Food Security & Sustainability

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Food for physical, mental, emotional and cultural wellbeing is a priority to secure and sustain our future. We need locally grown traditional and world foods, with a focus on food growing, healthy cooking and composting. Understanding and working to strengthen the connections between food, farming, economy, health and the environment are Greenprint priorities for the City of Markham.

Food insecurity has increased and local agencies have seen an increase in demand for food resources like food banks, seed libraries, food shares, and food boxes.


Community Garden and Allotment Expansions in Ward 7!

The City of Markham is excited to partner with York Region Food Network (YRFN) to create a new community garden space in Ward 7 for the 2022 growing season. YRFN will host meetings and practical workshops to help bring the group together in the first season.

The new Community Garden will be located at 120 Kirkham Drive. Community gardens are spaces governed by a community group, where planning, planting, growing, maintenance and harvesting is done collaboratively. It will have its own water supply, tool shed and fence. This new hub will welcome local residents who want to garden together and will also host gardening workshops for the entire community.

This new garden will be situated next to the existing allotment plots at Kirkham that are leased to individual families, which will also be expanded this year. The Draft Garden Master Plan and Garden Master Plan Community Meeting recording can be accessed in the folders on the right. The proposed plan includes more space for individuals and groups to grow their own food as well as spaces for engagement and education. Incorporating the existing garden, the project will eventually create a centre for food production incorporating the entire property (2.84 acres - 1.15 ha).

This project is supported by a grant from the Canadian Healthy Communities Initiative, Safe and Vibrant Public Spaces stream as well as funding from the City of Markham.

If you'd like to get involved in this community garden or learn more about this project, please contact us.

Food for physical, mental, emotional and cultural wellbeing is a priority to secure and sustain our future. We need locally grown traditional and world foods, with a focus on food growing, healthy cooking and composting. Understanding and working to strengthen the connections between food, farming, economy, health and the environment are Greenprint priorities for the City of Markham.

Food insecurity has increased and local agencies have seen an increase in demand for food resources like food banks, seed libraries, food shares, and food boxes.


Community Garden and Allotment Expansions in Ward 7!

The City of Markham is excited to partner with York Region Food Network (YRFN) to create a new community garden space in Ward 7 for the 2022 growing season. YRFN will host meetings and practical workshops to help bring the group together in the first season.

The new Community Garden will be located at 120 Kirkham Drive. Community gardens are spaces governed by a community group, where planning, planting, growing, maintenance and harvesting is done collaboratively. It will have its own water supply, tool shed and fence. This new hub will welcome local residents who want to garden together and will also host gardening workshops for the entire community.

This new garden will be situated next to the existing allotment plots at Kirkham that are leased to individual families, which will also be expanded this year. The Draft Garden Master Plan and Garden Master Plan Community Meeting recording can be accessed in the folders on the right. The proposed plan includes more space for individuals and groups to grow their own food as well as spaces for engagement and education. Incorporating the existing garden, the project will eventually create a centre for food production incorporating the entire property (2.84 acres - 1.15 ha).

This project is supported by a grant from the Canadian Healthy Communities Initiative, Safe and Vibrant Public Spaces stream as well as funding from the City of Markham.

If you'd like to get involved in this community garden or learn more about this project, please contact us.

  • Seed Starting Workshop

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    In celebration of Earth Day, York Region Food Network in collaboration with the City of Markham hosted a free interactive Seed Starting Workshop. Over 70 Markham residents joined us on April 22, 2022 under the Gazebo at Aaniin Community Centre, connecting with other garden enthusiasts, sharing tips and ideas, and creating seed kits to get gardens started. Thank you to everyone who dropped by!

  • Canada’s Food Price Report 2021

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    Canada’s Food Price Report 2021 predicts annual food expenditure could go up by as much as $695 compared to 2020

    COVID-19 changes consumer behaviour and affects food prices in surprising ways

    Halifax — The 11th annual edition of Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts an overall food price increase of 3 to 5% for 2021. The most significant increases are predicted for meat at 4.5 to 6.5%, bakery at 3.5 to 5.5%, and vegetables at 4.5 to 6.5%.

  • Community Gardens, Growing Strong in Sault Ste. Marie

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  • Scarborough residents transform vacant lot into community garden and hub

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    Deborah Newton, Toronto Star, September 9, 2021

    Read article here

  • School gardens and kitchens could grow with Ontario’s proposed food literacy act

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    The Conversation, University of Guelph, May 18, 2021

    Alicia Martin, PhD Student, Geography, University of Guelph

    Amberley T. Ruetz, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography and Arrell Food Scholar, University of Guelph

    Read article here

  • Community Gardens, greenhouses open for business in Saskatchewan

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    Video and article presented by David Giles, Global News.ca on gardening and mental wellbeing. May 15, 2020.

    Registered psychologist Christine Korol says it is a mood-boosting activity, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

    “Gardening is a great physical activity that we can safely do outside, so it checks a lot of boxes in terms of an activity that will improve your mood,” Korol told Global News.

    “It also gives you a sense of accomplishment, which is connected to improving your mood.”

    Read article here

  • “I plowed the field myself while my dog trotted alongside”: How this Toronto woman turned a hydro field into a thriving community farm

    Share “I plowed the field myself while my dog trotted alongside”: How this Toronto woman turned a hydro field into a thriving community farm on Facebook Share “I plowed the field myself while my dog trotted alongside”: How this Toronto woman turned a hydro field into a thriving community farm on Twitter Share “I plowed the field myself while my dog trotted alongside”: How this Toronto woman turned a hydro field into a thriving community farm on Linkedin Email “I plowed the field myself while my dog trotted alongside”: How this Toronto woman turned a hydro field into a thriving community farm link

    Anna-Marie Burrows, a volunteer with the Malvern Family Resource Centre, helped create a two-acre urban farm, plowing the field herself, fighting for permits and recruiting farmers.

    Read article here by Toronto Life.

  • Ontario Declares Community Gardens Essential Source of Fresh Food

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    The province amended its emergency order to re-open community gardens

    Liny Lamberink · CBC News ·

    Read article here

Page last updated: 10 Feb 2023, 05:43 PM