The Editor,
My wife and I are gardeners at a local community garden. Recently, someone asked me if they could visit the community garden to freely pick vegetables.
The short answer is "No." Gardeners at community gardens put a lot of effort and expense into cultivating their allotments. They enrich the soil, cultivate, nurture seedlings; struggle against weeds, pests and weather; and labour on communal maintenance tasks.
They look forward to enjoying the fruits of their efforts. They are deeply hurt when someone steals vegetables and fruits.
If you visit a community garden and want some vegetables, offer to do some weeding or other work in exchange.
If you are poor and want to eat fresh vegetables and fruits, then visit the food bank in your community. Many community garden groups donate large quantities of produce to the local food banks.
If you aren't poor, then buy the fresh organic produce at your community's farmers' market. You'll eat healthier while supporting local businesses.
Visitors to community gardens should respect the effort of the gardeners by looking but not touching.
D.B. Wilson,Port Moody
