I could see it on their faces when years ago they would ask me, why do you live there? Why don’t you move out of there? I live there because it’s relatable. I was in an interracial relationship with two daughters whom I wanted to feel some sort of connection to their father’s background. And, let’s be frank, the community was also in my budget. At that time, I was yearning for growth, healing, and well-being. Like all parents, we want to give our children what we didn’t have. But when I was a kid the state of the environment was better, at least somewhat so. I want to give my kids what we did have. I want to prevent my girls from inheriting anything negative, meaning I want to protect them from inheriting a world that is facing catastrophic climate change, which I have no control over. At that time of my life I kept hearing this saying and it had really struck me. “Be the change that you want to see in the world”. I felt small in the world. I felt hopeless with my own life. How could I make any sort of impact? Not knowing where the journey was taking me, I kept taking steps in the direction of change.

Fast forward 11 years of Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers. These two large, beautiful gardens and 30 fruit trees serve as a source of food, meeting place, a source of beauty, a source of connection, all from what started as just an idea. Like a seed, it grew into something I have been saying for years now, it’s more than a garden. There is much more than what meets the eye or what can be shown in photos or instagram posts. During an introductory conversation with someone outside of the gardens it sounds so linear, so simple saying “I manage community gardens”. I can see it in their faces, shrugging in lack of understanding and comprehension to how much more these gardens are much more than a garden. 

Everyone comes in on their own capacity. Some of the gardeners have been supporting my ideas since the first year because they love being involved with this sense of purpose. The love and joy of having outdoor space as opposed to being cooped up in the stacked cubes we all call home. I see the genuineness of community and friendship from those who are committed as they love the gardens and programming just as much as me. The involvement of the community validates my heart and my vision as to why I continue to lead the project and more so why the project continues to grow and flourish. 

These spaces bring a sense of wonder. I see it on their faces when we are digging out a harvest of potatoes and listening to the wow’s and ooh’s as if we have been finding gold in soil. 

Slow walk-throughs with seniors trigger memories they thought they had forgotten. I see their faces intrigued and surprised that taking the time to visit nature reignites parts of them that have long forgotten. The smell of the vibrant flowers sparks memories of their mothers and fathers in their childhood gardens. They share their stories so even I get to live the experience of their memories in my own mind. 

Artist: Faizan Dossa

Watch the children as they embark on adventures of discovery. The excitement and bewilderment their faces are expressing when they discover what’s hiding under a rock or a tree stump. Seeing their pride when their seedlings have not only survived but thrived to grow and bear vegetables. The astonishment of that tiny mystery seed that almost seems impossible to be anything grand as they visit regularly to watch that seed sprout and grow in a plant. 

Local women gather around the picnic table during events, enjoying themselves gabbing and laughing while rolling dough to make pizza with garden harvest. Their faces are filled with joy as they break from their daily routines.

As harvest shares are being passed around, I notice a lady taking in a big breath smelling the fresh cut chives. As she starts to exhale, she nods her head and smiles as if to say “Yes, this is what food smells like”. It dawns on me, as I shopped in the grocery store, I have never seen anyone take a deep whiff of the produce and smile with such satisfaction. Gardeners eyes grow wide as the garden gifts us with abundance because of our caring for it. 

After a session of garden art, the faces of those who sell themselves short as non-creative are full of amazement due to realization that they have the ability to beautifully create. Discovering a piece themselves they never knew feels like a break-through in self-discovery. 

There are hundreds of visits through these gardens each season. Faces light up and beam with happiness when they show up to participate and as they depart at the end of the session. Their faces express just how impressed they are seeing the rotation of the season and seeing a community come together working towards a common goal. There is a sense of satisfaction of success when many other aspects of life are a struggle. 

To hear my own daughters tell me how proud they are of me to see me to work towards a better earth. I hope they see it on my face how humbled and proud to be a part of something greater than myself.