Queen West Resiliency Gardens & Recipe Kits
**This project was made possible by the City of Toronto BIA Innovation Fund**
Some exciting news! The Queen West BIA was awarded a grant by the City of Toronto BIA (Business Improvement Area) Office through the Innovation Grant. We are all living through a challenge that we never expected would affect our lives, city and our future brought on by Covid-19.
One issue that has remained quite prominent is food insecurity. There has been a spike in demand for more people using the services of food banks, as many people have seen a drop in income. Many chefs and folks in the hospitality industry are also forced to close or operate on a much reduced level, affecting revenue.
The BIA did some creative thinking and wanted to do its part to help our community. Queen West is known for a great foodie scene as part of its culture. We thought it would be amazing to provide some households with starter grow kits (aka Resilience Gardens) to be able to grow their own food at home. In addition, we would provide a recipe book with recipes from some of our wonderful chefs. Every chef that provides a recipe will also be given an honorarium as a way for us to show appreciation for their talent. It also allows for a few extra dollars in their pocket to help with any necessities or personal expenses they may need some help with.
Our inspiration stemmed from Victory Gardens that were quite common during World War I. Communities would grow fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs in public parks and spaces. We are living through a pandemic, however we are resilient, and need to continue to be, which is is where we drew aspiration for the name of this project, “Resilience Gardens and Recipe Book”
Participating Restaurants Include:
We are committed to providing at least 300 FREE garden kits and recipe books to Queen West area households.
One issue that has remained quite prominent is food insecurity. There has been a spike in demand for more people using the services of food banks, as many people have seen a drop in income. Many chefs and folks in the hospitality industry are also forced to close or operate on a much reduced level, affecting revenue.
The BIA did some creative thinking and wanted to do its part to help our community. Queen West is known for a great foodie scene as part of its culture. We thought it would be amazing to provide some households with starter grow kits (aka Resilience Gardens) to be able to grow their own food at home. In addition, we would provide a recipe book with recipes from some of our wonderful chefs. Every chef that provides a recipe will also be given an honorarium as a way for us to show appreciation for their talent. It also allows for a few extra dollars in their pocket to help with any necessities or personal expenses they may need some help with.
Our inspiration stemmed from Victory Gardens that were quite common during World War I. Communities would grow fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs in public parks and spaces. We are living through a pandemic, however we are resilient, and need to continue to be, which is is where we drew aspiration for the name of this project, “Resilience Gardens and Recipe Book”
Participating Restaurants Include:
- 416 Snack Bar
- Basil Box
- Buono Toronto
- HotBlack Coffee
- La Palette
- Maiz
- My Roti Place
- Mi Taco Taqueria
- Parka
- Saffron Spice Kitchen
We are committed to providing at least 300 FREE garden kits and recipe books to Queen West area households.
