Results tagged “notfarfromthetree”

Waste not, want not—so the old saying goes. Taking the adage very much to heart is a fledgling non-profit and its several hundred volunteers, who have been plumbing our city for hitherto forgotten bounty for the past couple of years. The organization is called Not Far From The Tree, and its mission is to rescue fruit growing in Toronto that would otherwise go to waste.

Torontonians seeking fresh seasonal fruit in the city tend to head to neighbourhood farmers markets or pray that their local grocery store has something other than produce shipped in from faraway locales. But lurking within parks and residential neighbourhood is a wide variety of edible treats growing wild or being nurtured by community activists and green thumbs. For the second year, urban forest advocates LEAF organized an edible tree tour on Saturday to show off the city’s harvest.

FESTIVAL: As part of the Dundas West BIA's Samba On Dundas street festival, today's "Duwest Neighbourhood Day" is a celebration of the mosaic of merchants along the street. There will be face painting at Sun Milk, a free Cuban percussion workshop at Lula Lounge, free all-natural popsicles for the kids at Multiple Organics, art exhibits, sales, and tons more. For entertainment, Samba Elegua and dancers from Samba Brasil Entertainment will perform on various street corners throughout the festival. Dundas West between Lansdowne and Rusholme, 2–5 p.m., FREE.

The food we eat, and the sources thereof, have become the subjects of increasing attention over the past few years. In an attempt to bring farmers and the people they feed closer together, Slow Food Toronto hosted its second annual Farm-to-Home Fair at the Gladstone this past Saturday. Local farmers and food producers came out in force for some agricultural show-and-tell, and local eaters (that's us) came to learn more about the importance of buying from sustainable, Toronto-area farms. Torontoist departed with two dozen pastured, laid-this-week eggs, and also a bit of insight into our local food culture.

ART: The Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum hosts "Talking Street Art," a panel discussion in conjunction with its current "Housepaint Phase II: Shelter" exhibit. Panellists include city councillor Adam Vaughan, MOCCA artistic director David Liss, Housepaint curator Devon Ostrom, and Toronto street artist Fauxreel (a.k.a. Dan Bergeron). The panel tackles the questions of street art legitimacy: Does street art have a place in a gallery setting? Can exhibited artists maintain street cred? How is street art different from mere vandalism? And what kinds of penalties does the artist risk? Royal Ontario Museum, Loblaws Group entrance, south end (100 Queens Park), 6:30 p.m., FREE.