not far from the tree

In addition to our residential fruit tree harvesting, we also run a small-scale economic model that links two neighbourhood institutions: Spadina Museum and the Green Barn Farmers Market.

At Spadina Museum, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are grown to show what would have been in the gardens and orchards when the house was originally occupied. Now that the house is a museum, only a small portion of this produce finds its way to a plate. not far from the tree has established a formal channel for this food to be consumed, ensuring one component of a healthy urban agriculture.

Each week the gardeners tell us what they cannot use, and then we show up on Saturday mornings to bring that food to market. Volunteers are welcome to drop in for to harvest during “Spadina Saturdays” from 11:00-1:00. Help is also appreciated to transport the goods and sell them at the market (Wychwood and St. Clair). We harvest a diverse range of produce - most of which are heirloom varieties - and then bike or walk the 1.3 kilometres to the market. All of the profits of this endeavour feed back into the orchards at Spadina Museum to support organic pest control methods.