Mission Statement

The Bells Corners Community Garden (BCCG) is dedicated to fostering food security, sustainability, and community engagement through urban gardening. We grow fresh, nutritious vegetables to support local food banks and ultimately neighbours who need access to healthy food.

By cultivating a shared space for learning, collaboration, and environmental stewardship, we empower our community to connect, grow, and give back.

Planting the seeds

In 2024, we collaborated with principal Catherine Gasper of Our Lady of Peace Catholic School (OLP), and the School Council to establish a front-yard garden at the school. Gardening provides experiential learning in subjects like science, math, and environmental studies. So the goal was to incorporate the garden in the students’ curriculum, allowing them to gain hands-on experience.
As part of the first steps of teaching about sustainable food production, students from each class planted seeds of their preferred vegetables. To encourage teamwork, responsibility, and problem-solving, each class member voted for their favourite vegetable from a list such as tomatoes, zucchini, onions, beans, and of course, sunflowers!
The planted seeds were taken to the classrooms where students took care of them until the seedlings started growing. Then, our BCCG team nurtured the seedlings until the garden was set up.

Establishing the veggie garden

Promoting physical activity and outdoor time, students and members of their families spent a day setting up the garden in the front-yard of the OLP school. Principal Catherine Gasper welcomed families, oversaw the project and, provided a pizza lunch.
Creating a thriving garden starts from the ground up—literally! To set up our 10 green, raised garden beds, we followed a layered approach that enriches the soil, improves drainage, and promotes long-term plant health.
We began by laying down cardboard, which acts as a natural weed barrier while slowly breaking down to enrich the soil. Next, we added logs and leaves which helps retain moisture and provides essential nutrients as they decompose. Finally, we topped it off with rich, nutrient-dense soil, creating the perfect environment for our vegetables to thrive.
This method not only ensures healthy, fertile garden beds but also makes use of natural and recycled materials, keeping our gardening practices sustainable and eco-friendly. With our raised beds prepped and ready, the next step was transplanting the seedlings and nurturing the plants.

Growing and giving away the greens!

It was a summer of growth tending the OLP Garden for the greater cause. While the staff and students of OLP went on summer break, our dedicated BCCG volunteers stepped in to keep the school garden thriving. Our team worked tirelessly to water, weed, and harvest the fresh produce, ensuring bountiful and healthy crops.
Thanks to these efforts, the OLP front-yard garden yielded an incredible 300+ pounds of fresh vegetables, all of which were donated to the FAMSAC Food Bank. This contribution provided nutritious, homegrown food to families facing food insecurity, reinforcing the power of community, teamwork, and sustainable growing.
The garden offers the OLP community a chance to strengthens their relationships with other stakeholders such as local farmers. It is also a chance to foster community spirit through volunteerism and mentorship. With every harvest, we are reminded that a little care and collaboration can go a long way in making a difference.
Here’s to another season of growth and giving!

OLP front-yard garden

Lettuce grow together!

Growing together with garden friends, the project engaged students, staff, Student Council, team BCCG, the food bank, and the wider Bells Corners Community.
Sow it begins

Helping plants and students grow strong, over 300 seedling pots were prepared for curious minds to learn how to grow vegetables. That’s called planting seeds for a greener future!
Rooting for success

Digging into gardening adventures, each student at the school planted a seed, then cheered them on as they grew into something amazing—seedlings, plants and then vegetables.
Soil mates

Just a couple of mates helping each other learn some life lessons through soil. What a fun way to spend time working and playing in the dirt for a great community cause.
Raising the bar with raised beds

Building a solid foundation for green growth, the workers bees set up 10 raised beds. They lowered the set-up stress by using easy-to-organize raised beds.
Fresh food, fresh minds

With their fresh take on growing fresh food, some school friends invested their time and energy to building the garden.
Green dreams and garden scenes

Ten green raised beds with tons of lush plants growing delicious vegetables—all fulfilling the dream to teach students how to grow their own food and give back to their community.
Harvest time, celebration time

We celebrate every harvest because the bigger the bounty, the more fresh vegetables we have to donate to the food bank. So, harvest time is party time!
From tiny seeds to tasty feeds

Fresh vegetables from the OLP garden harvested and delivered to the food bank located right next door. Now, that’s a fresh approach to feeding vulnerable neighbours in our community!