Sudbury Shared Harvest

Sudbury Shared Harvest is a Canadian nonprofit organization registered with the Canada Revenue Agency under the number 806424768RR0001. Established in 2015, it operates with a mission to cultivate community health by connecting people, the food they eat, and the land it comes from.

Formation and Early Initiatives

Sudbury Shared Harvest originated from an earlier initiative called "Fruit for All," which began in 2013. This program aimed to link individuals with surplus fruit on their properties with local soup kitchens and community food programs that support those in need. In 2014, the group partnered with the Eat Local Sudbury Cooperative to expand its reach. By 2015, volunteers started planting fruit trees in public parks, and the organization officially registered as a nonprofit entity under the name Sudbury Shared Harvest.

Programs and Activities

Sudbury Shared Harvest is involved in several community-enhancing projects:

• Food Forests: The organization coordinates volunteer efforts to establish perennial food gardens, including fruit trees, shrubs, and pollinator species, on public properties. These locations are designed to provide accessible produce for the community. Sudbury Shared Harvest began building its first community food forest at Delki Dozzi Park in 2016, with planting commencing in 2017. The goal is to have at least one such forest in each of Sudbury's 12 wards by 2026.

• Little Farmers Program: This initiative offers experiential education opportunities for pre-school and school-aged children, focusing on growing and consuming healthy food. Introduced in 2022, it aims to instill early appreciation and knowledge in young minds about sustainable food production.

• Educational Resources: In recent years, Sudbury Shared Harvest has produced educational videos linked to the Ontario high school curriculum, available on their platforms. These resources introduce students to their food forest projects and offer experiential learning opportunities through field trips when human resources permit.

Mission and Impact

Sudbury Shared Harvest seeks to enhance community health and well-being by fostering connections between people, food, and the environment. It supports local food security by providing resources and knowledge that enable individuals to access or grow their own food sustainably. The organization acknowledges the historical and ongoing presence of Indigenous peoples on the land where they operate, specifically the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation, and respects their sovereignty and self-determination.

Through its community-driven initiatives, Sudbury Shared Harvest contributes to building a more resilient and sustainable urban environment in the Greater Sudbury area.

[1] https://sudburysharedharvest.ca [2] https://sudburysharedharvest.ca/about [3] https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/sudbury-shared-harvest/ [4] https://www.instagram.com/sudburysharedharvest/ [5] https://sudburyevents.com/sudbury-shared-harvest/