Lakeshore Environmental Gardening Society (LEGS) is a local community group of more than 50 volunteer gardeners and green space advocates dedicated to sharing gardening knowledge, resources, and access to urban gardening spaces. Through neighbourhood events and meetings, we welcome all to join us in sharing seeds, plants, garden tips and fun times in our community gardens. 

gathering herbs in our community gardens

We plant seeds, steward the land, harvest delicious organic locally grown food, herbs and flowers

and

share them with you.


OUR MISSION:

To build a community of gardeners, educate the public on permaculture, organic, sustainable and safe urban growing practices, and support vulnerable populations through increased access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food.

OUR VISION:

We envision a South Etobicoke filled with dynamic gardens and collaborative gardeners who will create and maintain local food forests and robust native pollinator gardens and waystations to protect our environment…one plant at a time.

WHAT WE DO

produce for the community from our local community garden growing food security

Community Outreach:

  • Run a bi-annual Plant and Seed Exchange (at the Assembly Hall each spring, at Long Branch Tree Fest in the fall)
  • Maintain a year-round FREE Seed Library that is open to anyone
  • Donate community garden produce to the Daily Bread Food Bank kitchen (e. g. apples, garlic), or use produce to make jams, jellies and teas which are sold at LEGS events. Proceeds are donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank.
  • Collect food donations for the DBFB at most events. 

Ready to join? sign up here

Education:

Summer student volunteering - growing together in the garden
  • Host informal meetings/workshops with LEGS gardeners, where we share resources, ideas and information. 2022 highlights: apple tree pruning, tea blending workshop, garlic braiding
  • Partner with youth, seniors, and local community groups to deliver programs, workshops, and information. 2021/2022 highlights: student volunteers for community services hours.
  • Bring programs and wildlife gardens to schools in our community to introduce youth to sound gardening and environmental practices. 2022 highlight: apple picking at the DBFB
  • Facilitate wildlife restoration through wild garden practices and education and park clean-ups.

Our Gardens

We have a sustainable Community food forest garden with permaculture and organic principles at the Daily Bread Food Bank, located at 191 New Toronto St., Etobicoke, ON M8V 2E7.

  • About half of the garden space is divided into individual vegetable plots, and anyone in the community can apply for a plot for a small fee. Individual plot owners may keep the produce that they grow or donate any surplus to a food organization of their choice. The other half of the garden (the community garden) is managed by LEGS volunteers and contains: 
    • an apple orchard
    • garlic plots
    • raspberry, blackberry, gooseberry, and red currant bushes
    • a culinary herb garden
    • a tea garden (herbs for making tisanes)
    • A hugelkultur bed for squash
  • New for 2023 – an heirloom vegetable garden and Medicine Wheel Garden

Click here for more membership information.

 

legs community environmental gardening society volunteers at work
About us - we grow gardens and communities
About us – we grow gardens and communities

“You know you’re a gardener when you’re happy to devote three months of your life growing tomatoes to save $1.27.”
~Unknown