UPCOMING EVENTS

St. James Horticulture Society Members:

I am pleased to announce that we are going to be gardening this year.  Remember that the gardens should not be entered until the centre post is placed in your garden.  We are hoping that will happen in the next few days.  Water will not be turned on until after the long weekend.  We have been working to have the taps and lines upgraded.  Our garden committee has been working very hard to get the gardens ready, not knowing under the current restrictions whether we would be allowed to garden. 

There are some guidelines that each of us needs to be aware of and to comply with.  First and foremost, we all need to be kind to each other.  Treat everyone with respect.  I cannot stress enough how important it is to be vigilant in our actions.  The current health guidelines stipulate that we cannot gather in groups larger than 5.  Should we be found in violation of this health order and fined the $5000, we as an organization cannot afford that fine.  The fine amount would be passed along to each person holding a registered garden membership in the St James Horticultural Society.  Please follow the guidelines and do not congregate.  Masks must be worn outside of your own garden.

The advice below is based on current public health recommendations and may change at any time. For up-to-date information, visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html.

·         Physical distancing of 6 or more feet must be observed

·         If a person is ill with COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, headache, etc.), they should not enter the garden.

·         If you are currently self-isolating/quarantining do not come to the garden

·         If a person has been out of the province, make sure they follow current public health guidance for returning from travel

·         Before coming to the garden please use the online COVID-19 self screening tool, https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/

·         All people should follow proper hand hygiene upon entering and leaving the garden site. Wearing gardening gloves while visiting the garden may provide some protection but the wearer still must clean their hands before and after wearing gloves.

·         Sanitizing wipes or disinfectant spray (for cleaning tools and surfaces) and soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer (for cleaning hands) should be brought to the garden.

·         All people should cover their coughs and sneezes and should avoid touching their faces.

·         In situations where there are items/surfaces that will be touched by multiple people, gardeners should minimize use of these common items/surfaces as much as possible. Examples include reusable bins and buckets, shared tools, garden hoses and valves, railings, handles, seating, tables, etc.

·         Gardeners should clean their hands before and after using any common use items (water taps) or frequently-touched surfaces.

I would like to personally thank the garden committee spearheaded by Linda W. with Cathy K. for assigning gardens and for organizing the work crew who have spent the last week getting our gardens ready – Nathaneal, Blaine, Gord, Jim and Wayne W.

Brenda and your St James Horticulture Society Board of Directors