Access Community Garden

About

Access Communtiy Garden is located in Kingsville and provides fresh organic produce to people in need throughout Essex County.

Story

The Access Community Garden is the heart of the ACCESS Nutrition Program. The purpose of our garden is to provide fresh produce, a sense of community, a connection to the environment and food security. The garden is also intended to promote a healthy lifestyle through vegetable consumption, exercise and fresh air.

The Access Kitchen Workshops are complementary to our garden project. They introduce participants to simple, healthy and economical recipes; they help connect people to others in their area; they learn to handle and store food safely; and they help to expand nutritional knowledge. ACCESS provides the food, the recipe and the instruction.

The success of the Access Community Garden and Kitchen Workshops has allowed us to expand our services. These services include nutrition workshops, team building, volunteering, employment, and garden support. In the last couple of years, the ACCESS Nutrition Program has been able to partner with agencies, schoolboards, and businesses to expand our garden network. We are engaging more individuals and reaching more communities through community kitchens, food demos and the establishment of our Garden-To-You project. Our garden network is built and installed by our team to meet the specific needs of each of our clients. Each of the new gardens are part of our initiative to build healthier, more active, more engaged communities that are inclusive and barrier free.

The goal of the Garden-To-You Project is to expand the impact of the community garden; bring a presence to multiple municipalities; foster partnerships and networking; build food security without stigma; and to bring knowledge and skill development to all ages. By partnering with local schools, organizations and communities, ACCESS has been able to engage thousands of participants while ensuring the values of excellence, inclusion, and fun. Garden-To-You offers a holistic approach to addressing service gaps that is person-centred, inclusive, and accessible across the region. The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Social-Enterprise Employment Program component of the Garden-To-You program allows us to provide rewarding and inclusive work to individuals with barriers to employment.

If you are interested in donating supplies, volunteering, partnering, or if you would like more information, contact:

Access Nutrition Manager
Tammy Park
Phone: 519-733-8983 or 1-877-733-8983 ext 26
[email protected]
23 Mill St. W, Kingsville, ON N9Y 1W1