Loutet Farm

Company Visited: Loutet Farm

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

 Website: http://www.ediblegardenproject.com/what-we-do/loutet-farm/

 Mission per company’s website: “increase access to fruits and vegetables and to garden space for those most in need on the North Shore. Increase land used for fruit and vegetable production on the North Shore. Increase knowledge and skills relating to food gardening, thereby increasing community capacity to grow and share locally grown fruits and vegetables. Advise on and support policy development around urban agriculture.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Heather and Galvin. Loutet farm broke ground in February of 2011. This farm initiate as a pilot farm later received approval from to city. It was made from a public piece of property owned by the city. 400 yard of soil for beds, over 200 volunteers, and the first urban farm in north shore. The current living wage in Vancouver is 19/hour, but a framer’s wage is 8.50/hour. It has 10 garden bed and mostly supported by neighborhood volunteers, meaning that community engagement is vital. Products are donated back to the community and also sold in the market. Gardening workshops are provided to the community. The main goal of the farm is to sustain itself. They are also in the process of getting another public property to start an urban farm.