Our mission
Cultivating a sustainable future by providing affordable gardening solutions for food independence.
At Darlington Gardens, our mission is to empower individuals and communities to achieve food independence. We believe that everyone should have access to affordable, high-quality food that is grown locally. Through our range of gardening supplies and resources, we aim to make urban and suburban gardening accessible and easy, enabling individuals to grow their own food, share with their neighbors, and create a more sustainable and resilient food system.
OUR STORY
We're not waiting for things to get worse.
In 2022 my wife and I moved back from Hong Kong in where the food supply chain was hit severely by COVID. We thought Canada would have it better, but the inflation here in the years since we left was extreme.
We started a garden to feed ourselves and close family. In Hong Kong it was normal to eat meals made from food shipped around the world, but there’s no reason Canadians should ever be paying a lot for healthy food. We live in one of the greatest places on earth for farming. Gardening is easy and all our ancestors did it, both here and in their lands they came from. That wasn’t so hard and we’re not alone, there are plenty of people gardening to offset the grocery bill. But not hardly enough.
The next step, now that we’re feeding ourselves, is to make it cheap and easy for other people to do the same thing. Darlington Gardens was created to distribute the cheapest and most practical equipment for you to grow your own food, even on a patio or small backyard.
Our next step is to bring home the manufacturing of all these goods. For now the only way to get these things affordably is to import them from China, which is what we’ve done for now. And we’re leveraging our connections and expertise, having lived there for 10 years, to get the better deal back onto the ground here in Southern Ontario. But relying on that supply chain isn’t any better in the long run, and that’s why the mandate of this company is to use all profits to purchase machinery and hire local people in Darlington to start making these things locally again and complete the cycle. That keeps money and jobs in Darlington in addition to keeping us all fed and healthy. Also it’s becoming obvious that much of what we import is cheap for a reason; it’s made by slave labor in terrible conditions, with toxic processes and materials. We’ve done our best to vet the vendors we use for our products, but the best long term plan is to make these in our own community. We’ve run the numbers and with the higher cost of international freight in the post-COVID world, we can compete!
So don’t delay!
Grow your own vegetables, Eat your own food. Feed your own neighbours.
Buy local and work local and sell local.
Our values
Be the change you want to see in world
LOCAL PRODUCTION
We firmly believe in the power of local production to drive economic growth, create jobs, and foster self-reliance within our community. By manufacturing our gardening supplies locally, we will support local artisans and businesses, reduce carbon emissions associated with long-distance transportation, and build a stronger and more vibrant local economy. Our dedication to a goal of 100% local production ensures that each purchase contributes to the prosperity and well-being of our community.
ANTI-GLOBALISM
Our commitment to anti-globalism stems from a deep belief in the power of local communities and their ability to shape their own destinies. By championing local resilience and self-sufficiency, we aim to reduce reliance on distant supply chains, support local economies, and promote sustainable practices that honor the unique cultural and environmental heritage of each region.
FAMILY OWNERSHIP
We cherish the value of family ownership, as it enables us to foster a sense of pride, commitment, and unity in everything we do. By cultivating a family-owned business, we ensure that our core values of trust, accountability, and long-term vision permeate every aspect of our operations, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our employees and customers alike. We’re not going anywhere, this is our home too.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability lies at the heart of everything we do. We strive to minimize our ecological footprint by offering eco-friendly products, promoting responsible consumption, and educating our community about sustainable gardening practices. Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental considerations, encompassing social and economic aspects, ensuring a harmonious balance that benefits both present and future generations.
