On a recent sunny day at Covenant House, the rooftop garden was filled with excitement as a gathered group prepared to dig into the raised beds full of soft, fresh soil.
It was planting day, and youth and staff from our Cooking for Life culinary arts program were gathered to learn from and work alongside the experts – volunteers from Scotts Canada Ltd.
Not only had Scotts’ generously donated bags of soil and planters of tomatoes, peppers, lettuces and herbs, they were also sharing their wide-ranging knowledge of how to set up a garden for success.
The youth appreciated the chance to learn more about the ingredients they’ll be using in their dishes, and some were even inspired to grow their own small plants in their living spaces. One even asked Scotts volunteers how hydroponics work inside greenhouses.
“It’s important for young people to know about gardening, especially in this day and age I think it’s a very therapeutic mental health activity that it is very accessible to anyone,” said Jennifer Smith, who led the volunteer group for Scotts Canada Ltd.
Giving back to the community by supporting gardening initiatives is something Scotts enjoys doing, and the team had a lot of fun working with Covenant House youth on the rooftop.
“Caring for a plant gives you a sense of purpose and it’s so satisfying to watch your achievement grow,” she said – an observation that nicely aligns with the growth and nurturing that happens at Covenant House every day as youth cultivate their journeys forward.
Thank you, Scotts Canada Ltd., for showing up for youth at Covenant House and for sharing your gardening expertise with us!