The term "seeds of hope" is a perhaps a bit of a cliché, but it's almost literally what took place in Parkdale Sunday.

Rainy weather didn't stop more than 100 neighbourhood residents from coming out for the ribbon-cutting of the H.O.P.E. Garden, which stands for healthy organic Parkdale edibles. It's the first of its kind in the area, in which about 85 per cent of residents live in apartments.

"Not a lot of places to get your hands dirty and to learn how to grow your own food," said project organizer Shannon Thompson. "For Parkdale this is a tremendously important opportunity."

And the gardens aren't just for individual food. Once the food is harvested it will be turned around and donated to community soup kitchens just steps away.

For more information, email shannon@greenestcity.net