About Us
Purpose
- To grow vegetables and to harvest healthy produce to give to charitable food distribution organizations.
- To promote sustainability through workshops on issues related to food rescue, food security, organic practices, farm gardens and youth.
- To link with other similar projects who embrace the spirit of developing food rescue initiatives for the hungry, food preservation and community development through collaborations and the sharing of resources.
History
In 2001, a group of volunteers started the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project (RFTSP) by picking surplus fruit out of people’s gardens to give to the Richmond Food Bank. They were aided by Vancouver Fruit Tree Project and the Richmond Community Kitchen organization. In 2002 the project became a registered non-profit society with five founding directors. It expanded to growing vegetables on a small scale on donated land. Since then their efforts have expanded significantly. The Sharing Farm project now occupies over three acres in the Terra Nova Rural Park and has an apple and pear tree orchard at the foot of Gilbert Road.
In ten years, this community based farm has grown and distributed over 200,000 pounds of produce to those in need.
Awards
- 2001 Volunteer Richmond Nova Star Award for Innovation
- 2002 Scotiabank United Way Lower Mainland Community Spirit Award
- 2008 Volunteer Richmond Star Award for the Greenhouse Social Club
Our Partners and Financial Supporters
Financial Support
Avenue Machinery
Canada Summer Jobs – Service Canada
City of Richmond
Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
Home Depot Canada Foundation
Roof Contractors Assoc. of BC
Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise
Stonecrop Design
TD Friends Of The Environment Foundation
University Sprinklers
VanCity
VanWells Nursery
West Coast Seeds
Work Safe BC
Community Partners and Supporters
Canadian Mental Health Association
City of Richmond
Gilmore United Church
Kwantlen Polytechnic University – Richmond Farm School
Pathways Aboriginal Centre
Richmond Family Place
Richmond Food Bank
Richmond Food Security Society
Richmond School District
Richmond School Yard Society
Turning Point Recovery Society
Volunteer Richmond
The RFTSP has a registered charitable number with CACR.
