Food banks looking for green thumbs
Globe & Mail, May 12, 2001
By Allison Lawlor

Gardeners across the city are digging into the soil to get ready for another growing season.

For some, it will mean a chance to help put fresh vegetables on the tables of the city's poor. Today, a campaign called Plant a Row-Grow a Row kicks off at Moss Park in downtown Toronto.

"The focus is to get fresh produce into the hands of low-income folks," said Susan Antler, executive director of the Composting Council of Canada.

The city has about 100 community gardens. Laura Berman, chairwoman of the Toronto Community Garden Network, hopes some of them will take up the challenge. "Gardeners always grow more than we need," Ms. Berman said. "Gardeners like to share. This is a way to share with people in need."

Moss Park's community garden is taking up the challenge. Nick Egan, an avid gardener for 30 years, has one of the garden's 24 individual plots. He also helps co-ordinate the garden. It's not uncommon for him to work in his vegetable patch alongside homeless people or drug dealers.

When Mr. Egan moved to Toronto a couple of years ago, he too found himself without a home. During two months living in downtown shelters, he got to know some of the other residents. Today, some are fellow gardeners in Moss Park.

Food banks are always trying to get fresh carrots, lettuce and tomatoes, said Aynsley Morris, acting director of the Canadian Association of Food Banks. "It is the highest-quality product we can offer our recipients," Ms. Morris said. "Grow vegetables and think about the food bank when your produce is ripe and ready."

Several drop-off locations for fresh produce will be set up throughout the city, including at some Toronto Parks and Recreation community centres. At John Innes Community Centre on Sherbourne Street, a cooler will be available for people to drop off produce as well as pick it up as needed.

For more information on where to drop off near you, email us at foodlink@foodshare.net or call 392-6655.