Canada: Edmonton Urban Farm continues to grow
Established in 2014, the Edmonton Urban Farm is made up of two acres
By Sharon Yeo
Taproot Edmonton
May 25, 2022
Excerpt:
The participating newcomers represent a diverse array of cultural communities, including Afghan, Filipino, Karen, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somali, Syrian, South Sudanese, and Vietnamese.
“Groups appreciate being able to grow specific vegetables that are not easily found in Edmonton supermarkets, or, if they are, they are very expensive,” said Milligan. “One group grew three different kinds of bok choy last year. Several groups appreciated being able to harvest pumpkin leaves, amaranth, and bean leaves. I suspect those varieties will expand in the coming year.”
As all plots were already spoken for earlier in the year, it is clear that interest from prospective gardeners continues to be strong. Milligan cites a number of factors, such as a desire to gather with other members of the community and an appetite to gain gardening knowledge and skills. However, food security and safety have also played a role.
“Many gardeners have commented on the expense of fresh vegetables and appreciate being able to walk away from the Urban Farm with a bag full of tomatoes or kale,” said Milligan. “People also want to be able to gather in a safe space, both safe from COVID, and also safe from racism. One gardener mentioned that seniors from their community don’t always feel welcome when they visit public spaces.”
Milligan is looking forward to what this season will bring. “This will be a year of much energy and change, and I am excited to see the results. I also hope that we start to be noticed as a model — there should be urban farms all over the city!”
