Canada's first, people's own community garden, dominated by nut trees and shrubs!

'A Proposal for a Nuttree Garden in Centre Town Ottawa'

1. The Opportunity
2.It is proposed that:

2.1. The Nuttree Garden development would be undertaken jointly by:
2.2. The Expert Plan for Developing a Nutree Garden would include inter alia:
2.3. The Nuttree Garden, dominated by nut trees and shrubs, would serve to:
2.4. The ideal Nuttree Garden site would be:

'A Nuttree Garden Plan for Centretown Ottawa'

1 - The Issue
2 - The Concept of a Nuttree Garden for Centretown
3 - The Initiative to Create a Nuttree Garden
4 - Highlights of the Plan

4.1 - The best Nuttree Garden site would:
4.2 - The Planned Site
4.3 - The Expert Plan for Developing a Nuttree Garden
4.4 - Mechanisms for Operating the Nuttree Garden
4.5 - Possible Features of the Nuttree Garden
4.6 - Progressive development of the Nuttree Garden to maturity in the year 2020.

1. The Opportunity

Ice Storm '98 showed how vulnerable many of our trees are to severe damage from ice accumulation. Emergency recovery, longer term repair and numerous replacements are very expensive, and the results often leave something to be desired. Avoidance would be much cheaper and satisfying. Most kinds of nut trees were not damaged at all, or only slightly. Given that climatologists expect future weather to become more severe, nut trees become increasingly desirable for urban forests.

Citizens are showing an increasing interest in the re-treeing throughout the region, and no less in Centretown Ottawa. This interest can be cultivated by providing Citizens with opportunities to be directly involved in the re-treeing process. One such opportunity may be to enable Centretown Citizens to create a nut grove within the area.

With this need in mind, it is proposed to all interested parties, to help a qualified group of centretown citizens create a "Nuttree Garden" downtown, and further to experience the wonder of nut trees and shrubs growing in an attractive green-space setting.

2. It is proposed that:

2.1. The Nuttree Garden development would be undertaken jointly by:

• A Centretown Nuttree Garden Society (COGS), instituted specifically for this purpose, responsible for carrying out ongoing development and maintenance.
• Centretown Business Community leaders and their nut culture advisors, providing initiative, expert planning, guidance and assistance;
• Governments such as the City of Ottawa, the RMOC, and the NCC, providing support and advice as appropriate;
• The Eastern Chapter of the Society of Ontario Nut Growers (ECSONG), providing advice, supervision and support; and
• The Centretown Citizens Community Association (CCCA), providing liaison with the community at large.

2.2. The Expert Plan for Developing a Nutree Garden would include inter alia:

• A formal Vision of the garden at maturity, including Species List, Mission and Goal statements, a Site Map, and a Project Plan;
• The mechanisms for resourcing and operating the garden;
• The true cost to establish and maintain the garden through its life-cycle;
• The life-cycle policies and procedures needed to establish and maintain the garden;
• A development schedule that would create the garden within one full growing season of approval;
• Publicity that would ensure the fullest recognition; and
• Programs assure the orderly use of the site by groups of residents and visitors.

2.3. The Nuttree Garden, dominated by nut trees and shrubs, would serve to:

• Support the mandates of the various levels of government operating in centretown Ottawa;
• Involve centretown residents with nut trees;
• Attract the attention of urban foresters to nut trees;
• Build confidence in nut trees' suitability for the urban forest;
• Preserve valuable green space; and
• Produce, in the longer term, nut seed and seedlings to be given over for research and development purposes;

2.4. The ideal Nuttree Garden site would be:

• On publicly owned land;
• Located in the downtown area proper;
• In area, at least four hundred square meters (about 4400 square feet, or one tenth acre) and at most one hectare (about 2.5 acres);
• Accessible on foot, and separated from traffic by at least a sidewalk;
• Provided with a water source during the spring through fall;
• Overlain by quality soil, with little rubble or debris; and
• Adjoining other public areas, in order to provide a still larger contiguous green space.

1 -The Issue

Ice Storm '98 showed how vulnerable many of our trees are to severe damage from ice accumulation. Emergency recovery, longer term repair and numerous replacements are very expensive, and the results often leave something to be desired. Avoidance would be much cheaper and satisfying. Most kinds of nut trees were not damaged at all, or only slightly.

Because of the storm damage, retreeing of centretown is a priority, and nut trees should make up at least 25% of the new plantings. This work could be accomplished by the citizenry, with the right approach. As a continual process, retreeing now should accelerate, but be done in such a way as that it is sustainable once the current push is over. The method of planting and maintenance should enable most of the work to be done manually, without expensive, heavy equipment. A continuing source of new specimens should be close at hand, preferably in centretown itself.

