Achievements

2022

  • With pandemic restrictions loosened, the garden was able to welcome back all volunteers to participate in garden work. About 65 volunteers (23 of whom were high school students earning community service hours) worked in the garden.
  • The growing season was a good one, without many weather challenges. Most plants did well. Squash, cabbage and carrots were particularly successful. As usual, lots of watering was required during the hottest part of the summer, and a watering schedule with committed resources kept the garden irrigated.
  • Nearly 380 pounds of food were donated to the Community Head Injury Resource Service (CHIRS) and Neighbourlink North York.
  • A large number of vegetable seeds were collected and distributed to the community at 415 Willowdale Ave to go along with potting mix distributed by the 415 Food Hub.
  • Beautification of the pollinator spaces in the front garden and side beds continued with the help of some dedicated volunteers.
  • Volunteers also stepped up fundraising efforts by using garden produce to can various kinds of fruit jam, pesto, salsa verde and chutney.

2021

  • Continued to operate under pandemic health and safety rules to ensure proper social distancing, contact tracing and disinfecting; as a result, volunteer participation had to be limited for a second consecutive year
  • Core team of approx. 15 senior volunteers did all of the garden work (planting, maintenance, harvesting, etc.), while other leaders provided logistical and social media support
  • Good growing season – beans, carrots and beets were especially plentiful this year
  • Sales of vegetables in the garden were curtailed due to COVID restrictions
  • Nearly 750 pounds of food were donated to the Community Head Injury Resource Service (CHIRS) and the 415 Food Hub
  • Landscape Ontario again made a generous contribution to the garden, allowing us to purchase new plants and tools
  • Beautification of the pollinator spaces in the front garden and side beds continued with the help of some dedicated volunteers

2020

  • First year of the pandemic
  • Start delayed until early May, when community gardens were designated an essential service
  • Restricted participants to senior volunteers due to restrictions on number of volunteers working at once,  and social distancing made training and volunteer guidance impossible
  • Thankfully, good weather!  Even though the garden was planted a little later than usual, most plants did well.  Beans and squash were particularly successful this year.  The drought in July and August required lots of watering, and with reduced forces, it was challenging to keep the garden watered and weeded.  The small group of volunteers put in lots of time to keep things going.
  • No produce sales due to social distancing requirements so instead produce was donated to organizations that helped to feed people in need
  • We donated over 400 pounds to the Community Share Food Bank, the Community Head Injury Resource Service (CHIRS), and other organizations by means of Food Rescue (a division of Second Harvest)
  • The front garden on Parkview Avenue, which had been neglected for some time, was cleaned up, thanks to the efforts of some dedicated volunteers
  • Tree Mobile donated some bushes to the garden
  • Washstand constructed to rinse vegetables before they were donated
  • Volunteers working remotely contributed to beautification projects such as painted labels and rocks

2019

  • PNG celebrated its 10th anniversary of growing and selling vegetables with a party, complete with cake, decorations and live music.  A member of the PNG leadership team spoke to the guests, as did local councillor John Filion, whose idea sparked the creation of the garden.
  • Despite a cool and wet spring, PNG sold nearly $2000 worth of organic herbs, berries, and vegetables to folks in the neighbourhood and volunteers.  Squash, eggplant, kale and chard, did particularly well.
  • A record number of volunteers helped this year, including several groups of visiting volunteers from schools and companies
  • Volunteers cleared out two previously unusable garden plots in the sunniest part of the garden, that had become overgrown with perennials and weeds
  • The orchard, which had become totally taken over by thistles and thick weeds, was totally cleared and covered with wood chips around the trees
  • Residents of Canterbury Place Retirement Residence took charge of planting and maintaining several of the raised beds
  • Received a generous grant from Landscape Ontario, which provided the opportunity to purchase much needed soil enhancement materials and permanent signs (in four languages) for the garden’s perennial plants
  • At the end of the season, all surplus produce was donated to the Community Share Food Bank, which picked up all surplus produce and distributed it to its food bank and community kitchen

2018

  • Sold nearly $1600 worth of organic herbs, berries, and vegetables to the neighbourhood
  • $1500 from the previous year’s sales proceeds was donated to local food-based charities
  • Beans and summer squash were very abundant, while tomatoes and eggplant did not do as well
  • Started many seedlings in volunteers’ homes to reduce expenses
  • Enriched the poor soil in the newest part of the garden, and experimented with various ways to control weeds and discourage pests organically
  • Asparagus was harvested for the first time and distributed to volunteers
  • Welcomed guests visiting the OHS during Doors Open and answered questions about the garden
  • Supervices many high school students working towards their community service credits
  • End of season produce donated to the Community Share Food Bank to distribute to its food bank and community kitchen
  • During the season, some produce was also donated to the Lansing United Food Bank

