Canada: Butler Urban Farm in Kamloops – End of season reflections
What can we do, as members of a food system, to address the coming challenges to our food security?
By Caitlin Quist
Kamloops This Week
Oct 25, 2021
Excerpt:
As we removed the last of our tomato plants from the field yesterday, there was a satisfying feeling of putting the garden to rest after a busy season. This year we have harvested 5,920 pounds of vegetables so far, which was donated to community organizations and individuals in Kamloops. This included many of our staple vegetables from last year, such as tomatoes, potatoes, and broccoli, as well as several new plants such as fava beans, watermelons, and amaranth.
We expanded the amount of land in cultivation on our site this season, and have begun the work of building soil and productive capacity in these areas. We are incredibly grateful for all the volunteers and visitors who came to the farm this season, who made it not only a productive agricultural space, but also a beautiful, vibrant, and welcoming place to be.
While settling into the fall and reflecting on the abundance and joy I experienced this growing season, it must also be remembered that this year was a challenging one for many farmers and gardeners. With record breaking temperatures and a long and persistent wildfire season, the magic of working in the garden with soil and pollinators was lost at times. Many farmers lost a devastating amount of their harvest to the heat, drought, increased pests, and even losing their land to fires. Breathing the smoke from wildfires is extremely detrimental to the health of the people that grow our food, and smoke cover can prevent plants from getting the light they need to survive.
