Events
May 1st, 2008 by Not Far From The Tree
Sunday, August 8th 2010
11:00am – 1:00pm
A Toronto Tree Tour, hosted by LEAF and in partnership with The Stop and Not Far From The Tree
Start Location: In front of the Artscape Wychwood barns, on the Christie side
This tour marks an exciting new partnership between two resident organizations of the Artscape Wychwood Barns, LEAF and The Stop Community Food Centre, and the award-winning fruit tree harvesting program Not Far From the Tree. The tour will showcase some of the STOP’s shared garden spaces in neighbouring backyards, as part of their YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) program. LEAF will unveil a number of shade trees whose edible nature is not widely known and participants will also learn how they can help harvest fruit trees in their own neighbourhoods with Not Far From the Tree. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection! The walking difficulty of this tour is medium-low: mostly pavement with some small hills.
Please RSVP with LEAF.
The suggested donation for attending a tour is $5.
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Thursday, May 20th 2010
(Doors at 6:30pm, Film at 7:30pm, Party to follow)
The Gleaning Screening
A Fundraising Film Screening and Party
Join us to kick off the new harvest season and support NOT FAR FROM THE TREE at our spring screening of THE GLEANERS AND I and then party it up with drinks, mingling, prizes, and fun. Among other special offerings, a select number of our signature drink – known as “The Gleaner,” designed by Chef Sharon Bergey of Jamie Kennedy Kitchens, and made with a delicious preparation of elderberry syrup gleaned from a Toronto tree – will be available.
Be one of the first to see this new venue, the Toronto Underground Cinema, and screen an inspiring film that critics have adored (“Visually brilliant!” “A bewitching documentary!” “A tribute to all the people who think outside the box”), all about our favourite subject: gleaning!
Special for Early Birds! Buy tickets in advance and get a free drink with admission!
Tickets available for purchase online or by calling (416) 908-3022 or emailing info@notfarfromthetree.org
A great movie, great drinks, great food, and a fabulous party! Plus, prizes to be won.
We’re in the process of raising funds for our 2010 season, so your support is crucial at this time!
What better way to kick off the long weekend? See you there!
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Thursday, May 20th 2010
(9:00am – 3:30pm)
Invisible Cities
An Urban Biodiversity Conference
To celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, the ROM is hosting a conference on the topic – in urban settings. Laura Reinsborough will speak about Not Far From The Tree during a panel at 2:00pm.
Can biodiversity and urban areas coexist?
Mark Kingwell moderates top speakers as they explore the relationship between ecosystems and cities.
Key discussions will focus on making cities ecologically “invisible” by preserving ecologically abundant spaces within cities and along their edges, including:
- Biodiversity at the boundaries: urban growth planning and the real value of natural features
- Biodiversity in the core: planning that incorporates the value of nature in our cities
There will be light breakfast available starting at 8:30 am as well as lunch included.
Location: Royal Ontario Museum, Queen’s Park Entrance
Cost: Public $18, ROM Member $16, Student $10, Senior $16
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Sunday, March 14th, 2010 (1:00pm – 4:00pm)
The Great Sugaring Off!
Scattered around the city right now are a dozen or so trees, lovingly tapped to collect their bountiful sap. We’d Tap That! has been Not Far From the Tree’s pilot project in urban maple syrup production! But as the weather heats up, the sap stops flowing….which means it’s time to make maple syrup!
Let us bring the sugar bush to you, and join us for an afternoon of syrup tasting, fun, and learning this Sunday March 14th! We’ll be serving up tiny tastes of urban maple syrup in Dufferin Grove Park, graciously donated as sap by homeowners across the city. We’ll have activities and games for all ages, and information galore about the wonderful world of maple syrup. Come on out and chat with some of our amazing volunteers about their experiences, and what they’ve learned through the process.
There will also be live music (weather dependent), courtesy of Makita Hack and the Log Rollers and a warm fire. The Zamboni Cafe will also be selling yummy maple-syrup-themed fare (pancakes, beans, and sausages!) for you to completely enjoy this experience. Also, our T-shirts will be on sale.
Note: ** This event will go on, rain or shine!
What: The Great Sugaring Off
When: Sunday March 14th 1pm-4pm
Where: Dufferin Grove Park
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Sunday, Feburary 21st, 2010 (12:30pm – 6:00pm)
Toronto’s best eco fair is back again at the Wychwood Barns. You’ll be able to buy and trade all sorts of heirloom and organic seeds in preparation for the upcoming season. There will be other vendors too, as well as music, yummy food, gardening workshops and kids activities. If you’ve never been, this is an event not to be missed! Suggested donation is $2, or PWYC.
