Searching for Grow / Pick Your Own Food

Over 300 hectares of park space, over 88 km of public trails and a re-developed waterfront area available for Barrie residents to enjoy, for more information see:

• Parks and Amenities
• Trails
• Waterfront Features
• Community Gardens
• Dog Off-Leash Recreation Areas
• Beaches
• City of Barrie Marina

Urban agriculture branch of Urban Pantry is currently expanding the City of Barrie's community garden program by building five new community gardens in Barrie from 2018-2021

Experienced gardeners are trained volunteers available to assist the general public with their gardening needs. Purpose is to teach people more about growing plants and to provide information and technical assistance in the areas of horticulture and gardening.
Activities include:

• gardening advice by email or at clinics at shopping malls, garden centers, public gardens, libraries, fairs
• educational sessions with guest speakers, workshops or demonstrations
• guest speakers provided upon request - see website for topics
• development of horticultural programs for retirement homes, schools, youth groups and other organizations

Master Gardeners are not gardeners for hire.

Resources include traditional reading materials, e-books and e-resources.

Other programs and services include:

• Seed Library: Borrow seeds using your library card. At the end of the growing season you may choose to save some of your seeds and return them to the library.
• Kitchen Library: Lending collection of kitchen gadgets, tools and appliances to borrow on your library card.
• Children's Programs: Summer Reading Program, Story Time and Ontario Early Years for pre-school children
• Adult Lifelong Learning Programs
• meeting room space is available for use by community groups and for private rental when the library is closed

For a complete list of programs offered, visit Essa Public Library

COVID-19 measures in place. See website for details.

• Pick your own certified organic grown apples
• Fresh pressed cider, certified organic mulling spices, home baked goods, honey, local maple syrup, certified organic produce in season and local crafts available
• Wagon rides on Thanksgiving weekend and on tours
• Tours can be booked for groups such as schools, senior groups and art clubs
• Pre-order and pick-up available

Provide access to a library collection of physical and digital resources

Resources include:

• Community Garden
• Kitchen Library
• Maker Area with 3D printer and Vinyl printer
• Books and Audiobooks for toddlers, children, youth, and adults
• DVDs for all ages
• electronic resources and e-books
• free internet access and wireless (wi-fi)
• book clubs

Seed Library

• Borrow seeds using your library card. At the end of the growing season, you may save and return some seeds to the library

Kitchen Library

• Lending collection of kitchen tools and appliances to borrow on your library card. Donations of kitchen items are accepted at both Angus and Thornton branches

Children's Programs

• Storytime for preschool children
• French Storytime
• Summer Reading Program for children age 3 to 12 years
• For more kids programs, view our website

Tweens

• Tinker Tuesdays
• For more tween programs, view our website

Young Adult Programs

• Teen Community Connections (TCC) group meets Fridays from 2:30 pm-3:30 pm
• Check the website calendar for latest news

Adult/Seniors Programs

• Lifelong learning on a variety of topics
• Homebound Library Service
• Hobby Circle Drop-in on third Thursday of each month from 6 pm-7 pm
• French Conversation Circle on Tuesdays at 1pm
• Two bookclubs - call for availability
• Simcoe Reads
• Essalicious event to celebrate the harvest

Local artistic talent displayed at library

For a complete list of programs offered, visit Essa Public Library

Assists the community in providing available resources to nutritious local food. Projects include:

Community Garden

• Located at Bradford Lions Park (on Colborn St, Bradford)
• $45 for 4x 6 plot
• Space is limited, call for information

Community Meal

• Program is currently on hold
• Adults wishing to assist with community meal, call for information

Environmental worm composting business; supplier of red wiggler worms, worm composting bins, castings; conducts inspirational workshops, lunch n' learn, keynote presentations

Offer on-site solutions to manage organic matter and sprout growing

Also offers laughter yoga, call for more information

Supports a network of community gardens around the city, and shares free seeds, knowledge and other resources to the public in order to grow their own food. All are welcome to help maintain the garden. Anyone is free to pick food if it is ripe (but please leave lots for everyone else as well). Use at own risk.

