Follow the Journey ...

BurlingtonGreen believes we need to TAKE ACTION to provide local opportunities to grow food.  In 2011 we shared our vision to establish a community garden with the City of Burlington and the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport. They recognized the value of this initiative and have provided the funding and infrastructure to make this vision come to life.

We believe that by operating a garden in a profile location and offering a variety of supporting workshops and programming, the garden can serve as a living, teaching example inspiring other gardens to "spring up" in other locations throughout the City. We want this garden to be a great success so it can demonstrate the benefits, fun and rewards associated with community efforts to share common ground and grow food.

Click on the links below to follow our photo coverage of the garden project journey...

2011 - Central Park Community Garden Vision, site planning & construction photo album 

2012 - First Year in the Garden photo album

More photos....

March 7, 2012 - Garden Registration launch event photo album

March 22-24, 2012 - Getting our hands dirty photo album

May 5, 2012 - Garden Launch event with local dignitaries photo album 

Central Park Garden News ....

The Central Park Community Garden plot lottery program is now wrapped up for 2013 and we have a new crop of enthusiastic gardens over at the garden digging in, excited about the busy and rewarding garden season ahead.

You can learn about the latest news at the garden along with more great information about our Go Local Food Network updates by clicking here.

To discover more about the Central Park Community garden project journey click here.

Interested in learning more about Community Gardening in Burlington and Halton ? We have provided some information for you on this page here.

Volunteer Opportunities

14 Victory garden beds surround the community garden site and BurlingtonGreen will maintain a demonstrative garden plot. Victory garden beds are planted as an example of edible landscaping and will contain a mixture of annual vegetables, herbs, pollinating perennials and shrubs. All the food grown in the Victory and demonstrative gardens is donated to food banks. Contact Michelle This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note all volunteers must sign a BurlingtonGreen liability waiver to participate.

Central Park Community Garden Plot Applications: NOW CLOSED

The Central Park Community garden plot application period is NOW CLOSED. The garden coordinator will contact all applicants by end of day April 1 to advise of the lottery draw results.

Those not successful in leasing a plot for this year'sg growing season are welcome to visit the garden anytime to learn more about what a community garden is all about. There are also opportunities to volunteer  by tending the surrounding Victory Garden where the fresh food grown is donated to local food banks. You can find out more by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You can discover more about the Central Park Community garden by scrolling below.

For information about the lottery process and about the garden project please read on...

The opportunity to apply to lease a garden plot for the 2013 growing season took place between February 19th and March 22, 2013. Below are the details...

Garden Plots:

• 29 Plots 2m x 3.6m (7’ x 12’) filled with a mix of soil and compost
• 2 Raised Accessible Plots 1m x 2m (3.25’ x 6.5’)

Cost: $50 ($44.25 + 13% HST) for one plot for the entire gardening season April – Oct.($25 after July 15) payable by cheque or cash to BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association. Penalty for any NSF cheques will apply. On-line payments will be accepted with an additional $2 PayPal service charge. Payment will only be accepted after you are selected to lease a plot via the lottery process.

Process: Plots will be assigned by a fair lottery draw of all applicants after March 22^nd. Names drawn will be contacted by the first week of April. Those that were not successful in the lottery draw will also be notified they did not receive a plot once all those that successfully drew a plot have confirmed their acceptance of a garden plot.

Plot Agreement:

All plot tenants will…

• be required to have read and agreed to the Central Park Community Garden rules available HERE
• will have reached age of majority (18) to sign a provided tenant agreement;
• be required to provide full payment ($50) at the time of a scheduled garden meeting with the Garden Coordinator where garden lock access will be reviewed

Please note that the tenant agreement also serves as a liability waiver that holds harmless both the City of Burlington and BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association.

Wait List: Although garden plots are assigned by lottery draw, the wait list will be ordered based on the date & time stamp of the application was received. Those that submitted a garden application in 2012 will be automatically entered into the lottery draw and if unsuccessful will be positioned on the wait list as per the date and time that they originally applied.

Accessibility: The City of Burlington strives to adhere to accessibility guidelines and has provided two raised garden beds on a concrete base inside the garden entrance near the shed. Any applicant that requires a raised accessible garden bed suitable for those requiring wheelchairs or walkers must indicate this clearly on their application. A separate lottery draw will take place for the two accessible garden beds.

Community Groups: An applicant that represents a community group or agency that would bring a group of people enrolled in a program with the agency must indicate this on the application. Up to 5 plots will be allocated to community groups via a separate draw. Any community group plots not applied for will be added to the pool of plots available to individual applicants.

One plot only: Only one plot may be leased by any individual (or group), and only one application per household will be accepted. Burlington residents will be given first priority in receiving a plot since the garden has been funded by the City of Burlington.

One season only: At this time with only one community garden being available on public land in Burlington, city policy is that the plot tenant agreement is for a single season and the gardener will be required to clear out the garden plot at the end of the season. The tenant may be re-entered in a lottery draw for the following season.

Prefer to Volunteer?

14 Victory garden beds surround the community garden site and BurlingtonGreen will maintain a demonstrative garden plot. Victory garden beds are planted as an example of edible landscaping and will contain a mixture of annual vegetables, herbs, pollinating perennials and shrubs. All the food grown in the Victory and demonstrative gardens is donated to food banks. Contact Michelle This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at any time during the season if you are interested in being involved with the Central Park Victory Gardens. Note: Volunteering does not give any preference to lottery draw applicants, but is a great way to be involved in the overall garden community at Central Park. Note all volunteers must sign a BurlingtonGreen liability waiver to participate.

Under 18? The plot agreement requires the tenant to have attained age of majority so youth are encouraged to participate under a family application where the applicant is a parent or legal guardian. Youth group agencies or programs are encouraged to apply as a community group (see above) as long as the agency supplies an official program coordinator to accompany the youth group that would take full responsibility. BurlingtonGreen also has a fantastic youth network so any interested youth may participate as part of the BGYN program. Contact Kale Black This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info. Note all youth volunteers must provide a BurlingtonGreen liability waiver signed by their legal guardian or parent.

Collection of Information: by submitting an application, the applicant has  consented to having the information in the application collected by BurlingtonGreen and a copy being provided to the City of Burlington. Personal information collected on the application is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2011, c. 25 and will be used for the administration of the Community Garden Pilot Project.

Central Park Garden Past News ...

For 2012 news about the Central Park Community Garden please click "more" below ....