Flour Mill Community Farm holding annual open house Wednesday
The public is invited to the Flour Mill Community Farm’s 6th annual Open Farm on Wednesday Aug. 17.
This is an opportunity for the community to tour the space and sample some of the farm’s produce which will be used to prepare snacks supplied by Knowhere Public House.
Live musical entertainment will be provided by local powerhouse, singer-songwriter, Lisa Marie Naponse. The Indigenous artist, of Atikameksheng Anishinawbek territory, does her best to live her best life. Her music is influenced by prime country, MJB, 90’s grunge, Aaliyah, R & B, the blues and her parents, Jeff and Dolores. Naponse is working on releasing her first album.
The Flour Mill Community Farm is Sudbury’s first urban farm. The project, by the Social Planning Council of Sudbury, started in May 2017. The farm cultivates 2,500 square feet of fertile ground near the Ryan Heights Park.
“I couldn’t have been more excited about the potential benefit to the surrounding neighbourhoods. The urban farm was a welcome addition to the park, which had just opened a brand new $87,000 playground structure, an enhanced community garden, and a revitalized youth centre,” Robert Kirwan, Ward 5 Councillor for Greater Sudbury, told CTV News.
Now in its sixth year, the farm has provided meaningful employment to almost 50 area youths through the YMCA Employment Services and the Canada Summer Jobs program. After a successful fundraising campaign this past winter, the farm was able to employ 14 young people this summer through these programs.
“The Flour Mill Community Farm uses ecological agriculture as a tool to help youth gain meaningful job experience, social skills development, and a connection to the environment and the food system. This initiative aims to break the cycle of poverty by intercepting youth at a transitional stage in life,” the farm said in a news release Saturday.
The fresh, ecologically grown produce harvested at the farm each year is offered at affordable prices to those living near the farm in the Ryan Heights neighbourhood through a weekly market.
Kirwan told CTV News, he has seen the positive impact the urban farm has had on the neighbourhood and how they often walk over to talk with the workers at the farm during the summer.
“This is a program that adds so much to the community. I am hoping that we will be able to provide permanent funding for the urban farm program so that the farm can cultivate an even larger space at Ryan Heights and expand to other suitable sites in the City of Greater Sudbury,” added Kirwan.
To donate to the Flour Mill Community Farm visit the Social Planning Council of Sudbury’s “Canada Helps” donation page.
The open farm event is Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 736 Bruce Ave next to the Ryan Heights Playground.
More information about the farm and the event can be found on the community farm’s Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.