Woodbine Cares Community Garden: Year in Review

The Woodbine Racetrack property had an extra splash of green this summer, thanks to the hard work of the Sundance Commons crew and dozens of volunteers. The Woodbine Cares Community Garden returned after a pandemic hiatus, and the season is being hailed as a tremendous success.

“We were able to distribute 3,000 pounds of fresh food this year to community groups and workers living in the backstretch,” said Kimberley Medeiros, Woodbine’s Director of Government Relations and Corporate Citizenship.

“More than 13,000 pounds has been donated since the garden was created in 2016. It’s an achievement that everyone involved should be proud of.”

The garden’s revitalization and care were overseen by the agricultural non-profit Sundance Commons.

“Starting a large garden from scratch is always a big but rewarding experience,” said Sundance Commons’ Executive Director, Cheyenne Sundance.

“Our team is grateful for this opportunity to steward the land and produce a bounty of vegetables for the local community. The season went very well, better than expected!”

Education was a key component of the garden. Members of the public were invited to take part in hands-on learning during Community Days. Sundance Commons said 128 people attended.

At 20,000 square feet, the Woodbine Cares Community Garden is among the largest corporate community gardens in Canada.