Searching for Grow / Pick Your Own Food

Community garden projects throughout Durham Region * support and mentor garden projects in Durham Region * community plots, plots for rent * grow food to donate to agencies * various workshops for gardeners * annual garden tours, education days * You Grow Durham Fund to help new gardens starting up * How to Start Community Garden Workshop (annual workshop), excursions, urban agriculture research, encourage urban agriculture entrepreneurs

Table Talks (varied Durham locations check website for details www.durhamdigs.ca)

Talks centre around food-related topics of importance in the community

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

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

St. Joseph's Community Garden offers plots of land to individuals, families, and groups who want to grow their own organic vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs

• The plots are rented for a small user fee
• Upkeep of the garden site is a shared responsibility of all participants

The Cobourg Ecology Gardeners are a group of volunteers dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the Cobourg Ecology Garden - a public garden that is grounded in ecological principles.

Programs:

• Conducts an annual fundraising campaign supporting programming at local agencies that tackle complex social issues and address community needs
• Works to reduce food insecurity in the area
• Operates Edwin Binney's Community Farm and Education Centre that has harvested over 70,000 pounds of fresh produce that is donated to food banks and community organizations.
  • As an education site, the farm provides hands on learning to children and youth through workshops for schools and summer camps.
  • Programming and tours are also available for workplaces and community groups.
  • Hosts 16 plots at office for individuals to rent to grow their own produce


• Speakers are available for community and service groups.

Works to create community gardening plots. Collaborative members include Peterborough Public Health, YWCA Food Action Program, and Peterborough Green-Up.

• Advocates for community gardens as a means of food security, community building and environmental awareness
• Accepts donations of land, seeds and gardening tools
• Assists individuals who are interested in having a community garden plot

Organizes free trips for low income people to pick farm produce that is offered by participating farmers/growers.

• Farmers/growers donate their extra produce that would otherwise go unused
• Registered participants ride a school bus from one of over 20 pick-up locations to a local farm and pick seasonal fruits and vegetables at no cost
• Because produce ripens quickly, gleaning trips are usually organized on short notice
• Local faith communities pay for buses, some gleaning trips are organized with cars driven by gleaners to smaller farms
• Also holds educational workshops

A Tree for the Picking - urban gleaning program involving private property owners in the city that have offered the produce from their fruit trees and gardens

Community volunteers are welcome to help coordinate a bus pick up location, monitor bus loads and/or pick for other community members or food banks. Student volunteers are welcome to complete their OSSD hours. Contact the coordinator

Community access services, community engagement, food security programs, Financial Advocacy and Problem-Solving (FEPS) program, seniors programs and youth programs

Food Security Programs

• community gardens
• gardening programs
• cooking programs
• connecting residents to available food support

Financial Empowerment and Problem-Solving (FEPS) program

• financial literacy workshops
• year-round income tax clinic

Community Access Services -- internet access, photocopiers, holiday gift partnership

Youth Programs

• youth outreach worker youth 12-21 yrs
• Youth Violence Prevention 12-24 yrs
• the Blackstone Foundation Library
• breakfast program
• peer mentors for 13-18 yrs
• youth and child after school programs
• summer break programs for 7-12 yrs

Adult Programs

• information and referral to services
• computer access
• resume Support
• fitness Programming
• cooking Programs

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.

Programs include

• Monthly Meal Program - hot meal at 25 Axsmith Cres, North York
• Community kitchens
• food workshops and trainings
• community garden with 147 plots available to residents who lives in the M2J postal code

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

Food Services ​include:

• Nourish House food bank (see Food Access Program listing)
• mobile food market
• community kitchen (see Community Kitchen listing)
• Maple Tree Community Garden
• night market (May-Septemeber)
• seed library
• food literacy and educational workshops

Social Services include

• transitional housing
• life skills workshops
• referrals
• system navigation

Information about potential health risks in the home, workplace and community * bring about changes through information materials, workshops and community action.

