members asked people to please stay outside the garden, socially distanced from others, or come back another time.
Only one person may enter the tool shed or the greenhouse at a time.
“We’ve developed protocols to keep our members safe,” said CCGC president Anne Wilson, noting protocols include hand and tool-washing stations, small work parties, scheduling visits from the website, and no more than 15 people in the garden.
“Our focus this year is production of great vegetables, and socializing when this is over,”said Wilson.
Soap and water to clean hands and tools will be provided at the two hand washing stations. All handles of tools, including buckets and watering cans, and latches (i.e., greenhouse, tool shed and gates) must be cleaned before and after use. A diluted bleach sanitizing solution will also be available.
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