Ottawa Valley
Food Security Project

Uniting families in Ottawa to cultivate locally grown vegetables, share healthy food through Food Sharing Stands, and work together toward food sovereignty.

This not-for-profit organization, founded by Dr. Kehoe MacLeod in 2023, leads the Community Backyard Garden Project and the Ottawa Valley Food Sharing Stand Initiative. Concluding its third year, this community-led project brought together over a 100 families in Ottawa to learn to grow vegetable gardens in their backyards. They were supplied with seeds donated by many project partners:  McKenzie Seeds, William Dam Seeds, Kitchen Table Seed House, Carleton Place Nursery, Carp Garden Centre, Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc., The Incredible Seeds Co., Bear Roots Gardens.  Seedlings were started by members of the project’s organizing committee, food sharing stand tables purchased with funds donated by the Stittsville District Lions Club and recruitment posters and bookmarks printed by Jiffy Photo and Print.

The project offers in-person and virtual educational sessions throughout the growing season. In partnership with the Ottawa Public Library, Food Sharing Stands are hosted at three library branches and the West Carleton Public Service Centre  for families and community members to share a portion of their harvest with others. In 2026, project leaders hope to continue expanding  and opening new Food Sharing Stands in across the Ottawa Valley.

We will be accepting families into the 2026 cohort of the Community Backyard Garden Project in early 2026. Participating families will receive all the information you need to grow a thriving vegetable garden in the Ottawa Valley. Families will also receive free seeds, seedlings, educational sessions, access to support through our Facebook group, and the opportunity to join our garden socials. Families will be asked to sign up for two donations days at the Food Sharing Stand of their choice.