To our dear farm members...
Farm life comes with many highs and lows. Through it all we are thankful for the opportunity to grow good food in healthy and sustainable ways. It makes us happy that customers eating our veggies know that they are also doing their part to address the food security issues in our cities. Healthy and fresh vegetables for you means healthy and fresh vegetables for someone in need. With us, it's that simple.
We will be sharing updates on the farm on this page, including pictures and important information regarding your veggie share. Check back here from time to time to find out what's new at Sparrow Gardens!
Your
Veggie Share
If you are new to having a veggie share, remember to be patient with yourself. Just as we take our time to learn about our new land, a veggie share takes a bit of learning as well. Thankfully we will be sharing tips and hints to help you adjust. You may have questions such as, "How do I store this vegetable?" Or "I have a lot left over at the end of the week, what can I do so it doesn't go to waste?" Or "How do I cook mizuna? Should I cook mizuna?" These are questions that we want to help you with! So if you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out! According to other veggie share farms, it takes around 3 years for someone to feel like they are a pro at having a share. Email me at tasha@sparrowandco.org and I will do my best to guide you through!
Meet Tasha
I am your farmer, Tash.
I live in a small townhome in Scarborough with my husband, two teen children, four quail and a turtle. Since growing my first tomato plant in a south-facing Vic Park apartment that was hot enough to be a greenhouse, I was hooked on growing. I started learning everything I could about plants, borrowing backyards for my gardens (sharing the bounty with the owners!) and teaching others how to grow. Urban farming gives me incredible joy as I see my passion and work provide for our community and bring happiness and health to them.
The
Farm Team
Our farm team is led by our farm manager, Tasha Kang. We are so grateful that, once again, we were able to hire two full time staff under the Canada Summer Youth Jobs program from the government of Canada. Both Lucas and Anton joined our team in May. Farm work in this early spring season is a jam packed adventure with lots of heavy lifting, veggie bed building, and planting. A big thank you to our Sparrow Farm Team for their commitment to the work in both rain or shine!
Meet our
Administrative
Assistant
Hi everyone! My name is Erin McFayden and I am this season's administrative assistant for Sparrow and Co.! I am currently a student at the University of Waterloo, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Legal Studies. This is a path I am hoping will lead to law school. I started out at Sparrow in July 2021, where I was a volunteer for the summer and spent my time pulling weeds and listening to music — a relaxing and therapeutic venture that Sparrow offers for everyone! It encouraged my love for the outdoors and allowed me to really curate my green thumb (still a work in progress), however, Sparrow truly hooked me with its passion for the community, and its God-centred work ethic. This summer, I take care of all the administrative “behind-the-scenes” action, from excel sheets to sending out emails, to even volunteering with some of you! This position has allowed me to refocus on giving back to the community, spreading the joy of fresh veggies to people from all walks of life, and showing me just how big a small contribution makes.