Grow@ the Homestead: Garden Programming
May to October 2026
Grow@ The Homestead is a community-based garden program encouraging sustainable gardening practices, hands-on education, an appreciation for Niagara’s rural past and present, and outdoor recreation. All harvests from our on-site garden is donated is to local food bank.
Join our free events, workshops, guest speakers to dig in to your community and enhance your learning of where our food comes from, and why local matters. All are welcome!
Dig in and learn with us in 2026!
All Grow@ garden programming is free to the public thanks to the generosity of United Way Healthy People, Strong Communities
Indigenous Medicines Workshop
Date: Saturday, July 11
Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Facilitators: Jackie Labonte and Marie Louise
Join us for an engaging and educational workshop about traditional medicines, how to identify them and understand their benefits. Participants will learn how to make skin salve, and will be able to take some home. Part of the workshop will include a walk through Short Hills Provincial Park.
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Date: Saturday, July 25
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Facilitator: Marcia Christie
Cost: $5 pickle fee
Participants will learn how to make their own probiotic-rich fermented cucumber pickles. Seasoned fermentation hobbyist Marcia Christie will walk participants through the steps to make their own crunchy sour pickled cucumbers, from selecting the best produce, to washing and preparing, packing the jars, and making the brine. The fermenting process, best practices, and time frames will be discussed in detail. All of this will be summed up in a written guide for the participants to take home.
Important Information for Participants:
All ingredients will be provided and we are asking for a small fee of $5 to offset costs. We also ask that participants bring a few household cooking utensils:
Large bowl
Potato peeler
Cutting board
Paring knife
Optional: apron
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Date: Saturday, August 22
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Facilitator: Carrissa Gracey
Participants are invited to join together in a collaborative meal preparation using the Three Sisters. Educator and member of the Mohawk Turtle Clan, Carrissa Gracey will explore the significance of the Three Sisters in Haudenosaunee culture and all will work together in preparing the dish. Everyone will have a chance to enjoy our meal together at the end of the workshop.
Dish to be announced.
To help us supply this workshop for free, we request guests bring a cutting board and knife if possible. Additionally, we request that you bring a plate and utensils to help us in reducing waste.
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Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Facilitator: Linda Crago
Join long-time garden expert Linda Crago to learn about the significance of heirloom varieties and seed saving. Through hands-on learning, participants will gain the basics to save seeds from any at-home garden.
Upcoming Workshops
Sign-up for a Grow@ Workshop!
Submit the form below to register for an upcoming Grow@ the Homestead Workshop. Space is limited, and spots fill up quickly. One form per registrant.
Support Grow@ the Homestead
Our volunteer Garden Keepers grow over 500 heirloom seedlings each year. What we don’t giveaway is then grown in our gardens for the community.
100% of all produce harvested from the Grow@ program is donated to neighbouring food banks.
In the Garden: Digital Resources
In 2023 we started to plant from seed and grow our own seedlings for our garden, as well as for the community.
Check out the educational videos we produced to share what we’ve learned in the process.
Thank you to our generous donors!
The Brown Homestead sincerely thanks JVK for the in-kind donation of pots to support our 3rd annual Seedling Giveaway Initiative!
The Brown Homestead gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the United Way Niagara through Healthy People, Strong Communities with a 3 year commitment towards our GROW @ program.