Join FarmFolk CityFolk and Young Agrarians on the longest day of the year for our first open house at the new FarmFolk CityFolk Research and Education Seed Farm in Abbotsford! Located at Maple Lane Agriculture Innovation Centre, the Seed Farm is a first-of-its-kind model in Canada that will train current and future seed growers and advance organic vegetable seed research while demonstrating the economic potential of organic seed production in BC. (Read more about the seed farm below)
Date: Friday June 21, 2019
Location: 7591 Satchell St, Abbotsford, BC
Register: The event is free but please register so we have an idea of numbers.
What to Bring: Please bring a dish to share, tools to eat with, and a chair or a blanket if you wish to join for the potluck/intro circle portion. Bring gumboots in case of rain.
SHARE: Planning on joining us? Please invite your friends and share our Facebook event!
Children are welcome but please leave furry friends at home. This event is free and open to everyone.
Schedule
2:30 – 5:30: OPEN HOUSE/FARM TOURS
5:30 – 7:00 POTLUCK! Bring plate + cutlery and a dish to share – plus your friends and family!
7:00 (ish): YOUNG AGRARIANS INTRO CIRCLE
Come early if it works for your schedule or come later to join the evening activities. Watch the Facebook event page for updates!
At the open house we will hold walking tours of the seed farm; talk about our first season of seed crops; look at some of the seed research we are already participating in; and discuss the future of the farm as we develop and grow.
The Seed Farm was matched with Maple Lane Farm through the B.C. Land Matching Program by Young Agrarians. This will be a great opportunity to chat with Land Matchers and learn more – especially if you have land or are looking for land to farm!
Falling on the summer solstice, we’ll take the open house into the evening with food and on-farm activities to help us celebrate the longest day of the year. Co-hosted by Young Agrarians we’ll transition into an evening of conversation, food, and fun with the Seed Farm’s first Young Agrarians event!
We’ll also be visiting other activities being developed on the farm including:
- An aquaponics testing and learning centre, in partnership with UBC, which has the goal of producing replicable systems that will help more isolated communities to increase their food security and educational opportunities.
- Lepp Family Farm and Lepp Farm Market’s new hydroponic growing system at Maple Lane that will allow the local community the opportunity to purchase locally grown food at times of the year when most of the vegetables are imported.
- BC Chicken Growers’ Association’s Poultry in Motion Mini Barn, exhibiting different stages of chicken production in BC.
- And more to be announced.
Volunteer Opportunities
We’re looking for volunteers – if you’re keen to come help out for a short shift, please reach out to chris@farmfolkcityfolk.ca ♥
Please also note this is a working farm and some areas are not easily accessible for those with mobility aids. We will, however, do our best to accommodate you if you need mobility support on the farm.
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The Farm Folk CityFolk Research and Education Seed Farm’s goals are to:
– Conduct vegetable seed research to increase food system resiliency through seed trials and variety improvement to help organic vegetable producers meet production challenges and changing climate conditions
– Train farmers in a live, learning environment on best practices for producing high-quality organic and ecological vegetable seed
– Model an economically viable seed farm business by openly sharing business planning documents as well as seed and food production best practices
– Demonstrate how leasing programs can effectively link farmers with owners of agriculture land for mutual benefit.
– Engage the public through hands-on educational opportunities that demonstrate the importance of seed to food security and sustainability