We propose to help centretown citizens create a "Nuttree Garden" downtown to experience nut trees and shrubs, in an attractive garden setting, and toprovide and endless supply of new planting stock for the ward.

The Tree Committee (Debra Ironside, Chair) of the Ottawa Centretown Citizenıs Community Association (CCCA), Diane Holmes RMOC Councillor for Somerset Ward (Centretown), and others desire a nut tree site be established in Centretown.

2 - The Concept of a Nuttree Garden for Centretown

The Nuttree Garden, dominated by nut trees and shrubs, would serve:

• to involve centretown residents with nut trees;
• to attract the attention of urban foresters;
• to build confidence in nut trees' suitability for the Urbs;
• to attract revenues through tourism and other activities; and
• to provide valuable green space.

3 - The Initiative to Create a Nuttree Garden

Vera Hrebacka, of Veratika, a member of the Centretown business community, is prepared to take the initiative by:

• Seeking a public site for the Nuttree Garden, with the help of the RMOC, the NCC and the City;
• Preparing an expert development plan:
  • Ms Hrebacka has contacted the "Nutculture Services" division of Cobjon Enterprises Inc. (CEI) of Ottawa, specialists in nut growing in Canada; and
  • Hank Jones of CEI's Nutculture Services has agreed to draft a plan for the Company, and to present it to the Committee and others, as appropriate.

• Rallying the business community and the citizenry.

4.1 - The best Nuttree Garden site would:

• Be publically owned;
• Be located in the downtown area proper;
• In area, be at least four hundred square meters (about 4400 square feet, or one tenth acre) and at most one hectare (about 2.5 acres);
• Be easily accessible to the walking and touring public;
• Be provided with water during the spring through fall;
• Have mostly soil, and little rubble; and
• Adjoin other public areas, in order to provide a still larger contiguous green space.

4.2 - The Planned Site

The desired site is called "The Bronson Quadrangle". It is made up of two parts. The RMOC is offering a triangle bounded by Commissioner St, Bronson Ave., and Albert St. The NCC is offering its triangle bounded by Commissioner St, Albert St and Slater St. We call the combined area the BAS Triangle, about an acre in size.

4.3 - The Expert Plan for Developing a Nuttree Garden

The plan will cover inter alia topics such as:

• The vision of the garden at maturity;
• The mechanisms for resourcing and operating the garden;
• The true cost to establish and maintain the garden through its life-cycle;
• The life-cycle policies and procedures needed to establish and maintain the garden;
• A development schedule that would create the garden within one full growing season of approval; and
• Publicity that would ensures the fullest recognition and use of the site by residents and visitors.

The plan offers three optional configurations, the Nuttree Garden being the preferred one.

1. A Nuttree Demonstration Site...
   • Create a simple grove of nut trees amongst existing vegetation and other uses.
   • Prepare the site adequately to optimise the nut treesı survival and growth.
   • Plant one/two-year-old seedling trees.
   • Place tree guards adequate for protection from grazing by rodents.
   • Label the trees so visitors can identify the individual species and variety.
   • Place a Sign at the site. And
   • Provide a brochure for publication and distribution.

2. A Nuttree Garden...
   • Establish an organization to develop and maintain the site for its full life-cycle, and to give paid tours.
   • Prepare the overall site to become a garden dominated by nut trees and shrubs, while integrating existing uses.
   • Plant a mixed hazel-varieties and shrub-oak hedge, with openings, around the perimeter to set off the site.
   • Use Nutculture Services' "Rodale Planting Method" on the many species, cultivars and varieties of three/four-year-old trees and shrubs.
   • Trees planted along winding gravel walking paths.
   • Substantial metal tree guards to ward off wild life and pets, similar to street tree guards, but ornate, with dedication plaques and identification labels.
   • Various other annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs strategically placed to set of the nut trees and shrubs, and to enrich the visuals.
   • A small nursery plot to prepare new specimens to replace or augment the existing collection from time to time.
   • Single square metal game table anchored, with four anchored stools.
   • A number of benches, strategically placed to view the garden.
   • Place a Sign at the site, with holders for handouts and a display board mapping the garden and announcing upcoming Garden events.
   • Provide a brochure for publication and distribution, and also place copies at the site. And
   • Keep the Tourist Industry informed of the development and activities on the site.

3. A Nuttree Park...
   • Option #2, plus additional features.
   • A Childıs playground and pool would be incorporated.
   • A gazebo would be included.
   • A small building to house tools for the gardeners would be included.
   • A sprinkling system would be included.

