Sowing the Future: When Food Becomes Connection
Special Moments in Our Gardens
Presenter: Barbara Brown
Photo-based visual artist, eco-artist, certified horticultural therapist, and labyrinth facilitator., Barbara Brown Gallery
Sowing the Future: When Food Becomes Connection
Speaker Profile:
Barbara Brown trained in visual arts at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University and completed her graduate work at Manchester Metropolitan University, in England and the School of Photographic Arts Ottawa. She has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally, most recently in Faith Fyles: In Full Bloom at the Ottawa Art Gallery, Terroir: belonging to place at the Ottawa School of Art and LifeCycle Conversations, a collaboration with sculptor Cynthia O’Brien at Karsh-Masson Gallery, Ottawa and Minden, Ontario. She undertook month long residencies at Kingsbrae in St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick, and Mauser EcoHouse in Costa Rica. She participated in the International Artistic Residency Kala Chaupal in India where she collaborated with fellow artists to create Matka: A Portrait of Traditional Water Carriers.
Brown’s current work is photo-based and explores the intersection of place and identity through plant materials and human activity as a visual meditation in and about the landscape. Her current project, Sowing the Future: When Food Becomes Connection, explores the relationship between people, land and food by centering women and equity deserving farmers working in regenerative and sustainable farming practices in the Ottawa area. Most recently she has engaged in a collaboration with a field and a handful of heritage Maize seeds in a hyper local project that re-imagines the ancient connection between plants and humans through the act of cultivation.
Sowing the Future: When Food Becomes Connection
At its heart, Sowing the Future: When Food Becomes Connection asks a simple question: How might reconnecting with the land help us reconnect with our food? Through shared stories, creative practice, and hands in the soil, together we are discovering that agriculture is not only about growing food—it is also about cultivating culture, community, and hope.
The project began in 2022 as a collaboration with painter and organic farmer Jess Weatherhead, poet Diane Perazzo, and photo-based artist Barbara Brown. Together, they created portraits and stories of women farmers in the Ottawa–Outaouais region. Together, they wanted to challenge the familiar image of who farms by celebrating the diversity of people cultivating the land through sustainable and regenerative practices.
Working alongside farmers, planting heritage maize, and learning from a traditional seed guardian has transformed the project into one rooted in participation, reciprocity, and care.
2026 marked an exciting new chapter for this project. With the support of Tess and Maggie of Good Care Farm, Barbara intended a traditional polyculture of maize, beans, and squash, and invited artists and community members into the field through workshops, creative activities, and shared learning. The field became a place where growing food and making art happen side by side.
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Discover the Full 2027 Speaker Lineup
We invite you to explore inspiring season of presentations curated by our Speaker Series Program Leads. Follow the link below to view the complete lineup of speakers, learn about their areas of expertise, and dive into their profiles. It’s a remarkable collection of voices shaping the horticultural conversation in Ottawa and beyond.
https://ottawahort.org/speaker-series-2027/
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NOTE:
* Effective September 23rd, 2026, all in-person presentations will be held at St. Mark's church, 1606 Fisher Avenue, Ottawa. Free parking available behind the church.
* Online presentations will be streamed live via Zoom (link provided to members in the Grapevine newsletter), and later posted on the OHS YouTube channel for those unable to attend starting at 7:30 PM.
* In-person presentations begin at 7:30 PM, following the OHS announcements and refreshment period from 7:00-7:30 PM.
u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eJune 16: In-person presentation by Nancy McDonald, u003cemu003eMaster Gardener of Ottawa-Carleton and member of the Ottawa Horticultural Societyu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eCulinary Delights Witu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eh Herbs and Edible Floweru003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003esu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cemu003eu003cimg src=u0022https://ottawahort.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NancyMcDonald-290x300.webpu0022 width=u0022244u0022 height=u0022252u0022 alt=u0022u0022 class=u0022wp-image-221018 alignnone size-mediumu0022 /u003e u003cimg src=u0022https://ottawahort.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Nancy-MacDonald-2.webpu0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022244u0022 alt=u0022u0022 class=u0022wp-image-221020 alignnone size-fullu0022 /u003e u003c/emu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003e u003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003e u003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eNancy McDonald, Master Gardener, will shed a new light on how we can enjoy the fruits of our gardening labor in a different way. Join us for a flavorful gardening talk that explores the culinary magic of herbs and edible flowers. Learn how to grow, harvest and use these aromatic and colorful plants to elevate your cooking and add beauty to your plate. You'll discover creative ways to incorporate garden-fresh ingredients into everyday meals and special occasions.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eSpeaker profileu003cbr /u003eu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eNancy McDonald grew up on a farm on PEI and learned the practical aspects of gardening from her parents. Her love of flowers came from spending time in her grandmother’s beautiful mixed garden. After 42 years of a very fulfilling nursing career, Nancy’s thoughts turned to retirement and volunteer opportunities. She has been a member of the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton for 15 years. As a Master Gardener, Nancy completed the Pollinator Steward Certification in 2024. She is a member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society and continues to enjoy her small suburban garden and the birds, bees and butterflies that visit. She also enjoys making flavorful recipes in her kitchen using herbs and edible flowers from her garden.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cstrongu003e***********************************************u003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eDiscover the Full 2026 Speaker Lineupu003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eWe invite you to explore inspiring season of presentations curated by our Speaker Series Program Leads. Follow the link below to view the complete lineup of speakers, learn about their areas of expertise, and dive into their profiles. It’s a remarkable collection of voices shaping the horticultural conversation in Ottawa and beyond.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://ottawahort.org/speaker-series-2026/u0022u003eView the Speaker Series 2026 Programu003c/au003eu003c/pu003e