Not Far From the Tree will be there as well — with our brand new We’d Tap That! T-shirts for sale. Yee-haw!
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010 (7:00pm-11:00pm)
Heads Toronto: 02
From Torontoist.com: “Heads Toronto, which holds its second event tonight at The Great Hall, is an exciting new project that makes connections through ideas, conversations, and innovation. Tonight’s roster of speakers includes Laura Reinsborough, the founder and coordinator of Toronto’s leading urban fruit-picking initiative, Not Far From The Tree; communications expert and Ryerson faculty member Catherine Middleton, and Mark Cutrara and Ryan Donovan, co-chefs at Cowbell Restaurant, who will speak about their commitment to serving fresh, locally available foods and meats. Before and after the short talks, there will be opportunities to drink and schmooze with the speakers and guests. The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West); 7 p.m.; $10/advance, $15/door.”
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Thursday, December 10th (6:00-9:00pm)
Hosted By: FoodShare – 90 Croatia Street, Toronto
Tickets: $10 at the door; kids under 12 free (or call (416) 978-8849)
Enjoy the delicious offerings of Ontario’s Farms. Travel through the various stations, sample delicious local product and have an opportunity to connect with the people who produce, raise, grow, cook and advocate for it all!
About Terra Madre Day
The very first worldwide Terra Madre Day is being held on December 10, 2009 to celebrate Slow Food International’s twentieth anniversary, in recognition of the importance of supporting local food networks. Terra Madre Day will be celebrated in endless ways by the Slow Food network all around the world. Celebrations will take place on farms and in homes, in schools and communities, in cities and rural areas: from New York to New Delhi, Turkey to Tanzania, Austria to Argentina.
Not Far From The Tree will be hosting a community partner table, with our t-shirts and posters for sale!
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Thursday, November 5th (7:00-10:00pm. Doors open at 6:30.)
Please note: This event is SOLD OUT.
Tickets to Not Far From The Tree’s End-Of-Season Celebration are available online here or by calling (416) 908-3022. Tickets are only $10 and you get food, drinks, and lots of fun. Space is limited, so get your tickets fast!
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Saturday, October 24th (3:00pm)
Planet In Focus Special Screening of ‘Homegrown’
Discover nearly 100 world-class environmentally focused films at the Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary from October 21st to 25th in Toronto. Films, special events, silent auction, key-note speakers and ticketing info at planetinfocus.org.
And join Not Far From The Tree at our co-presentation on Saturday October 24th, 3pm, Innis Town Hall for the Toronto Premiere screening of a fantastic film all about urban farming, Homegrown. We’ll be cooking up hot apple cider to be served after the screening!
For tickets, head to the Planet In Focus box office.
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Wednesday, October 7th (6:30-8:30pm)
Late Harvest Tasting at the Gladstone Hotel
As the fruit-picking season comes to a close, the Gladstone Hotel’s Chef Marc Breton is cooking up a feast! Join us for a taste of the season’s best this Wednesday, October 7 (6:30-8:30opm). Tickets available for purchase here.
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Sunday, October 4th (12:00 – 4:00pm)
Evergreen and Slow Food Toronto are pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Picnic at the Brick Works! We are excited to once again be joining forces to host this eco-gastronomic event celebrating the pleasure, benefits and positive impact that come with supporting our local producers and the chefs who showcase these sustainable foods.
The theme of this year’s Picnic is “locally global” in recognition of the many cultural groups from around the world who make Toronto their home and enrich our city through their diverse food traditions. Connecting the global palate using foods grown locally is a wonderful opportunity to bring environmental and cultural traditions together, and in the case of the Picnic, into a delicious mouthful.
At this year’s Picnic, each food station will represent a three-way partnership: A local chef representing such areas as Central America, Africa, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, Pakistan and the Far East, will pair with leading chefs well-known for their local food traditions, and with local farmers who produce the bounty.
Together, these pairings will serve up a menu that boasts the best of what our landscape and cultures have to offer.
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Sunday, October 4th (12:00 – 4:30pm)
Colborne Lodge Harvest Festival in High Park
On Sunday October 4th, Not Far From the Tree is returning with cider a’plenty at the annual Colborne Lodge Harvest Festival in High Park! Our apples will be going to the Lodge’s own cider press, and we’ll be on hand to pasteurize and serve up some hot and fresh (and delicious!) apple cider. There’s plenty more going on that day, too, including live music, storytelling, wagon rides (with horses!), crafts and other activities. For those interested in biodiversity and birding, there will be viewing of the fall hawk migration from Hawk Hill, and special guest birds from the Wildlife Education & Environmental Programs at the Univeristy of Guelph. As well, there will be harvest foods for sale, and other foodie vendors. You can even take a tour of historic Colborne Lodge!
