The Heart Lake Community Garden is a volunteer-driven initiative now in its seventh year, situated on the grounds of Heart Lake United Church in Brampton, Ontario. 

In 2024, the garden produced nearly 1,000 pounds of fresh herbs and vegetables, which were donated to the Heart Lake Community Food Cupboard. These donations directly supported families in our community experiencing food insecurity while reducing the Food Cupboard’s operating costs as fresh produce is a huge percentage of it’s budget. 

This year with an expanded planting area and a donation of seeds from West Coast Seeds we hope to more than double our output. The need for fresh food by families not able to afford it is present and growing.

During the growing season, over 40 families are able to receive a donation of freshly grown vegetables and herbs.

Since its inception it has been heartwarming to see how the Community Garden has become a hub for community members to work together to accomplish something good. 

United with a common goal, not only do we grow food but we provide a social outlet for seniors, home schooled and special needs children. It bridges the church with the community and serves as an educational tool, fostering gardening skills and healthy eating habits with a focus on sustainability.

We hope that our efforts and partnership with West Coast Seeds will continue to bring awareness to the presence of food insecurity, empower residents through education to start their own gardens and reduce food costs while promoting sustainable growing practices.

Our community food bank garden is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of our community members, be it our volunteers who work countless hours in almost every type of weather, our Food Cupboard's patrons who receive fresh, sustainably grown food or our community members who follow our progress online and hopefully are inspired to donate some of their excess harvests or just even, start their own garden.

Follow us on Facebook.