While Earth Day is officially marked on April 22, at Black Creek Community Farm (BCCF), we carry its spirit all year round. On Saturday, April 26, 2025, we proudly hosted our annual Earth Day celebration—a day filled with creativity, learning, joy, and collective action rooted in this year’s powerful theme: “Our Power, Our Planet.”
From 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., our farm transformed into a vibrant, multi-sensory learning space. Despite the windy and chilly weather, over 100 community members—from families with young children to solo explorers—showed up to connect with the land, each other, and the urgent call to protect our shared planet.
Highlights from the Day
🌿 DIY Meets the Earth: Participants got hands-on with eco-conscious activities like paper making, plastic recycling demos, and community zine creation led by Emmy of the Sweet Grass Roots Collective. Our “Eat Your Weeds” workshop invited folks to harvest and taste garlic mustard—a local invasive plant turned delicious pesto. The mix of environmental education and culinary creativity made it a crowd favourite.
🧼 Clean-Up with a Purpose: Before the event kicked off, dozens joined our Farm Clean-Up Crew, aligning with the City’s “Clean Toronto Together” initiative. Equipped with litter claws, gloves, and bags, volunteers scoured the farm grounds and creekside trails to restore and respect the land we call home. Friendly competition fueled the clean-up—teams were entered into a raffle for eco-prizes including mushroom grow kits and fresh produce.
📖 Holding Space for Climate Grief and Healing: Led by Joce and a dedicated volunteer team, the Creek Tour was more than just a walk—it was a reflective journey through climate grief, healing justice, and the power of storytelling in nature. Many found solace and strength under the trees, connecting personal emotions to planetary care.
🛠️ Guest Booths & Green Knowledge Sharing: Community partners like the Tobermory Bike Hub offered free bike repairs, while Urban Harvest shared seed-starting tips and urban agriculture resources. These booths created accessible entry points for deeper engagement with sustainable practices.
🍲 Communal Food and Hospitality: Midday, guests gathered for a communal meal prepared and served by our incredible food team, led by Mildred and Vidula. Warm drinks, hearty soup, and sweet juice brought everyone together in nourishment and fellowship.
🙌 Powered by People: This celebration wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our placement students, volunteers, staff, and planning team (shout out to Andre, Joce, and Mildred!). Whether guiding activities, welcoming visitors, or packing up tables at the end of the day, their passion kept the event running smoothly from start to finish.
My personal thoughts on the day
My role during the event allowed me to explore various stations and engage with different activities. One of my absolute favourites was the Live Tasting station, where Mildred and Vidula prepared a delicious garlic mustard pesto. Visitors and I had the chance to watch the pesto being made in real time and even received a recipe to try it at home. It was incredibly flavourful—vibrant, hearty, and rich in greens—and I’m definitely inspired to incorporate it into my own meals.
Speaking of food, our amazing volunteers also handed out warm soup, which was perfect for the chilly weather that day. Judging by the smiles and satisfied looks, everyone appreciated something warm to enjoy as they took in the event.
Outside, a litter clean-up competition added an exciting and eco-friendly twist to the day. The energy was high, and in the end, a sibling duo claimed victory. Beyond the fun and friendly competition, the contest encouraged participants to actively care for the environment while getting in some extra steps. It was a great reminder that community and sustainability can go hand in hand—and be a lot of fun, too.
A special thank-you goes to the photographers, social media team, and our behind-the-scenes crew who captured the magic and helped spread our message beyond the farm gates.
💚 What We Learned
Events like this remind us that environmental justice is about more than planting trees or picking up trash—though those things matter. It’s about community care, youth education, healing from harm, and reimagining a world where we live in balance with the earth and each other.
Earth Day may be one date on the calendar, but at Black Creek Community Farm, every day is a chance to honour the land, restore what’s been lost, and celebrate what’s still possible.