BRAMPTON, ON (October 28, 2021) – The City of Brampton’s second annual Backyard Garden Program is now complete, with 6,946 lbs of produce donated to residents in need from April to October 2021.
The
Backyard Garden Program, chaired by City Councillor Doug Whillans, and facilitated by the City’s Parks Maintenance and Forestry division, launched in April 2020, as the first program of its kind in Canada in response to COVID-19. It is an extension of the City’s existing Community Gardens program.
The program provided food resources for the
Mayor’s COVID-19 Social Support Task Force, which facilitates necessary social supports for communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Open to all Brampton residents, the program supplied residents with soil, packages of seeds, and growing advice for their new gardens. From April to October, residents grew their own backyard gardens, with some keeping their harvest and others donating to local food banks and community organizations, including the Knights Table, Regeneration, Lifting the Fallen Pentecostal Church/Iglesia Pentecostal Levantando Al Caido, and Heart Lake United Church’s Community Cupboard.
In addition to providing fresh produce donations, this eco-friendly initiative encouraged residents to stay active during COVID-19, and supported Bramptonians’ mental health by providing an at-home activity. It was also an opportunity for first-time gardeners to learn about gardening and try a new hobby.
The City of Brampton thanks its supporters Scotts Canada Limited, Mattamy Homes, Great Gulf, Paradise Developments, TACC Holborn Corporation, and Fieldgate Developments for making this program possible.
The City also thanks the Brampton Horticultural Society and the Chinguacousy Garden Club for providing gardening tips for the monthly Backyard Garden Club e-newsletter.
2021 program by the numbers• 2,793 participants each received five bags of soil and three packages of seeds.
• A total of 13,980 bags of soil and 8,379 packages of seeds were donated.
Quotes“We are excited to announce that Brampton’s second annual Backyard Garden Program provided nearly 7,000 lbs of produce for residents in need. This program was the first of its kind in Canada when it launched last year during the pandemic, and Brampton has inspired cities near and far. Thank you to Councillor Whillans for his excellent leadership, our supporters, and everyone who grew and donated produce to help alleviate pressure on our community food banks, especially during this time.”
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton“Brampton’s second annual Backyard Garden Program was a great success! Thousands of residents received seeds and soil to grow their own produce, and donated to support our community. This program supports residents’ health and wellbeing, and the City’s green initiatives. Thank you to everyone who participated in the program this year.”
- Doug Whillans, Chair, Backyard Garden Program; City Councillor Wards 2 & 6; Member, Environment Advisory Committee; Member, CEERP Community Task Force, City of Brampton“City staff are dedicated to implementing Brampton’s Backyard Garden Program and addressing food security in our community. Brampton is a Green City, and we are committed to providing residents with opportunities to stay healthy, active, and sustainable.”
- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton"Regeneration's Marketplace (food bank) is so thankful for the City of Brampton's Backyard Garden Program as it has supplied fresh produce to those in need in our community once again."
- Ted Brown, CEO, Regeneration Outreach Community