Donativo protegido
Q: So what happens when a group of local food enthusiasts from Oshawa get together to make a difference in their community?
A: 11, 579 square feet of empty space gets transformed into a place where 20,273 lbs of food is grown for Oshawa's families!
Who are we?
We Grow Food is a grassroots organization that promotes the importance of growing our own food and reconnecting community members to each other and our natural food source.
What makes We Grow Food special is that we are a bunch of people with different backgrounds, interests, and life experiences. Some of us are first time gardeners and others have been gardening for years. What has been clear from the beginning of our story is...
1. Everyone...absolutely EVERYONE is welcome! We need all gifts, talents and abilities to make this thing happen. Not sure what your good at? What your strength is? We are confident by the end of the growing season you'll discover what we know is true for each one of us...you have something valuable to contribute. So just show up!
2. Our coming together is much, much more than digging and growing fresh food, it's about restoring and building what we believe we all crave...COMMUNITY!
What started as a seed...
In Fall 2013, We Grow Food was planted in the hearts of a small group of local food enthusiasts and gardeners. The group dreamed of ways they could inspire other community members to grow their own food. By the end of that evening, they decided to focus on increasing the amount of family plot gardens in the City of Oshawa. The rest was, as they say, herstory!
Has bloomed into a tree!
DIG DAY @ The Pepperpatch Neighbourhood Garden at John and Albert Street in Oshawa, Ontario.
A teaching moment! Children are a welcome part of our community! June 2014, PepperPatch Neighbourhood Garden Install
Strike a pose! Tired muscles, but satisfied smiles. A few community members after a garden install. May 2014, Family Plot Garden Install
Just one year later and We Grow Food has installed 26 family plot gardens, 3 shared gardens & 2 neighbourhood gardens! We've transformed 11, 579 square feet of empty space into a place where 20,273 lbs of food has grown! We have seen over 100 famiilies fed and impacted. And we've only just begun, what started as a seed has sprouted into a thriving tree!
What do we do?
We provide neighbours with all the support they need to create and sustain a thriving neighbourhood garden. All the support, which means everything from finding a suitable plot of land, to growing the seedlings, to finding "extra hands" to dig, to planting the seeds and tender shoots, to educating about harvesting practices, to providing a space where excess produce can be traded with our neighbours. We create opportunities to build community through education, growing, consuming, sharing and trading the harvest.
So What's Next?
The City of Oshawa has been incredibly supportive with assisting We Grow Food make food sustainability a reality. They have GIVEN us land at 139 Albert Street (corner of John and Albert St.) and in Cordova Park (Glen St. and Malaga Rd. area) so we can work with neighbours to see 2 more neighbourhood gardens installed! We are anticipating that these two projects will mean that over 160 families will enjoy fresh fruits and veggies this year! We are incredibly excited about this opportunity to see the food and community love grow. However, none of it will be possible without YOUR help!
How Can You Help?
We are so glad you asked :) There are so many ways...
Donate money to We Grow Food through this campaign or contact Carol @ [teléfono redactado]
Volunteer at one of our fundraising events or at a community dig day
Join us at one of our planning meetings. Check out our website for upcoming dates
Join one of our planning committee groups we need all types of volunteers
Tell a friend, colleague, student, or family member about us
Complete your community service hours or field placement with us
Stay connected through Facebook or subscribe to our newsletters
Book the We Grow Food education team to come to your school, agency or organization
---
Urban Farming Dictionary :)
Neighbourhood garden
Def'n: an open area of land with no fences or barriers that hosts an amazing array of fresh fruits and veggies for the whole community to enjoy growing, harvesting and eating!
Shared garden
Def'n: private land that has been generously donated to We Grow Food so that the produce can be shared with others
Family plot gardens
Def'n: vegetable garden installed in a private dwelling for the enjoyment of the family and their neighbours, if they wish
---
* Video credit to Tyler Davis and Erin Bodashefsky
* Photo credits to Rich Fletcher Photography
A: 11, 579 square feet of empty space gets transformed into a place where 20,273 lbs of food is grown for Oshawa's families!
