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Don害羞草研究所檛 eat the food growing in downtown Ottawa planters, says NCC

Those responsible for the park want people to know it害羞草研究所檚 possible to grow a variety of food crops
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A person takes a photo of corn and other vegetables growing in a planter box surrounded by metal fencing, at Major害羞草研究所檚 Hill Park in Ottawa, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. The National Capital Commission says the food it害羞草研究所檚 growing in these planters is not meant to be eaten, and may actually be unsafe to eat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

On the western side of Major害羞草研究所檚 Hill Park, tall stalks of corn wave in the breeze from planters overlooking the place where the Rideau Canal empties into the Ottawa River.

Scarlet beans have wound their way up the corn, decorating it with bright orange flowers. A variety of squashes are just beginning to take shape on the soil below. Bees and other pollinators are drawn to the purple salvia flowers and wild strawberries that fill out the space.

And surrounding the picturesque and delectable display are crude steel barricades most commonly used for crowd control.

There害羞草研究所檚 no signage, but the message is pretty clear: don害羞草研究所檛 pick the food.

The federal Crown corporation responsible for the park wants people to know it害羞草研究所檚 possible to grow a variety of food crops in urban Ottawa as part of its goal to tackle food insecurity.

The National Capital Commission says the fruits and vegetables it害羞草研究所檚 cultivating in the downtown are not meant to be eaten.

害羞草研究所淚 think that showing food growing in urban spaces is inspiring. It害羞草研究所檚 a nice thing to see,害羞草研究所 said Erin Beagle, the executive director of Roots Community Food Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont., an organization that advocates for dignified food access.

But to say the food is not for people to eat 害羞草研究所渁bsolutely destroys their message.害羞草研究所

害羞草研究所淭o tell people it害羞草研究所檚 for food insecurity and then to even tell people who are food insecure, 害羞草研究所楢ctually, no, but you can害羞草研究所檛 touch that害羞草研究所 is like waving something in front of them that they need.害羞草研究所

The NCC said the fences are to prevent people from tampering with food that it says 害羞草研究所渃ould be unfit for consumption.害羞草研究所

害羞草研究所淪ome of our sites historically contained contaminated soil and the water source used for irrigation (varies) from site to site,害羞草研究所 it said in a statement.

Not far from the symbolic display about food security, the city害羞草研究所檚 very real issues with inequality are evident.

In recent years, problems associated with poverty and drug use have become so acute in the ByWard Market that the local business association has hired private security and successfully lobbied the city to open a police operational centre so as to step up patrols.

That has not kept people from living in makeshift encampments throughout the area. Panhandlers sit out the sweltering summer days in the shade of doorways, and community organizations drop by with bottles of water and sandwiches.

Food insecurity is not limited to people experiencing homelessness. Federal data show that in 2020, more than one in 10 Canadian households were experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity 害羞草研究所 and in the last four years, the cost of living has skyrocketed.

One of the NCC害羞草研究所檚 sustainable development goals is to invest in projects that increase access to food.

The agency says it害羞草研究所檚 doing that by opening more Greenbelt land to agriculture and community gardening, and exploring 害羞草研究所渢he potential for food production on urban lands.害羞草研究所

The NCC also said its planters in Major害羞草研究所檚 Hill are meant to be ornamental and on display until November.

The commission害羞草研究所檚 senior landscape architect, Tina Liu, explained that she chose the plants to incorporate a celebration of Indigenous culture.

害羞草研究所淭his is the agricultural practice with the Three Sisters,害羞草研究所 she said, referring to an Indigenous model of planting corn, beans and squash crops together to raise yields.

It害羞草研究所檚 not the first time Liu has grown edible plants in the city害羞草研究所檚 many gardens.

害羞草研究所淭he idea is also we can showcase (for) people how they can do that at home, you can mix planting food with flowers and it will still look nice,害羞草研究所 she said.

The cement containers surrounding the Prime Minister害羞草研究所檚 Office are producing an abundance of groundcherries this summer. In recent years, they害羞草研究所檝e also been home to kale and artichokes.

Liu said growing edible plants helps ensure harmony with urban wildlife like rabbits, groundhogs and birds, which do eat the displays.

The NCC said the metal barricades will come down when a nearby construction project is complete, and will be replaced with smaller fences.

It害羞草研究所檚 also planning to put up signs telling people the food may not be safe to eat.

Beagle is skeptical that the food grown on the NCC害羞草研究所檚 land is actually unsafe, pointing out that her organization helps grow food in First Nations communities that are living under long-standing federal boil-water advisories, and testing has shown that it is safe.

害羞草研究所淚s that actually the reason?害羞草研究所 she said. 害羞草研究所淥r is it inconvenient that people would eat it and then that would sort of ruin a display?害羞草研究所

If the soil and water are a concern, she said, that can be addressed.

Roots Community Food Centre runs a variety of programs including community meals, gardening and urban farming.

Beagle said many organizations like hers operate with the expectation that growing food in urban spaces means accepting that people and animals will interact with it.

害羞草研究所淧eople can walk through at any time of the day and any time of the night, when we害羞草研究所檙e there, when we害羞草研究所檙e not there, and the vandalism is almost nothing. I害羞草研究所檓 sure people come in and taste and try and are involved in the food in ways that we don害羞草研究所檛 know about, but it is not concerning to us,害羞草研究所 she said.

害羞草研究所淣obody wants to be seen climbing over a fence to steal food if they need it. So take the fence down.害羞草研究所

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press

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