The Transition Cornwall+ Food Action Group marked the 14th year of its Incredible Edible Plant Festival at the Cornwall Civic Complex on May 30, 2026, giving away nearly 30 varieties of vegetable plants and herbs to encourage home gardening and food security in Cornwall, Ontario.
Even before the event officially began, about 100 attendees had lined up, eager to get their hands on plants including tomatoes, lettuce, basil, kale, eggplant, watermelon, squash, cucumbers, and strawberries. The selection was extensive, with nearly 30 different types of vegetable and herb plants available at no cost.
This year, the festival moved to a single central location for the first time, a change that volunteer Ben Irwin said made it feel like more of an event. The family-friendly festival also featured live music, community garden planting activities, and expert gardeners on hand to answer questions.
Longtime Transition Cornwall+ member Anke Craig recalled how the festival began 14 years ago. “It started with just giving away a few little plants,” she said. “We realized people loved it, and from there it evolved.” The Food Action Group, formed in 2013 as part of Transition Cornwall+, works to strengthen local food security by supporting home food growing and reducing waste.
The festival was made possible through in-kind support from the City of Cornwall, Marlin Orchards, Cornerstone Organics, Harbers Greenhouse and Forestry, the Kinsmen Club of Cornwall, Knox-St. Paul’s Church, Christ Church Seaway, and the Social Development Council of SDG, Cornwall, and Akwesasne. A smaller pop-up event followed on May 31 at Christ Church Seaway in Long Sault.