Who are we?
We Grow Food is a grassroots organization that promotes the importance of growing our own food and reconnecting community members to each other and our natural food source.
What makes We Grow Food special is that we are a bunch of people with different backgrounds, interests, and life experiences. Some of us are first time gardeners and others have been gardening for years. What has been clear from the beginning of our story is...
1. Everyone...absolutely EVERYONE is welcome! We need all gifts, talents and abilities to make this thing happen. Not sure what your good at? What your strength is? We are confident by the end of the growing season you'll discover what we know is true for each one of us...you have something valuable to contribute. So just show up!
2. Our coming together is much, much more than digging and growing fresh food, it's about restoring and building what we believe we all crave...COMMUNITY!
What started as a seed...
In Fall 2013, We Grow Food was planted in the hearts of a small group of local food enthusiasts and gardeners. The group dreamed of ways they could inspire other community members to grow their own food. By the end of that evening, they decided to focus on increasing the amount of family plot gardens in the City of Oshawa. The rest was, as they say, herstory!
Has bloomed into a tree!
DIG DAY @ The Pepperpatch Neighbourhood Garden at John and Albert Street in Oshawa, Ontario.A teaching moment! Children are a welcome part of our community! June 2014, PepperPatch Neighbourhood Garden InstallStrike a pose! Tired muscles, but satisfied smiles. A few community members after a garden install. May 2014, Family Plot Garden Install
Just one year later and We Grow Food has installed 26 family plot gardens, 3 shared gardens & 2 neighbourhood gardens! We've transformed 11, 579 square feet of empty space into a place where 20,273 lbs of food has grown! We have seen over 100 famiilies fed and impacted. And we've only just begun, what started as a seed has sprouted into a thriving tree!
What do we do?
We provide neighbours with all the support they need to create and sustain a thriving neighbourhood garden. All the support, which means everything from finding a suitable plot of land, to growing the seedlings, to finding "extra hands" to dig, to planting the seeds and tender shoots, to educating about harvesting practices, to providing a space where excess produce can be traded with our neighbours. We create opportunities to build community through education, growing, consuming, sharing and trading the harvest.
So What's Next?
The City of Oshawa has been incredibly supportive with assisting We Grow Food make food sustainability a reality. They have GIVEN us land at 139 Albert Street (corner of John and Albert St.) and in Cordova Park (Glen St. and Malaga Rd. area) so we can work with neighbours to see 2 more neighbourhood gardens installed! We are anticipating that these two projects will mean that over 160 families will enjoy fresh fruits and veggies this year! We are incredibly excited about this opportunity to see the food and community love grow. However, none of it will be possible without YOUR help!
How Can You Help?
We are so glad you asked :) There are so many ways...
Donate money to We Grow Food through this campaign or contact Carol @ [teléfono redactado]
Volunteer at one of our fundraising events or at a community dig day
Join us at one of our planning meetings. Check out our website for upcoming dates
Join one of our planning committee groups we need all types of volunteers
Tell a friend, colleague, student, or family member about us
Complete your community service hours or field placement with us
Stay connected through Facebook or subscribe to our newsletters
Book the We Grow Food education team to come to your school, agency or organization
---
Urban Farming Dictionary :)
Neighbourhood garden
Def'n: an open area of land with no fences or barriers that hosts an amazing array of fresh fruits and veggies for the whole community to enjoy growing, harvesting and eating!
Shared garden
Def'n: private land that has been generously donated to We Grow Food so that the produce can be shared with others
Family plot gardens
Def'n: vegetable garden installed in a private dwelling for the enjoyment of the family and their neighbours, if they wish
---
* Video credit to Tyler Davis and Erin Bodashefsky
* Photo credits to Rich Fletcher Photography
Organizador
Carol Cavallari
Organizador
Oshawa, ON