Searching for Grow / Pick Your Own Food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, Circle of Care, Downsview Community Legal Services, Family Service Toronto, JVS Toronto, Kababayan Community Centre, KCWA Family and Social Services, North York Community House, Sick Kids Centre for Community Mental Health, Toronto Public Health -- see separate entries

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.

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

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

Programs include:

• Social, recreation, education and health programs
• parent and child programs
• parenting resource library
• toy library
• community garden

EarlyON Centre

• children's breakfast club
• nutritious snack program
• after school recreation programs
• licensed child care

After school programs

• homework help
• workshops and seminars
• leadership development program
• summer day camp

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

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 -- presumed closed



Community Kitchen -- food education programs for youth, women

• entry level food service skills training for newcomer youth who want to work in the culinary sector
• low cost weekly lunch
• community gardening

COVID19 -- Still delivering paid Good Food Box across the City, boxes can be ordered for a fee at goodfoodbox.foodshare.net

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Community Food Programs -- food justice education for children, youth, adults, seniors and educators

Baby and Toddler Nutrition -- training and information on making healthy homemade baby food from fresh affordable food

Community Food Growing Programs -- information, training and resources, growing food and communities, composting, beekeeping, school gardens

Commercial Kitchen -- fully equipped kitchen for community-based groups and small businesses that do not have access to a commercial kitchen, fee

Bulk Produce -- offering fresh produce and pre-packaged snacks to schools, community groups and businesses, fee

• to set up an account, place an order or learn more email orders@foodshare.net

Good Food Box -- fee

• individuals can order fresh produce boxes and other food items online at
  goodfoodbox.foodshare.net
• agencies looking to order Good Food Boxes in bulk and have them delivered to a central location, email orders@foodshare.net

Good Food Markets -- weekly community run produce market selling affordable and culturally appropriate fruits and vegetables

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

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

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)

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

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)