Hello Farmers and Friends,
I was happy to spend some quality time with these lovely ladies who are some of the harvesters for Cultivate Toronto. This program was created by Young Farmers CSA a group of young Ontario agricultural advocate looking to make a differnce through agriculture. Cultivate Toronto is a gardening program that was made so Toronto locals would have availability to fresh local produce throughout the summer and autumn months. These ladies spent their afternoon picking vegtables and herbs of many different varieties.
How does the Cultivate Toronto program work?
Local Toronto residence can offer some of their lot space to the Cultivate 
Toronto Program. In return the resident will receive a portion of the gardens produce. There rest of the garden is given to shareholders who purchase a portion of the years produce, the number of shareholders ranges for each garden, but averages about 5 shareholders per garden. The Cultivate Toronto team manages and harvests each garden at the appropriate time for each particular plant,harvests are executed weekly. The produce is weighed into amounts for each shareholders so they are ready for pick-up.
How can you get Involved?
The Cultivate Toronto program has a great website. There you can learn how to offer lot space, how to purchase shares in a garden and how to 
volunteer with Cultivate Toronto. The costs to buy a share range from $350.00 to $450.00 depending on your finances. To become a lot provider costs nothing and Cultivate Toronto does all the work , but you do have to meet the requirements. If you want to learn more about Cultivate Toronto feel free to visit their shareholders and lot providers write-up and their website.
Thanks
I would like to say thank you to all the young ladies I met at Cultivate Toronto on my visit. You were all very friendly and inspiring, maybe someday it wont just be Cultivate Toronto, but spread to Cultivate Ontario. I believe that you are all great examples of REAL Ontario Farmers!
Happy Farming,
Jessica Oelschlagel
REAL Ontario Farm Reporter
realontariofarmer 