When President Obama moved into the White House, one of the very first things he and his family did was start digging up their front lawn. Nope, they weren’t tipped off by a past president about a secret tunnel. They were actually starting a garden (the White House hadn’t had one for more than 50 years!).

Getting Started

If you live in an apartment, or if the only thing your lawn seems to be able to grow is dandelions, you might want to think about starting or joining a community garden. Community gardens are outdoor spaces where neighbours and friends meet up to grow fruits, veggies and native plants. People sometimes grow one giant garden and together decide what to plant, or they might break the land into plots so everyone can plant their favourite greens. Each person is responsible for things like weeding, watering and taking care of the land.

Community garden projects aren't just a great way to make some new friends or hang out with your old ones, they also put delicious local and organic food on your table. Gardens get people thinking about where their food really comes from, and not just which aisle in the grocery store it’s found.

If you’d like to grow your own cool beans by joining or starting a community garden, check out these links:

• The Region of Waterloo has a great guide to help you get started.
• Check out the Events, Workshops and Courses listings on the Toronto Community Garden Network’s website.
• To find or register a community garden, visit the Toronto Community Garden Network’s website.