Most activities are free; the tour is a PWYC event.
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Wednesday, September 23rd (Dinner starts at 6:30pm)
The Local Food Movement Dinner Series
Jamie Kennedy is hosting a weekly dinner series at his Gilead Cafe from September to December. Each week two local producers/vintners are featured and invited to talk about their contribution to the evening’s delights. Not Far From The Tree will be featured on Wednesday, September 23rd. To purchase tickets for this 4-course dinner (plus hors d’oeuvres), contact Gilead Cafe at (647) 288-0680.
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Saturday, September 19th (1:00-5:00pm)
Living Green In The City: The 2nd Annual Unitarian Sustainability Event in Toronto
The Unitarian congregations of the GTA are sponsoring a free Sustainability Event on Saturday from 1-5pm. The event will feature a number of presentations (including Not Far From The Tree founder Laura Reinsborough) and exhibitors, as well as storytelling activities for children and a kid’s environmental art competition. Find out how people are living sustainably in our wonderful city.
This free event will take place at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, 175 St. Clair Ave. West at Avenue Road.
Schedule of Presentations:
1 – 1:30p.m. Laura Reinsborough – Not Far From The Tree
1:45 – 2:15 Audrey Yates – The Garden Party
1:45 – 2:15 Laura Reinsborough – Not Far From The Tree
2:30 – 3:00 Audrey Yates – The Garden Party
2:30 – 3:00 Jane Farrow – Jane’s Walk
3:15 – 3:45 Lynn McDonald – Climate Advocacy
3:15 – 3:45 Katie Fullerton – Container Gardening
4:00 – 4:30 Lynn McDonald – Climate Advocacy
4:00 – 4:30 Katie Fullerton – Container Gardening
For more information, contact (416) 724-7754.
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Wednesday, September 9th (6:30-8:30pm)
Peak Harvest Tasting at the Gladstone Hotel
To celebrate the height of the season’s harvest, the Gladstone Hotel’s Chef Marc Breton is cooking up a feast! Join us for a taste of the season’s best this Wednesday, September 9th (6:30-8:30opm) as we see how he transforms our pears and apples. Tickets available for purchase here.
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Sunday, August 30th (11:00am-8:00pm)
Yonge-Dundas Square
This event is 100% Bullfrog powered!
Green Street
At Toronto‘s annual celebration of all things green, we’ll turn Yonge Street into “Green Street” with more than 100 exhibitors, local food, live music, and more. Yonge Street will be closed to traffic from Dundas to Queen Street.
Check out hundreds of green products and services to help you live green. Everything from bees, worms and bikes, to green fashions, renewable energy, local foods and more. See our full green exhibitor listing in the attached flyer or on the web at http://www.toronto.ca/greentorontofestival/index.htm
Concert Schedule
Catch some of Toronto‘s hottest musical acts on the main stage at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Check out the concert lineup:
12:00 Jen Gould www.jengouldmusic.com
12:45 Chris Mckool www.fiddlefire.com
1:30 Dala www.dalagirls.com
2:15 Samba Squad www.sambasquad.com
3:00 The Johnstones www.myspace.com/thejohnstones
3:45 Grand Analog www.myspace.com/grandanalog
4:30 Crash Parallel www.crashparallel.com
5:15 Carly Rae Jepsen www.myspace.com/carlyraemusic
6:10 Danny Fernandes www.myspace.com/dannyfernandes
7:30 Philosopher Kings www.philosopherkings.com
Kid’s Zone
Enjoy kid friendly events and hands-on fun for the whole family in the “Kid’s Zone” located on Yonge Street, right across from Yonge-Dundas Square.
We’ll have the Earth Rangers and their Animal Ambassadors on site, plus Solar S’mores and much more! Come and meet Nessie the Hydraulophone – she makes music from water.
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Saturday, August 15th (2:00-4:00pm)
Come and taste the fruit of our labour at the Edible Tree Tour. For the second year, LEAF is teaming with Not Far From The Tree for this one of a kind tree tour. Starting at Toronto’s first community orchard at Ben Nobleman Park, we will learn about the efforts of the community group Growing for Green in Toronto’s Ward 21. We will then make our way into Cedarvale Park where open fields are surrounded by a diverse canopy of beautiful trees. LEAF arborist Todd Irvine will introduce us to a centuries old red oak, a testament to when our city was a lush forest. Joining us will be OCAD professor Stan Krzyzanowski, who will talk about his art installation of grafted cherry trees. Finally, the tour will pass a live action fruit pick. This is one tree tour that really bears fruit.