Programs include:

• Environmental justice and environmental racism issues in East Toronto
• Community engagement around environmental health including indoor & outdoor air quality.
• Active Transportation initiatives including assisted bike repair clinic.
• Healthy Housing and Tenant Rights - RentSafe to address housing-related health risks affecting tenants living on low income.
• Community Planning - residents meet with government and local planning officials, as well as industry and elected representatives, to share information and concerns about environmental issues in South Riverdale
• Children's Environmental Health Education - education about substances that may put children's health at risk.
• School and Community Gardens and garden initiatives
• Gardening

COVID19 Takeout meals for breakfast and lunch available at door Mon, Fri 9 am-10 am, 12 noon-1 pm, and Tue, Thu 12 noon-1 pm; Meat (100% Halal) and Vegetarian options usually available

• all non-essential programs at drop-in closed
• call, email, or visit Fred Victor website for details on available services

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Community centre, including the following programs:

Regent Park Community Food Centre
Includes drop-in and community meal programs; in partnership with Community Food Centres Canada

• food action programs such as food skills community kitchen and community garden
• housing support and affordable housing advocacy
• community advocacy training and support
• community development and social enterprise partnerships

Drop-in and community meal programs:

• breakfast, lunch and supper (see Hours for schedule)
• shower and laundry facilities
• food skills workshops
• life skills
• recreation and social opportunities
• telephone for local calls
• PAID Clinic assistance with ID on first come, first served basis
• Information and Referral to other community programs

Housing Program
Supports include assistance in finding and maintaining affordable housing and tenant and landlord relationship assistance

• information and referral
• 40 Oaks Housing affordable housing residence

Housing Connections (see separate listing) Community Partner offering assistance with housing search and application process, appointment required

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

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

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

COVID19 -- Services available by phone

Community Health Centre

• health services, health promotion
• community building and community services
• no Ontario Health Insurance required for general services

Health Services

• family practice
• counselling and case management
• diabetes management
• dietitian
• podiatry clinic

Community Building -- community garden

Community Services -- Lead Agency for Bathurst Finch Hub
other services provided by partner agencies including: CUIAS Immigrant Service, Downsview Community Legal Services, Family Service Toronto, JVS Toronto, Kababayan Community Centre, KCWA Family and Social Services, North York Community House, Toronto Public Health -- see separate entries

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

Drop-in centre, including essential supports, case management, wraparound supports, workshops, and social and recreational activities; lunch Mon-Sat 12 noon-1 pm (see separate listing)

Essential support

• meals and snacks
• showers and laundry facilities
• access to phone, fax and internet

Access to workshops

• literacy, financial literacy, health coping strategies
• resume writing
• help with filling out social assistance applications
• personal support for community members
• recreation and social activities
• community gatherings, field trips, arts and crafts
• volunteer opportunities

Breaking Barriers Program
Case management, including wraparound support, and referrals for life management, health and wellness, income security, employment and housing

• individualized service plan
• housing starter kit
• gardening

LOFT Kitchen
Social enterprise café and catering business trains youth in food and hospitality industry​, located at George Chuvalo Neighbourhood Centre, 50 Sousa Mendes St

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

Athletic and Recreational programs for all age groups

Partners for Access and Identification (PAID) project -- assistance in obtaining vital identification

Disabilities programs -- swim and social programs, including volunteer assistants for youth and adults with physical or developmental disabilities

Seniors program -- weekly social and recreational activities

Urban agriculture

• community garden, greenhouse, composting, workshops
• nutrition program and community kitchen
• food access program
• rental space for public use
• seasonal income tax clinic
• special events and festivals
• rental markets for vendors
• entrepreneurship programs

Community gardens

• urban farms
• education -- after school gardening program
• environmental awareness
• volunteer opportunities

COVID19 -- visit website or call for information

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Services, programs and advocacy to address the problems of food access and hunger

• open to community ideas for use of resources
• member of Daily Bread Food Bank

Drop-in

• community dining
• food bank
• community gardening
• community kitchens, bake oven
• information and referral
• community advocacy
• Healthy Beginnings -- prenatal nutrition and support
• Green Barn -- sustainable food production and education centre
• Farmers Market
• Good Food Market
• in partnership with other agencies, ID clinic, help to find and keep housing, legal service referrals, settlement orientation to the community with information and referral to other services, dietetic counselling
• educational and recreational sessions

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

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

Programs for seniors

• community kitchen community garden
• interpretation to access health services
• internet classes and other recreational exercise or educational classes

Health workshops on topics such as heart health, nutrition, diabetes, arthritis, breast cancer, osteoporosis and mental health
Environmental program -- information about saving energy workshops on climate change

COVID-19 -- open, food deliveries only

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• Collects, sorts and distributes food to a network of neighbourhood food programs including food banks, shelters, prenatal programs, meal programs and community kitchens in northern Toronto
• food bank and meal program referrals
• community garden projects
• pick-your-own farm trips
• public education on hunger and poverty issues
• professional development
• volunteer opportunities

Lawrence Heights Community Food Space, Bathurst-Finch Community Food Bank and Oriole Food Space -- see separate entries