Our History • The Communal Garden Project was initiated in 2001 by the Health & Healing Team of Celebration! Presbyterian Church on 5 acres of land on the east side of Lakeridge Road just south of Hwy 7, as a garden where individuals and organizations could work together raising small fruit and vegetables for distribution to individual and families in need and organizations working with those in need . This was accomplished through parish nursing ministry healing principles of body, mind and spirit. • The Garden’s initial funding came from the Experimental Fund of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Community Development Fund 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 and move to non-profit incorporation. 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. • In 2011 the Garden's name was shortened to Whitby Ajax Garden Project and sign erected. • The garden project continues to expand and now includes the garden proper, sitting area, children’s space, sheds, cisterns, flower beds, outdoor seminar area and the Lynde Creek Tributary Restoration 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 through membership in the Community Garden portion grew from 6 in 2004 to 53 in 2011 with minimal advertising. In 2011 there were over 100 individuals involved in gardening in this portion of the garden while another 100 – 120 volunteered in the communal portion or on specific garden projects. Members contribute 5 hours per month to the project; Community volunteers vary (schools, Community Living Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Cornerstone, schools, Serve, individuals) • In the fall of 2012 the WAGP transitioned into and independent not-for-profit awaiting registration as a charity. The Communal Garden Project Fresh Produce Donations • Over 7,000 pounds of produce has been donated to those in need in each of the last three years (2010 -12) and increased to 9,8530 pounds in 2013. Approx 200 pounds has been collected and distributed through “Share the Harvest” at the Brooklin Harvest Festival to Aids Committee Durham each year (2010-12). • Recipients over time include individuals and organizations throughout Durham - Salvation Army Whitby, Salvation Army Ajax, St Vincent’s Kitchen, St Paul’s on the Hill, Nourish and Develop, an ESL class, geared-to-income buildings Ajax and Oshawa, The Refuge, the Muslim Welfare Home, YWCA, Cornerstone Community Association, Interchurch Immigrant Support Group, Community Development Council Durham. Active Membership for Individuals/Families: A limited number of individual 4’x30’ plots in the Community Garden portion are available for a $50.00 membership fee to help with operation costs. Fees however 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 – AGM (March), 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 are open to volunteer participation. • Tours & Displays: to visitors at open houses, groups interested in beginning gardens, UOIT nursing students, municipal politicians/staff, ESL leaders and in 2013 Communities in Bloom Gardens Tour collecting non perishables for the local food bank. It has presented displays (Idea Exchange, Dress the Part, Communities in Bloom, Pickering Seedy Saturday, Port Perry) and participated in a community fundraisers (Brooklin Harvest Festival, Port Perry Home Show, Community Gardens – growing the future Durham College). • Farm Gate Sales: preserves, handmade items, tours, family days; July – Mid October • Volunteers welcome. See Volunteer Brochure for possibilities; Crop Mobs during harvests • Family Portraits/ Wedding Photos Site for donation to project; Connection to photographer • Outdoor Seminar Area for small groups available for donation to Garden Project Community Relationships • Whitby Community Garden/Communal Garden Project was among the founding members of the Durham Region Community Garden Network as well as initiating the founding its replacement organization DIG (Durham Integrated Growers "growing food and community"). • The Whitby Ajax Garden Project representative participated in the Durham Lives! Food Charter Working Group, chaired the Durham Region Food Charter Visioning Day and Strategy Team for the Durham Region Food Charter Task Force to Sept 2007, as well as Food Charter Review Committee. It participates in the Durham Food Policy Council Coordinating Committee. • The garden participated on the steering committee of Feed the Need Durham prior to board development Dec. 2007 and remains connected. • Garden representatives have provided input to the Seaton Land Study Group, Regional Official Plan, Cullen Garden 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. Participates in Communities in Bloom; judges identified WAGP as the best garden project they had toured across the country including Toronto well known for its urban agriculture. • Encourages urban agriculture development in other urban centres and now through DIG (Durham Integrated Growers which it founded. Consulted on and supported Valley Plentiful Garden relocation (Pickering), establishment of Mary Street Garden (Oshawa), St Andrew’s Park (Ajax), Hebron (Whitby) Legends; St Matthew's (Oshawa). Encouraged and consulted on Forest Brook Garden Pickering Village, interested groups in North Durham, Hope Fellowship Church (Courtice), Windfields (Oshawa) as well as interested groups in Southern ON. Advises groups regularly. • Partnered with Durham Region Works Dept. and Carrot Cache through former garden network to install two 4200 litre cisterns to address water shortage at garden site in 2008. • Developing Relationship with new immigrants through Durham District School Board ESL/LINC and Interchurch Immigrant Support Group. • Provided expertise on relationship between food and the environment at the Durham Public and Catholic School Board's Eco-Schools event for Secondary School students in 2012. • Hosted Sustain Ontario "From Urban to Rural" Tour September 2011. WAGP In the Media • Our Children’s Garden was featured in both the Food Wellness Fall 2006 newsletter and the Brooklin Town Crier September 2006; Regular articles in Town Crier through our garden writer 2009/10 and also separately 2011. • 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 aired 200 • Fall/Winter 2008 Durham Region Works Dept. Newsletter. • Sun newspaper “How does your garden grow” Spring 2010. • News Advertiser July 15, 2011 "Durham Residents Invited into the Garden" • Snap Newspaper November 2011 "Experience the Harvest Event" • "Daytime" a Rogers television show highlighting upcoming events 2011 & 2012 • "Reka's Roots" Metroland, a series of articles summer of 2012 on Reka's experience of growing her own food for the first time in a community garden was read throughout the region • Metroland weekly papers region wide distribution on road wash out July 2013 Follow up Aug. 2013 • The Garden Committee continues to develop new community partners and to become more widely known throughout the region and beyond. Contact Victoria Garden Coordinator at 289.388.1229 or grow@plantingthefuture.ca

Our History

•The Communal Garden Project was initiated in 2001 by the Health & Healing Team of Celebration! Presbyterian Church on 5 acres of land on the east side of Lakeridge Road just south of Hwy 7, as a garden where individuals and organizations could work together raising small fruit and vegetables for distribution to individual and families in need and organizations working with those in need . This was accomplished through parish nursing ministry healing principles of body, mind and spirit.

