What does it take to move a community farm? A Community!

The Farmers on 57th market garden is moving! As many of our members, neighbours & friends of the farm are aware, this year marks the beginning of a transition phase for the Farmers on 57th urban farm. The George Pearson Centre land on which we grow (formerly owned by Vancouver Coastal Health) is undergoing full redevelopment, starting now.

The first phase of the Pearson Dogwood Lands construction has already begun, as is obvious now when you visit the market garden. Despite all the turmoil & sadness of this being our last farming season on our current soils, there is much to be excited about. We look forward to what will eventually become Vancouver’s first master-planned urban farm. For details on the Pearson Dogwood development visit the City of Vancouver’s website. The Daily Hive also does a good recap here.

Knowing how much we all care about the Market Garden and the access to fertile space to grow fresh food in the city, we want to keep everyone in the loop on the transition that will take place over the course of this season:

Now – November 2018: Last CSA, Grow Your Own Food Course & Community Garden season at our current market garden site. ONNI begins demolition/construction on Phase 1 of the development. An interesting backdrop to the market garden this year…

Now – Winter 2018: Build New Market Garden Site. Your farmers & urban farm learning program volunteers will be working extra hard to build the transitional farm on the west side of the Pearson centre (entrance off Heather Street). The new market garden will be tucked in between Wards 1, 3 & 4 of George Pearson Centre, nicely adjacent to the Farmers on 57th therapeutic gardens. The south facing slopes are ripe with growing potential and program cross-over between the market garden, the George Pearson Residents and garden club, not to mention the Temporary Modular Housing at the corner of 59th & Heather. If you'd like to help build the new market garden site, and be notified of weekend work parties, be in touch! Or sign up here.

Spring 2019 – onwards until construction of final farm: Farmers on 57th grows interim farm & continues to produce delicious food, educate & inspire the community in our new market garden location. Be part of the growth of your community farm by continuing to support our CSA & other programs!

Phase 2 – Phase 3 : Construction of Future Urban Farm. The new home of the 1-acre farm will be located right in the middle of the new Pearson-Dogwood Lands community. It will feature an indoor educational space, instructional plots, and a productive farm. We look forward to helping to design this amazing new green space in the city!

We’ll continue to keep you updated as plans evolve. Make sure to come on out to the market garden this season to enjoy our final months in this beautiful space we’ve been so fortunate to nurture and enjoy over these past 9 years.  It’s a good time to celebrate how lucky we’ve been to have had such a gorgeous oasis in the heart of this community, and to work together to build the next version even better & more impactful for our community. We look forward to continuing to grow together!

Your Farmers on 57th Society; Jess Henry, Karen Ageson, Sarah Wenman & Jen RashleighSign up here to be notified of farm build work parties, or to receive farm news.