MEDIA RELEASE April 25, 2016

Celebrating Earth Day by expanding the garden at the Civic Centre HALTON HILLS, ON – Working in partnership with local business Wheelbarrow Orchards, the Town has expanded the Civic Centre Demonstration Garden to include 10 apple tree saplings which are expected to produce fruit in two to three years. The fruit will be donated to local food banks. The Garden was initiated five years ago by the Staff Sustainability Team and began as an initiative to demonstrate growing food that is given to local food banks. This demonstration garden continues to be a learning experience about growing food locally as well as how gardens can produce an abundance of vegetables with proper maintenance. The successful garden has grown a wide variety of vegetables including: tomatoes, beans, carrots, onions, cucumbers, peas and potatoes. This garden supports the implementation of the Community Sustainability Strategy and its four pillars: cultural vibrancy, economic prosperity, environmental health and social well-being. More specifically, the Garden increases quality of life in Halton Hills by: • Promoting access to local food; • Increasing our sense of community; • Expanding opportunities for food production in urban areas; and • Providing learning opportunity “The Garden is maintained by the Town’s Staff Sustainability Team and volunteer employees who have an interest in gardening. This successful garden not only grows food, but it has generated conversations, workshops, team work and a sense of pride for the staff who maintain it. The yield from the garden has increased over the past five years. Last year, the garden’s yield surpassed its goal of 100 pounds with 200 pounds of fruit and vegetables grown and donated to local food banks throughout the summer”, said Mayor Rick Bonnette.

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Wheelbarrow Orchards learned about the Demonstration Garden last fall when they were invited by Town staff to share their opinion on the existing apple trees located on the Civic Centre property. The apple trees are estimated to be at least 60 years of age. Brad and Heather Fraser of Wheelbarrow Orchards were so impressed with the Garden and supporting local food banks that they wanted to contribute to the Garden. A partnership was instantly formed with the goal of increasing the yield from the Garden to benefit the local food banks. Recently, 10 apple tree saplings were donated to the Garden and Wheelbarrow Orchards will educate the Staff Sustainability Team on how to maintain them over the upcoming year. The donations of the apple tree saplings are timely since the Town of Halton Hills is presently hosting Earth Week Celebrations in recognition of the 46 anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2016. Follow the progress of the Demonstration Garden through the Town Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/TownOfHaltonHills For more information about Earth Week Celebrations visit: www.haltonhills.ca/earthday About the Town of Halton Hills The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto. The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine. - 30 -

For further information contact: Jennifer Spence Sustainability Outreach Officer Office of Sustainability Planning & infrastructure 905.873.2601 ext. 2290 [email protected]