2017

  • Sold over $1500 worth of organic herbs, berries, and vegetables to the neighbourhood.
  • Over $1,500 donated to local food-based charities

2016

  • Sold nearly $2500 worth of organic herbs, berries, and vegetables to the neighbourhood
  • $2500 of the sales proceeds was donated to local food-based charities
  • Started the majority of our own seedlings in volunteers’ homes
  • Held a children’s program for children from McKee Public School
  • Garden volunteers provided supervision to many high school students working towards their community service credits as well as to some families with children
  • Garden members teamed up with the OHS for Doors Open
  • Renewed our  partnership with the Community Share Food Bank to give away surplus produce to its food bank and community kitchen at the end of the season
  • Some produce was donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank
  • No edible food had to be composted

2015

  • Had our most successful sales season ever, selling nearly $3000 worth of vegetables, herbs and berries
  • Started the majority of our own seedlings in volunteers’ homes and cold frames
  • Held a children’s program for children from McKee Public School
  • Held a tea party celebration for volunteers and garden friends
  • Forged a partnership with the Community Share Food Bank to give away surplus produce at the end of the season
  • Art and music with students and rock painting

2014

  • Won an Award of Distinction in North York Garden Club’s Great Front Garden Contest
  • Sold over 1,500 pounds of organic vegetables, berries and herbs
  • Donated $750 to Second Harvest Food Rescue
  • Garden expansion to 46 Parkview (east of original plot). Increased area by 40%
  • Information signs placed at entrances on Parkview and Norton
  • Planted additional plum, pear and apple trees in the orchard area
  • Built and installed 2 cold frames to extend the growing season enabling PNG to start plants from seed
  • Curbing installed along sidewalk for safety and soil retention
  • Supervised high school students for community program credits
  • Hosted children from the Gibson House Summer Day Camp for a garden tour
  • Continued participation in Doors Open‎ with The Ontario Historical Society

2013

  • Grew and sold over 1,400 pounds of organic food (vegetables, herbs, fruits & berries) to the community
  • Donated $550, and garden produce, to Newtonbrook United Church‘s Wednesday Lunch Program
  • Conducted work groups with about three dozen volunteers from June to October, 5 days a week, with sales days twice a week
  • Supervised eight students towards their community volunteer hours
  • Launched the PNG Facebook page
  • Connected an electric pump and repaired the hand pump to enable cistern use
  • Participated in Doors Open with the Ontario Historical Society
  • Worked with the North York Garden Club to restore the OHS front garden
  • Nominated in North York Great Front Yard Gardens Contest
  • Purchased a rototiller, funded by Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association
  • Received a donation. Proceeds from snack bar sales at Cultura Festival
  • Planted and harvested soft neck garlic for the first time
  • Fall planting of hard neck garlic
  • Planted a plum tree in the orchard
  • Planted and harvested garlic for the first time.
  • Conducted garden tours: McKee Public School, Windsor Garden Club
  • Our garden coordinator presented a talk on “Companion Planting” to Unison Community Centre.

2012

  • Grew and sold over 1,300 pounds of our own organic produce to the local community
  • Donated $550 Newtonbrook United Church’s Out of the Cold Program
  • Maintained our partnerships with North York Garden Club and the Ontario Historical Society
  • Participated with Ontario Historical Society at “Doors Open Toronto”
  • Hosted a booth at “Cultura” at Mel Lastman Square with Ontario Historical Society
  • Mentored and supervised more that a dozen high school students working towards their community service credits

2011

  • Sold 1,000 pounds of our own organic produce to the local community
  • Donated $500 to charity, divided equally between Second Harvest and North York Harvest Food Bank.
  • Opened up a new north section of the garden, constructed by Toronto Parks staff to our design
  • Partnered with schools and community groups, such as McKee Preschool, North York Garden Club and the Ontario Historical Society, who generously allow us to use their historic stable as our garden shed
  • Mentored and supervised 3 high school students towards their community service credits
  • Translated signage into 3 languages that reflect our community’s multilingual character