Tucked behind the old Strathcona school site at St. George’s Park in Owen Sound, there’s an
ever-evolving space that has undergone a quiet revolution in the last few years. If you grew up
around here, you might remember it as a patch of forgotten, derelict, and overgrown tennis
courts. Today, the old asphalt pad has been reclaimed by something much more vital.
The Fresh Roots Food Forest and Garden isn’t just a collection of planter boxes; it’s a living
social enterprise. Since opening in 2018, it’s grown into a sanctuary where the boundaries
among mental health support, environmental stewardship, and community connection are
intentionally blurred.
The garden’s story began as a collaboration between local designer Thomas Dean and the
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Grey Bruce. Dean designed the original layout,
including the garden’s iconic labyrinth, which opened a year later in 2019 to provide a calming
environment for meditation. In late 2020 or so, it needed some help and a kickstart to get it back
to its former glory.
Cue Mike Vair-Haley. Mike took over the management contract about five
years ago, arriving just as the world was beginning to emerge from the isolation of the
pandemic. Mike inherited a space that felt a little neglected during those times, thanks to
COVID-19 restrictions, but the transition offered a unique opportunity for both the garden and
Vair-Haley.
“That was sort of the impetus for me being able to go off on my own and start my own
business,” Mike reflects. “I figured, OK, I’m going to be covering two days a week, and I can fill
in the rest.”
Since Mike took over managing the gardens, the changes have been incredible. What started
as a few boxes has expanded into a full-scale food forest boasting nearly one hundred leasedout planter boxes. “We’ve planted an all-native garden,” says Mike. “We’ve also planted an alledible perennial garden, and planted an all-fruiting shrub garden.” Each area is lovingly marked
with signs so people can familiarize themselves with the kinds of edibles they can grow in their
own gardens.
While the physical growth of the garden space is impressive, the heartbeat of Fresh Roots is its
social mission. As a social enterprise under the CMHA Grey Bruce umbrella, the garden
employs individuals who are clients of the organization. Mike sums up the goal of the gardens
with a simple but profound quip. He says the place exists “to give people a sense of purpose
and pride, and give them a chance to get back into the workforce.”
Mike notes the experience led him to develop some lifelong friendships forged through the
shared labour of the growing seasons and the collaborative spirit of the work. “I think we’re just
all there to work together,” Mike says. “When you work side by side in the dirt with someone,
you sort of develop a special relationship.”
The fruits of this labour – both literal and metaphorical – feed the Fresh Roots Café, a special
project of CMHA Grey Bruce’s Mental Health and Addiction Services. Located a couple of
blocks away on 2nd Ave, it’s a closed-loop system that seeks to reinvest in the very people who
grow the food (which should not be missed – shoutout to the spinach roti wrap.) If you’re in the
position to do so, consider taking advantage of their Pay It Forward program, which represents
a cool opportunity to pre-purchase an extra bit of scran for those who may be in need.
At the time this article was written, the garden site was home to 96 garden boxes. Half of those
are managed by Mike and the CMHA team, while the other half are rented out to green-thumb
community members. Renters have access 24/7, and interest has been so high that Mike is
planning to give up an entire row to let more local growers in on the action. But that old
infrastructure is showing its age. “Every year I have to shore up [the planters],” Mike admits.
He’s recently submitted a grant to hopefully replace all of them, a daunting task, but an ordeal
that’s going to strengthen the space and secure its vibrancy for years to come.
Walking through the labyrinth of growing food today, it’s hard to imagine the space as anything
else. The Fresh Roots Food Forest and Garden is a place where the simple act of planting a
seed can be a radical act of recovery, health, and even friendship, as Mike has learned.
Whether you’re there to rent a box or just see what’s in season, the garden is a reminder that
with a little care, anything can be given a chance to grow and thrive.
For those looking to get involved, rent a box, or support the project, you can find more
information at greybruce.cmha.ca
Written by Nelson Phillips
Feature photo by John Fearnall/Good Noise Photography
