Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins plans to buy a hydroponic farm

Timmins anti-hunger group to take over farm Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins says it is in the process of taking over ownership of a hydroponic farm.

Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins (ACT) is in the process of taking over ownership of a hydroponic farm.

Although the plan is in an early stage, the not-for-profit organization is working with a consulting company to ensure a successful outcome.

The organization hosted a drop-in session Tuesday for anyone who wanted to learn more about this new development.

For the past couple of years, the group has been working and learning from Marc Rodrigue, owner of Borealis Fresh Farms.

ACT is working with the Community Company, a consulting firm out of Kitchener, to come up with a plan to buy the farm.

Officials said it’s a multi-year project and the vision is ambitious.

"We're hoping to create some part-time jobs out of it so that we can interact with maybe some more vulnerable community members to be able to work in the farms, earn a little bit of income and be around the beautiful plants and, you know, be around a little bit better mental health as they're transitioning into possibly full-time work somewhere," said Kelsey MacDonnell, executive director of Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins.

"This is a community-led effort and people with expertise in this space people with time, with energy," added Justin Chan, executive director of the Community Company.

"We really want to build this together. You know, this is Step 1 in, really, a multi-year journey to building a hydroponic farm that can support our community. So we're really looking forward to having conversations with people who are excited about this."

So far, ACT has purchased some growing equipment within Borealis Fresh Farms and is already producing basil and lettuce that it’s selling at its public markets.

"Our markets are open to everybody," said MacDonnell.

"Same with our good food boxes. They're open for anybody to purchase. We hope through community support of anybody in the community, we can then offer some subsidized help for people who are lower income. But if we don't have other people coming to the market to help support the market, then we're not able to do that sort of initiative for more lower-income individuals."

Officials said the farm project is an opportunity for people to encourage and promote food security in the community by ensuring everyone has access to affordable health food.