URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM

Urban agriculture truly brings the farm into the city--but not a farm like anything you've ever seen before. The Field to Table Urban Agriculture Project demonstrates new and innovative ways to grow food in cities, on a scale that is larger than a typical community garden plot but smaller than a rural farm. At our warehouse in downtown Toronto simple technologies to grow food in the city are being developed. Small community-based businesses are being created that improve Toronto's food self-sufficiency and reduce the need for imports coming from a long distance.

The Field to Table Urban Agriculture Project, founded by Annex Organics, has been home to a sprouting business, a rooftop greenhouse and garden, living machines, and a composting system. It now also includes honey bee hives and, off site, the Sunshine Garden, a 6000 sq ft market garden.

By experimenting with different growing methods, inventing some new ones and adapting some very old ones, the Urban Agriculture Project is able to show us just what is possible on rooftops and forgotten spaces around the city.

Have you ever complained about the cardboard taste of a tomato? Then you haven't tried a Brandywine or a Black Krim. These varieties have been planted by gardeners for over one hundred years (sometimes more) and handed down because we value their flavour, not their ability to travel hundreds or thousands of miles in the back of a truck. By growing them in the city we can cut out that travel time and expense and ensure that the food we eat has the best possible flavour and highest nutritional value.

Growing sprouts and seedlings is a great way to improve access to fresh, local greens.

We also offer workshops on a variety of urban agriculture topics teaching people how to grow their own food in the city: eg rooftop and container growing methods; growing heirloom plan varieties and more.

Volunteers in the Urban Agriculture program most often focus on gardening, greenhouse work or composting.

Every spring we combine a plant sale with organic, heirloom seedlings with our Annual General Meeting.