United Way 'Adopt A Crop' to Fund Community Garden Project

United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes (UWCKL) will be launching a new fundraiser on Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29), allowing community members and organizations to ‘Adopt a Crop’ through their community garden.

Photo courtesy of United Way.

Adopt a Crop will provide individuals and organizations with the opportunity to sponsor or “adopt,” a crop at Edwin Binney’s Community Garden, UWCKL’s food security and food literacy project. All proceeds will go towards the community garden.

The project was started in 2019 on unused land on the Crayola Canada property. Over 50,000 pounds of produce have been donated to 20 organizations with food programs and 11 food banks in the last four years, according to UWCKL.

“Running a farm as a non-profit is a major investment of time and resources, we’ve been incredibly fortunate to have corporate and individual donors to help us with our work in tackling local food insecurity,” says Emily Beall, United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes co-executive director. “This season we produced more food than ever before; over $40,000 worth of fresh produce that was donated into our communities across the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton. Adopt a Crop is an effort to involve the community more, while also ensuring we have the means to maintain the garden, grow nutrient-rich foods and provide educational opportunities.” 

This fundraiser will be ongoing until all sponsorships are claimed for the 2023 growing season. Sponsorships will be available each year, with sponsors from the previous year receiving the right of first refusal to adopt their crop again.  

There are 25 crops available for adoption. To learn more visit the Adopt a Crop website starting Tuesday.

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Local Church Unveils Community Garden For Food Insecurity Awareness

All Saints' Anglican Church unveiled their community vegetable garden where their crops will be donated to several local communities and organizations to spread food insecurity awareness on Monday.

Reverend Suzanna McMillan (left) and Reverend Samantha Caravan (right) in front of one of five vegetable garden boxes that will continually grow crops for local communities. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Located at the south end of the church, the All Saints’ Peterborough Community Garden will supply vegetables to organizations such as Food Not Bombs, Kawartha Food Share, Prince of Wales School’s breakfast program and YWCA Nourish.

“We obviously love to distribute fresh foods to our member agencies so the fact that they’ve taken this to the next level and are willing to support their families with healthy nutritious food items, it’s so great,” said Ashlee Aitken, Kawartha Food Share general manager.

The garden was built not only as a way to help the community but inspire others to help fight against food insecurity and start their own initiative. Reverend Samantha Caravan said the church believes in food equity and that no one should have to worry about having food on their plate every day.

“We really want to engage with people to help them grow their own food in their own backyards,” she said. “It’s not about just filling empty bellies, it’s really building a relationship with people who live and work in this neighbourhood.”

McMillan helped plant, water, weed and caretake the garden since it was created in early June. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The garden was dedicated to Reverend Suzanne McMillan who serves as the church’s diaconate for over 15 years. The honour came as a surprise to McMillan when Caravan revealed the plaque to the public.

“The priest beside me (Caravan) is filled with wonderful surprises like this. Honouring the people for the work they do,” she said. “I was delighted but very surprised.”

“Suzanne has been the driving force around here for justice issues,” said Caravan. “With her energy and time, we wanted to honour that commitment to her fellow people with this.”

The five garden boxes are 6x25x3 inches in length. Rain barrels are used to help maintain the gardens to offset the cost of water. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The gardens were planted in the first week of June and contain crops such as onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, squash and lettuce. The church plans to grow enough tomatoes to hold canning sessions for community distribution.

The church plans to continually use the gardens to crops as long as possible for community distribution.

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