The Garden Committee members at St. Dunstan’s took great ownership and pride in this community garden as they worked together to plant, tend and harvest the vegetables for the SCHC food bank.
By Denise Bacon
In the November 2025 issue of Centennial News, Graham McCaffrey, Rector, St. Dunstan of Canterbury Anglican Church wrote “Great things grow from small beginnings, and we can’t wait to see what goodness will flourish here.”
This was part of a beautiful story of partnership between St. Dunstan’s and the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities. SCHC had approached the church to create a community garden on the church grounds that would produce food for the SCHC food bank. CCRA made a donation to the church to help purchase and set up the six large raised garden beds last fall.
Over this spring and summer, the Garden Committee of St. Dunstan’s made this first year of the community garden absolutely flourish. Through love’s labour, seeds were grown into seedlings by many members of the Garden Committee and other seeds were planted directly into the rich soil. The seeds, soil and mulch were donated to St. Dunstan’s by Donna Lang of Faith & The Common Good, a charitable organization that helps to create sustainable communities.
The harvest was plentiful, even for this first attempt. Radishes, carrots, okra, peppers, tomatillos, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets and beans have been harvested and delivered to the food bank at SCHC multiple times this summer. The meal program there was able to serve fresh salads to its clients, and food bank users were thrilled to receive bags of fresh garden produce.
The Garden Committee members took great ownership and pride in this garden as they worked together to plant, tend and harvest. Jacquie Ho, an active member of the committee, sent this special message: “Thank the CCRA community for their generous donation that allowed us to purchase the raised beds, which allowed for our senior congregation members to participate as the height allowed for easier access.” George Greig was one of the members who was happy to help with the harvest from his wheelchair.
Jacquie talked about how happy Kathleen at the food bank was when she delivered the bounty from the St. Dunstan’s garden. “Next year will be even better,” said Garden Committee Chair Heather Greig, “as we continue to learn what produce is most needed/wanted and how to maximize produce in our garden beds.”
“To see the garden come to life was a thrill,” said Shivana Sankar, Manager, Community Services at SCHC. “At all stages, everyone did what was needed at the right times. We hope to use the St. Dunstan’s garden as a model for other community gardens.”
Rector Graham McCaffrey was absolutely right. Great things did grow from small beginnings, and we have seen the goodness that has flourished here! If you would like to volunteer or donate: www.schcontario.ca www.stdunstan.ca