DIGGING DEEPER
Sole Food Farms
399 Hawks Ave.
Michael Ableman didn’t embrace an urban agriculture movement — he pioneered it. Beginning in California in the early 1980s, Ableman established one of the earliest models of modern and sustainable urban agriculture at what’s now The Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens. He has continued to push the field’s envelope since moving north to oversee additional operations including the Centre for Arts, Ecology and Agriculture at Foxglove Farm on Salt Spring Island and Sole Food Farms: a network of farms throughout Vancouver that provide employment to 25 individuals who are dealing with drug addiction and mental illness. In their own words, “Sole Food transforms vacant urban land into street farms that grow artisan quality fruits and vegetables… [its] mission is to empower individuals with limited resources by providing jobs, agricultural training and inclusion in a supportive community of farmers and food lovers.”
You can see the farms for yourself and find their produce at these farmers markets and restaurants.
Vancouver Farmers Markets
Multiple locations
Vancouver Farmers Markets have slowly grown to be one of the keystone food activities of our city, happening at least every week year round (at some locations). It has been a benchmark for the promotion and celebration of all things local. They do millions of dollars in sales every year!
—Britney Gill
UBC Farm
3461 Ross Drive
604.822.5092
The UBC Farm is a group that I am particularly passionate about; the intersection of tangible education, applied learning and local, healthy and nutritious food are in my opinion the most inspiring (and necessary) facets to education. They have, in the past, been somewhat undermined, to see their demand and increasing public support is really exciting. Sprouting new stewards to our local food system is extremely important and it is beautiful to see more and more people drawn to growing and learning about food, especially students…. Farms and gardens are not only important for what they physically provide but for the connections they nourish within communities.”
—Britney Gill
Photo credit: Alyson Strike Photography
