What is The PATCH?

The PATCH is a collaborative project by Hutton House, Nathan T. Deslippe Memorial Fund, and Kensington Village Association to bring urban agriculture skills training, horticultural therapy, and community hospitality to everyone in London.

All produce grown at PATCH sites are distributed to a number of local agencies who support individuals experiencing food insecurity.

The PATCH holds events at our sites, offers various programs, and creates volunteer opportunities.

The PATCH aims to strengthen the London community through supporting food security and fostering community connections.

  • We have impacted over 800 people through workshops, volunteerism and community development.

  • We have grown and donated 2600lbs of produce, in hopes of tackling food insecurity within and around London.

  • We have developed over 8 programs with 3 facilitators both virtually and in-person.

  • We have established community connections with 38 local organizations.

  • We have held and hosted 10 events at the Cavendish Community Food Hub in 2022.

Our Sites

  • Cavendish Community Food Hub

    136 Cavendish Crescent, London ON, N6H 1B7

  • Nathan's Urban Farm

    900 King Street, London ON, N5Y 5P8

  • Innovation Centre

    379 Dundas Street, London ON, N6B 1V5

  • Vision

    London is food secure with access for everyone to benefit from education and healthy living through urban agriculture.

  • Mission

    Addressing food insecurity within London ON, while building an inclusive community of growth and learning.

  • Values

    We aim to be a hub of urban agriculture and cultivate a place of connection, celebration and tranquility for all.

London Business Achievement Award Finalist

The PATCH History

The PATCH project arose from three different aspirations. A group of neighbours looking to repurpose a derelict urban space, an established not-for-profit looking for new training opportunities, and a memorial fund looking for collaborators to manage an indoor hydroponics farm.

In turn, this offered a chance for a community to come together, for individuals in our community to build transferable skills in urban agriculture, as well as spread the idea of indoor hydroponic growing all year round that could meet food security concerns in London and surrounding area. Kensington Village, Hutton House and Nathan’s Urban Farm are the three founding partners of the PATCH project.

Repurpose

First, Kensington Village neighbours were looking for creative ways to re-purpose a City of London Works Yard sitting in one of London’s largest riverine parks. Given the large interest shown in urban agriculture in prior projects such as the award-winning Wood St Park Food Forest, West Lion’s Gleaning Food Forest, Petersville Community Garden, and KEVA Boulevard Veggie project, Kensington Village neighbours envisioned an urban farm with food production taking place in raised beds as well as a larger space where the community could gather for events.

Opportunity

Second, Hutton House Association for Adults with Disabilities was looking for new opportunities to transferable skills training as well as recreation and leisure programming. Earlier they had established connection to Sunnivue Biodynamic Farm near Alisa Craig, as well as a connection to Greenhouse Academy as part of their employment placement initiative. Hutton House were hoping that a closer opportunity would arise that would allow more of their participants to take part in programming.

Collaborate

Third, Nathan’s Urban Farm was looking for collaborators to help in managing an indoor hydroponics farm consisting of 10 Tower gardens. Help was needed in keeping the Tower gardens clean, nutrients supplied at the required levels and the food harvested and distributed to organizations working with marginalized groups. The collaboration was also going to help spread the idea of indoor hydroponic growing all year round that could meet broader food security concerns in London, Ontario and beyond.

One PATCH at a Time!

Our Funders

  • London Community Foundation

    LCF’s mission is to create a vibrant, smart and caring community through strategic investing that drives innovative community-based initiatives.

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  • Community Foundations of Canada

    Together with 191 community foundations across the country, CFC helps drive local solutions for national change on the issues that matter most to Canadians.

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  • MedaVie Health Foundation

    The MedaVie Health Foundation forms partnerships and funds programs that address some of Canada’s most pressing physical and mental health care challenges.

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