This weekend is 'Community clean up day.'  The Friends haven't organized our usual clean up of the park this year.  BUT, fair partk patrons, this does not prevent you from going out there and doing some trash pick up all on your own.  Why do we need anyone to tell us when to clean up the park?  Exactly. This shoud be an ongoing effort by the community. It's a way to take ownership and be responsible citizens. Set an example for your kids and friends - they will be so impressed.  Highschool students, if you want some volunteer hours, let us know, we will be happy to coordinate. If you can't do it this weekend, do it any old time you like.  Because we want to keep the park consistently clean of garbage, food waste and pet waste so that we can lounge and frolick on the green space uninhibited.  Welcome summer!

How did the market come about?  It's a question that many ask.  Here's the basic story.....In 2005 community members were talking about their desire to have a farmers' market in our park. Dufferin Park FM was wonderful, but was just a tad far for us locals. The idea was presented at a Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park meeting, had a call out for people to join a committee to help get it off the ground.  No one stepped up so it went on the back burner.  Then in 2006, I met Scott Cinello, who was totally into it.  We started work on it a year before launch. We put together a proposal with all the logictical and organizational details. Our Councillor at the time, Joe Pantalone, was on board and arranged a meeting with city department stake holders.  We also got over 600 support signatures!  That was important as it showed the city that the community wanted it and would come out to support it.  

2007 was the inaugural year.  Each year since it becomes more solidified in the community and into their shopping routine.  We have supported our farmers/vendors and watched them flourish with the success of the market.  And educated the community about local farm practices and when the Ontario growing season is.  It is important to understand that the market is operated on large by community volunteers - the market depends on these dedicated people to maintain operations.  TBFM is one of the remaining truly independent, community based/operated farmers' market in the GTA.  No organization behind it, other than the forever support of the Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park, which is a volunteer community group i.e. see this site for more ;-).  The market is self-sustaining and when possible, gives back to the Friends.

TBFM is a food focused farmers' market.  We do not consider non-food vendors.  Participation is by invitation season to season.  Prior to each season management extends invitations to renewing Vendors and potential new Vendors - if space availability permits.  There is scant turnover.  TBFM is a modest sized market and it is thoughtfully curated to keep it viable for participating farmers/vendors.  All farmers markets must adhere to 50%+1 farmer to non-farmer ratio as per Board of Health rules and to have an official 'farmers market status'.

Thank you to the all the patrons for their continual support of our neighbourhood market.  

Visit our dedicated site; www.tbfm.ca that has links to our social media platforms for more current news.

Carolyn

Market Manager

Park People have issued some excellent tool kits that explains the how-to put on events in your park and/or how to initiate community building fun! They are excellent resources.  The link to their website is below failing that, pdf's of handbooks below.

www.parkpeople.ca/parktoolkit

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Guidebook_2014.pdf

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Firepit_2014.pdf

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Movie_2014.pdf

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Nature_2014.pdf

Please visit our dedicated website where you will find direct inks to our vendors for online shopping during pandemic times. The lovely vendor who you order with will take care of pre-payment and PU/drop off location info. When we are able to proceed in the park, pre-order/pay will still continue in the pandemic model in the park. Business is not as usual and visiting the market will reflect COVID-19 safety measures to prevent the spread.  We will be requiring a modested sized army of volunteers when we do get into the park. Interested?  We will need you  - our website has the Volunteer Form and some details. 

Also follow us on our socials for the updates.  Instagram, twitter and facebook.  

Keep safe, eat well and look forward.

Carolyn

Manager/Volunteer/Co-Founder 

Who are we?

Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park (FoTBP) is a residential volunteer group that work together to improve and maintain the green space, cultural and recreational activities of Trinity Bellwoods Park. Since 2001, Friends of Trinity Bellwoods has been recognized by Parks & Recreation/City and by our Councillor as the vehicle of community consultation for the park.  We are a diverse group who are willing to share new ideas, respect other points of view, and participate in a collaborative process to create a vibrant community park. 

Volunteer members have:

• founded and operate a weekly summer farmers’ market (2007) 
• host the annual Pumpkin Parade and Pumpkin Toss at Halloween 
• partner with Trinity Bellwoods BIA to support the Films in the Park 
• conceptualized and implemented the Adopt-A-Tree program (2006) to water and nurture the new planted saplings in the park. This program has been replicated by many other park groups across the City. 
• coordinate a greenhouse (bestowed 2008) as an educational and community resource
• offer bulb and shrub planting events in collaboration with Parks & Recreation
• commissioned a tree inventory (2010)
• lead community and park clean ups
• offer hands-on corporate team building days,
• and respond to community issues that affect the park.  

What's our mission?
We hope to ensure that the park will be maintained as a healthy public green space for decades to come. Toronto's parks are often referred to as the "lungs" of our city. Besides providing a welcome refuge from the hurly burly of city life, park trees and public greens help clean our air of pollutants. Historically designated as an arboretum, Trinity Bellwoods Park, contains some of the oldest and most unique trees in Toronto. We want to take care of the existing natural environment and gradually improve it over time.

We believe that a lively, safe community is created through many small networks of friendships. The park allows people from all walks of life to spontaneously cross paths and strike up a conversation. In order to bring people together, we want to support a wide variety of park activities. Because we have an intimate understanding of park needs, we want to share our vision with Parks, Forestry and Recreation and our Councillor.

Park meetings - Why Should I Come?
If you have ever found yourself standing around the playground saying, “I wish we had…” or “why don’t they change…”; if you’re out jogging thinking “wouldn’t it be beautiful if there were more…”. Or perhaps you have an itchy green thumb? Interested in green space or the green house? Want to know how to adopt-a-tree?  Or volunteer for the farmers’ market?  And what about the playground?  Maybe you can offer a different skill set, coordinate meetings, take minutes or send newsletters. Then you need to come to the meetings.