A local garden that helps feed the hungry

Just off Highway 174 in Orléans, a group of dedicated Ottawa residents have taken a grassy chunk of land and transformed it into a beautiful garden that plays a very important role in our community.

The Orléans Community Garden has between 50-60 families growing fresh vegetables within its boundaries. Its ‘mission’, so to speak, is to promote gardening, educate the community about gardening, and give back by providing free plots to those less fortunate and donating fresh surplus vegetables to The Ottawa Mission. Last year alone, more than 1300 lbs of fresh produce from the Orléans Community garden was delivered to our kitchen!

“Those vegetables allow us to serve a variety of homemade and nutritious salads, soups and side dishes with our main courses”, says Ottawa Mission Manager of Food Services, Chef Ric Watson. “it means the funds raised to help people in need aren’t stretched so thin and the quality of food that is served is improved. People in our shelter are healthier and the gratitude that they show when they receive a warm, nutritious meal is heartwarming“.

Preparing and serving an average of 1300 meals a day in The Ottawa Mission kitchen is an enormous task. On behalf of everyone who benefits from those meals, we extend a huge THANK YOU to the members of the Orléans Community Garden and all those who lend their support every day.