Think farming season is over? Not quite, the Urban Farm Initiative is still recruiting volunteers to help out at the Rexlington Community Garden.

Located at 30 Bergamot Ave. in Rexdale-Kipling, the 5,000-square-foot bocce court-turned-community garden needs some TLC until snow starts falling.

Since 2022, Januja Jeyarajah and Taeyoon You, co-founders of the Urban Farm Initiative and Ramsha Khan, who was formerly a volunteer and is now an official farm worker, have been transforming the shallow, packed soil in this corner of Rexlington Park into a flourishing food-growing haven with the help of volunteers and community members. They grow what locals like to eat, staples like tomatoes and watermelons, as well as unique produce, including Indian sake gourds and bottle gourds.

The environment is challenging because the soil configuration makes it impossible to grow root vegetables, for example. But the Urban Farm Initiative is resourceful, turning to climbing plants and installing raised beds deep enough for some potato experiments.

The garden is one of many projects run by the Urban Farm Initiative, which is a non-profit established in 2018 to help communities to be more environmentally conscious. Started by classmates at York University, it has since grown to operate spaces across the Greater Toronto Area, from Markham to Richmond Hill to Toronto.  

Now, it needs your help. 

“As long as the ground isn’t covered in snow, there’s always something to do,” You told The Green Line in September. That includes harvesting what’s left of the produce, weeding, cleaning and prepping for next year. “What we’d like to see is a little bit of commitment, so if you show up, that’s all good; you don’t have to do a lot of work. As long as there’s somebody showing up, we’re very grateful and happy.”

You can learn more on the Urban Farm Initiative’s website. If you decide to help out, you can reach out to info@theurbanfarm.ca or send a DM to its social media accounts @ufitoronto on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).