A gardening program called City Farms, which grew fresh produce for donation to Edmonton’s Food Bank, has been shut down due to budget cuts by the City of Edmonton. The program started in 2020 and involved over 200 volunteers planting and growing fruits and vegetables. Over the course of four years, City Farms harvested and donated over 250,000 pounds of produce to the food bank, benefiting about 40,000 people who rely on the food bank’s hamper program each month. With the discontinuation of City Farms, there will be less fresh food available for low-income families in Edmonton.
The closure of City Farms has also impacted pop-up community gardens in Edmonton, which were started during the pandemic to address the need for more green space and tackle food insecurity. Junetta Jamerson, a community garden facilitator with Sustainable Food Edmonton, highlighted the importance of funding for these gardens to establish and increase productivity. However, with the current lack of support, the gardens are struggling, especially at a time when food insecurity is at its peak. Funding cutbacks have left these community gardens without the resources they need to continue operating effectively.
The decision to cut funding for City Farms was made by the city council in order to reduce a larger tax increase projected for 2025. The city stated that the focus now is on maintaining essential services and core infrastructure projects. Funding that was previously allocated to City Farms will now be redirected to the city’s horticulture program, with existing staff being redeployed to support this work. The city emphasized the importance of maintaining open spaces and mobility networks accessible and safe for the residents of Edmonton, leading to the discontinuation of City Farms.
Tamiscan-Bencz Knight, manager of strategic relationships & partnerships at Edmonton’s Food Bank, expressed disappointment at the closure of City Farms and the impact it will have on providing fresh produce to those in need. She mentioned that the team is looking into alternative options to keep a version of City Farms running, such as providing seeds and additional volunteers. The city has offered to assist the Food Bank in exploring other solutions and will continue to support its programs, such as the ‘Stuff-a-Bus’ initiative. Despite the challenges, efforts are being made to find ways to continue providing fresh, nutritious food to low-income families in Edmonton.
In response to the closure of City Farms, the community is rallying to find ways to support local food security initiatives. Both the Food Bank and Sustainable Food Edmonton are exploring alternative solutions and seeking additional funding to keep their programs running. The loss of City Farms has highlighted the importance of community support and funding for projects that promote food security and sustainable agriculture. As the city redirects resources to core services, it is essential for organizations and community members to work together to address the growing needs of vulnerable populations, ensuring access to fresh, healthy food for all residents of Edmonton.
Overall, the closure of City Farms in Edmonton due to budget cuts has had a significant impact on local food security initiatives and community gardens. The decision to discontinue the program has led to concerns about the availability of fresh produce for low-income families who rely on the Food Bank. Despite the challenges, efforts are being made to explore alternative solutions and secure additional funding to support these important projects. Moving forward, collaboration between organizations, volunteers, and the city will be key in maintaining efforts to address food insecurity and promote sustainable agriculture in Edmonton.
