Pop-Up Workshop: Celebrate Our Apple Tree – Homemade Applesauce!

Join us for a fun, last-minute pop-up workshop to celebrate the apple tree at the Westview Community Garden and plan for our big companion planting project! We are thrilled to be gathering fruit and need your help to turn it into a delicious community treat.

Come learn the basics of fruit preparation, connect with your neighbours, and turn this fresh bounty into a delicious, healthy Homemade Applesauce that is easy to replicate at home. We plan to begin in the garden (weather permitting) before moving inside to the accessible community space.

This beginner-friendly workshop is all about community, skill-building, and delicious food — no cooking experience needed! Enjoy preparing the applesauce with other community members.

In this workshop, you will:

Meet Your Community & Connect: Kick off in the garden with a fun icebreaker to get to know your fellow attendees and warm up for some hands-on action.

Tree Tour, History, & Future Project: We will visit the apple tree to share its history, discuss any remaining harvest, and get excited about our upcoming companion planting project designed to give the tree more life and help it flourish in future years.

Prep the Fruit Safely: We will transition indoors to follow a clear, hygienic process for washing and sorting the apples before they are prepared for cooking. We are supplementing our harvest with more local apples to ensure we get a sufficient, robust batch for everyone to work with.

Chop, Cook, & Mash: You will work in small groups to peel and chop your apples. Then, your group will use a designated stovetop or hot plate to cook the apples until soft, mash them by hand, and add your choice of flavorings.

Taste & Take Home: Package your portion of the warm, homemade applesauce and receive printed instructions on how to easily store it (like freezing or canning), so you can enjoy your harvest all year!

What You’ll Need:

• Your appetite and enthusiasm!
• All ingredients, tools, and materials are provided.
• Please bring a container large enough to hold at least 2 cups (500 ml) of applesauce.

This workshop is completely FREE! RSVP through the Dandelion Event Page. Questions or need to update your RSVP? Email us at lcrc@lcrc.ca. If your plans change, please let us know so someone else can join in!

We're committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone. Let us know if you require accommodations to participate fully.

Accessibility:

Please note: This workshop begins with a tree tour in the garden, which requires standing and walking on uneven ground. For safety and participation in this essential part of the workshop, all attendees must be able to move independently through the garden area. The kitchen/community space portion, where we will prepare the applesauce, is accessible.

About Westview Community Garden:

The Westview Community Garden is located on the grounds of Westview Baptist Church. Since 2004, the London Community Resource Centre (LCRC) and Westview Baptist Church have worked collaboratively to cultivate this space, making it a beautiful, accessible, and vibrant hub for the community to connect with nature and grow their own food.

About Grow Cook Learn:

Grow Cook Learn is a project of the London Community Resource Centre (LCRC), building community through food literacy and food security while promoting health and wellness for all. We're excited to be revisiting this location to re-spark community workshops accessible to South London! Learn more at https://lcrc.on.ca

Disclaimers:

• Ingredients may vary slightly depending on apple variety and availability.
• The final applesauce will be shared among all participants.
• Participants will work in groups with a maximum of 5 people to share one cooking pot and one heat source.
• Please ensure your availability for the entire workshop. Arriving late will disrupt the flow of the group activities, and leaving before the end will mean your applesauce will not be ready to take home.
• Participants who require specific food accommodations or preferences are encouraged to let us know when they register.