NEW FENCE NEEDED FOR KLAHANIE COMMUNITY GARDEN SEASON

A NEW FENCE TO KEEP UNWANTED WILDLIFE AT BAY WILL COST $40,000, SAYS ORGANIZER KIM SCOTT

A beloved community garden in Huntsville may not see any planting this season as nearly $40,000 in fencing is required to keep wildlife at bay.

Kim Scott has been the heart of the Klahanie Community Garden, located in Huntsville's River Mill Park, since 2009.

The garden offers 25 free-to-use plots by application — prioritizing individuals and families without access to home gardens. Applications for any remaining plots are then open to all others, including schools and community organizations.

But a fence that protects the plots is no longer adequate, allowing deer and groundhogs to ravage the crops. Many gardeners abandoned their growing season in 2022.

"The deer crash through the fences and make holes in it, and the groundhogs go under it," Scott explained. "I don't think it's fair to the new gardeners to attempt to garden without a new fence, so I think the garden is going to be paused for this summer."

The current fencing is a combination of rebar with plastic deer fencing, which has been pummelled by the deer to the extent it can no longer be repaired. Scott says what is needed is a seven-foot-high black chain-link fence with two gates to keep animals out.

She says the fact the garden has never been formally organized as a notfor-profit entity makes accessing funds to buy fencing and other requirements difficult, and could mean there is not a growing season this year.

Scott has previously accessed funding grants through the District of Muskoka and the Pay It Forward program, but any money received through those means cannot be used to pay for things like fencing.

In July 2022, the town's general committee formalized the agreement to allow the Klahanie garden to maintain its use of the space in the park. It had previously been a verbal agreement, with the town providing the space in the park, but not any support for the actual activity of growing plants and vegetables.

Scott says beyond the fencing requirement, a new solution to get water to the gardens is needed as well. Access to the electricity in the park now requires volunteers to string nearly 300 feet of electrical cord from the bandstand to the electric water pump, a task not easily done by all members. She suggests a water tank that could be refilled by parks department workers might solve part of the problem.

Scott would like to approach the town for some potential solutions, but the committee that oversees the activities — the newly formed community services and waterfront strategy committee, is not receiving deputations at its March and April meetings, leaving May 11 as the next opportunity for Scott to speak on the situation. She is willing to go to the committee, but planting is usually done in May.

Coun. Scott Morrison is the chair of the committee and was unavailable for comment. Scott says Morrison has been very helpful and supportive, and hopes a solution can be found, but time is running out.

"Failing a generous benefactor with at least $40,000, sadly we will not be having a garden in 2023," she said.