Located on the second floor of the Orillia Public Library are seeds freely available for the public to check out and grow. Customers are encouraged to plant the seeds in their personal gardens, nurture the plants as they grow, and, once mature, harvest the seeds to return to the library.

Public is free to use during their own availability. This garden features permaculture swales, a geodome, to extend the growing season. Use at own risk.

Georgian Bay Native Women's Association was formed in the fall of 1989 as a non-profit organization, responsible to the native women and children in the Midland and Penetanguishene area. It is not core funded by any one organization, the main source of funding flows from the hard work of volunteers who run various fundraising activities, also access funding through various government grants, which become available to Women's Groups

Waabano Kwe New Dawn Women Program

Ska Be Support Worker

Regional Indigenous Seniors Cultural Program

Indigenous Circles of Care Family Well-being Worker

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program

Shki Biinoojii Well-Being Program

Community Action Program for Children

Kina Endaayiing - We all Live Together

Activities include:
planting and caring for vegetables, herbs etc

• sharing the harvest with local food banks and organizations that provide food access
• educating and advocating for food security, ecological and sustainable gardening practices, permaculture
• promoting community partnerships, local and organic food and learning about wild edibles

Individual garden plots of 4'x6' can be rented, contact for information.

Share the Work, Share the Food Philosophy

We strive to strengthen our community through food. Produce from the garden is meant to be shared with individuals and families who are in need and those people who assist in the gardening activities which produce this produce.

A registered charity that offers a variety of home gardening services and rents garden plots. The money from garden installations and plot rentals is then used to plant a community garden. Part of produce from the community garden is donated to the local food bank in Collingwood. Also offer sustainable food workshops. Variety of volunteer opportunities available.

Support and referral services for low-income/marginalized residents of Aurora including:

Bridging the Gap -- monthly access to toiletries, grocery food vouchers; every two months access to vouchers for free clothing

Income tax preparation -- offering income tax return preparation

Community Garden -- harvest distributed to visitors to Welcoming Arms

Welcome Table -- hot take away, community dinner served from parking lot

Martha's Table -- see separate entry

Community programs offering healthy, accessible and sustainable food and related education and assistance

Seeds for Change (Urban Agriculture)

• community gardens
• workshops for growing and processing food, urban agriculture development

Good Food Box -- fresh produce for purchase

Community Breakfast -- drop in to help prepare then enjoy free breakfast with other community members

Community Cooks -- food safety knowledge and skills for food shopping, preparation and storage through hands-on training in commercial kitchen

Poverty reduction foundation, enhanced food security and education for self reliance

Community Development Program ​includes

• The Maple Tree Community Garden
• seasonal Night Market
• Seed Library
• Table Talks

Social Supports Program includes

• information and referrals to services such as housing, income support, and mental health
• brief solution focused counselling
• drop-in sessions (see separate listing)

Women's Services

• referrals to emergency services
• emergency clothing/household items
• assistance with transportation to a shelter

COVID19 - Suspended until further notice

Programs to learn, socialize and enjoy food

• weekly community lunches
• food processing
• What's Cooking educational classes
• private workshops
• Dining Club, Baking Club/Preserving Club
• 'Dine for a Cause' gala fundraiser dinners

COVID19 - Market and Pick Your Own open * visit farm animals * wear mask while on farm and in market * playground, wagon rides, forest trail activities, group tours and educational programs are suspended


Farm Market and family countryside activities * pick your own fruit and vegetables * October Harvest Festival, farm animals * group and school tours, birthday parties * Christmas trees

Health and Wellness, participants may be eligible for transportation to programs, transit fare

• seniors wellness
• recreation programs
• family health and mental health
• youth engagement
• leadership development
• civic engagement
• skills and career enhancement
• community gardens

