Re: “Garden plots a victim of virus,” April 7.
Has Karen Mann, the city’s emergency management co-ordinator, ever been to a garden plot in Red Deer?
I have rented at four locations over the past 30 years and none, I repeat, none of these have or had public washrooms or other facilities (unless she means a group of trees 50 to 100 yards away).
She stated, “the decision was not made lightly.” It’s my guess, however, it was made without any thought; just a spur of the moment thing.
When Mann goes for groceries, or any other item she thinks she may or may not need, be it at Costco, Walmart, Canadian Tire, etc., she is within four to six feet or less from another person, whereas when at a garden plot, you may be within five to 10 yards or further from one another.
At the young age of 81, I still feel the need to get out to the garden, be it for exercise, fresh air, or just the satisfaction of growing my own veggies. It is not a meet-and-greet ocassion.
Lastly, I realize garden plots are a public area, but in all my years of gardening, I have not seen groups of people just socializing. They are there for the purpose of gardening.
Have you seen the lineups at bog-box retail stores? Now there is a cause for concern 100 times more than a garden plot.
Ron Hiebert,
Red Deer