Cassie’s Story
At The Stop, our community programs do more than provide food; they foster connections, growth, and a deeper bond to the land we share. Our urban agriculture program at our Earlscourt Community Garden, a lush sanctuary in northwest Toronto’s Earlscourt Park, is a prime example. Here, participants take part in every aspect of gardening—from initial design and planting to harvesting and seasonal maintenance. Our Earlscourt Garden offers not only fresh produce but also a valuable retreat from city life and a vital venue to nurture community. Cassie, a participant who dedicated a full growing season to Earlscourt, shares her experiences and reflections from the garden.
Cassie and her husband Josh.
Cassie is a newcomer to Canada from Sri Lanka, and discovered The Stop’s Earlscourt Garden through a visit to the Stop’s Farmers Market at Wychwood barns. Initially, it was her husband, Josh, who joined the garden program and loved it, enthusiastically sharing his experiences after every session.
Cassie, moved by Josh’s excitement, felt a pull to reconnect with practices she loved in the past. In Sri Lanka, she grew up tending a large garden with her mother, cultivating vegetables and flowers. Since moving to Canada six years ago, she’s often had to relocate, and lacked access to a personal garden or backyard. Volunteering at Earlscourt Garden offered her a chance to revisit this cherished practice.
Cassie shares “Working in the garden feels like reliving my childhood. I can grow vegetables, see the harvest, and it feels like I’m doing something really useful. I can see the results of my time and energy. Knowing that the Stop supports food banks and provides food relief to families makes me really happy, as I have had to use those services before. I know how valuable it is to give back to the community.”
Beyond rediscovering a valuable hobby, Cassie’s time in the program has sparked new aspirations for her future. Working in the garden has deepened her interest in sustainable agriculture. She now envisions building her own sustainable farm one day, drawing on the techniques and knowledge she’s gained from the garden. For Cassie, the garden is more than just a place to unwind—it’s a space for learning and personal growth.
“Being in the garden feels like being close to nature. It’s a little bit of green natural space in the middle of the city. I have a personal interest in sustainable farming, and working at Earlscourt is a good way to learn more about how to run a sustainable agriculture business. It’s given me so many ideas and inspiration for one day, if I want to do something on my own, I’ll know how I want it to be done.”
Cassie’s time at Earlscourt Garden became much more than a weekly activity—it opened the door to new interests and possibilities. Her experience growing herbs, food, and learning about native plants and pollinator flowers ignited a deeper curiosity in the practices, principles, and philosophies of sustainable agriculture. What started as a way to reconnect with nature and her past has now become a stepping stone toward future goals, with the skills and knowledge she’s gained guiding her next steps. Cassie’s story highlights how community spaces can foster both personal growth and professional development.
Through network building, hands-on learning, and the joy of growing good food, our urban agriculture programs are fostering healthier and more connected communities. If Cassie’s story inspires you, discover how you can become a volunteer and help shape positive outcomes in our community by joining one of our many urban agriculture programs.