•The Garden’s initial funding came from the Experimental Fund of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Community Development Fund 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 and move to non-profit incorporation. 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.

•In 2011 the Garden's name was shortened to Whitby Ajax Garden Project and sign erected.

•The garden project continues to expand and now includes the garden proper, sitting area, children’s space, sheds, cisterns, flower beds, outdoor seminar area and the Lynde Creek Tributary Restoration 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 through membership in the Community Garden portion grew from 6 in 2004 to 53 in 2011 with minimal advertising. In 2011 there were over 100 individuals involved in gardening in this portion of the garden while another 100 – 120 volunteered in the communal portion or on specific garden projects. Members contribute 5 hours per month to the project; Community volunteers vary (schools, Community Living Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Cornerstone, schools, Serve, individuals)

•In the fall of 2012 the WAGP transitioned into and independent not-for-profit awaiting registration as a charity.

The Communal Garden Project Fresh Produce Donations

•Over 7,000 pounds of produce has been donated to those in need in each of the last three years (2010 -12) and increased to 9,8530 pounds in 2013. Approx 200 pounds has been collected and distributed through “Share the Harvest” at the Brooklin Harvest Festival to Aids Committee Durham each year (2010-12).

•Recipients over time include individuals and organizations throughout Durham - Salvation Army Whitby, Salvation Army Ajax, St Vincent’s Kitchen, St Paul’s on the Hill, Nourish and Develop, an ESL class, geared-to-income buildings Ajax and Oshawa, The Refuge, the Muslim Welfare Home, YWCA, Cornerstone Community Association, Interchurch Immigrant Support Group, Community Development Council Durham. Active Membership for Individuals/Families: A limited number of individual 4’x30’ plots in the Community Garden portion are available for a $50.00 membership fee to help with operation costs. Fees however 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 – AGM (March), 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 are open to volunteer participation.

•Tours & Displays: to visitors at open houses, groups interested in beginning gardens, UOIT nursing students, municipal politicians/staff, ESL leaders and in 2013 Communities in Bloom Gardens Tour collecting non perishables for the local food bank. It has presented displays (Idea Exchange, Dress the Part, Communities in Bloom, Pickering Seedy Saturday, Port Perry) and participated in a community fundraisers (Brooklin Harvest Festival, Port Perry Home Show, Community Gardens – growing the future Durham College).

•Farm Gate Sales: preserves, handmade items, tours, family days; July – Mid October

•Volunteers welcome. See Volunteer Brochure for possibilities; Crop Mobs during harvests

•Family Portraits/ Wedding Photos Site for donation to project; Connection to photographer

•Outdoor Seminar Area for small groups available for donation to Garden Project

Community Relationships

•Whitby Community Garden/Communal Garden Project was among the founding members of the Durham Region Community Garden Network as well as initiating the founding its replacement organization DIG (Durham Integrated Growers "growing food and community").

•The Whitby Ajax Garden Project representative participated in the Durham Lives! Food Charter Working Group, chaired the Durham Region Food Charter Visioning Day and Strategy Team for the Durham Region Food Charter Task Force to Sept 2007, as well as Food Charter Review Committee. It participates in the Durham Food Policy Council Coordinating Committee.

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

•Garden representatives have provided input to the Seaton Land Study Group, Regional Official Plan, Cullen Garden 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. Participates in Communities in Bloom; judges identified WAGP as the best garden project they had toured across the country including Toronto well known for its urban agriculture.

•Encourages urban agriculture development in other urban centres and now through DIG (Durham Integrated Growers which it founded. Consulted on and supported Valley Plentiful Garden relocation (Pickering), establishment of Mary Street Garden (Oshawa), St Andrew’s Park (Ajax), Hebron (Whitby) Legends; St Matthew's (Oshawa). Encouraged and consulted on Forest Brook Garden Pickering Village, interested groups in North Durham, Hope Fellowship Church (Courtice), Windfields (Oshawa) as well as interested groups in Southern ON. Advises groups regularly.

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

•Developing Relationship with new immigrants through Durham District School Board ESL/LINC and Interchurch Immigrant Support Group.

•Provided expertise on relationship between food and the environment at the Durham Public and Catholic School Board's Eco-Schools event for Secondary School students in 2012.

•Hosted Sustain Ontario "From Urban to Rural" Tour September 2011.

WAGP In the Media

•Our Children’s Garden was featured in both the Food Wellness Fall 2006 newsletter and the Brooklin Town Crier September 2006; Regular articles in Town Crier through our garden writer 2009/10 and also separately 2011.

•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 aired 200

•Fall/Winter 2008 Durham Region Works Dept. Newsletter.

•Sun newspaper “How does your garden grow” Spring 2010.

•News Advertiser July 15, 2011 "Durham Residents Invited into the Garden"

•Snap Newspaper November 2011 "Experience the Harvest Event"

•"Daytime" a Rogers television show highlighting upcoming events 2011 & 2012

•"Reka's Roots" Metroland, a series of articles summer of 2012 on Reka's experience of growing her own food for the first time in a community garden was read throughout the region

•Metroland weekly papers region wide distribution on road wash out July 2013 Follow up Aug. 2013

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

Contact Victoria Garden Coordinator at 289.388.1229 or grow@plantingthefuture.ca