Ontario Tech University Dedicates Windfields Farm Land to Support Food Distribution in Durham Region

Ontario Tech University has dedicated part of its Windfields Farm land in north Oshawa for use by Common Ground Foodshare (CGF), a non-profit organization that distributes food to individuals and families in need across Durham Region. The university announced the partnership on September 2, 2025.

The partnership allows CGF to grow organic produce for inclusion in food boxes that are distributed within Durham Region. According to the university, the initiative is led by its Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability (OCIS), and some recipients are university students.

According to CGF, each food box, valued at $25, typically contains staple items such as carrots, potatoes, apples, bananas, oranges, eggs, and bread. CGF reports that since its founding in 2019, it has delivered more than 4,000 boxes annually and now serves over 18,000 people each year.

Ontario Tech University stated that students participate in the initiative through the university’s work-study program. University representatives said participating students help maintain the gardens and gain practical experience in sustainable agriculture. Isabel Savransky, Asset and Sustainability Planner at OCIS, said, “They’re learning how food is grown, how it reaches people and why access matters, especially here in our own community.”

Ontario Tech University also reported that it is working with CGF to build compost bins at Windfields Farm as part of the university’s sustainability efforts. According to the university, the project involves Ontario Tech Food Services and other local partners.