Welcome to Halifax Landshare! We believe that this website can offer a much-desired service to Halifax. We hope to build a community that will link people with a love of gardening in friendships across the Halifax region, making our lives more fun and environmentally friendly!
We suggest the host and guest gardeners discuss , in detail, their expectations – Here is a checklist with some ideas to get you started. Unless you are already are acquainted with the other person, meeting in person in a public venue to discuss these issues is important before finalizing any arrangements.
Some Guidelines for Host and Guest Gardeners
Overall vision for the garden
- How much time can you commit?
- What will you grow? Is it ornamental, or functional?
- Will each person have their own patch of earth, or will you share one big garden?
- Will the garden be strictly organic, non-organic, or will you restrict certain chemicals?
- Is this a long-term arrangement, or a one-season deal?
Personal motivations, pet peeves, security
- What is your previous experience gardening?
- Is there anything you would like to learn in particular?
- Are you interested in involving/teaching children to garden?
- Are you seeking company as much as a gardener?
- Are there any behaviors (e.g. smoking) or things (e.g. pets) that are unacceptable to you?
- How will you come to an agreement on security issues?
- Who can you bring to the garden?
- During what times can you garden?
- Are there any plants that are unacceptable (e.g. poisonous ornamentals such as Datura or Monkshood)?
- Will there be access available to a tool shed, garage etc, and when will access be available?
Maintenance/Aesthetics of garden and property
- Do you have access to tools, materials, and storage?
- What kind of design would you like for the garden?
- Regarding upkeep (weeding, pruning etc.), who will be responsible, and what standard (neat or laissez-faire) will you both adhere to?
- What are both parties' responsibilities at the beginning and end of the growing season?
- Are there any other tasks that the guest gardener can help the host accomplish?
- Who is responsible for soil amendments, new tools, seeds etc?
Produce from the garden
- Who is responsible for harvesting?
- How will you share the produce?
- Are you interested in sharing extra produce with the food bank?
Improvements to the garden
- Are you interested in building raised beds, improving soil, starting composting etc?
- Who will work on these things?
- How will the costs be shared?
Transport to and from the garden
- Does the owner or volunteer have a car?
- Can the car be borrowed for transportation?
- Can times be arranged for trips to be made on behalf of volunteers or owners?
Halifax Yardshare is a networking site, and is not responsible for
the actions of guest gardeners or hosts. Anyone making reference to the cultivation of illegal substances will be immediately removed from this site. Any information, resources and time you share with a fellow gardener is naturally up to your own discretion, and should be based on how much you decide to trust the other partner.
Food Action Committee
Phone: (902) 442–1077
Fax: (902) 405-3716
We meet at the EAC on the third Monday of every month at 5:30. We need new members committed to a vision of sustainability. And there is lots to do: research, education, organizing, lobbying. Get involved today!
