Salt Spring’s market farmers — and backyard growers — have a special opportunity to help the island’s food bank this year, as organizers are launching a Grow a Row campaign to fill shelves and fridges during a period of transition for Harvest Farm.
The organic farm — which organizers say grows about 10,000 pounds of produce each year for Island Community Services’ (ICS) food bank, home meals, community fridges and other programs — is in the process of moving operations to ICS’ recently purchased property next to the new fire hall on Brinkworthy Road. Food programs manager Jamie Ferguson said volunteers were excited about the move, and were fielding interested questions from islanders who’ve noticed all the activity.
“There’s a lot of stuff happening there,” she said. “We’ve got it all fenced now, have a little parking lot and an access road; we’ve got an old well going and some water catchment, a new pump house — and two big 30 by 50 greenhouses. We’re really pushing to get the farm going.”
After drainage improvements around those greenhouses are complete, Ferguson said the next effort would be working the new land with a target of getting cover crops in this fall — so they can start growing produce in earnest next year.
“We’re fortunate; most food banks don’t have a farm,” said Ferguson. “But as we transition from one farm to another, we don’t have the funds to run two; this year, we’re going to be growing a lot less on our acre in the Burgoyne Valley.”
To bridge that gap, the Grow a Row campaign invites participants to plant one extra row in their fields and gardens — or simply sign up to donate any surplus produce to the program. Ferguson said the first step would be a conversation with growers about what they’re growing, and when. Storage crops work best for most of ICS’ programs, she said, things that keep well like carrots, beets, onions, potatoes and winter squash.
“I’ve been really clear — I don’t want to end up with everybody’s zucchinis!” she laughed. “But everybody who signs up, I’m actually going to call and have a conversation with them, because I want it to be a collaborative relationship — whatever works for farmers, as well as what works for us.”
About a dozen people have already signed up, Ferguson said, happily with no “repeats” of the same crops so far. It’s an excellent way for backyard growers and farmers to contribute, Ferguson said — and there’s even a tax credit for market farmers.
“So we’ll keep track of whatever produce they bring, we’ll track the amount and weight,” said Ferguson. “And then at the end of the season we’ll be able to give them a receipt for what they’ve donated and they’ll be able to apply for this tax credit, which could be 25 per cent back for them — which is amazing!”
Every row and every harvest helps ensure local families continue to receive fresh, healthy food, she said — and with this program, there’s no such thing as too much help.
“The produce won’t go bad,” said Ferguson. “If we have a surplus at any time, all it means is maybe people will get more delicious carrots than they would’ve normally. That’s hardly a bad thing!”
For information and to sign up, visit harvestsaltspring.ca/grow-a-row.