Donate Your Yard!

Thank you!

We have all the lawn space we need for this season now thanks to all of the very generous homeowners throughout Guelph!  If you have recently applied or would still like to apply, we may be viewing properties later in the summer for the following year.  This is really helpful for us so that we can prepare the properties in the fall for the upcoming season.

Want to apply?

Thank you all for the wonderful response on yard donations. Without the use of your yards this project would not be possible.  If you have some property that would be really good for growing crops we will definitely consider it. Thus, for this season, we ask that yards fit the following criteria.

Criteria for your yard to be used by Backyard Bounty:
1.      You own the property.
2.      The bigger the better and our first choices are often at least 1000ft. squared for maximum efficiency.  But still apply if your yard is smaller, it may have other great attributes. 
3.      The yard receives a minimum of 7 or 8 hours of sunlight. 
4.      There are no black walnut trees in the yard (black walnuts excrete a chemical from their roots which deters the growth of many vegetables. 
5.      The yard has not been sprayed with chemicals for at least 3 years.
6.      There is an outdoor spout for watering the garden. (Water usage will be minimal)
7.      No dogs have access to the area.
8.      We can have access to the garden all summer during working hours and early on harvest days.
9.      You can commit to 3 seasons.
 

If your yard does not fit all of the criteria, you are still welcome to fill out the online questionnaire.  Our head farmer, Scott may decide that it fits his needs based on location, etc or may be interested in the land for the following year.  We would like to have properties selected the year before, so please apply for next year as well!   Please contact Julianna at 519-803-2539 or email us if you have any questions.  If Scott is interested in the property we will arrange for him to visit you and see if the space offers suitable growing conditions.

CSA Share discounts and more:

This year we have an added feature for homeowners.  Everyone will receive 10% off of the price of a half or full share if you choose to purchase one.  Homeowners who were with us last year will still receive some free produce, which equates to about 5% of the value of that grown on your yard, in addition to the discount on shares.    If you are interested in a share, click here and get a fresh Backyard Bounty Box weekly! 

 

How your backyard can make you the envy of your neighbours, a hero in your community, provide local jobs and get you discounts on delicious organic food... 

Maybe you've been meaning to do something with it. Maybe you've given up in the battle against the weeds and dandelions. Maybe you've been thinking of starting a garden. Well...

...we'd like to make you an offer! It will mean that you never need to mow or tend to your backyard again.

Consider this:

  • Much of the food you eat (conventional and organic alike) travels thousands of miles from farm to fork.

  • Along the way, food loses nutritional value, burns fossil fuels, and contributes to climate change.

  • The average city has only three days of food supply (meaning if roads were cut off and food was evenly divided, it would be gone in three days).
  • Guelph has plenty of dormant land that could be used to grow delicious, organic food right in the city.

Local food – on the other hand - tastes better, is fresher, strengthens our local economy, and creates healthy vibrant communities.

Local Just Got Closer!

One of the fastest growing trends in North America is the return of the backyard garden. Even faster (and far more sustainable) than large scale organic farming – is small scale, organic urban farming.

Backyard Bounty believes that one of the most untapped resources in our city is our own backyards. Our business creates local 'green jobs', grows healthy food right here in Guelph, supports local restaurants and gets people like you involved in a big solution (with minimal effort).

Our Proposal to You: 

We would like to lease your backyard and grow food on it. We want to turn your backyard into a thriving, organic, highly productive, sustainable 'microfarm'. And you don't lift a finger (unless you want to). You will have inspired, professional young people coming to your home throughout the week to tend your garden.  The water usage will be minimal, as gardens use much less water than lawns.  In addition we are trying to get connected with rain barrel companies to save rain water for your gardens. 

You will receive 10% off of a CSA harvest share.  The produce grown in your yard will be part of what Backyard Bounty will sell locally through CSA shares, at the market and to restaurants.  You will get to look through your back window to see your beautifully kept garden growing throughout the summer.

Your neighbours will walk by, peer over their fences and look out their back windows and wonder what is going on. As they walk by they'll read signs in your front yard that describe what's going on and you'll find yourself speaking eloquently and powerfully about the movement your yard is a part of. You'll be the talk of your block. Your yard will be part of a local movement to get folks in Guelph more aware about sustainable food and gardening practices, while fostering community.  It will become a beautiful embodiment of the new green economy – an economy that balances economic, environmental and social values.

If I don't have a yard can I still get involved?

Yes, we love volunteers and there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved, learn new skills  & create community.  Just give us a call or send us an email.

Are you only growing in backyards?

Nope, we like front yards and side yards too, and any other cultivatable urban space. If you are connected with a church, school, business or another community organization that can offer growing space please contact us!

Again – if you'd like to apply to have your yard gardened by Backyard Bounty, fill out our online questionnaire, send us an email, or call Julianna at 519-803-2539.

Page edited June 23, 2010