Who Can Join?
Any member of the York community can join Maloca — staff, student, faculty or alumni who live either on or off campus. Family and friends are also invited to join the garden.
No experience is necessary; just an enthusiasm for getting outdoors and for healthy and delicious foods.
Membership requires:
- signing up to the mailing list, which will keep you updated on garden activities
- a nominal fee $20 per year for both communal and individual plot gardeners, which covers membership to the club ($10) as well as tool usage fee and a donation to the general upkeep of the garden for current and future years ($10)
- the signing of a gardening agreement, which outlines proper Garden Etiquette.
Sign up today by sending us an email at maloca@yorku[]ca
*Replace [] with a period when sending emails.
Friends of the garden contribute ideas (environmental, nutritional, educational) to Maloca, or just stop by to enjoy the space. They can also be members, even if they do not intend to garden for the season.
Top 10 Reasons to Join the Maloca Community Garden @ York University
1. LOTS of Yummy Fresh Vegetables
The garden has a wide variety of different vegetables, with a focus on local heirloom varieties. We usually harvest from June to September, but we are now experimenting with season extension methods, which mean we could be harvesting until snowfall!
2. We Put the “COMMUNITY” in Community Garden
Meet a great mix of members from the York University community. The Garden is open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni of York University. Family and freinds also participate. Over the year we hold potlucks and other events where we get to know each other better and share our harvest and recipes.
3. Think Globally, Act Locally
By participating in the community garden, especially one that is dedicated to growing organic, you take real steps towards decreasing your ecological footprint and improving food security.
4. You DO NOT Need Garden Experience
One of the main benefits of participating in a community garden is that it is a shared learning experience. You can learn how to grow vegetables from other more experienced members of the garden or you can educate yourself on caring for the vegetables that interest you most.
5. You CAN go on VACATION
Over the growing season we all have times when we can’t make it to the garden. The benefit of a community garden is that because we all share the responsibility for the garden, there is almost always someone available to make sure the plants are cared for. So don’t worry if you are taken away from the garden for weeks or even months of the season.
6. Only a 10 Hour Commitment
To become a member of Maloca Community Garden you only have to commit to working a total of 10 hours over the course of the entire season. However, the more you show up the more harvest you get, since it is usually divided at the end of communal workdays (tentatively these workdays are scheduled for Tuesday and Saturday).
7. The Benefits of Exercise without the Boredom of the Gym
Gardening offers a great chance to get outside and use those muscles. It is accessible to all activity levels, ranging from mellow planting to intense soil preparation.
8. The Best Veggies $20 Can Buy
Joining the Maloca Community Garden cost only $20 per season. Your will get far more fresh heirloom vegetables than you would with $20 at a farmers’ market.
9. You Almost Forget You’re in the City
York and Toronto can somettimes be a concrete jungle. The Garden is located in a beautiful and peaceful corner of campus surrounded by fields and the remnants of a historic orchard. You’ll see rabbits and racoons… and even deer have stopped by for a visit.
10. The Experience of Being an Urban Gardener
Whether you only have a short walk or you take transit, the trip home with bags overflowing with freshly harvested vegetables will spark a great deal of interest and the occasional great conversation with those you encounter. Urban gardening is a unique experience and you’ll be surprised at its multiple rewards.