Meet at: Eglington West Subway station
RSVP | Suggested donation: $5
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Sunday, July 19th (11:00am-1:00pm)
Enjoy Ontario cherries, learn from an LFP-certified farmer how they are grown sustainably, and discover the delicious fruit grown right here in Toronto.
Join Slow Food Toronto, Not Far From The Tree and the D.Smith & Son Two Century Farm for a Cherry Tasting Adventure!
We will taste several varieties of delicious local cherries, fresh and poached, and discuss culinary uses. Perfect for chefs, home canners, fruitarians, extreme locavores and of course, you.
This event will take place at Gilead Café, 4 Gilead Place (two blocks east of Parliament Street, just south of King Street East)
All tastings are free, courtesy of Slow Food Toronto.
Space is limited. Please RSVP to: paul@toronto.slowfood.ca
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Wednesday, July 8th (6:30-8:30pm)
First Harvest Tasting at the Gladstone Hotel
Harvest Wednesdays are back again this year, and we’re delighted to be participating again. We’ll be at all four tasting this year, so get your tickets now (using the link above). We anticipate that Chef Marc Breton will use some of our fruit in the tastings he will prepare.
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Sunday, June 21st (12:00am-4:00pm)
We’ll have a table at this fabulous event. Please note that it has been moved to Sunday from noon to four due to inclement weather on Saturday.
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Saturday, June 20th (11:00am-5:00pm)
Strawberries and Asparagus Festival
Come find our table at this neighbourhood festival in Ward 21, along Cedarvale Ravine. Due to the weather, this event has been moved inside Phil White Arena.
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Sunday, May 10th (1:00-4:00pm)
not far from the tree’s Spring Blossom Fest
Spadina Museum’s 50-odd fruit trees are ready to perform for you. Many will be in full blossom on Sunday, May 10th. So we’ve orchestrated an afternoon of lazy fun for you to enjoy. The Spring Blossom Fest is a great Mother’s Day destination, and a really relaxed way to spend your Sunday. Oh and it’s FREE.
Attractions:
- lots of blossoms!
- DJ Quim spinning relaxed tunes in the orchard
- blossom portrait booth (get your photo taken on your own, with friends, or with your mom!) by the famous www.rannieturingan.com
- a tour of the orchard with heritage horticulturalist Wendy Woodword (at 2pm)
- the buzz on bees with Fran Freeman of the Toronto Beekeepers’ Coop (at 3pm)
- picnic blankets will be strewn between the blossoming trees (you’re invited to bring your own as well)
- apples will be offered for everybody (you’re welcome to bring a snack or picnic on top of the apples)
- blossom-less trees will be adorned with playful artistic installations for this special occasion
Here’s a map (with subway stations): tinyurl.com/c7g5uh
And the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=81737301785
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Wednesday, March 25th (7:00-9:00pm)
Public Meeting for Community Orchard
On Wednesday March 25 from 7-9pm, a community meeting will be held at Cedarvale School (145 Ava Rd.) in Ward 21 to discuss the development of 3 parks in the neighbourhood, including Ben Nobleman Park. Not Far From The Tree, along with Growing For Green, landscape architect Jane Hutton, and Parks, Forestry, and Recreation staff, are proposing the creation of Toronto’s very first community orchard. We envision a park that is alive with trees that produce fresh fruit to eat, an informal outdoor classroom where community members can reconnect with how their food is grown, and a healthy public space where people are attracted to gather and work together. Community support is integral to seeing this proposal through, and so we welcome your participation in Wednesday’s meeting. This project is important for the residents around Ben Nobleman Park, but it may very well set a precedent for other community orchards across the city and so all are encouraged to attend.
To join the mailing list to learn more about the Ben Nobleman Community Orchard, send a blank email to communityorchard-subscribe@mylists.ca and you’ll be updated with orchard meetings, events and volunteer opportunities.
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Suggested Time: Thursday, March 5th (2:30pm)
(But really you can do this whenever you want, even every day!)
FoodShare’s second annual Great Big Crunch kicks off nutrition month with a feast on the season’s crunchiest treats. Bring your local apples (or other crunchable favourites) out of winter storage and enjoy a collective crunch to celebrate all things good, healthy, local, and nutritious. This program is targeted at elementary school students. Teachers are encouraged to register their classes with the Great Big Crunch and take advtange of the curriculum documents made available online. This is a great excuse to make use of your PA system – at school or work – in a whole new way: “3,2,1 – CRUNCH!” A few Toronto classes will also be visiting FoodShare on March 5th to crunch all together and participate in a number of hands-on activities.
