Regenerative Community

A regenerative community is a group of people working together to renew and grow healthy living systems that meet individual and collective needs. Check out our Regenerative Community slide show for some amazing pictures (and a few words) about how we have been growing a more resilient community and local food hub together since 2013.

We are thrilled to share more about building a regenerative community through a new pilot project to record interviews and stories of local farmers, producers, consumers, food system activists, and others who are engaged along the food supply chain from “farm to table.” We’re calling this series Mississauga’s Local Food System: Farmers Market Perspectives. We look forward to hearing what people are doing, what inspires them and what they see for the future!

Episode 1: Starting with the Erin Mills Farmers Market (7 min)

Preeti Sangwan, board member, and Jane Hayes, community developer talk about how the Erin Mills Farmers market started and what inspired the launch of this interview series.

Episode 2: Growing the market into the future (15 min)

In this episode, we introduce Gabi Starosta. Her perspectives and work as our market manager help us deliver a great market. You’ll hear about her fascinating background, her passion for bees and beekeeping, and her thoughts on the food system and the market in times ahead.

Episode 3: What it takes to run a small farmers market (14 min)

This episode introduces Lee Overton, and her work as a market director and visionary. Lee’s extensive marketing, business and not-for-profit sector experiences ground her observations of developing a diverse farmers market, community, and of helping producers and vendors make it at the market.

Episode 4: Inspired by Mumbai markets and Erin Mills vendors (10 min)

We interview Joyti Metha, a market lover from Mumbai, and the Arc’s Property Manager. We also hear from two market vendors, Stephen Rice of Steve’s Bees and Abe Halagah from Alphonsa’s Gourmet.

Recorded remotely (with very low tech solutions!) by Dave Misener and Preeti Sangwan. Edited by Dave Misener. Produced by Jane Hayes, Dave Misener & Preeti Sangwan. © Garden Jane, 2020.