About our garden:
The Communal Garden Project was initiated in 2001 by the Health & Healing Team of Celebration! Presbyterian Church on the east side of Lakeridge Road just south of Hwy 7, as an organic garden where individuals and organizations could work together raising small fruit and vegetables for distribution to low income families and organizations working with those in need.

The Garden’s initial funding came from the Experimental Fund of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Mayor’s Fund of the Town of Whitby, and the Krembil Foundation of Toronto as well as individual gifts.

The church, an outreach based ministry, closed in December of 2003. Members of the Health and Healing committee, recognizing the value of the garden project to the area, continued to co-ordinate the garden for 2004. It was hoped enough interest would be generated in the garden so that it could become a community operated project.

Therefore in 2004, the Garden Committee rented individual plots to community members and groups interested in gardening.

The Communal Garden Project also continued to operate over the 2004 season donating over 740 lbs. (over a third of a ton) of fresh vegetables to St. Vincent Kitchen, Cornerstone Community Association and individual families in need that worked in the communal garden or were referred to the project.

In the spring of 2005 Crossroads Community Church (Ajax) came along side the garden project to support its long term sustainability. Ajax was added to the name to reflect their support as well as the participation in the garden by Ajax residents. The garden project also borders on the two communities.

The garden project continues to expand and presently occupies over 2 acres including garden, sitting area, children’s space, sheds, cisterns and flower beds on its original site. The garden project also enjoys another 3 acres of natural area surrounding the garden and rest area creating a sense of sanctuary.

The number of plots rented out in the Community Garden portion has grown from 6 in 2004 to 51 in 2009 with minimal advertising. In 2009 there were over 100 individuals involved in gardening in this portion of the garden while another 50 volunteered in the communal portion or for specific garden projects.

The Communal Garden Project Fresh Produce Donations

Over 3600 pounds of produces was donated in 2009 to those in need

Recipients – Salvation Army Whitby, The Eating Well, St Vincent’s Kitchen, St Paul’s on the Hill, an ESL class, mini market at a geared-to-income building Ajax, The Refuge, The Durham Youth Shelter, the Muslim Welfare Home as well as individuals and families in need across 4 Durham Region communities

Plots for Rent: Individual 4’x30’ plots in the Community Garden portion can be rented for a fee of $30.00 to help with garden costs, however fees are not to be a barrier to participation in the garden. Any who might have difficulty with the set fee are asked to speak with the Garden Coordinator.

Annual Events – Kick Off (May), Annual Summer Open House/Marketplace (July), Experience the Harvest (Oct.) – for the broader public to experience what a community garden is. Tours are given through the season on request. Work Days open for volunteers.

Tours given: to visitors at open houses, groups interested in beginning gardens, UOIT nursing students, municipal politicians, ESL leaders. It has presented displays (Idea Exchange, Dress the Part, Communities in Bloom, Pickering Seedy Saturday) and participated in a community fundraisers (Brooklin Harvest Festival)

Community Relationships

Whitby Community Garden/Communal Garden Project was among the founding members of and continues to participate on the steering committee of the Durham Region Community Garden Network initiated through Durham Lives and support its transition

The Garden/Communal Garden Project representative participates in the Durham Lives! Food Charter Working Group, and also chaired the Durham Region Food Charter Visioning Day and Strategy Team for the Durham Region Food Charter Task Force to Sept 2007.

The garden participated on the steering committee of Feed the Need Durham prior to board development Dec. 2007.

Garden representatives have provided input to the Seaton Land Study Group, Regional Official Plan, Cullen Gardens redevelopment, Whitby Official Plan and the Regional Growth Plan.

Active in ensuring urban agriculture development was included in the Whitby Culture, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan. Worked with the municipality to identify potential urban garden sites. Participated in Communities in Bloom (2006/2007).

Advocates for urban agriculture development in other urban centres. Suppported and consulted on Valley Plentiful Garden relocation (Pickering). Encouraged and consulted on Forest Brook Garden continuing in addition to interested groups in North Durham, Brooklin and Guelph.

Partnered with Durham Region Works Dept. and Carrot Cache to install two 4200 litre cisterns to address water shortage at garden site in 2008.

Developing Relationship with new immigrants through New Places to Go, New Places to Grow (U of Guelph, Farmstart) and Durham District School Board ESL/LINC

Articles

Our Children’s Garden was featured in both the Food Wellness Fall 2006 newsletter and the Brooklin Town Crier September 2006

Canadian Association of Parish Nursing Ministry newsletter February 2007.

“Growing a Sense of Community” July 15, 2007 edition of This Week Metroland Newspapers.

Fall 2008 segment on Rogers Cable “Greening Durham” taped Aug 5, 2008

Fall/Winter 2008 Durham Region Works Dept. Newsletter

The Garden Committee continues to develop new community partners and to become more widely known throughout the region and beyond.

Our most precious relationships continue to be those that are grown in the garden with each other, creation and its source.