About Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers

Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers (TPUF) is a grassroots organization focused on communal urban farming and environmental stewardship. Through outdoor education, stewardship, arts, and trades programs, we aim to support our neighbourhood’s population, primarily its youth, in becoming skilled, knowledgeable and connected to nature.

Our organization was founded on the premise that social and environmental justice begins right where people live. Like most people, we love nature! We didn’t know that this love would turn us into #changemakers, activists or even teachers of environmental stewardship; however, we wouldn’t change any of it. We might be small in scale but our work and dedication has a deep and growing impact. Every garden we plant, nurture and harvest from, every workshop we host, and every person we mentor, builds not only greener spaces, but also helps build stronger and healthier communities.

The Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers began when local resident Michelle Delaney chose to pursue a more eco-conscious lifestyle after educating herself on the local food system. Wanting to grow her own food, Michelle quickly noticed the challenges residents faced within Thorncliffe Park with regards to access to urban agricultural land. Home to over 30,000 residents in under two square kilometres, the high-density and high-rise neighbourhood is located in East York, Toronto and has rising concerns over food security. At the time, the community’s two existing communal gardens had long waiting lists that inspired Michelle to approach residential management companies for creating more growing space on their land. With the support of another local resident, Shannon Scott, Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers (TPUF) was established in 2013.

Under the City of Toronto’s “Tower Neighbourhood Renewal Program,” with the support of United Way and The Neighbourhood Office (TNO), a 46-plot community garden was built on 2/3 acre of land on the residential property of 71 Thorncliffe Park Drive.

In just a decade, TPUF has grown from one communal garden to an emerging grassroots organization focused on environmental stewardship and outdoor education for all age groups.