Gardening and Food

The WELL Project: Woodpark Edible Local Landscape
Growing local food in our own back yards

Everywhere you turn today, there is talk of local food, obesity epidemics, food recalls, etc. We have the opportunity right here in Woodpark to take direct action to grow more of our own nutritious, uncontaminated, tasty food, and maybe even save a bit of money, too!

The Woodpark Community Association is thrilled that 2011 will be the kickoff year for the Woodpark Edible Local Landscape (WELL) Project. This initiative will provide information and help to Woodpark residents wishing to grow some of their own food. Residents can grow food in their own yards, neighbours' yards, and work to create future shared garden spaces right here in our neighbourhood.

Our neighbourhood consists of 130 acres of land, with approximately 750 homes and 2250 neighbours. Assuming an average cost of food per person per month (grocery and restaurant) is $300 per person, our community spends over $8 million annually to feed ourselves!

With even a small percentage of households planting vegetable gardens, Woodpark can produce  tonnes of nutritious, tasty food. A bit of soil, a sprinkling of seeds and a little elbow grease can go a long way to growing some of your own food, reducing your grocery bill, working together with your family in the fresh air, and making the environment in our neighbourhood better.

Get involved. Decide to grow some food.

We would love for you to join us on this important and exciting project. Even with minimal time and as little as four square feet to devote to a garden, you can grow some of your own fresh, tasty food.

There will be education, co-operation, collaboration, sharing, experimenting, playing, working, laughing, and of course, eating!

WELL Project In Depth (JPG File - 176KB)

Want to know more? Want to ask questions or have some input into the inaugural season of this project? Want to help out?

Read on and contact Tom Marcantonio, who occupies the newly created position of WCA Food Production Co-Ordinator with the community association. Tom is a longtime Woodpark resident, has decades of experience growing his own food, and produces over 100 kilos of food each year in his own garden. He is generously offering his time, expertise and help to people in the neighbourhood wishing to grow some of their own food.

Keep track of what you're growing

Our goal is to grow 2250 pounds of food in the neighbourhood, one pound for each Woodpark resident. Help us keep track of the progress by keeping a tally of what you have growing in your garden. Please see our handy reference sheet.

Help us get the word out. Tell your neighbours!

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