Our projects
We address food insecurity in our community through a range of activities:

Vertical, Indoor Hydroponic Farm
Located in the former wood workshop in the basement of the Rideau Community Hub, Social Harvest’s 500 sq ft hydroponic farm grows fresh, high-quality leafy greens year-round. This proof-of-concept project demonstrates that nutritious food can be grown anywhere—even underground. The greens support our emergency food bank and collective kitchen programs and are also made available to the wider community through the Good Food Box.
_HEIC.png)
Greenhouse
​​
Social Harvest’s on-site greenhouse, though currently decommissioned and without electricity or climate controls, plays an important seasonal role in our food production. By selecting resilient crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, Swiss chard, kale, peppers, and New Zealand spinach, we maximize the use of the space during the hot spring and summer months—despite temperatures that can exceed 60°C. Volunteers and community members help care for the space while gaining hands-on experience. We are actively seeking funding to restore power and climate control, with the goal of transforming the greenhouse into a fully operational, four-season hub for growing, education, and community connections.

Community Garden
​
Social Harvest’s community garden provides individuals, families, and partner organizations with space to grow their own food while building skills, confidence, and community. Gardeners receive seedlings, seeds, soil, tools, and ongoing support throughout the season. In addition to tending their own plots, many contribute to shared beds that grow produce for our Emergency Food Bank and community meals.
The garden is a welcoming, intergenerational space where people come together to learn, contribute, and connect with nature.
Address
815 St. Laurent Blvd.
K1K 3A7
Ottawa, ON
Phone
(613)-745-0073 ext. 151

Grow Towers and Living Wall
​​
Thanks to donations from Parkdale Food Centre and Odawa Native Friendship Centre, Social Harvest has four grow towers and a living wall installed throughout our building. These vertical garden systems allow us to trial a variety of crops in a small footprint. Currently, three towers are growing Swiss chard, while the fourth will soon be used to trial strawberries. Our living wall is dedicated to growing fresh herbs that support our internal programs and are also sold through the Good Food Box, expanding community access to locally grown produce.
Seniors Farm to Table Workshops

​
Social Harvest’s Seniors Farm to Table Workshops run each fall, connecting older adults with the garden and kitchen through hands-on seasonal activities. Participants learn to grow, harvest, and prepare fresh, healthy food, building skills, confidence, and community connections along the way. These workshops promote wellness, social engagement, and food sovereignty, while offering opportunities to contribute to shared food programs that support those experiencing food insecurity.
We invite seniors and caregivers to join us each fall for these enriching workshops and help grow a stronger, healthier community together.