Maple Community Garden

Here are the most recent updates on the CPR-Arbutus Corridor. This does raise more questions than provide answers but we will continue moving forward with petitions, getting our message out through the media and asking local politicians and the city to take action. Gardens along the Corridor currently working together on this issue include Arbutus Victory Garden, Kerrisdale Community Garden, World in a Garden, Pine Street Garden and Maple Community Garden.

• CPR notices to remove encroachments along the right-of-way were posted along Maple, Cypress and Pine Gardens on July 16. Maureen has been in communication with CP to ask for an extension to the July 31st deadline. CP indicated that the gardens were aware of their decision through media and posted maps and no exemptions would be granted.

• Property markers will be set out the week of July 21.  CPR has indicated that access to any part of the right of way to the entrance gates to each section with the plots will be closed off immediately after July 31st.

• Local government representative have been contacted. George Heyman, MLA, will be visiting the gardens on July 17. David Eby, MLA for Point Grey, has posted our petition on the office door and has offered non-partisan meeting space if needed.  He has written CPR and made his letter available to the gardens. Joyce Murray wrote an article in the Courier.

Cypress community garden has advised their membership to save any valued or special plants on the right-of-way. The executive will be providing recommendations for Maple shortly.

A Facebook page to preserve the green space along the Arbutus Corridor has been set up. A link to the online petition is also provided on this page.

https://www.facebook.com/thearbutuscorridorgreenspace

Dear gardeners,

Dan is a director and producer here in Vancouver, and he has offered to produce a video to illustrate the potential loss of our garden plots. He needs fellow gardeners to appear in the film by simply going about their routines under his specific direction.

The goal is to contribute to a social media campaign to help create awareness around the current situation and help resolve the issues.

At this time, Dan needs to get shots of people working together and enjoying themselves in the gardens. He needs around 6-10 people and 30 minutes of their time.

He is also looking for 3 women of several generations (daughter, mother, grandmother).

Your contribution is essential, as Dan won’t be able to complete this video without your support!

If you are interested in volunteering for this initiative, please contact Dan directly using the following email address: danrocque@gmail.com

Thank you for your help!

 

Over the last few days there have a been some media attention on the issue of evicting gardeners and reactivating the corridor for train use.

1. Vancouver Sun Editorial: Arbutus line should remain green for now
Until both sides stop squabbling, gardens must stay.

Excerpt from the editorial:

“CP Rail and the city of Vancouver should step up negotiations on the future of the Arbutus Corridor and avoid punishing residents for the failure of government and the company to reach a compromise.”

Such ‘encumbrances,’ as CP labels [the gardens], contribute greatly to the charm of the area that bisects quiet residential neighbourhoods. The community gardens, some beautifully creative and well tended, also help bring people together in a city teeming with sometimes lonely newcomers and condo dwellers.”

2. Joyce Murray, Vancouver Quadra MP wrote to CP Rail asking the CEO to cancel evictions of community gardeners and work with community to find a more satisfactory way forward. Read her letter as reprinted in the Georgia Straight.

Excerpt from her letter:

“The July 31st deadline for clearing the gardens is unreasonable and will waste the work that has been invested in this season’s garden production. The corporation’s decision to issue notices to remove gardens and sheds, without adequate time to make other arrangements, appears to be a thoughtless one that fails to meet the standards of good corporate citizenship.”

3. A Maple Community Gardens member shares her perspective in the City Farmer News.

Excerpt from Deirdre Phillips’ letter:

“…our gardens are a very important element of our city and community on so many levels. The City of Vancouver, regardless of the administration in charge, has made community gardens one of the top priorities in our urban environment as part of the overall City plan. Our members and gardens provide food security and beauty to our neighbourhood, along with a chance for all passerby’s to interact with the natural world giving a respite from the concrete jungle and the daily grind of modern living. I cannot tell you how many people over the years have expressed their delight and gratitude to what we have created here.

… Do you really want destroying our community gardens to be your legacy?”

Remember to sign the petition to ask the Mayor to act to protect the gardens!

