Home Hardware Community Garden Celebrates 10 Years and Over 36,900 Pounds of Produce Donated to Local Organizations

ST. JACOBS, ONTARIO – November 18, 2025 — This year, the Home Hardware Community Garden is celebrating ten years of growing and giving back.

In 2025 alone, volunteers at the St. Jacobs-based garden contributed 4,339 pounds of produce to Woolwich Community Services in Elmira. Twice-weekly deliveries throughout the growing season helped stock the food bank pantry, supporting more than 135 families each week. This year’s harvest included standout crops such as zucchini (623 lbs.), tomatoes (571 lbs.), cabbage (381 lbs.), and over 100 pumpkins that brightened tables across the community this fall.

“This garden has always been about more than just vegetables,” said Julia Swijters, Store Operations Coordinator and Garden Founder, Home Hardware Stores Limited. “Through collaboration, we’ve transformed a simple idea into a decade-long initiative that continues to make a meaningful impact—nourishing families, strengthening connections, and fostering a culture of giving that reflects Home Hardware’s values.”

This season also marked a new chapter for the garden with the completion of a relocated greenhouse, thanks to the efforts of Scheidel Construction. The new greenhouse will expand volunteer opportunities and increase yields in the 2026 growing season and beyond.

About Home Hardware Stores Limited

Founded over 60 years ago in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Home Hardware Stores Limited is proudly Canadian and the country's largest Dealer-owned and operated home improvement retailer with more than 1,000 stores operating under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, and Home Hardware Building Centre banners. The Home Hardware Dealer network improves life at home by providing superior home improvement retail experiences through helpful advice and a deep understanding of the communities they serve. Home Hardware Stores Limited is designated as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies and recognized as one of Canada's Best Employers. More information about the company is available at homehardware.ca.