Oliver’s Garden Project started in 2011 Oliver was 6 and Piper was 5. Oliver saw two little kids rummaging through blue recycling bins one day in his neighbourhood, he asked his mother “why”. When she told him they probably needed to find bottles or cans to take back to make some money. This did not sit well with Oliver. His family already grew vegetables in their backyard and was going to sell th
e produce to save for a family trip. Oliver convinced his parents otherwise. He decided that the money raised would go directly to kids in his community who needed it more. Oliver’s Garden Project was planted. The community got wind of what Oliver and Piper were up to and the newspaper called, wrote an article about his plan. That led to the Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN) getting in touch and partnering for a contest with Nature’s Path Organic Foods and Organic Gardening Magazine. Oliver’s Garden Project’s idea won! With that grant in 2012 they were able to create home vegetable gardens for five different families in their community, host workshops, grow more vegetables to sell and host a community breakfast fundraiser in Gage Park. The partnership with HCGN lead to another grant, which included The Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton in 2013. With that grant from The Cowan Foundation, Oliver’s Garden Project was able to create an after school program that allowed for over 100 kids in the inner city to learn how to grow their own food, using a local high school’s green house as well as teach the kids how to create healthy recipes. Also in 2013, Oliver’s Garden Project was approached by several Hamilton based Food Trucks to buy their tomatoes for menu creations. As well, a local small business owner, The Wandering Locavore has purchased their heirloom tomatoes to be used in the company’s Heirloom Tomato Jams, which are now sold at The Mustard Seed Co-op. Oliver’s Garden Project has since started a school vegetable garden at Oliver and Piper’s school. They have been invited to set up their little veggie stand at Ottawa Street Market, Food Truck Events and different fairs and functions around the city. They have donated vegetable proceeds to The Living Rock, Food4Kids and Neighbour2Neighbour assisting at risk youth. Continuing to grow everyday... one day a greenhouse and a garden kit ! Thank you so much for your continued support and love !!
