The Sustainable Community Aid Network (SCAN) hosted its fifth Sustainability on My Mind workshop, Mason Jar Herb Garden, at the Malton Community Center on April 28th, 2023, at 6:30 pm. The workshops aim to teach the residents in the low-income neighbourhood of Malton, Mississauga, about eco-friendly lifestyle strategies that households can practice independently for minimal cost.
The Mason Jar herb garden workshop was an environmental-themed workshop with a social impact. Participants planted herbs in mason jars and took home a herb garden. Herbs included parsley, thyme, Cilantro, Rosemary, Sage and Basil. There was knowledge transfer by the participants from various cultures about the herbs and their use to foster wellness. For example, did you know that Cilantro and Coriander are different parts of the same Coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum)? The leaves are called Cilantro, while the seeds are Coriander. Cilantro is said to be medicinal and can treat various illnesses like cancer, measles, toothache, and many other conditions.
Preparing for the workshop required we plant the herbs in the mason jars before the workshop day so that participants had herbs that had already sprouted to take home along with those they were to sow at the workshop. It was interesting to see how each herb sprouted at different times and grew at different rates. Thyme sprouted first, and Rosemary sprouted last. The coriander plant was the 3rd plant to germinate, but it quickly grew to be the tallest.
The Mason Jar Herb Garden Workshop was very successful, with a great turnout—special thanks to Angie Minnick and Clovalyn Wilson for helping with the workshop organization and implementation. We appreciate everyone that attended the workshop.
Participants were Malton residents across different demographics: West Indian (6 %) and South East Asian (94%). The workshops are a point of cultural exchange and foster a sense of community amongst residents of the Malton neighbourhood. Participants left with an awareness of how to plant herbs in mason jars and the importance of herbs in our daily diet.
The Sustainability on My Mind Workshop series is funded by the Community Foundations of Canada, Community Foundation of Mississauga and The Government of Canada. You can get more information about the workshop on the SCAN website and social media channels or email info@s-can.org or call 1800 687 1351 for details about the upcoming workshops or how to support the organization.
