​BRAMPTON, ON (January 25, 2021) – The City of Brampton’s popular Backyard Garden Program returns for a second year on February 1.

This eco-friendly initiative helps support food security in our city by providing participants with free soil, seeds and helpful tips to grow their own backyard garden. This year’s program is open to new participants only, including those who did not have the opportunity to participate in 2020.

The Backyard Garden Program encourages residents to grow produce and herbs from the comfort of their own homes and donate their homegrown crops to local food banks and community organizations.

This program also supports the Mayor’s COVID-19 Social Support Task Force’s focus on food security, reaffirms the City’s priority of being a sustainable Green City, and promotes residents’ mental and physical wellbeing.

Residents can register online to receive free seeds and soil starting Monday, February 1, at 10 am at www.brampton.ca/backyardgarden. Photos of this year’s backyard gardens, gardening tips, tutorials and resources will also be available on the web page. Residents are invited to use the hashtag #GardensofBrampton to share their gardens on social media.

This year, the program is proudly sponsored by Scotts. The City is grateful for all of the program supporters including Mattamy Homes, Paradise Developments, Fieldgate Developments, TACC Developments, and Great Gulf.

Have questions? Email BramptonGreenCity@brampton.ca.

Backyard Garden Club e-newsletter

New this year, join our monthly Backyard Garden Club e-newsletter. Open to all gardening enthusiasts, members will receive a monthly e-newsletter with gardening information, opportunities to send in questions, gardening advice and support from experts and community partners, such as the Brampton Horticultural Society, exclusive offers, and more. Visit www.brampton.ca/backyardgarden to register for the Club.

Background

The City of Brampton’s Backyard Garden Program had a very successful inaugural year in 2020, with more than 10,000 pounds of produce donated to local food banks and community organizations for residents in need from April to October; including the Knights Table, Regeneration, Khalsa Aid, and United Sikhs. This initiative was the first of its kind in Canada, initiated in response to COVID-19.

The Community Gardens program advances the goals of the Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan, which cited urban agriculture as an opportunity for the City.

Quotes

“The Backyard Garden Program was an incredible success in Brampton last year, and I am excited to announce that the program will begin again on February 1. This program brings our community together, keeps participants active, and provides food supports for residents in need. We are proud to champion this initiative for a second year under Councillor Whillans’s leadership.”
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“Thousands of residents received free seeds and soil as part of the Backyard Garden Program last year, providing more than 10,000 pounds of produce to residents in need. This year, the program is open to new participants – meaning even more residents will have the opportunity to participate in this excellent initiative. Get into gardening, enjoy the outdoors, and give back this year!”
- Doug Whillans, City Councillor Wards 2 & 6; Chair, Backyard Garden Program, City of Brampton

“Brampton was positively impacted from the introduction and tremendous support received for the Backyard Garden Program in 2020, and City staff look forward to launching the 2021 program. Be sure to bookmark www.brampton.ca/backyardgarden to sign up and receive your free seeds and soil, and be a part of this important green initiative.”
- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton