Vamsi's Story

The arrival of spring and the sprouting of seeds bring a deep sense of joy to Vamsi. Especially since moving to Canada, where the winter is long and cold and his challenging IT job can feel isolating, these signs of renewal mean that much more.

As the warmer weather approaches, so many outdoor programs need your support. Can you help us get growing this summer?  

Let's get growing!

Vamsi and his wife, Dakshayani, moved to Dartmouth North two years ago, when their son Chetan was just an infant. Having lived in bustling cities in India and the United States, relocating to a smaller, quieter community was a big adjustment.

But Dartmouth North surprised them. They soon discovered a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood, home to people from all walks of life. They found an apartment and became curious when they spotted The North Grove’s Community Farm next door to the rental office where they signed their lease.

“In most urban neighborhoods, people are so disconnected from where their food comes from. This is a special place.”

Like Vamsi, 86% of Dartmouth North residents are renters. With a lack of shared spaces and frequent turnover in neighbours, it can be challenging to build lasting relationships.

Your support makes it possible for families like Vamsi’s to access good food, family support and form long lasting connections in their community.

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When Vamsi visited The North Grove’s front desk he met my colleague Jess, who introduced him to the many programs and services offered at our community hub. He was especially relieved to learn about the Well Baby program where Chetan could be weighed and checked by a nurse practitioner. As first-time parents, the help with navigating healthcare for their baby was invaluable.

The North Grove quickly became part of the family’s weekly routine. They shopped at the Good Food Market, attended Family Playgroup and Family Supper, and I noticed them spending lots of time on the Community Farm — getting to know their neighbours, enjoying the fresh air, and soaking up the sunshine.

Your contribution makes all these opportunities possible. As we enter the summer months so many new programs need your support.

Can you contribute and help families like Vamsi’s?

Give today!

As a newcomer arriving in Canada four years ago, I was eager to start growing food from my home, and Vamsi was too. He signed up for his own community plot at The North Grove. He attended the plotter orientation, received a growing guide, and excitedly selected seeds from The North Grove’s seed library.

Vamsi’s first growing season was full of lessons. Gardening in Canada is dramatically different from growing food in other countries. Their spinach shot up quickly, and they ended up with more tomatoes than they knew what to do with! Fortunately, their fellow gardeners were generous with advice — offering tips on everything from managing weeds to understanding the local climate.

“People here are so kind. I come to The North Grove and there’s so many familiar faces. I know I will be greeted with pleasant smiles.”

Their family’s garden plot reminds Vamsi of his childhood in India: growing tomatoes, bottle gourds, and watermelons in the backyard; harvesting rice with his grandfather; grafting roses; and helping care for the gardens at his missionary school.

This year, Vamsi hopes to grow chilis, fenugreek, cilantro — and maybe fewer tomatoes! While the harvest won’t provide his family with all their fresh food, it will help offset grocery costs, and there’s something deeply satisfying about eating what you’ve grown with your own hands.

“Fresh food tastes different. There’s nothing like eating something you picked that day!”

Now that Chetan is older, he’s beginning to share the joys of the Community Farm. Vamsi hopes gardening will help his son learn to respect nature, understand food systems, and appreciate healthy living.

The North Grove’s Community Farm is about more than growing food — it’s about sharing inter-generational and cultural knowledge and experience, and building lasting connections — with our food, and with one another.

Let's get growing!

Life in Canada still comes with challenges. Vamsi and Dakshayani are adjusting to their routines. He works days, she works nights, and they both try to find meaningful time to spend with Chetan. Their apartment building lacks outdoor green space, and the cost of fresh food is higher than in any place they’ve lived.

For their family, The North Grove is more than just a source of healthy food. This is a space to socialize, exercise, play, and feel at peace.

“This is the place where I can come to breathe. I try to get out here every day, even if it’s just to go for a walk around the farm.”

Your generosity transforms our outdoor spaces into the “Community’s Backyard” — a welcoming place where people of all ages create lasting summer memories. For newcomers like Vamsi and myself, these vibrant community spaces offer more than just fun — they help us feel connected and at home in a new place.

Your support makes free summer camps, weekly Community BBQs, Farm-to-Table cooking programs, gardening workshops, and so much more possible.

Can you help us get growing this season? Half of The North Grove’s budget comes from generous supporters like you.

Give today!