Fleming College Students And United Way Transform Empty Lot Into Community Garden To Help Feed Kawartha Lakes

Fleming College’s Sustainable Agriculture program, based at Fleming’s Frost Campus, and United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes have been developing a garden since 2019 on a plot that was once an empty, unused lot owned by Crayola Canada.

Farm Stand at Edwin Binney’s Community Garden. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

Fleming’s Sustainable Agriculture diploma and post-graduate and Ecosystem Management students have helped turn the once vacant lot into a thriving community garden with a robust irrigation system and more than 100 fruit trees.

“This garden is a living lab providing our students with an invaluable, hands-on education and an experience that travels far outside the classroom,” said Fleming College President Maureen Adamson. “The work they are doing in Edwin Binney’s Community Garden benefits not only the students but the entire region. As many homes struggle with rising grocery bills, Fleming students are helping to supply fresh, nutritious food to the community.”

The United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes has opened a farm stand at Edwin Binney’s Community Garden in Lindsay that, sells produce grown in the new community garden.

The stand, located at 50 Mary Street W., runs each Tuesday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. throughout the growing season while supplies last. Freshly harvested veggies, fruits and herbs will be available for purchase.  

In its first year, Fleming students and faculty with the Sustainable Agriculture Technician program helped produced 5,500 lbs. of fresh produce. Last year that yield increased to 16,264 lbs. of healthy fruits and vegetables.  

Much of that produce makes its way to 20 agencies and 10 foodbanks throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes. The United Way, supported by Fleming College, has also implemented three pilot projects which provide produce to nearly 300 people living in rent-geared-to-income housing who are identified as being at risk for food insecurity. 

The garden also provides co-op placements for students and has created employment opportunities for summer students.  

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