Growing Together: a Community Garden Partnership
Vaughan Public Libraries
Innovation Synopsis
Vaughan Public Libraries is honoured to partner with the York Region Food Network, Reena Community Farm, and others to offer Growing Together, a full cycle seed to harvest initiative. The project includes a lending seed library, community garden, and educational workshops, resulting in seasonal produce for the community. Initially made possible thanks to a New Horizon’s for Seniors grant, the community garden partnership has since taken root and grown into an incredible example of grassroots community outreach and a collaboration of like-minded community partners who all recognize the importance of public libraries in place making, connecting people, education, life skill development, culinary literacy and food security. Throughout the initiative, participants learn about seed growing and saving, sustainability, nutrition, container gardening, and volunteering while getting to connect with other members of the community.
Challenge/Opportunity
The loss of a nearby garden due to renovations and the growth of another partner’s gardening initiatives provided a serendipitous occasion for the public library to get involved. While our partners had expertise, they did not have land or sufficient volunteers to make a new community garden a reality. The library’s place as a community hub proved to be the solution.
This project directly supports VPL’s Strategic Plan and helps meet the following strategic objectives:
• Promote community connections:
o collaborate and partner with local organizations to cultivate community well-being
o provide a platform for community participation to advance citizen engagement
o demonstrate a commitment to community and build bridges between stakeholders.
• Provide life-long learning opportunities for all:
o extend innovative programs and services to enhance all forms of literacy including culinary and health
o present unique niche programs to support life-long learning for all
Key Elements of Innovation
Growing Together highlights VPL’s role as a vital community resource and hub through its two distinct projects: 1) a Seed Library supported by educational workshops; and 2) a Community Garden.
Kickstarted by a YRFN donation in 2023, VPL’s Seed Library allows customers to “borrow” up to 3 different types of seeds annually. Each borrower is encouraged to save and donate seeds at the end of the season. Throughout the year, VPL also hosts garden-related programs on topics such as container gardening, seed swaps, and seed saving.
VPL’s community garden was developed in partnership with Reena and the Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto Congregation in 2024. VPL contributes land, access to water, and marketing materials, while the partners provide containers, soil, and training. As of 2025, the garden is entirely community-led with volunteers planting, maintaining, and harvesting the community garden, as well as hosting a farm stand at the library where other residents can access free produce.
Achieved Outcomes
VPL strengthened its partnership with YRFN, who donated the initial Seed Library and delivers programs, the Reena Community Farm, who provide supplies and expertise, and the municipal government, who provides soil and compost.
o The Seed library has loaned 1765 seed packets and 40 customers have returned harvested seeds to give back to the community
o 60 families have helped maintain the community garden, including watering, weeding, harvesting, and running the community farm stand
o In 2025, 245 customers attended garden and seed-related programs
Growing Together fosters a sense of ownership and pride among residents by engaging them through the hands-on, community-led garden. Workshops educate and connect customers with gardening, food, and nutrition professionals while seed sharing connects them with new food varietals. Growing Together is a prime example of how libraries can support sustainability, increase awareness, and foster engagement through strategic partnerships.
