Newsbites Archive

Fall Farm Fest

August 25, 2025

Fall Farm Fest 2025 – EVERYONE WELCOME!

In partnership with:

Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard and the Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre

Join us this Sunday, September 28th, 2025 from 11am-3pm at the Just Food Community Farm for our 4th annual Fall Farm Fest,
located on unceded, unsurrendered Anishinaabe Algonquin Territory.

Enjoy live music, wagon ride farm tours, buy fresh produce at the Just Food Farm Stand, enjoy a variety of free activities, bring your own picnic, and buy prepared, fresh and preserved foods from local vendors.

Free to attend and full of fun, there’s something for everyone! 

We’ll see you there!

Have questions? Contact info@justfood.ca


Enjoy Tons of FREE Activities:


Prepared food, fresh & preserved food, drinks for sale from:


Workshop Schedule:

Dig deeper with our free Community Gardening Network workshops!

Looking to grow your skills and get inspired? Don’t miss this incredible lineup of free workshops at Fall Farm Fest:

11:15AM – Putting Organic Gardens To Bed For The Winter

Facilitator: Rob Danforth (Senior Organic Gardeners & Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa-St. Lawrence-Outaouais Chapter)

All gardens (pots, plots, large containers, & raised beds) can be put to sleep in ways that will save you time, money, and effort.  This involves recycling growing mediums, spent plants, mulches, and containers; sheltering the helpful insects; reducing the harmful insects and diseases; and harnessing nature to work on your behalf throughout the winter.  However, the procedures are not quite the same for each kind of garden. Caution: not putting the garden to bed can lead to winter damage and a lot more spring labour!

12:30PM – Compost 101: Building Healthy Soilfor Thriving Gardens

Facilitator: Danielle Daviau (Just Food Board Member)

Discover the different types of compost and how to use them effectively in both community and backyard gardens. Learn the fundamentals of how compost improves soil health, boosts plant growth, and supports sustainable gardening practices. Perfect for gardeners of all experience levels!

1:15PM – Garlic 101: Plant, Grow, Harvest

Facilitator: Noel Dhingra (Farm Education Coordinator at Just Food)

Whether you’re new to gardening or looking to refine your skills, this beginner-friendly workshop will cover the full garlic-growing cycle, from seed selection and planting to pest management, harvest, and storage. Seed garlic will be available on-site to purchase from Gricklegrass Farm.

2:00PM –Sweet Outcomes: Tips for Happier, More Resilient Trees

Facilitator: Shelley Lambert (Nanabush Food Forests & Forêt Capitale Forests)

Healthy soil is the home to millions of diverse soil microbes. We will cover how the microbial life in the soil interacts with trees to improve a tree’s ability to absorb nutrients, promote sugar production, and result in sweeter fruit. Sweeter, more nutrient dense food is not the only positive outcome of investing in your soil. By improving the environment for beneficial microbes, you help make trees more resistant to disease and pests. A virtuous circle of activity, hurray!

Workshops run approximately every 45 minutes throughout the event. Drop in anytime – no registration required!


Community Canvas Art Activity with Kina Forney

Drop by anytime throughout the day to help create a community art piece with local artist Kina Forney. All ages and experience levels are welcome – join in the fun to create something beautiful together!


Where?

At the Just Food Community Farm
Sunday, September 28th 2025
11am – 3pm
2391 Pepin Court, Ottawa (in Blackburn Hamlet, just East of Vanier)

Free parking; also accessible by bus route #25, and biking.

Click here for more information on directions.

Accessibility info:

We have an accessible lift and washroom in the Big Red Barn

Our pavilion, where most vendors are located, is paved, and will have a rubberized pathway from the parking lot for access

Our roads are compacted gravel with mixed terrain and sloping

We will have staff and volunteers on site that will be available for support

Music will be playing throughout the day, one generator may be running, please notify a member of staff or a volunteer if you are in need of locating a quiet space

We have 2 portapotties on site (in addition to accessible washroom in barn)

Workshops will be held in the Big Red Barn, which is accessed either via a set of stairs leading up one flight, or via an accessible lift.

If you have any questions on accessibility, please contact director@justfood.ca 

New Farmer Training Sessions

August 1, 2025

Are you a new and/or aspiring farmer?
Are you a landowner with farmland, seeking a farm tenant? 


يرجى التمرير للأسفل لقراءة هذا النص باللغة العربية، وللتسجيل في سلسلة برنامج المزارع الناشئ المقدمة باللغة العربية.

