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A garden can grow far more than vegetables.
It can grow confidence. Curiosity. Leadership. Community. And perhaps most importantly, it can help young people discover where their food comes from and the role they can play in building a healthier, more sustainable future.
That's one of the goals of Seeds of Diversity Canada, one of this year's recipients of a Kindred Credit Union Charitable Fund grant. Kindred's funding is helping support the organization's Youth in Food Systems Youth Food Markets, an initiative that gives young people practical experience growing, harvesting, marketing, and distributing fresh local produce while learning about the broader food system that nourishes our communities. “It’s our most robust, on-the-ground program,” comments Rayna Almas, Program Director for the Youth in Food Systems Program.
Founded in 1984, Seeds of Diversity Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to preserving Canada's agricultural biodiversity through seed conservation, education, and sustainable food initiatives. They currently have over 3,000 varieties of rare and endangered food plants in their collection. Alongside its work protecting heirloom seeds and promoting biodiversity, the organization has developed innovative youth programming that prepares the next generation to become informed leaders in food systems.
One of the program's most visible initiatives is its network of school food gardens. Beginning in 2017, Seeds of Diversity started helping schools establish gardens that serve as living classrooms. Today, the network includes 47 school food gardens across Waterloo Region, where students gain first-hand experience planting, maintaining, and harvesting fresh produce while learning about ecology, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. This year, 48 youth are taking part.
The produce grown in many of these gardens finds its way to the Youth Food Markets. These youth-led markets operate throughout the summer, giving participants the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial, communication, and leadership skills while making fresh, locally grown food more accessible within their communities. Youth help grow the produce, organize the markets, interact with customers, and learn how local food systems function from production through distribution. “Centring youth as the decision makers is a key part of our program,” adds Rayna. “We want them to see themselves as leaders in food work and climate action.”
Accessibility is a key part of the program's mission as well. The markets operate using a pay-what-you-choose model in priority neighbourhoods, helping ensure that fresh, nutritious produce is available regardless of a family's financial circumstances. In 2025, 15 Youth Market Leaders sold 565 pounds of produce to 252 customers, while 330 additional pounds of produce were donated to food banks.
The impact extends well beyond fresh vegetables. By participating in every stage of the process, from planting seeds to serving customers, young people build confidence, strengthen communication skills, learn teamwork, and gain a deeper understanding of environmental sustainability and food security. The program is intentionally youth-driven, encouraging participants to explore their own interests while developing practical skills and leadership experience that will serve them throughout their lives.
This work closely aligns with Kindred's commitment to strengthening food security and building resilient communities.
Food security is about more than ensuring people have enough to eat today. It also means investing in systems that help communities grow healthy, affordable, and sustainable sources of food for the future. By equipping young people with knowledge, practical experience, and leadership opportunities, Seeds of Diversity is helping cultivate the people who will shape tomorrow's food systems.