A non-profit, volunteer-run production, education, outreach and
experimental research organization affiliated with the University of Alberta,
supporting sustainable urban agriculture and food systems in Central Alberta,
and similar northern climates.
Mission Statement
To support activities that contribute to understanding of, and capacity for, enhancing production innovations, regional food security and food sovereignty in urban agriculture in an ecologically sustainable manner.
Farm Objectives
•
Enhance practical skills and knowledge
among University of Alberta students, faculty, staff and local citizens in
sustainable urban food production by creating an interactive, experiential
classroom outdoors in the form of a collectively-run community farm.
•
Expand the University of Alberta’s food and
agriculture research and training profile to include sustainable urban
agriculture and local food systems.
•
Play a leading, collaborative role in the
development of a sustainable local food system in central Alberta by offering
venues to improve the flows of information and networking among regional organizations
involved in urban agriculture.
•
Produce agricultural products for direct
provision to under-privileged populations in the Edmonton area.
•
Pursue financial sustainability through
revenue generation in the form of produce sales and fee-based learning events.
Farm Activities
Our objectives will be pursued in the context
of three primary types of activity: food production, education, and outreach.
Food Production
The food production component will be focused
on the production of a variety of agricultural foods in an
ecologically-beneficial manner, including experimental crops and varieties that
may be more suitable to Alberta’s changing climate.
Education
The educational component will consist of a
variety of initiatives, including contributions to university curricula,
educational opportunities for local gardeners, and field-based learning
opportunities for primary and secondary school children.
Outreach
We are committed to building relationships
with other organizations that support sustainable agriculture and food systems
and food security, in order to share knowledge and collaborate on shared
objectives, with a particular focus on organizations serving populations at
risk of food insecurity.
Several regularly-held social events will include an annual harvest festival, which could include several active learning sessions that highlight recent research pertaining to agriculture and sustainability presented in a lay-accessible manner, food processing demonstrations, and family fun activities.
Several regularly-held social events will include an annual harvest festival, which could include several active learning sessions that highlight recent research pertaining to agriculture and sustainability presented in a lay-accessible manner, food processing demonstrations, and family fun activities.
The Farm will also host a set of digital social
media communication platforms for the regular exchange of information, in which
research, events, and experiential learning information can be openly
exchanged.
Research
We seek to support interdisciplinary,
experiential, and applied research targeted toward enhancement of the viability
of urban food systems, which may include innovations in production techniques,
and evaluation of the social, economic, and ecological characteristics of
practices and products appropriate to urban agriculture.
Guiding Principles
Pursued in Management Decision-making:
1.
Farm activities will be designed to create
awareness and motivate further citizen engagement in urban food systems, and
enhance food security.
2.
Agricultural operations will follow ecological
principles of management, with the overall goal of minimizing water and energy
consumption; and improving the health and productivity of the land base,
including the practice of soil enhancement techniques, biological diversity, wildlife
habitat, and avoidance of the use of synthetic chemicals.
3.
Operations will strive for economic
sustainability and independence from outside funding through efficient food
production and marketing via farm gate sales, farmer’s market sales, and other wholesale outlets, with a preference for
local, independent retailers; and collection of fees for learning events,
allocated according to ability to pay.
4.
We will strive to maximize our material
contribution to local food security through donations of fresh produce to
social service agencies serving low-income and under-privileged populations.
