Last fall (September to November 2014), I was blessed with the opportunity to be a working member of Ryerson University's Farm the Roof program.
The 12-week journey of getting to know the people, soil and plants that produced the food I ate (and used to feed my family) was an inspiring game changer.
The 12-week journey of getting to know the people, soil and plants that produced the food I ate (and used to feed my family) was an inspiring game changer.
Fresh air, sunshine, surreally beautiful roof-top views of greenery and Toronto's cityscape -- Each week provided a delicious and rich opportunity for me to reconnect with and indulge my deep love of the earth and plants, and for preparing and, of course devouring, good nutritious food.
Working on the roof-top with the members led by farm coordinator, Arlene Throness was a dream. Arlene has the enchanting presence of a real live garden fairy. I admire her easy-going manner and the way she guided us through the fall harvest and preparations for winter, sharing her knowledge graciously, always with a generous sprinkling of her lovely sense of humour.
Together, we helped nurture and harvest organic produce, learned to broadcast and sprout seeds, build a compost pile, plant garlic, grow mushrooms and so much more.
I saw and sampled a gorgeous assortment of veggies, many varieties I'd never seen or tasted before. And I felt an undeniable surge in vitality from eating the freshest local organic produce, picked by my own hand.
Working on the roof-top with the members led by farm coordinator, Arlene Throness was a dream. Arlene has the enchanting presence of a real live garden fairy. I admire her easy-going manner and the way she guided us through the fall harvest and preparations for winter, sharing her knowledge graciously, always with a generous sprinkling of her lovely sense of humour.
Together, we helped nurture and harvest organic produce, learned to broadcast and sprout seeds, build a compost pile, plant garlic, grow mushrooms and so much more.
I saw and sampled a gorgeous assortment of veggies, many varieties I'd never seen or tasted before. And I felt an undeniable surge in vitality from eating the freshest local organic produce, picked by my own hand.
With future dreams of my own farmstead, this experience has also shed light on the required inputs and yields of a small farm and CSA market garden operation.
Overall, I'm most grateful that my experience in the Farm the Roof program has confirmed:
1) it IS very possible to grow nutritious food organically on a small farm even in an ultra-urban setting;
2) I need to learn as much as I can about permaculture design and do as much hands-on biodynamic farm work as possible;
3) my desire and intention to homestead and grow my own food is more than a sentimental pipe dream -- it is a wise and viable personal food security strategy whose time has come.
Overall, I'm most grateful that my experience in the Farm the Roof program has confirmed:
1) it IS very possible to grow nutritious food organically on a small farm even in an ultra-urban setting;
2) I need to learn as much as I can about permaculture design and do as much hands-on biodynamic farm work as possible;
3) my desire and intention to homestead and grow my own food is more than a sentimental pipe dream -- it is a wise and viable personal food security strategy whose time has come.