Gardening Portal

We are excited to share with you our new Gardening Portal! This freely available Portal was created to help people find gardening space (from “Yardsharers”), or connect with gardeners (or “Yardshare Gardeners”) interested in growing on your property, in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Our hope is to encourage quick and efficient sharing of gardening resources, so that no one needs to go without whatever they require to get themselves or others gardening! Follow the steps below to get started!

Step 2. Once logged into the Portal, click on “Search Inventory” on the upper left hand side of the navigation to start looking for Yardshares and interested Yardshare Gardeners (select the Category for either of the two on the left hand side of the page).

Step 3. If you find a Yardshare that you wish to learn more about, or a Yardshare Gardener with whom you wish to connect, copy down the identifying name and email sharingyards@gmail.com. Note that their postal code is listed under "Location Code" on the left hand side of the screen. 

Step 4: Wait to hear back from any of the other Yardshare program members that you have requested to be connected with. If and when they contact you, remember that you then get to decide whether to continue the exchange further and what information to provide. It is *completely* up to you what you decide. (Note: Within five business days, the Yardshare program members that you have requested an interest in connecting with will be sent an email asking them to review your offering on the Portal. If a potential match expresses an interest in connecting with you, we will forward them your first name and email address.)

Step 5: Should you decide to continue, you will likely want to interview them to get an idea of what they are needing and expecting. For safety reasons, the best way to do that would be using phone or other remote means. We have provided you with a list of potentially relevant questions to help you with this.

Step 6: Again only if you feel comfortable with proceeding further, meet up with the landowner(s) or gardener(s) at the Yardsharing property (keeping physical distancing, of course). Check to make sure that everything is in line with what you discussed previously.

Step 7: Should you reach an agreement, perhaps do a physical distancing handshake (perhaps the Star Trek Peace and Prosper sign?) to make an informal agreement. Or you could consider signing a more formal agreement if that feels like it makes sense for you!

Step 8: Should you not reach an agreement or hear back from your chosen match and you wish to try again, feel free to repeat steps 2-7 again!

Important Note! You are under no obligation, at any step of the way, to continue with your exchange. Should you feel uncomfortable at any point, we encourage you to stop the process immediately. Should you find a match and/or no longer wish to post your submission on the Gardening Portal, notify us by filling out the form to withdraw for either Yardsharers and/or Yardshare Gardeners.