Young Londoners learn how their little hands can make a big impact in food sustainability

A new program giving young Londoners a chance to get their hands dirty growing their own food is also encouraging them to learn more about food sustainability.

The four-part workshop is for kids between the ages of eight to 13 and covers everything from composting, different food systems, the importance of pollinators, and how to start an urban garden at home. 

"We find that food insecurity is a growing issue in our community, and access to healthy and fresh produce lacking, especially after COVID," said Jade Clark who is facilitator with the group The Patch.

"Giving our youth an opportunity to be out in the garden and really learn about how they can grow food at home will empower them and their communities," she said.

Rose Gansevles, 9, attended the first session in July called "dirt in dirt" where she and others learned the role worms play in composting and minimizing waste in landfills. 

Her mother, Leigh Ann Preston, was happy to see her daughter walk away with hands-on experience that will help her better understand how to care for the planet. 

"It's so important for our children to learn where their food comes from, how it gets to us, and the amount of work that's involved, along with the power they have to take part in their own food systems," Preston said.

Another goal of the workshop is to connect youngsters to nature, something that can often get overlooked when living in a city, Clark said.

"We've heard throughout the community that people feel really disconnected from agriculture," she said. "A lot of our participants haven't had the opportunity to garden at home whether it's because they don't have a backyard, the space, or even the experience."

Janine Parkinson, 11, travelled from Hamilton to take part in the workshop. She's part of the eco-club at her school which focuses on recycling and how to protect the environment.

"We're raising Janine in the city and we don't feel there's a lot of opportunity to see nature at its bare roots, so it's introducing nature and food to her at this scale," said her grandfather Leon Hudecki. 

Last year, the food hub at The Patch donated 2,700 kg of locally grown food to organizations including Indwell, the Ark Aid Mission, and Sanctuary London. 

Clark said she hopes participants can use this information to incorporate fresh produce in their diets and share this knowledge with their communities.

The workshops are every Wednesday throughout July and August and participants can register online with The Patch.