Our Founder & Director, Laura Reinsborough

Laura continues to be the lifeblood of Not Far From The Tree, albeit from a distance. She is currently visiting with family in her hometown Sackville, New Brunswisk, and is  spending a lot of quality time with baby Eider, born this past February. Of course, she’s still focused on her first offspring (Not Far From The Tree), and continues to work (perhaps a little too hard) behind the scenes. She’s looking forward to returning in the fall, and participating in the harvest.

Our Program Coordinator, Laurel Atkinson

Unable to let a good thing go, Laurel has stayed with Not Far From The Tree since her time as hub coordinator last year. She is currently managing the residential fruit-picking program, and is delighted that FoodShare has provided the staff with a warm and welcoming home for the season. She is looking forward to her trip this summer, where she will be heading down the Colonge River with five other intrepid women.

Our Metcalf Foundation Intern:

Robin Newman, Program Assistant and Community Arts Facilitator

Robin began volunteering with Not Far From The Tree as part of her two-year certificate in Community Arts Practice at York University. During this time her passion for food security and urban agriculture peaked when the community in her hub protested the idea of planting the (now successful) community orchard at Ben Nobleman Park. The protest sparked Robin’s desire to educate the public on the benefits of fruit trees through hands on experience and direct involvement with the natural world.

Robin is thrilled and humbled to have received an internship through the Metcalf Foundation to become a full-time staff member of Not Far From The Tree. She has a great love for the arts, and looks forward to facilitating creative projects with us.

Our Hub Coordinators:

Our Hub Coordinator positions are generously funded by the Community Go Green Fund

Chris Sharp, Riverdale (Ward 30)

After 20 odd years in the retail photography business, Chris got bored and decided to pursue his interest in food security. He now volunteers at FoodShare, and has worked for Out Of The Cold, a Good Food Market, and the Withrow Farmers’ Market. Currently Chris works part time selling naturally-raised meat and Ontario produce, and is a Hub Coordinator for Not Far From The Tree. He’s a self confessed lousy gardener, but still a pretty good cook! He and his wife have lived in The Pocket for 21 years.

Marc Michalak, Trinity-Spadina (Wards 19 & 20)

When not following his passion for growing tomatoes, Marc is happily climbing Toronto’s urban canopy in search of fresh fruit. Marc is also an avid musician, cyclist, and manages three farmer’s markets around Toronto. He is currently training for a 250km bike tour through Germany’s Mosel Valley in August.

Urban Orchard Assistants:

Our Urban Orchard Assistants are generously funded through the YMCA Youth Eco Internship Program:

Beau Phelps, St. Paul’s (Ward 21)

Beau spent most of his childhood hopping from continent to continent – living in England, New Zealand, and (finally) Canada. He spends his free time composing music and writing short stories. His hobbies include collecting musical instruments and antique books. He is also a HUGE dog lover, and has enjoyed his previous position as a professional dog walker. Beau is excited to be part of the Not Far From The Tree team, and can’t wait to start picking fruit!

Paola Marziali, Parkdale High Park (Wards 14 & 18)

Paola (better known as “Pollie”), is interested in all forms of collective creative expression. After dedicating most of her life to studying Visual Arts, she is now focusing on performance art involving hula hoops “and other such nonsense”. She recently completed a youth internship with FoodShare, and admits to being slightly obsessed with every aspect of food. Born in Uruguay, and fluent in Spanish, Pollie has traveled back several times to visit and volunteer. She firmly believes that volunteering and working in community organizations are the best ways to learn about a neighbourhood, its community, and its people.

Alana Wortsman, East York (Ward 31)

Alana was born and raised in Toronto, but (until very recently) was happy to be anywhere but here. It took two-plus decades for her to realize that Toronto (as she puts it) is “the bomb”. She now loves the way one amazing street turns into another, and how neighbourhoods blur, and morph into others neighbourhoods providing an endless unique urban tapestry. This is why she’s thrilled that  exploring and picking fruit in East York neighbourhoods has become part of her full-time work.