The team at the Rockland Community Garden is gearing up for the second annual Growing Green Fair this March.
The event, held in partnership with the City of Clarence-Rockland, is a fundraising and educational initiative that blends a passion for gardening, nature and sustainable living into a day filled with vendors, community groups, educational seminars, and hands-on workshops.
“We are really excited to bring this event to the community once again this year,” said Stephanie Marcil, Growing Green Fair founder and community building director with the Rockland Community Garden. “We have a wonderful, dedicated team of volunteers, and we have a lot of fun things planned.”
More than 50 local vendors and community groups will participate in the 2025 Growing Green Fair, filling the L’Escale gymnasium. Workshops and seminars will take place throughout the day.
These sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including how to grow a flourishing kitchen garden, organic pest control, vegetable preservation, foraging, and the importance of trees for community well-being.
“I have always envisioned the Growing Green Fair as something the community can look forward to every year,” said Marcil. “People told us how much they enjoyed last year’s event and how they wanted to help out this year. It was so rewarding to hear that, as it shows there is a need and desire for an event like this.”
Marcil and her team were thrilled with last year’s turnout, and anticipation for this year’s event is growing. New workshops and seminars have been added, some of which are sponsored and will be free for attendees.
“It’s been a lot of planning since we wrapped up the garden’s second season,” Marcil added. “Organizing something like this takes nearly a year, but we’re much more structured this time around.”
Marcil noted that the Rockland Community Garden team recognized a strong interest among members and local residents in learning about sustainable living beyond just growing their own food.
“What’s really rewarding is when people come up to members of the team and share how much they enjoyed themselves and appreciated attending an event like this,” said Marcil. “It shows that all the hard work, planning, and organizing is worthwhile.”
A list of vendors, seminars, and workshops can be found on the Rockland Community Garden’s website: www.rocklandcommunitygarden.ca. Marcil said the team will continue updating the website as the event approaches.
The 2025 Growing Green Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.