Grow-to-Learn
Schoolyard Gardens
Connecting and transforming communities.
PACT Grow-to-Learn (GTL) teaches schools and communities about food and gardening. GTL feeds families and seniors in under-resourced neighbourhoods, it creates safe, green spaces for pollinators, and it transforms communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Our organic school gardens/urban farms provide safe, experiential, and positive learning environments and help to raise awareness of important issues related to healthy eating, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and food security in our schools and local communities.
PACT has partnered with both of Toronto’s main school boards to expand its Grow-to-Learn program to meet community need, creating and transforming unused, often grey spaces into bountiful organic gardens where children and youth learn about harvesting food, sustainability, and community building.
Living classrooms, organic food sources, and community gathering spaces in three Toronto school gardens
David Wilson Memorial Garden at John Polanyi CI
640 Lawrence Ave. W at Allen Rd.
Garden Site Managers: Marcelle Van Zyl <marcelle@pactprogram.ca>, Megan Warren <megan@pactprogram.ca>, Alan Jaimeson <alan.pactprogram.ca>
Community Engagement Coordinator: Mariel Zinman <mariel@pactprogram.ca>
Student Volunteer Hours: Available for high school students on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5pm.
Community Volunteer Days: Available to the community on Tuesdays from 10am-1pm, Wednesdays from 2-5:30pm and Thursdays from 10am-1pm.
Community Compost Markets & Weekly Community Dinners (all welcome): On hold until further notice.
The land that we grow and gather on is in the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Chippewa, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Today this meeting place is still home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and gather on this land.
Elmbank Junior Middle Academy Fruit Orchard
10 Pitsboro Drive at Martin Grove Rd.
Site Manager: Nicolas Betancourth Giraldo <nicolas@pactprogram.ca>
Programming at the Elmbank Orchard and Learning Space is currently available to students in all grades at Elmbank JM.
The land we grow and gather on is in the traditional territories of the Petun, Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki, Mississauga, Wendake-Niowentsïo, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Accessibility Garden at Thistletown Collegiate Institute
20 Fordwich Drive at Islington.
Site Managers: Anne Bell <anne@pactprogram.ca>, Mariela Libedinsky <mariela@pactprogram.ca>
This space is currently being converted. Stay tuned for more details!
Student Volunteer Hours: Available for high school students on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5pm
The land we grow and gather on is in the traditional territories of the Petun, Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki, Mississauga, Wendake-Niowentsïo, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
Get your class involved in hands-on, outdoor learning! Open seasonally from April to mid-October
Outdoor, experiential learning in our vibrant living classrooms. Book a garden tour or choose one of our hands-on, curriculum-linked workshops for students grades 1-12.
Volunteer Opportunities
Get your hands dirty and support the community. Students can acquire community service volunteer hours.
Community Market
Community hubs that bring families and seniors together to share in fresh, organic, locally-grown food. Learn about our unique Community Compost Exchange Program.
Corporate Events
Book a corporate volunteering event with your team and give back to the community together.
PACT Grow to Learn is a Good Food Organization
Learn more at www.goodfoodorganizations.ca