The Nuttree Garden development would be:

• jointly with the Eastern Chapter of the Society of Ontario Nut Growers (ECSONG), which would offer expert advice and some assistance;
• in cooperation with the site(s) owners and their representatives;
• in cooperation with the local business community and their advisors; and
• involve residents in its development and maintenance.

A site map for the Nuttree garden should show:

• the recommended species and varieties of nut trees and shrubs for planting;
• their placement on the site; and
• appropriate landscaping designed to protect the investment and create quality green space.

4.4.1 - Institute a Centretown Nuttree Gardeners Society (CNGS).

• A society with a charter, the charter of ECSONG being a suitable model.
• List roles and responsibilities of the CNGS in the charter.
• The tasks to be performed by the CNGS and its members would be defined by the CNGS, and carried out by members in the normal course of CNGS business, for example:
  • Design, operations and management;
  • Tours and education;
  • Fundraising; and
  • Publicity, communication, promotion and advertising;
• Membership could be of several kinds, including individual, family, corporate, founder, patron, etc.
• In order to have a sufficiently large workforce, the Society may need one member per five square meters of site;
• Annual membership fee would go to the garden and to internal communications, eg, a newsletter to keep members informed;

4.4.2 - Strike a Steering Committee An appointed, voluntary Steering Committee bridging the CNGS to the stakeholders, such as the RMOC, ECSONG, City, Chamber of Commerce, Touristique, and technical experts, would be valuable:

• Provide advice, guidance, and access to special resources;
• Faciltitate the political and regulatory approvals and compliance;
• Provide superior technical advice;
• Raise the profile and prestige of the project; and
• The Secretariat of the CNGS, also the keeper of the Plan, could be Secretariat to the LC.

4.5 - Possible Features of the Nuttree Garden

• A nut hedge perimeter surrounding the Garden;
• Nut trees and shrubs, and other species of same, attractively placed;
• Flowerbeds, pathways, benches, game tables, arbors and pergolas making the garden a "walk of discovery";
• Onsite and offsite signage;
• Onsite and offsite handout literature emphasizing the benefits of nut trees and shrubs;
• An onsite composter to consume onsite vegetative waste, and to accept vegatable waste from the community;
• An onsite nursery area, to provide new stock and training;
• A website to make the garden known worldwide; and
• Provide radio and TV programming.

4.5.1 - Possible Layout

First complete:

• A vision statement - the conformation, management and use of the mature garden - "Vision/2020".
• A mission statement, a self-supporting enterprise.
• A goal statement, how the community is a better place.

Progressive Development Progessive development of the garden, with action beginning from day one when the site is confirmed, and accelerating over time. Set One, two, five, ten and twenty-year goals and objectives, for example:

In the first year...

• Choose Site.
• Establish the Liaison Committee;
• Establish the society, per:
• Find ten founding members;
• Elect officers;
• Meet to approve charter;
• Approve the Plan;
• Start the newsletter and website;
• Choose the site preparation start date;
• Recruit first wave of members;
• Recruit first wave of business support;
• Mark the area;
• Plant nut hedge perimeter;
• Build composter, to accept waste from site preparation;
• Build the nursery;
• Start stocking nursery;
• Plant first nut trees;
• Install the structures;
• Install the paths; and Hold first fundraiser.

In the second year...

• Increase the Society membership;
• First flower beds;
• Fill the nursery;
• Complete paths and structures;
• Plant second round of nut trees;
• Plant companion trees and shrubs;
• Publish first Brochure;
• Conduct first Tours;
• Conduct fundraisers;
• Celebrate Arbour Day; and
• Hold the Offical opening

By year five...

• Improve crop handling;
• Begin second round of tree plantings;
• Offer tours routinely; and
• Provide excess nut tree planting stock from the nursery to civic projects

By year ten...

• Be providing nut products to Winterlude and other celebrations;

By year twenty...

• Include the Nuttree Garden in the Horticulture and Agroforestry programs in the local community colleges and universities;
• Nut Trees tours of centertown, originating/ending in the Garden as fundraiser for the Garden;
• Seasonal conducted tours for $10/person would help finance the Garden;
• The Spring tour would emphasize flower and fruit set;
• The Winter Tour would emphasize identification of species by buds, branches, bark, and habit;
• The Summer Tour would emphasize identification of species by foliage, bark, habit and fruit; and
• The Fall Tour would emphasize nut gathering for seed and other products.

Copyright: 1999-2001 Veratika Canada All rights reserved.

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