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A garden can be many things. A place of laughter and friendship. A place of challenge and growth. A place that brings beautiful sights and sounds to those willing to find these spaces that are sometimes tucked away from view nestled in parks, churches, or community centres. From broccoli and tomatoes to the inevitable overgrowth of zucchini or mint, they can provide both nutrition and connection for new friends and old neighbours.
As part of our continued investment to address food security, in August we shared the news that Kindred has partnered to support community gardens in Mount Forest and Waterloo through new granting initiatives. While the commitment provides funding to local gardens, the focus is on building partnerships with members and branch communities to celebrate and support the benefits they bring to their local communities.
Through Kindred Gardens, our goal is to support a partner in every one of our branch communities by 2028. These gardens will help get fresh, local produce on the table for those who need it most. We know many of our Kindred members share their time and talent in service of others, and these gardens are just one of the ways we can continue to care for each other.
More Than a Garden
Community gardens are about more than growing food. While a single plot could produce well over 100lbs in a season, they also grow belonging. They bring people together to care for something larger than themselves where people can learn new skills, connect, and learn from one another. While community gardens are not a solution to food insecurity, they can help alleviate financial strain by reducing household food expenditures and increasing access to fresh produce. That matters. It matters to families. It matters to neighbours. And it matters to us.
A Strong Start: Sharing Shelves, Plots, and Food Banks
Our first Kindred Garden partnership is with the Mount Forest Community Garden, which has been in operation since 2023 and has seen incredible uptake and engagement from community members.
The garden is designed with individuals at its centre. It offers people of all skill levels and abilities the chance to grow their own produce, with accessible garden beds available for those who need them. A "share shelf" allows any community member to take produce at no cost. Small acts like this are simple, compassionate and generous expression of neighbourly care.
Garden volunteers also tend a dedicated plot whose harvest goes directly to the local Food Bank, ensuring that fresh produce reaches those facing food insecurity in a meaningful, tangible way. Shaded rest areas beneath large trees and shade shelters within the garden space make it a welcoming place for everyone.
And as a special bonus there is an herb garden in the unfenced portion of the grounds, open and accessible to the public. If you find you need a little "thyme" to enhance your dish, community members are welcome to drop by and snip a branch.
Uptown Waterloo Urban Gardens
Our second Kindred Gardens commitment is a new partnership with the Uptown Waterloo BIA, supporting two urban community garden sites in the heart of Waterloo with more in development.
Waterloo Wayside, based at Emmanuel United Church, has long been a cornerstone of dignified, reciprocal social support in the community. Through programs like the Bridgeport Café and Food Bag Program, Wayside ensures neighbours have the nourishment they need. Kindred’s funding will support the expansion of garden boxes and the addition of a food steward at the site, enabling more fresh produce to be grown and shared with Wayside's onsite programs and local residents.
“Thriving urban centres are built not only through economic investment, but through meaningful partnerships that support the people who call them home. In Uptown Waterloo, the BIA works closely with Wayside, whose open-door philosophy and Bridgeport Café program provide food, connection, and dignity to community members in need. We are grateful to Kindred Credit Union and the Waterloo Region Community Foundation for their investment in this work. Their support strengthens local food security efforts and demonstrates the power of community collaboration to create a more inclusive, resilient, and compassionate Waterloo.” – Jeyas Balaskanthan Uptown Waterloo BIA
The Trillium Good Earth Community Garden located at Trillium Lutheran Church, provides garden plots to local families and residents in the heart of the city. Shared elements like vines and bushes are available to everyone, and extra produce is donated weekly to the Community Fridge on site and incorporated into their weekly community meal. Our support will fund much-needed repairs to existing garden boxes, expansion of new boxes and plots, and replacement sheds to house equipment and supplies.
Growing Forward Together
It is an honour to come alongside these incredible community groups who are doing the quiet, committed work of feeding their neighbours and building belonging. Kindred Gardens is one expression of our deeper commitment: that a credit union rooted in values should also be rooted in community. We look forward to growing this initiative, one garden and one community at a time.