Since 2006, EcoSource has been working to bring community gardening to Peel.  2010 brings us into the third year of our new Community Gardens Program. We are proud to partner with the Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel (MIAG) and the City of Mississauga on this project.  Through the Community Gardens Program, we are working to develop Community Gardens and School Learning Gardens throughout Peel Region. This initiative is generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. 

Fresh, organically grown vegetables, especially those used in ethnic cuisine can be hard to find or very expensive in Canada. People who immigrate to Canada often miss the fresh taste of some of their favourite foods, and may not have a suitable garden space or the expertise to grow them at home. Renting a garden plot is a great way for Peel residents to grow their favourite plants, exchange experiences with other gardeners, socialize, and expand their networks. Our community gardeners are a very diverse group. Gardeners of all ages (from toddlers to senior citizens) grow foods from all corners of the globe – the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and North America. At garden events and pot-luck lunches we are always eager and to learn more about favourite crops and the foods that can be made from them.   

We are currently working on four municipal community garden projects in the Region of Peel. Our largest garden, the Garden of the Valley at Mississauga Valley Park, entered its fifth season in 2010 with 40 plots of organic foods and flowers under cultivation!  The Hillside Park Community Garden at Hillside Park in Clarkson opened for its first season in 2009.  In 2010 we are excited to embark on the Malton Community Garden Project in Elmcreek Park and the Generation Garden Project at Parkway Green. We are also excited to continue supporting the Punjabi Community Health Services on their Sahara Seniors Garden, as well as new garden projects with the Village Keepers Day Care Cooperative and the Palgrave Environmental Committee.  We look forward to supporting the establishment of more projects - visit us again soon for updates!

Over the course of the gardening season, we also offer many free public events and workshops… be sure to visit our get involved page for more information!

 

 

If you would like more information about community gardening in Peel, please contact us at communitygardens (at) ecosource.ca