City of Brampton launches second annual Backyard Garden Program on February 1

The City of Brampton’s popular Backyard Garden Program is back for a second year on February 1, 2021.

This eco-friendly initiative helps support food security in Brampton by providing participants with free soil, seeds and helpful tips to grow their own backyard garden. This year’s program is open to new participants only, including those who did not have the opportunity to participate in 2020.

The Backyard Garden Program encourages residents to grow produce and herbs from the comfort of their own homes and donate their homegrown crops to local food banks and community organizations.

This program also supports the Mayor’s COVID-19 Social Support Task Force’s focus on food security, reaffirms the city’s priority of being a sustainable Green City, and promotes residents’ mental and physical wellbeing.

Residents can register online to receive free seeds and soil starting Monday, February 1, at 10 am at www.brampton.ca/backyardgarden. Photos of this year’s backyard gardens, gardening tips, tutorials and resources will also be available on the web page. Residents are invited to use the hashtag #GardensofBrampton to share their gardens on social media.

This year, the program is proudly sponsored by Scotts. Other program supporters include Mattamy Homes, Paradise Developments, Fieldgate Developments, TACC Developments, and Great Gulf.

History of the Program

The City of Brampton’s Backyard Garden Program had a very successful inaugural year in 2020, with more than 10,000 pounds of produce donated to local food banks and community organizations for residents in need from April to October; including the Knights Table, Regeneration, Khalsa Aid, and United Sikhs. This initiative was the first of its kind in Canada, initiated in response to COVID-19.

Backyard Garden Club e-newsletter

New this year, residents can join the monthly Backyard Garden Club e-newsletter. Open to all gardening enthusiasts, members will receive a monthly e-newsletter with gardening information, opportunities to send in questions, gardening advice and support from experts and community partners, such as the Brampton Horticultural Society, exclusive offers, and more. Visit www.brampton.ca/backyardgarden to register for the club.

Beverly Bambury: Beverly is the Managing Editor of Bramptonist as well as a publicist working with local small businesses, authors and comic book creators.