By Yousef Wahba
In the heart of Burlington, Ontario, a unique program is blossoming, connecting people through the love of food, culture, and creativity. The Planter to Plate program, by Creative Community Hive in collaboration with Next Door Social Kitchen, offers a delightful blend of planting, recipe sharing, community wellness, and celebration of multicultural flavors.
Creative Community Hive (CCH), founded by Dr. Jennifer Jalal, is an organization that utilizes art and crafting as a means of healing and community-building; this new program is possible via the collaboration with Next Door Social Kitchen/Space (NDSS), known for its countless community programs, some funding from the City of Burlington, and a dedicated team of volunteers who lead and manage the program. The name of the program comes from the three planters at the back of the kitchen at NDSS, in which crops including veggies and herbs are grown, which will eventually make it on a plate. Hence Planter to Plate. The Planter to Plate program includes planting, recipe sharing, celebrating multicultural recipes, sharing traditional knowledge, culinary book reviews, and more.
At the core of Planter to Plate is a celebration of cultural diversity through food. The program offers an exclusive three day event called The Melting Pot that shines a spotlight on local chefs and cultures. Each special day features an appreciation of different cuisines, fostering a sense of unity and harmony akin to a cultural melting pot. On June 20, a talented chef from Congo will entice taste buds with authentic dishes along with farmer Megan Richardson sharing her expertise in a captivating food talk. The second special day, on August 29, Planter to Plate will welcome a chef from El Salvador, who will engage participants in a story-sharing session about fusion food. Lastly, on October 3, a South Korean chef will take centre stage giving us a taste of the dishes of their country.
The program offers a diverse range of activities to engage participants in the world of plants and culinary arts. The planting sessions took place on May 23, where participants were immersed in the joys of nurturing and cultivating plants in the raised wooden planters. On May 30, the program kicked off with a storytelling session, setting the stage for an exploration of cultural narratives. Another highlight was an Indigenous recipe demonstration on June 13, showcasing the rich heritage and flavours of Indigenous cuisine. These sessions occur twice a month on Tuesdays, typically from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with the exception of the three special days, which extend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. With the exception of the three special days of the program, Andy Crichton, a chef over at the program, does the majority of the cooking demos.
Beyond the planting and cooking demonstrations, the Planter to Plate program is enveloped in discussions and sharing sessions revolving around themes inspired by books and videos, providing a platform for participants to exchange their knowledge and experiences. Books and videos reviewed are mostly picked out by Dr. Jalal herself.
The book reviewing does not stop there however. Dr. Jalal, the volunteers, and the participants of the Planter to Plate program are currently working towards building a resource library of books about food. CCH will then be seeking funding in the fall for their next community-building project — a book review club.
Creative Community Hive is driven by a philosophy of “each one, teach one,” fostering an open art platform where people learn from and inspire each other. It offers a range of programs, including crafting using recycled products, further expanding the palate for creative expression and community engagement. Jalal’s inspiration to start CCH stemmed from the desire to fill a gap. She believes in sharing knowledge instead of teaching it, and that is what’s being applied at CCH. Jalal notes that the City of Burlington and the Town of Oakville have been very supportive of her mission, with Burlington providing partial funds to support programs such as Planter to Plate, and Oakville donating a rec room in which to run programs. CCH first launched in 2017, and while it has not been an easy journey over the past six years, Jalal’s efforts have been recognized by others — volunteers began aiding in CCH’s mission, and CCH officially became a non-profit last year, paving the way for further success towards bettering the community for all.
To join in on the fun over at the Planter to Plate program, you can either email the program at infohive2021@gmail.com or drop in at Next Door Social Kitchen, preferably on a Thursday at 650 Plains Road East, Burlington. The program is designed to accommodate up to 12 participants comfortably, and each session is treated as a separate entity, allowing flexibility for attendees.
