The Acadia Community Farm is a small garden in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Now entering its fourth productive season, the Acadia Community Farm is dedicated to producing local, organic food for Wheelock dining hall at Acadia University and The Wolfville Food Bank, as well as providing a friendly and supportive atmosphere where students and community members alike can grow food for themselves. Through workshops, conferences and volunteer opportunities, the Farm engages and unites the community around the topic of food.
The Acadia Community Farm is sustainability through action. It’s through education and sharing our collective knowledge that we empower students and community members to learn from each other while producing both vegetables and a better tomorrow.
The Acaida Community Farm working committee: (left to right) Kira McLean, Mike Belyea, Jake Munroe, Emily Walker, Libby Vervaeke, Dewey Dunnington, Liesel Carlsson. Missing: Jodie Noiles
The concept of the Acadia Farm came about in September, 2008 when a few students started dreaming about FOOD. Not just any food mind you, but really, really good food. We wanted to eat it, of course, but we also wanted to plant it, to help it grow, to pick it, and to make sure it was the best food we could possibly imagine finally ending up on our plates and the plates of our friends. We saw ourselves working beside young kids, retirees, teachers, neighbours and roommates in a plot of land on our university campus. We wanted the very tomatoes we harvested in the morning to make their way up to Wheelock dining hall throughout the day to be eaten by our friends in their salads at dinnertime. We imagined that this garden would become a place to learn about farming, and about the value of organic and local foods for communities and for the environment.
The project consists of two main components:
- The Acadia Farm, Vegetable Production for Acadia’s Cafeteria — A student operated farm that will grow organic vegetables to serve on campus, replacing the pesticide and fertilizer intensive food that is currently sourced from all corners of the globe. Students have the opportunity to learn about organic growing techniques and the importance of sustainable agriculture, all while contributing directly to the health and vitality of Acadia’s student community .
- The Acadia Community Garden, Vegetable Production for YOU – Land will be divided into plots for anyone to use to grow vegetables. Growers would have complete creative control over their areas, but also access to tools and plenty of good advice and great company.
- The Acadia Community Farm, Vegetable Production for the Community — In 2009 the Acadia Community Farm started making regular deliveries to the Wolfville Food Bank, and since has supported other community initiatives in need of good, fresh, local food.
The entire project is focused on collaboration. The farm can be incorporated into university curriculum, elementary school classes can visit or even participate in the garden, and workshops about anything food-related can be held on-site. The possibilities are endless.
We are in the garden!! Let us know what you think and if you’d like to get involved.
questions, comments, free-form poetry, and theme song submissions welcome at info@acadiafarm.org
