At year 7, the Community Harvest Market is a going concern

Over 100 visitors turned out for Community Harvest Market’s Special Event on August 26. Regular produce and craft vendors, as well as Community Harvest Kingston itself, which sells a variety of fresh, healthy produce from its own urban, organic gardens, were on hand. There were also several booths featuring community services offered in the north Kingston area. In exchange for completing surveys, market customers received coupons to help pay for the plentiful goods on offer.

Friendship Blooms, dedicated to bringing all ages together for instruction and fun, provided colouring activities for children. Face painter extraordinaire Christine Harvey worked her way through a long line of children hoping to be transformed into superheroes or monsters, cats or dogs, or be adorned with flowers, butterflies or birds. Singer-songwriter Wendy Luella Perkins provided the lovely and lively musical entertainment, inviting children and adults to join their own voices with hers. Chef Robert Waddell, graduate of the culinary program at St. Lawrence College, took charge of making the free food shared with the crowd. Great dollups of fresh lentil salad, grilled zucchini stuffed with goat cheese, and the tastiest black bean brownies ever made were enjoyed by all.

Serving the Kingston community since 2005, Community Harvest Kingston is a group of volunteers and agency staff working together to increase food security and access to healthy food for individuals and families living in north Kingston. This year operating every Wednesday from 2-5 pm outside St. Matthew’s United Church, the market has become a mainstay in the community.

The work of Community Harvest Kingston would not be possible without the generous support of private donors and community organizations, including the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and Kingston Community Health Centres.