I’m not sure if this post is good news or bad news.
Last week I finally tracked down the exact location of my (potential) Allotment Garden plot. I am on the waiting list for York Gardens at Jane & St. Clair, but even the City representative I spoke with on the phone couldn’t give me an exact address for the plots. And the last time I tried to find them, I failed, but not after a freezing two-hour search. Turns out I was one street south of York Gardens. If only I turned left, not right on Jane! But I did get to see a part of the city I usually don’t visit. And I found the Danier Leather Outlet shop that I hadn’t been to since I was 15 years old. (Leather heaven!)
Here’s the exact location of York Gardens:
It’s a long hydro corridor, across Scarlett Road from the Lambton Golf and Country Club, lined with the backs of small homes. In the distance are a few apartment buildings– where, I would assume, the majority of the plot owners reside since the houses in the area (mainly bungalows) all have a yard.
There are three LARGE fenced-in areas full of plots. It appears as though the areas were alloted to gardens at different times, because the plots closest to Jane Street all have fences around them, and seem to be more fully worked. The middle area has no fences between the plots; the third area, closest to Scarlett Road, has no gardens within at all. I assume this third area is for new plots, which makes me think I will for sure be getting one in April. There’s even enough empty space in this corridor for another area to be fenced-off between the third and Scarlett Road.
The reason why I chose Jane and St. Clair over the plots in High Park was two-fold: first, I strategically thought my chances would be better here. High Park is the most sought-after Allotment Garden location, and I read online that everyone but two on the waiting list last year received plots due to the increasing age of the current owners, and their inability to bequeath the plot to relatives. I figured the odds were this would not happen two years in a row. The second reason I chose Jane & St. Clair is because I enjoyed the juxtaposition of having a garden plot within an urban area. High Park is not urban; the plots are low-down, in a little valley, surrounded by oversized trees, and makes me feel as if I am in the countryside not the city. I like the idea of knowing I’m in the city and making the most of it. (Jane & St. Clair is also the second-closest Allotment Garden to my apartment.) It doesn’t have any shade, but I could always ask my Daddy-O to help me construct a small pergola. And tomatoes love full sun. I also just love the cute way people have made the most of their little plots.
HOWEVER.
This morning, whilst having my tea and English muffin, watching WNED and reading the Toronto Star (le sigh Saturdays), I came across this article by Diana Zlomislic: a Star Investigation, the title reading Agent Orange sprayed along hydro corridors. Ms. Zlomislic writes, “Ontario Hydro sprayed hundreds of thousands of kilometres of power line corridors that ran through parks and farmers’ fields from 1950-1979.” She also describes the health effects that the original workers suffered (allegedly) from exposure to this deadly chemical cocktail: neuropathy, polyps, heart problems, bladder cancer, melanoma, and other cancers.
UM. The York Allotment Gardens line a hydro corridor.
Clearly the province knew these hydro corridors were sprayed with Agent Orange. And clearly they must have known this history when alloting the land to the City of Toronto for use as public gardens.
What side effects come from that past exposure to Agent Orange on the produce grown there today? Do we not choose to grow our own food to limit the chemicals used on them, or at least to be fully aware of them? Does the City let gardeners know of this chemical past when they are allotted their plots? I emailed Diana Zomislic this morning to ask if she could direct me to more information on this issue. Will keep you posted (pun intended) on any developments of interest.
In the meantime, I have to admit, I’m starting to wish I put my name down on High Park’s waiting list. At least my friend ME is on it; if he gets one, I will ask for a small square to grow my tomatoes and maybe some beans. Ooh and some beets and some heirloom carrots! I want my plot! Stupid Agent Orange. Just another example of one generation f-ing things up for the next.
Sigh,
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