Abundance Community Farm

05/11/2024

Angels visited the farm last night 🪽

03/28/2024

We are honoured and excited to host Sonz Youth Regional Immersion for 2 days this April 20-21, 2024!

If you know families with boys 11 - 19 years old in the Lower Mainland, please invite them to explore this remarkable opportunity.

As boys become young men, it's imperative for them to have safe space to explore the edges of their identity. Positive peer and adult male role models are an important part of developing a healthy self-image and self-confidence as a teenage boy.

Sonz Youth is a group mentoring and rites of passage organization whose mission is to "support and celebrate the journey from boyhood to manhood". https://www.sonzyouth.org. They host exceptional events in wild nature for boys 11 - 19 years of age (and will accept boys as young as 9 if they're emotionally ready), as well as worldwide virtual programs. This two day gathering is designed to support boys and young men to develop self awareness, emotional intelligence, form healthy friendships and work together with mentors on the foundations of a healthy manhood.

During the two-day gathering, up to 25 boys and 10 mentors will gather at the farm to circle up and share, play experiential games, hike, do yoga, breathwork and meditation and generally have a blast. Sonz Youth uses a group mentoring model where no less than 2 mentors and 2 young men are together at any time. This ensures the safety and transparency of the entire group.

The weekend begins at 9am Saturday and ends at 5pm Sunday evening, food is provided and youth just need to bring their own bedding and outdoor gear, there will also be an opportunity to circle up with all participants and their families at each end of the experience.

We are excited to help Sonz Youth bring this important community work to our region! Would your son benefit from connection with positive mentors and peers and sharing a fun and sacred space?

Learn more here: https://www.sonzyouth.org/in-person-events

03/03/2024

The seeding begins! Despite the fat white flakes falling from the sky today we started the first veggie seeding for the season ahead.

I’m thrilled to have our newest Abundance resident Johanne joining me in offering leadership in the garden.
😍🙏🏼👩🏻‍🌾

We began by picking up a truck load of premium compost from our friend Andrew at terra flora soil in Chilliwack. We use this in our seeding mix recipe. This year we are trying a different recipe that consists of compost and coconut coir on a 1:1 ratio, enough to fill the wheelbarrow, along with a few cups of sand and worm castings. This mix will provide the combination of water retention, drainage and nutrients to grow healthy seedlings.

We choose to use coconut coir (fibrous husks from coconuts) because it is a renewable product, unlike the peat moss found in most premixed seedling mixtures.

The mining of peat bogs can be likened to cutting down the old growth forest. Like forests of giant trees, peat bogs take centuries to form and they are the largest natural terrestrial carbon store on earth. Peat bogs sequester more carbon than all other vegetation types in the world combined. Destroying peat bogs is one of the biggest sources of CO2 and greenhouse gases.

We seeded some cool tolerant veggie varieties including onions, leeks and cabbages. We will also start a few flower varieties in preparation for a wedding at the farm this August.

The seeds are planted in trays that sit on top of heating pads. Heat and moisture are central to the process of germination. We will be sure to introduce you to the green babies soon after they emerge.
Looking forward to a great season ahead!!

Melanie 👩🏻‍🌾💖🙏🏼

10/22/2023

This is a session by Rupert who grows seeds at Abundance and our neighbour Jim who grows amazing organic grains!!

BC Seed Gathering session highlight 🌾

Hear from a panel of small-scale grain growers and learn the potential for growing, and processing, grains on your farm. From field to plate, learn the tips, tricks, DIY tools, and farm hacks for producing and processing small-scale heirloom grains.

This presentation is designed for people thinking about the possibility of growing small grains. It will discuss general factors to consider in deciding whether to grow grains, what grains to grow, how and at what scale. It will deal with practical issues that arise at each step, from seeding to harvesting and processing, to marketing, seed saving and community building. Rather than “selling” the benefits of grain growing, the session aims to help each participant think through each step in the process from their perspective, to see if it makes sense for them to turn an idea that seems “cool” into an operation that is “do-able” in their community for years to come.

🗓 November 3rd & 4th, 2023
📍 KPU Richmond Campus

See the schedule, learn more, and purchase tickets here: https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/bc-seed-security-program/bc-seed-gathering/

Thank you to our sponsors:
Good Earth Farms and Salt Spring Seed Sanctuary

10/22/2023

Some of us at the farm have taken course with this organization, highly recommend them to support paths to decolonization 🙏🏼💚👩🏻‍🌾

come Join us online for an informative, interactive & impactful learning experience. At the elements of truth KinSHIFT.ca
Register here https://elementsoftruth.eventbrite.ca/

10/22/2023

Amazing!!

Today's Community Fridge! Located in Mount Pleasant on 265 East 4th Avenue (E 4th & Scotia alley)

Please take any food you need and leave what you can.
Vancouver Community Fridge Project

07/18/2023

We have abundant ways for you to engage with Self, Land, and Community, including in our beautiful circular Medicine Herb Garden!

Join us on Sunday, July 30th for a hands on playshop in the Medicine Garden.

Whether you're new to the farm or regular “farmily”, you are invited to join us on the last Sunday of each month when Rupert Adams, medicinal herb and seed grower, author & herbalist, will host us in the circle Medicine Garden. We'll be tending the garden, learning about the plants and organic/regenerative gardening techniques, and as plants are ready, preparing some medicines, and saving seeds.

Come learn about the 40+ varieties of medicinal plants and contribute to the overall well-being of Abundances' Medicinal Herb Garden.

DATE: Sunday, July 30, 2023
TIME: 11 am - 2 pm
By Donation

If you are new to the farm, please email [email protected] for details about visiting the farm.

07/07/2023

Are you keen for the pace of country life?
Want to get your hands in the soil?
Join us as a garden support worker for an extended stay at Abundance Community Farm🌱👩‍🌾✊👨‍🌾🌱

We are still accepting applications for volunteer seasonal garden support positions. Rustic accommodations, garden produce and community connections included!

Please fill out the application below, and email [email protected] with any questions you have.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Garden support worker:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P5ChYEBWhbVBGKKBGYQPH0sxKTauTVOiXliLXDpegsQ/edit

04/17/2023

Sun good.