FoodShare is an organization committed to making sure that everyone, especially those most affected by food insecurity, has access to affordable, fresh and healthy food. Their urban schoolyard farming project employs students to grow food on secondary school rooftops and lawns while promoting food literacy. FoodShare initially started working with three TDSB high schools to run school market gardens and has since expanded its reach. Burnhamthorpe CI has an impressive two-acre farm featuring a market garden, orchard, reforestation project, naturalized prairie gardens and a mid-scale community compost site. Eastdale CI has a halfacre rooftop garden that includes an education centre, market garden and event space.
This organization cultivates environmental stewardship through hands-on gardening and curriculum-linked food education for urban children and their communities. Several TDSB elementary schools are involved in Growing Kids, a program that connects children to their food, giving them the tools to grow, harvest and enjoy food right in the school garden.
In 2009, the TDSB formally partnered with PACT (Urban Peace Program) to implement the Grow-to-Learn gardening program in several TDSB schools. This program transforms "unused, often grey spaces into bountiful organic gardens where children and youth learn about harvesting food, sustainability and community building."
For more information about urban farms and food gardens contact: Karen.Dobrucki@tdsb.on.ca.