Volunteers wanted for community garden

Organizers of the Oriole Park Community Garden are looking for volunteers to help out with the community project during the summer.

Gardeners, amateur or otherwise, and Ward 22 residents who can fill three administrative positions are required, according to garden coordinator Ingrid Barrett.

Administrative positions include a community outreach coordinator, who will liaise with organizations such as schools, retirement centres and churches; a communications coordinator, to cover publicity and advertising; and a program and events coordinator, who will develop garden-related events.

“We originally had a core group of eight, and now we’re down to four,” Barrett said. “Because it’s summertime, people go away, they have commitments, so we want a pool of people to call on.”

Any resident of Ward 22 can help tend the garden, which opened last year at 201 Oriole Pkwy., just southwest of Yonge Street and Chaplin Crescent. Unlike allotment gardens, in which individuals have their own beds, the Oriole Park Community Garden is tended by the collective, which then has first pick of any herbs or vegetables produced.

During last year’s harvest season, which lasted roughly from June to October, much of the produce was donated to the Churches On The Hill Food Bank, Barrett said.

Individuals interested in helping out can e-mail the steering committee at orioleparkcommunitygarden@gmail.com.