At The North Grove — a vibrant community hub for family support, food and friendship — increasing access to healthy food is just the beginning.
Located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the Good Food Market and Community Farm are key elements of North Grove’s holistic approach to strengthening food security and social connectedness in a neighbourhood where both are urgently needed. As a long-time partner, the Medavie Foundation has been supporting The North Grove since 2016 to help provide a growing range of programs that meet people where they are — whether they come for groceries, gardening, or simply a friendly face.
Improving access to food
The rising cost of living continues to be a pressing concern for many Canadians. At the weekly Good Food Market, community members can shop for essential items like produce, meat, eggs, and bread at deeply subsidized prices, and access free produce grown on-site from the Community Farm.
This partnership is helping meet growing demand for programs, while keeping food affordable and accessible. It’s also helping The North Grove invest in making the site more accessible, empowering volunteers to share their skills and knowledge, and equipping the organization to continue to learn about and provide for culturally relevant foods that reflect the diversity of the community.
For many, the market is only the first connection. Once people come through the doors, they discover the full scope of what The North Grove offers. Free drop-in dining opportunities throughout the week provide more than 1,100 meals every month through breakfast, lunch, family suppers, and social café settings. There are family resources including parenting and child development courses, multi-week cooking programs where participants can learn culinary skills, make recipes, and share meals with the group. There are also peer advocates available during drop-in programs who can provide support and information to community members who may benefit from other services.
“There’s a real dignity in how the market operates,” adds Laura Horn, Executive Director at The North Grove. “People who might otherwise face barriers to getting fresh produce can come to shop, choose the items they want, try new foods, and connect with neighbours. It’s fun, it’s welcoming, and for many, it’s the start of feeling like part of something bigger.”
That sense of stewardship and pride is shared by Medavie employees, who have joined the Foundation team to volunteer at The North Grove on several occasions.
“The North Grove opens doors to connection and belonging and by volunteering our time, we make a meaningful difference together," says Anita Swamy, Senior Vice President Operations for Medavie Blue Cross. “The impact of our shared effort goes beyond strengthening our neighbourhoods — it deepens our relationships with one another, and that’s invaluable to our team.”
Volunteers from across Medavie’s operations echo that sentiment.
"Volunteering in the community farm was very fulfilling,” shares Medavie employee Ruth Murphy. “It was great to give back to my own community, learn of all the great things happening at the farm, and see the impact first-hand.”
Turning space into opportunity
The Community Farm itself, once a vacant lot, has been transformed into a lively space that produces up to 3,000 pounds of food each year. The farm boasts 21 varieties of fruit, 62 vegetables, and 16 herbs, plus a few more recent additions like egg-laying hens and a cut flower garden. For those looking to meet new neighbours, the farm also features a Children’s Discovery Garden, and a welcoming courtyard space.
There are gardening workshops for adults and children, as well as 56 community plots where community members can grow their own produce with assistance from more experienced gardeners. These resources can be an important source of food for residents living on low incomes, but also a great opportunity to experience first-hand how local food production strengthens our connection to our own wellbeing, to the foods we eat, and to each other.
“Community members have even hatched and released insects like butterflies, ladybugs, and praying mantises to help with pollination and natural pest control,” says Horn.
When communities grow, everyone benefits
Today, the market serves up to 200 shoppers each week, up from 85 just a few years ago. As programming expands, so do opportunities for involvement. Volunteerism is thriving at The North Grove, with a team of more than 170 volunteers who support all program areas, from preparing and serving meals to working on the farm to setting up the Good Food Market. Many volunteers are also program participants who were able to access these supports when they needed it. Now, they’re paying it forward to ensure their neighbours can do the same.
When people have access to healthy food, meaningful connections, and spaces where they feel they belong, the entire community grows stronger. At The North Grove, that growth is visible in every harvested herb, every new friendship, and every neighbour who leaves feeling a little more connected than when they arrived.