Newcomers and Refugees Settlement Services

• newcomer community events
• newcomer youth civic engagement events
• newcomer senior wellness programs
• support towards the social inclusion of the Arab/Afghan/other Refugees/newcomers
• support with basic needs, furniture, clothing, computers/tablets

Multi-Community Building Project (MCBP)

• youth projects, focused on mental health awareness
• adult and older adult wellness programs, focused on mental health awareness

Healthy Outcomes of Preventive Engagements (HOPE)

• health and wellness for older adults
• yoga or fitness classes, followed by information sessions, workshops, socialization, recreation

HOPE Adult Day Program

• structured and supervised activities in group setting for frail older adults with cognitive, physical, and communication impairments

Technology, Access and Support for Seniors (TASS)

• TASS technology was developed to keep seniors engaged, informed, active socially, and physically and emotionally healthy
• offers senior-friendly, fully integrated, with data/internet access and a multilingual technical support to seniors and seniors serving organizations across the province

Talent City Vaughan program

• Soft skills training, effective communication, computer training such as QuickBooks and Accounting, Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Placement for high school/college/university students and newcomers

COVID-19 Response
The Erskine Community Health Centre has reopened, but is running at a reduced level until further notice.
The social worker, dietician, community developer and heath promoters are available.
The following services are available:

• Wednesday Grab and Go Breakfast
• Yoga
• Chair Fitness
• Skills Upgrading
• Mental health counselling
• Weight management
• Form filling, including assistance obtaining identification (ID)
• Computer, internet and phone access

For all other programs and services, call or email for information.

Regular Service
Community Health Centre staffed by:

• Registered Social Worker
• Registered Dietitian
• Community Developer
• Health Promoter
• Recreation and Volunteer Coordinator

Referrals not required.

Offers a variety of free health and wellness programs including:

• English as a Second Language Program - call for details, interpreters available
• Physical activities such as walking groups (indoor and outdoor), pole walking, tai chi, yoga, chair fitness, individualized physical activity plans/consultations
• Food related programs such as nutrition education and cooking classes, Craving Change, community gardens, grocery store tours, frozen meals, shelf stable meals, fresh produce when available
• Mental health counselling
• Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions and Chronic Pain - available virtually, call for information
• Falls Prevention sessions
• Weight Management
• 2S-LGBTQQIAP+ Activities
• Form filling assistance, including assistance with obtaining necessary identification (ID)
• Computer, internet and phone use throughout business hours
• Leisure Programs - check calendar for monthly offerings (e.g. games, crafts, speaker series, etc.)
• Grab and Go Breakfast - see separate 2-1-1 listing
• Summer Lunches for Children and Youth - see separate 2-1-1 listing
• Y.U.M. frozen meals - see separate 2-1-1 listing
• Community Volunteer Income Tax Program - see separate 2-1-1 listing

Other services available at this location may include:

• Diabetes Grey Bruce
• Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic
• Upper Grand District School Board Skills Upgrading
• Life Directions Employment Supports
• Grey County Social Services
• South Grey Community Mental Health Team
• YMCA Employment Services

Volunteer opportunities available, call office for details

SEGCHC also offers the following programs and services in Markdale

• free open gym with various equipment such as treadmills, elliptical, stationary bikes and free weights
• skate exchange - offers free ice skates (delivery to Dundalk is available).

Provides 20 rental garden plots (10 raised beds and 10 in-ground beds) for a small rental fee

Supports and creates activities at a household level that will engage the public in the issues of clean safe water to drink, clean safe food to eat, clean safe air to breathe and a clean safe place to live for all.

Major goal is to have many community gardens so everyone is within walking distance of a garden.

Pick your own orchard * apples and pumpkins available for picking in season * picnic area, corn and straw mazes, see sheep and llamas * gourds and ornamental corn * school tours available

Property maintenance offering:

• landscaping
• garden care and design
• lawn services
• snow plowing
• seasoned firewood

Visit website for more details