Here is the link to the online petition to preserve the Arbutus Corridor.
Everyone is invited to share with their personal email, social media and networks.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mayor_and_City_Councillors_of_Vancouver_BC_Act_quickly_to_preserve_the_Arbutus_Corridor_as_an_ongoing_green_space/?nFSOLab

A discussion about the CP rail issue will happen at the start of the July 7th work party at 7:00pm. Please be in attendance.

CPR has posted information about the Arbutus Corridor including letters issued, encroachments notice and a survey plan detailing where unauthorized encroachments exist:

http://www.cpr.ca/en/in-your-community/living-near-the-railway/pages/arbutus-corridor.aspx

The notice to remove encroachments was provided to Shaughnesey residents, an area where property lines have been marked. Maple Community Garden is shown on page 6 of the survey plan.

Property lines have yet to be marked along the 6th Avenue gardens (Maple, Cypress, Pine). A representative from Cypress Community Garden will be following up with CP Rail as to when they will be conducting the survey; media will also be contacted in the coming days.
Cypress Community Garden responded to a media inquiry regarding the notices as follows:

“Cypress garden has not received any formal notice yet, but are expecting some sort of future notice since the new CPR “official survey maps” show our gardens as “unauthorized encroachments”. We look forward to working with the City and CPR to resolve this tension and find a sustainable land use model that brings more certainty to the future of all community gardens along the Arbutus corridor.”

Media inquiries can be directed to Cypress Community Garden.

 

The following information on the Motion regarding CPR use of Arbutus Corridor was provided by Cypress Community Garden:

A meeting of the Arbutus Ridge and Kerrisdale group (ARKS) occurred on June 18. The CP Rail issue was a small part of the meeting led by the Arbutus Corridor Committee. The committee had drafted a motion to be voted on. The outcome of the vote will be posted once it is received (Hopefully in the next few days). The motion was as follows:

Motion regarding CPR use of Arbutus Corridor

Proposal to lease the Arbutus Corridor rail “right of way” from CPR. May 2014

Whereas ARKS endorses the fundamental use for the corridor, as envisioned by the Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver, for a public  greenway, for walking, gardening and personal  transportation and Whereas ARKS acknowledges that the rail corridor probably does not meet its financial highest and best use as a privately owned CPR land asset, ARKS therefore proposes that the two parties review the possibility of the city leasing for a mutually pre-agreed period with an option for future purchase and fee simple ownership should funding become available either from the city and/or third party for the purpose of a public transportation system.

A fundamental principle for ARKS residents is that homeowners adjacent to the corridor, pedestrians, gardeners and cyclists will continue to enjoy to the peace and quiet of the now semi-rural corridor free of freight, locomotives and active horticultural maintenance. ARKS  envisions that no permanent infrastructure , such as concrete paths or large trees be planted by the city and that CPR will continue, as is their right,  to lease space above or below ground to utility providers. Further, that the public use be limited to the hours between sun up and sundown. Liability coverage for public access by Vancouver.

 

The Arbutus Ridge and Kerrisdale committee (ARK) had its meeting on May 22nd. Details on what was discussed at the meeting are provided in the meeting minutes.

ARKS Minutes of May 22, 2014

This is an invitation to participate in the renewal of the labyrinth area of the west gardens. The plan is to create a space that will be used for meetings and teaching. The physical work to rebuild can be counted toward your annual work parties.

The planning meeting is Monday June 9th at 7 pm in the west garden. We will look at the interaction of paths, seating, plantings and new brick or stone work in the area to renew the space.

If you would like to participate in this project please contact Gary at commonsproject@maplecommunitygarden.ca

Maple Community Garden is currently looking for a member to participate as our representative in a garden coalition working with Cypress and Pine Community Gardens to promote greenspace along the Arbutus Corridor [for further info see CP Rail Line Clearing post, May 26, 2014 below].  If you’re interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact info@maplecommunitygarden.ca for details. Please include “Garden Coalition” in the Subject line.