Start-up Farmer Training Series

FRENCH SESSION: commence le 19 octobre – NOUVELLES DATES

Cette session est offerte en français.

Qui : Ouvert aux participants d’Ottawa, de l’est de l’Ontario et de l’ouest du Québec
Coût : 200 $ (places disponibles à prix libre)

REMARQUE : si le coût représente un obstacle que vous ne pouvez pas surmonter malgré les options de tarification variable proposées, veuillez contacter director@justfood.ca !

Calendrier :

Session 1 :
dimanche 19 octobre (10 h – 17 h)

En personne à la ferme communautaire Just Food, 2391 Pepin Ct

Les thèmes abordés ce jour-là comprendront : la planification d’entreprise, les pratiques de fertilisation biologique des sols, les pratiques de gestion des terres, un aperçu des infrastructures, et bien plus encore !

Sessions 2, 3 et 4 :

Les jeudis soirs 23, 30 octobre et 6 novembre (de 18 h à 21 h)
En ligne via Zoom
Les thèmes abordés comprendront :
Le marketing, la tarification et les ventes
La planification des cultures et l’adaptation de votre exploitation agricole
L’accès au financement et aux programmes agricoles

Cliquez ici pour vous inscrire

تواريخ جديدة – الجلسات العربية

الجلسة بالعربية: تبدأ  السبت 18 أكتوبر

هذه الجلسة مقدمة باللغة العربية

من: مفتوحة للمشاركين من أوتاوا، شرق أونتاريو وغرب كيبيك
التكلفة: 200 دولار (أماكن متاحة بسعر مرن)

ملاحظة: إذا كانت التكلفة تمثل عائقًا لا تستطيع تجاوزه رغم خيارات التسعير المرنة المتاحة، يرجى التواصل عبر: director@justfood.ca

  Noel Dhingra الميسرون: أنس نصري و جبران حمد بدعم من

الجدول:

الجلسة 1:
السبت 18 أكتوبر (من 10 صباحًا حتى 5 مساءً)
  Just Food، 2391 Pepin Ct حضوريًا في المزرعة المجتمعية 

المواضيع التي ستُناقش في هذا اليوم ستشمل: التخطيط للأعمال، ممارسات التسميد العضوي للتربة، ممارسات إدارة الأراضي، نظرة عامة على البنى التحتية، والمزيد!

الجلسات 2، 3 و4:
أمسيات الخميس، 21 و28 أكتوبر و4 نوفمبر (من الساعة 6 مساءً إلى 9 مساءً)عبر
عبر الإنترنت بواسطة Zoom

المواضيع التي ستُناقش ستشمل:

التسويق، التسعير والمبيعات
تخطيط المحاصيل وتكييف مزرعتك
الوصول إلى التمويل والبرامج الزراعية

:انقر هنا للتسجيلقر هنا للتسجيل

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/start-up-farmer-training-series-arabic

From Field to Vase: Local Flower Arranging Workshop – August 27th, 2025

August 1, 2025

Update: This workshop is now SOLD OUT!

If you would like to add your name to the waiting list, please send an email to communitygardening@justfood.ca. We will notify you if a spot becomes available.

Ready to turn a bundle of beautiful local blooms into your own work of art?

Join us on August 27th at the Just Food Community Farm for a magical summer evening workshop with Madeleine Maltby of Heart City Farm & Florals, where you’ll learn the foundations of floral arranging using sustainably grown, seasonal flowers. Whether you’re new to floral design or looking to refine your skills, this workshop is a perfect way to connect with the beauty of local flowers and bring your creativity to life.

Madeleine will guide participants through her process of thoughtful and eco-friendly floral care and design. Participants will have the chance to work with a vibrant mix of locally grown blooms including dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, lisianthus, marigolds, rudbeckia, foxglove, phlox, eucalyptus, foraged greenery, and more. Everyone will leave with their own unique, hand-crafted arrangement to take home!

Tickets are $85 per person with sliding scale options available. Spots are limited, so don’t wait! Claim your spot today!

Click here to register!

All materials and flowers are included in the ticket price. If you have a pair of pruners, please bring them along, Just Food will have a few extras on hand to borrow.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Please contact communitygardening@justfood.ca if you have any questions about this workshop.

How do I get to the farm?

The Just Food Community Farm is located at 2391 Pepin Court, near Blackburn Hamlet. 

