Over the last year we've been working on an Interpretive Sign project to serve as an informative and educational tool for farm visitors and passers-by. Last week the signs were finally installed and we couldn't be happier with the results!
We'd like to thank the Richmond Community Foundation, TD Friends of the Environment, and the Metro Vancouver Agricultural Awareness grant for supporting this initiative. It wouldn't have been possible withouth them.
Be sure to check out these beautiful signs on your next walk through the farm!
Pollinators
Pollinator insects like bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps and flies play a very important
role in agricultural ecosystems. Without these insects, most plants would not be able to produce fruits or seeds. Providing and protecting habitat for pollinators is essential for their survival. Habitat means home: places to live, breed and nest, and nutritious food to eat. The blooming flowers in the Sharing Farm’s fields, along with the carefully planned hedgerows, help pollinators thrive in this urban setting.
Sustainable Agriculture
The Sharing Farm practices sustainable agriculture, to protect our natural environment and
allow future generations to farm on this land. Industrial agriculture leads to soil degradation, water and air pollution, habitat loss and increased carbon emissions.
Sustainable agriculture is achieved in many ways:
Adding compost improves soil health.
Growing cover crops like oats and buckwheat protect the soil and prevent erosion and compaction.
Rotating the type of crop that is grown on each field reduces pests and disease, as well as the need for pesticides.
Tarping and mulching suppress weeds and prevent water evaporation.
Drip irrigation conserves water.
Climate Change and Agriculture
Agricultural production is highly dependent on climate and weather. Climate change is bringing many challenges and changes to agriculture. The Sharing Farm practices sustainable agriculture to adapt to these changes.
Our greenhouses, heated by the sun, extend the growing season and protect our crops against cold snaps, hail and heavy rain.
Drip irrigation systems slowly trickle water onto plant roots, reducing evaporation, conserving valuable water and helping crops withstand drought and high temperatures.
Raised beds enable crops to survive in flooded fields.
Local Food
Buying locally grown produce directly supports farms, helps preserve farmland, and boosts the local economy. Small-scale, sustainable farms like The Sharing Farm contribute to a region’s overall food security, enhance communities, and connect people to agriculture. Supporting local farms minimizes your food miles: the distance between where food is grown and where it’s consumed. Fewer food miles reduce fossil fuel consumption, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, and increase food’s freshness, flavour and nutritional value.
The Sharing Farm: Who We Are
Our mission is to grow food and community through farming, to advance food security,
connect people to agriculture, and champion sustainable food systems. The Sharing Farm was founded in the late 1990s by Mary Gazetas and a group of dedicated Richmond residents to provide fresh, nutritious produce to food bank clients. The Sharing Farm came to Terra Nova Park in 2005. Every year, hundreds of volunteers work with us to donate thousands of pounds of fresh produce to food banks and community meal programs. Join us!