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.
Food insecurity is tough on families
For many families, especially those living in lower-income households, the cost of basic groceries like vegetables, fruits, dairy, and meat has become a significant financial burden. The high cost of food is forcing families to make difficult decisions, often opting for cheaper, less nutritious options. And now, the pending impacts of tariffs will make things even harder. This can lead to poor health outcomes, particularly for children, who may experience developmental and academic challenges due to inadequate nutrition.
BCCG initiatives offer added resources to address food insecurity in the community. By providing fresh, locally grown produce to families who use the food bank, the BCCG is helping to bridge the gap for those who may not have the means to buy fresh vegetables. The garden promotes a healthier, more sustainable way of sourcing food while fostering community engagement and empowerment.
Why the BCCG needs your support
Increased Demand: More families need fresh food as prices rise.
Growing Costs: Inflation is making gardening supplies more expensive.
Community Impact: With your support, we can grow more food and expand our reach.
Sustainability: We rely on donations and volunteers to keep the garden thriving.
Your support via funding can help
At the BCCG, we rely on the generous support of our partners to bring fresh, nutritious food to our community. Our sponsorship and funding opportunities allow local businesses, corporations, and individuals to help us grow, harvest, and distribute food to those who need it most.
Whether it's funding for garden supplies, meals for our farm-to-table initiative, or operational costs, by becoming a sponsor, you are directly contributing to our mission of addressing food insecurity while also receiving recognition for your commitment to supporting a healthier, more sustainable Bells Corners community.
Why sponsor or provide funding to us?
Community impact: Your contribution can help to provide fresh food to food-insecure families.
Volunteer opportunities: Your time and skills are critical in maintaining the garden and supporting families.
Visibility: Get your brand associated with a meaningful cause.
Employee engagement: Provide your employees with opportunities for volunteerism and community involvement.
Recognition: Your business will be recognized on our website, at events, and in our marketing materials.
Grants and policy advocacy too
Grants help fund our gardening operations, meal preparation, food distribution, and more. We actively seek grants from government agencies, foundations, and corporations that share our commitment to fighting food insecurity and promoting sustainable farming practices. These grants allow us to expand our reach and continue providing free vegetables and meals to those in need.
Policy advocacy is equally important in creating a lasting impact. Our goal is to closely with local governments, public organizations, and community stakeholders to push for policies that support urban agriculture, improve food distribution systems, and address the root causes of food insecurity. Together, we can create a more equitable and sustainable food system for everyone.
Why support us through grants and advocacy?
Partnerships: Local businesses can contribute resources and help sustain our mission.
Sustainable funding: Grants ensure long-term support for our goal to champion food security.
Positive change: Policy changes can create a more supportive environment for food security and urban farming.
Increased reach: With grant support, we can expand our community outreach and services.
Strengthened communities: Advocacy efforts contribute to stronger, more resilient food systems in the city of Ottawa.
Many thanks to our dedicated partners and sponsors
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Councillor Laine Johnson
Councillor Johnson supports community gardens and would welcome one in Bells Corners. She has been instrumental in leading engagement on sustainability, funding and connecting the BCCG with partners, including the Nepean-Kanata Rotary Club.
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FAMSAC Food Cupboard
The food bank plays a key role in tackling food insecurity in our community. The BCCG is proud to support FAMSAC with their goal by providing fresh vegetables and raising awareness among Bells Corners neighbours.
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Our Lady of Peace Catholic School
OLP is led by a dedicated principal and Student Council who are champions of learning. Via the OLP Garden, students will learn to grow vegetables as part of their curriculum. The food grown will be donated to the FAMSAC Food Cupboard.
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City of Ottawa
The Citiy of Ottawa’s Civic Events Funding helps support family-friendly events in Ottawa communities and priority neighbourhoods. Last year, our Team BCCG received a grant via this funding parcel which we used to host the Christmas Dinner Delight event.
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Zoom Photobooth
Zoom Photobooth sponsored our Christmas Dinner Delight event to the tune of $1,800. Thanks to their generosity families got Christmas photos taken at the event. Including some dynamic props, each family received a printed copy of their photo.
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Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
The WOCRC is committed to supporting diverse communities in far west Ottawa by providing and coordinating accessible health and social services. For the Christmas event, they collaborated with us by providing their kitchen space, equipment and additional food items.
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Dirk the Flowerman
Dirk the Flowerman sells seedlings at the Kemptville Farmers Market. For the past two years, he has donated his leftover seedlings, over 300 plants, to the BCCG. He drives in to Ottawa to deliver the plants to us. This is the perfect example of our mantra, “Growing community."
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Maple Hill Urban Farm
Nestled in Ottawa’s Greenbelt, farm is 20,000-hectare of publicly owned land that includes wetlands, farmlands, and forests in Ottawa. Our collaboration with the farm is proof that it plays an integral role in the region’s sustainable agricultural landscape.
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Gaia Organic Seeds
Gaia Organic Seeds is dedicated to promoting sustainability, biodiversity, and resilience for the planet and its people. They donated a large quantity of seedlings to us. We planted as many as we could, and shared the remaining seedlings with the community.
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Nepean-Kanata Rotary Club
Members of the Nepean-Kanata Rotary Club are committed to community work. In 2023, they dedicated funds from their annual Whisky Tasting event to the BCCG. We look forward to collaborating with them going forward.
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Just Food
The local non-profit is a community-based organization that addresses food and farming issues in Ottawa. They manage the Community Gardening Network (CGN) which shares resources and supports the sustainable development of community gardens.
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West Coast Seeds
Thanks to the generosity of West Coast Seeds, we obtained several packages of radish seeds in the fall. With the support of the Scouts, we planted the seeds as the last crop of the growing season. The entire harvest of delicious radishes was donated to FAMSAC.
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Scouts Canada - 116 Nepean Eagle Pack
Mid September, members of the 116 Nepean Eagle Pack helped us plant the radish seeds that were donated by West Coast Seeds at the Our Lady of Peace Catholic School garden. We later harvested 36 pounds of radishes, which we donated to the food bank.
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Community members
In the face of food insecurity, our community has shown incredible support. Neighbours have volunteered at garden locations to help grow fresh produce, donated funding to support garden projects and food access programs, and organized the Christmas dinner event.
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Fisher Tree Services
We saw them loading their chipper in the neighbourhood after cutting down a tree. We stopped to ask if they could donate the wood chips to us. They said yes and followed us to the farm. Many thanks to the team at Fishers Tree Service for their kind support.
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Bells Corners BIA
With their new tagline, “Village in the Greenbelt,” the BIA is poised this year to fully engage the Bells Corners community. The BCCG is thrilled to attend their upcoming projects, like the Farmers’ Market, and the annual summer concert.
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Lynwood Village Community Association
The LVCA is made up of a dedicated group of neighbours who represent residents living in Lynwood Village. Our BCCG team has collaborated with the LVCA on several of their community initiatives, including their upcoming community garage sale on May 4, 2025.
—Rowland Gordon, CEO, Zoom Photobooth
“It was an honor to sponsor the Christmas Dinner Delight event, and provide families with the opportunity to capture special moments before enjoying a warm meal. At Zoom Photobooth, we believe in creating memories that last a lifetime, and it was a privilege to be part of a community effort that brought joy and connection during the holiday season.”
