Lake Mac Grows
The Lake Mac Grows program educates and supports our community to build the skills to grow fresh food from home; empowering people and communities to become more self-sufficient and resilient, and providing an affordable and healthy source of food.
Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, Lake Mac Grows has something for everyone.
Lake Mac Grows Facebook group
The Lake Mac Grows Facebook group is a community-focused platform where members can connect, share and learn about growing and eating fresh local produce sustainably. Join the Facebook group to share your story, skills and harvest and eat better for less.
What to expect on the Lake Mac Grows Facebook group:
- Share questions, advice and ideas from your home growing journey
- Discover what's best to grow in your area
- Local tips on pest control
- Find recipe ideas for your harvests
- Share produce, seeds or seedlings with other members
- Stay up-to-date with upcoming free gardening workshops, Crop Swaps and other events
Join this supportive community of people helping each other to live more sustainably.
Workshops
Build your gardening skills with the Lake Mac Grows workshops, a series of free events offered throughout the year on various gardening topics. These workshops are hosted by our partner organisations, and cover topics such as composting, native bee keeping, seed saving, permaculture, chemical-free pest control and much more.
This year, our partner organisations hosting free Lake Mac Grows workshops are:
- Southlakes Community Services, Morisset
- Toronto Centenary Hub
- Edgeworth Memorial Neighbourhood Centre
The workshops aim to equip community members with the knowledge to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and other produce at home.
Upcoming workshops are advertised on the Lake Mac Grows Facebook group, the Eco Advocate e-newsletter and on the partner organisations social media accounts.
Interested in becoming a hosting partner organisation or a presenter for these workshops? Contact us at [email protected]
Crop Swaps
Our monthly Crop Swap events are all about reducing food waste, building community and eating locally-grown produce for less. By participating, you can share your homegrown produce while also picking up delicious fruit and vegetables for yourself. These events are not just about produce, but also about knowledge, support, advice, and gardening tips and tricks.
Participating in Crop Swap is simple: bring whatever you have to share, place it on the communal tables, and then take what you would like from what others have brought.
Crop Swap welcomes homegrown or homemade produce such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, seeds, seedlings, honey, eggs, as well as other garden-related items like worm tea or shell grit.
Crop Swaps are generally held 9-11am on the last Friday of each month at the Landcare and Sustainable Living Centre, however are sometimes held at local community gardens. Find out where our next Swap is at on the Lake Mac Grows Facebook group or by subscribing to the Eco Advocate enewsletter.
Community gardens
Community gardens provide a space for people to come together to grow fresh organic produce, connect with nature, build skills, and make new friends. Community gardens also support local food production, healthy living and improve community connectedness. Pop on your gardening gloves and get ready to dig in at one of the community gardens in Lake Mac.