Eat and grow local food on campus
Mohawk's programs support local food production and access while providing teaching and learning opportunities for Mohawk students, staff and community members.
Supporting Local Food Access and Production
Our programs support access to local food on campus and in the community. Learn to grow your own food in the community garden, or sign up for a weekly Bounty Bag to receive fresh produce from local farmers!
Local Food Farm Stand
Mohawk's Farm Stand sells local, healthy fruits, vegetables and baked goods on campus, increasing access to local food and supporting our region's farmers.
Location: Fennell Campus, in the MSA Plaza, underneath the bridge that leads to the David Braley Athletic & Recreation Centre.
When: Every Wednesday beginning July - November 2023
Pay With: Debit, credit or ONECard
Fennell Orchard
Located on the south side of campus, the Fennell Orchard is a celebration of the campus' farming history. The Orchard includes more than 30 fruit trees, including pear and apple trees, and provides students and community members an opportunity to connect with local food production. With its fruit trees, the Fennel Orchard provides an excellent space for pollinators.
Supporting Pollinators
As part of our sustainability mission, Mohawk supports education, engagement and promoting pollinator species’ health on campus. Mohawk is home to two honey bee colonies, three pollinator gardens and bioswales, and a 51-plot community garden, as well as an Indigenous Medicine Garden. Our grounds maintenance is guided by Mohawk’s Sustainable Landscape Plan which prioritizes the naturalization of our grounds. As well, we have several academic and community-based programs that teach our community about the importance of pollinators and bees.
In recognition of these efforts, Mohawk has been designated as a Bee City Campus by Bee City Canada.
Honey Bees
Mohawk College is doing its part to create a welcoming habitat for pollinators. In partnership with local beekeepers Backed By Bees, four honey bee colonies on campus are working hard to pollinate millions of local flowers, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Honey bees play an important supporting role in our food system. In fact, one out of every three bites of food we eat comes from plants pollinated by bees!
If you’re interested in getting involved with workshops or events surrounding the bees please reach out to our Sustainable Food Systems Coordinator, Ashley Packer, at ashley.packer [at] mohawkcollege.ca (ashley[dot]packer[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca)
To purchase honey from the Mohawk Bees visit the Local food Farm Stand from July - November in the MSA Plaza.
To see the bees in action, check out these pollinator garden locations:
- Rooftop Garden (H-Wing)
- Indigenous Medicine Garden (Hoop Dance)
- Community Garden (F-Wing)
Rooftop Pollinator Garden
The Rooftop Pollinator Garden is a space that invites and supports many types of pollinators like butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles and bees. This garden recreates a natural meadow habitat with a mix of grasses and flowing plants that bloom at different times of the year.
The garden is open to visitors in the warmer months and is a great place to relax, eat lunch or study!
Location: The rooftop off Fennell Campus Library (H-wing), top floor.
Native Bee Hotel
The native bee hotel, made by Backed By Bees, was designed specifically for Ontario native bees and pollinators. The nesting holes provide the same size nests as what can be found in the wild and are sized to only fit native pollinators, keeping predators out. This custom-made native bee hotel has replaceable pieces to avoid transferring diseases or mold. This means we can provide a clean and safe home for these pollinators yearly!
Small holes attract: sweat bees, small carpenter bees, masked bees
Medium holes attract: green metallic sweat bees, wool carder bees, cuckoo bees
Large holes attract: mason bees, leaf cutter bees
Location: The rooftop of Fennell Campus Library (H-wing), top floor
Tip: Looking for a local food or farm adventure? The Hamilton Farm Map and Directory will show you where you can go. The map is a partnership between Mohawk College’s Centre for Climate Change Management and the City of Hamilton (Tourism Hamilton, Economic Development Division and Public Health Services).