There is free parking on site. The farm is accessible by bus route #25.

Please click here for directions on how to get to the Just Food Community Farm by bus, bike, or car!

Join us for SeedLing Saturday! – May 10th, 2025

May 1, 2025

Mark your calendars!

Join us on Saturday, May 10th from 10:00AM – 1:00PM at the Just Food Community Farm for SeedLing Saturday, our much-loved annual event where farmers, gardeners, and community members gather to celebrate the joys of spring and kick off the growing season together!

What’s Happening This Year?

Seedlings from amazing local vendors, including:

  • Urban Gardening Canada
  • The Good Shit
  • Slow Roots Farm
  • Gaia Organic Seeds
  • Ferme Agricola Cooperative Farm
  • Wild Roots Farm
  • Wild Blooms Farm
  • Chi Garden Ecological Farm & Fermentation Kitchen
  • Ferme Lune du Matin
  • La Réfriche Nursery
  • Forêt Capitale Forests
  • A Cultivated Art Inc.
  • Back Porch Botanicals
  • Capital Bees
  • Bountiful Beaver
  • Nanabush Food Forests

Free seed & seedling exchange table – while supplies last!

Gardening info & wisdom from:

  • Canadian Organic Growers (Ottawa-St. Lawrence-Outaouais Chapter)
  • Senior Organic Growers
  • Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library
  • The Box of Life

Gardening workshops every 30 minutes!

Topics include:

  • Using What You Have: Prioritizing Sustainability in Community Gardening
  • Growing Asparagus in Your Backyard
  • Food as Medicine: Plants to Consider for Your Garden
  • …and more!

Plus:

  • Live music from local musicians
  • Delicious eats from Sheepdog Grill

Have extra containers or garden tools?

Give them a second life! We’re collecting unused pots, containers, and gently used garden tools to support community members growing food in small spaces. Bring your extras to SeedLing Saturday and help fellow growers get started this season!

Entry is free and all are welcome to attend!

How do I get to the farm?

The Just Food Community Farm is located at 2391 Pepin Court, near Blackburn Hamlet.

There is free parking on site. The farm is accessible by bus route #25.

Please click here for directions on how to get to the Just Food Community Farm by bus, bike, or car!

We can’t wait to welcome you to the farm next weekend!

Have questions about SeedLing Saturday?
Please reach out to communitygardening@justfood.ca.

We’re Hiring!

April 25, 2025

Are you passionate about transforming local food and farming systems and want to apply your skills to this work?

Stay tuned for more opportunities to join our team!

Community Gardening on City Land report has been published

April 16, 2025

Here is an overview of the main recommendations from City staff:

  • Shift internal City oversight from Community and Social Services (CSSD) to Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services (RCFS).
  • Formalize City-wide mandate for supporting gardening activities.
  • Form an internal inter-departmental working group.
  • Allocate 1 Full-Time City staff to manage the internal program, within existing resources.

Community is asking for:

  • A clear timeline and process for 2025: 
    • For existing requests waiting for approval to move ahead
    • For new initiative requests
    • For community engagement on operations (which has not yet happened!)
  • A clearer program name: “Community-led Planting Program” to capture the full scope of planting activities as they are all interconnected
  • Commitment for additional staff time to support transition of this program from one department (that has the historical context and research) to a new department

Plus more!
You can read more about the details of all of the collective asks by clicking here.

How You Can Take Action This Week:

1) Email your City Councillors – use our template:

  • Click here to find your Councillor & and their contact info
  • Use this easy template guide to send an email to your Councillor!
    • Template #1: Existing community gardeners waiting years for answers
    • Template #2: New community gardeners waiting for this report to apply for new initiatives

2) Sign up to delegate at the Community Services Committee on April 22nd:

  • Submit a written letter or visual presentation before tomorrow, Thursday, April 17th, at 4:00PM, or
  • Sign up to delegate at the Committee Meeting, either virtually or in person, by no later than 8:30AM on Tuesday, April 22nd
  • You can submit your written letter/visual presentation, or register to delegate, by sending an email to:
    • Eric Pelot, Committee Coordinator –
      eric.pelot@ottawa.ca, (613) 580-2424, ext. 22953

3) Need support delegating? We can help!

Attend tonight’s delegation support session for CGN members!

Register here for our 30 minute delegation support session tonight, April 16th from 6:30-7:00PM, online via Zoom

Have questions or looking for support? 

Please contact communitygardening@justfood.ca