Canada: Edmonton Urban Farm expansion helps feed dozens of families
“The long-term goal would be to have potentially half a block (or) a full city block of diverse growing space with different facilities and structures as well,”
By Chris Chacon
Global News
Sept 16, 2021
Excerpt:
Alica Jogo and several others from Edmonton’s Sudanese community is harvesting loads of vegetables from this newly expanded acre at an urban farm in the city.
“I think I have enough for the next six months,” Jogo said. “I’m not buying anything. It’s really a blessing, having this garden — I’m glad that I could be a part of it.”
Jogo is one of 53 people who signed up to learn how to garden back in April. That is when the unused plot of land owned by the city but leased to Explore Edmonton had just been transformed to a usable garden space.
“We had funding from the Butler Foundation and from Communities United and we managed to swing it so we actually got seeds in the ground on June 5,” said Patty Milligan, Explore Edmonton’s agriculture education specialist.
The $35,000 investment is helping bring an abundance of food to several cultural communities in Edmonton at no cost.
“There are some huge needs in the community, and I think they relate to community connection, feeling a part of a group, feeling that you have a safe place to connect during a stressful time and also of course food security,” Milligan said.