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Saturday, February 28th (2:00-6:00pm)
Not Far From The Tree at Seedy Saturday
Seedy Saturday marks the beginning of the food-growing season for most Torontonians. We’ll have a table at this year’s event, happening for the first time at the Wychwood Barns in Ward 21, our home base. This event is hosted by the Toronto Community Gardening Network, The Stop Community Food Centre, FoodShare, and Seeds of Diversity Canada.
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Saturday, January 24th (1:00-5:30pm)
Not Far From The Tree at the Guelph Organics Conference!
At the country’s foremost organics gathering, Not Far From The Tree will be represented at the Carrot Cache table. Stop by to say hello and, while you’re there, enjoy the many samples of fabulous organic products at this fantastic trade show event.
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Tuesday, January 20th (7:00-9:00pm)
Councillor Joe Mihevc’s Ward 21 Midterm Check-In
Come celebrate what our councillor’s office and local community groups have accomplished in the last two years in Ward 21, and start planning for the next two. Not far from the tree will give a quick update and have materials on display. This event will take place at the Covered Street Barn at the Wychwood Barns.
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Saturday, November 29th (7:00-11:00pm)
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Wednesday, October 8th (6:30-8:30pm)
Late Season Tasting with Harvest Wednesdays at the Gladstone Hotel!
Not far from the tree has been invited to host a table at the next Harvest Wednesday at the Gladstone. This session is called “Late Season Tasting” and will feature a dazzling array of local tastes. Suzanne and Marnie will be there to show off what we’ve been doing with our residential fruit tree program and Spadina Saturdays. Tickets are $15 and can be pre-purchased by calling 416.531.4635.
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Sunday, September 28th (3:00-9:00pm)
A preserving workshop hosted by not far from the tree volunteers!
A team of above-and-beyond volunteers have organized a preserving workshop for fellow volunteers. The workshop is full to capacity and there is a substantial waiting list. We will be working in a commercial kitchen, led by a volunteer with food handling safety training, so we can donate a portion of the preserves to our partner agencies. Volunteer participants will also get to take home some of the fruits of their labour.
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Saturday, September 20th (1:00-3:00pm)
“Edible Tree Tour” with LEAF and the TPSC!
We’re delighted to be teaming up with LEAF and the TPSC to bring you en “edible tree tour,” one of the Toronto Tree Tours. Beginning at Spadina Museum, storytellers will guide you through the museum’s beautiful grounds. We’ll explore the heritage orchards on-site and even get to taste some of the seasonal apple varieties plucked straight from the tree (a “walk ‘n eat,” if you will). After a brief tour through the neighbourhood (past the stables-turned-greenhouse), we will finish the tour with a spectacular view of the plains of Toronto from the steps of Casa Loma. If interested, please RSVP here. You can find the event on Facebook, too.
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Wednesday, September 10th (6:30-8:30pm)
Peak Season Tasting with Harvest Wednesdays at the Gladstone Hotel!
Not far from the tree has been invited to host a table at the next Harvest Wednesday at the Gladstone. This session is called “Peak Season Tasting” and will feature the best of the harvest boom. Suzanne and Laura will be there to show off what we’ve been doing with our residential fruit tree program and Spadina Saturdays. Tickets are $15 and can be pre-purchased by calling 416.531.4635.
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Wednesday, August 6th (6:30-8:30pm)
Harvest Wednesdays at the Gladstone Hotel!
Not far from the tree has been invited to host a table at the next Harvest Wednesday at the Gladstone. This session is called “Summer Tasting” and will feature local, seasonal fares. Suzanne and Laura will be there, praising the city’s glorious fruit trees. We’ll likely have some tasty delights to sample. Tickets are $15 and can be pre-purchased by calling 416.531.4635.
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Sunday, June 29th (11:30-1:00)
preparing to pick: a picnic in the orchard!
After long last, not far from the tree is set to host an information meeting for the 2008 season.
We’ll meet for a bring-your-own picnic under the canopy of the Spadina orchards. There are covered picnic tables and an indoor space in case it rains, although the weather forecast looks good. Spadina Museum is located at 285 Spadina Road, beside Casa Loma.
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Sunday, May 4th (2:30-4:30)
Jane’s Walk: Growing Urban Landscapes
not far from the tree is very proud to be part of one of the many Jane’s Walks happening this weekend around the city. The series of events is organized by the Centre for City Ecology and this one in particular is presented by the Stop Community Food Centre.
of one of the many Jane’s Walks happening this weekend around the city. The series of events is organized by the Centre for City Ecology and this one in particular is presented by the Stop Community Food Centre.
