All Categories - Operation EcoPen

600 lbs for 2023

11/13/2023

With the recent freezing temps, another growing season has ended for us! What a busy year it has been!
With our Seeds That Feed urban farming initiative, we were happy to have to put together 600 lbs of vegetables for Feed the Need in Durham @ftndurham
At a time when reliance on food banks in the GTA has increased by over 50%, the work of organizations like FTND has become increasingly vital. We appreciate all their efforts.
Our Seeds That Feed initiative was made possible by our Sprout Ideas Fellow Grants by TakingITGlobal. Check out www.sproutideas.org for more details on the program and ways you can get involved in supporting youth-led social innovation.
Many thanks to @TIGSproutIdeas generously supporting our vegetable gardening project to support vulnerable community members
@TIGSproutIdeas @LeadersToday #CanadaServiceCorps #LeadersToday

can be simple to make more houseplants!

8/26/2023

Did you know that you can grow kalanchoe just by taking cuttings and sticking them in soil? And you can propagate snake plants is by dividing the root clump?🪴🙂🌱

With our Green Greetings initiative, we are pleased to support long-term care homes, shelters, and schools in Durham Region, York Region, and beyond! 😀

Made possible by our Sprout Ideas Fellowship Grants by TakingITGlobal. Check out www.sproutideas.org for more details on the program and ways you can get involved in supporting youth-led social innovation.

Many thanks to @TIGSproutIdeas generously supporting our project to support vulnerable community members

@TIGSproutIdeas @LeadersToday #CanadaServiceCorps #LeadersToday

meALworms deserve treATS, TOO

8/16/2023

Purple Ruffles basil is a special summer treat for this little mealworm 🪴🟣 🐛
Has mild taste similar to sweet basil & makes a beautiful ornamental garden plant 🙂

So pleased to provide TWC @torontowildlifecentre with ~100,000 mealworms so far this year! We have also been busy farming clover 🍀 and kale 🥦 for TWC patients!
We so appreciate everything TWC does to save our wildlife! 🦅🐍🦇

BIG THANKS TO our community partners!

8/1/2023

A shout out to all our dedicated participants🥳🎉which include municipalities such as the Township of Uxbridge & the Town of Whitby (Whitby Public Library), various health care centres such as Markham Stouffville Hospital, Lakeridge Health, Oshawa Clinic Group, Sinai Hospital Systems, & UHN, schools in the TDSB, DDSB, and DCDSB, and universities including Western and UofT. We have really appreciated your efforts over the years!🖍️😀🖊️Writing instruments go to @staplescanada to get recycled into awesome products at @terracycleca 🙂

Dense Blazing Star

7/31/2023

Dense Blazing Star is a beautiful purple perennial wildflower that attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies 🟣🙂🪻In Canada, it is restricted to southwestern Ontario and is considered a species at risk.

Many thanks to Nature Canada @naturecanada_ for their support via a Young Nature Leader Grant to raise native Ontario pollinator plants for schools, long-term care homes, and communities organizations serving vulnerable populations 🙂🙏

Many thanks again to Sprout Ideas Fellow Grants by TakingITGlobal for our Green Greetings project. Check out www.sproutideas.org for more details on the program and ways you can get involved in supporting youth-led social innovation.

Green Greetings

7/26/2023

Did you know research has repeatedly shown that indoor & outdoor green spaces improve well-being?🪴 🙂🌱
With our Green Greetings initiative, excited to provide Lakeridge Health Bowmanville with plants for their horticultural therapy program 🏥🌿
Made possible by our Sprout Ideas Fellow Grants by TakingITGlobal. Check out www.sproutideas.org for more details on the program and ways you can get involved in supporting youth-led social innovation.
Many thanks to @TIGSproutIdeas generously supporting our vegetable gardening project to support vulnerable community members
@TIGSproutIdeas @LeadersToday #CanadaServiceCorps #LeadersToday

Seeds that feed

7/25/2023

Did you know, historically, only the beet leaves were eaten, not the roots ? The roots were highly valued as medicine not food
It has been a very busy growing season! As part of our Seeds That Feed initiative, excited to have contributed 160 lbs of food to Feed the Need Durham this summer so far
We so appreciate @ftndurham working hard to fight hunger in our community!
Made possible by our Sprout Ideas Fellow Grants by TakingITGlobal. Check out www.sproutideas.org for more details on the program and ways you can get involved in supporting youth-led social innovation.
Many thanks to @TIGSproutIdeas generously supporting our vegetable gardening project to support vulnerable community members
@TIGSproutIdeas @LeadersToday #CanadaServiceCorps #LeadersToday

Young Nature Leader Grant Recipient

7/24/2023

Black-eyed Susans Bees and butterflies love the flowers but they even attract other flower eaters such as deer and rabbits
Honoured to be selected for a Young Nature Leader Grant to raise native Ontario pollinator plants to distribute to schools and communities organizations serving vulnerable populations Many thanks to Nature Canada for their support!
https://naturecanada.ca/.../women.../young-nature-leaders/?
Many thanks again to Sprout Ideas Fellow Grants by TakingITGlobal for our Green Greetings project. Check out www.sproutideas.org for more details on the program and ways you can get involved in supporting youth-led social innovation.

Sprout Ideas Fellowship

7/23/2023

We are excited to have been selected for 2023 Sprout Ideas Fellow Grants by TakingITGlobal 🙂 The Sprout Ideas Fellowship aims to support a cohort of youth from across Canada in implementing their own community impact projects. Over the course of 10 months, Fellows have been participating in a guided skill-building experience with training, mentorship, seed grants and access to additional funds in support of a volunteer-led project. Check out www.sproutideas.org for more details on the program and ways you can get involved in supporting youth-led social innovation 🌱

Thank you to @TIGSproutIdeas generously supporting our gardening project to cultivate fresh vegetables, houseplants, and pollinator plants to uplift vulnerable community members 🍅😃🪴

@TIGSproutIdeas @LeadersToday #CanadaServiceCorps #LeadersToday

green/string beans

10/23/2022

Green beans are also called string beans, French beans, snap beans, and haricots verts 🌿 And instead of green, they can be yellow or purple 🟡🙂🟣 Happy to have 50 lbs tomato, eggplant, peppers, beans, and beets last month as our final harvest for this season👨‍🌾 for Feed the Need in Durham @ftndurham. We appreciate everything FTND does to support our community!

Thank you to #RisingYouth, @TakingITGlobal, the Government of Canada, and Canada Service Corps for generously supporting our gardening project to help fight hunger in our community.