Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society

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Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society

Growing food. Growing communities. Growing community through growing food in Vancouver, BC
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11/08/2024

Only one week left to apply to be a part of Metro Vancouver’s Youth and Education Advisory Panel! If you’re between the ages of 13 – 25 and want to help shape the region, make your voice heard. The panel provides valuable feedback, input, and advice to Metro Vancouver staff to support engagement and education of youth in our region.

For those who are hesitant, as one of the founding members Sam says “Don't be! Everyone has something unique to bring to the table; every perspective is valuable in its own way. The YEAP network is incredibly supportive as well.”

The panel consists of 18 volunteer members, including up to six representatives from three groups:

1. high-school (13 – 18 years)
2. post-secondary youth (18 – 25 years)
3. K-12 education professionals

Panel meetings are held four times per year outside of school hours. The panel receives and reviews information, engage in discussion, and provide comments for consideration on regional issues like managing wastewater, reducing waste in the region, Climate 2050 initiatives, and K-12 and youth programs and resources.

Applications to the Youth and Education Advisory Panel will be accepted until Friday, November 15, 2024. Apply today: https://buff.ly/3AprMRY

10/16/2024

This World Food Day, we are reminded that food is not just a commodity—it is a fundamental human right. The right to food, enshrined in international human rights law, ensures that every person has access to the diverse, nutritious, and safe food needed for a healthy life. Yet, hunger and malnutrition continue to affect millions worldwide.

Even though farmers produce enough food to feed the world, inequalities within and between countries prevent equitable access. Approximately 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet, while unhealthy diets have become the leading cause of malnutrition in all its forms—whether it's undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, or obesity. The consequences of this are felt across socio-economic classes and are often worsened by crises such as extreme weather events, economic disruptions, and conflict.

At Fresh Roots, we believe that transforming agri-food systems is essential to addressing both hunger and climate change. Our vision of resilient, sustainable, and equitable food systems comes to life through our schoolyard farms and place-based programs. By growing and sharing food in community, we cultivate spaces where young people develop leadership skills, learn to care for the land, and work towards a food system that nourishes everyone.

This World Food Day, we call for systems that make diverse, nutritious, and affordable food accessible to all.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

10/15/2024

🌿 Team Build and Volunteering with Fresh Roots - Coast Capital Savings 🌿

We had an amazing day with the Coast Capital Savings team! After some warm-up intros in the garden, everyone jumped in to help with planting and harvesting tasks.

The group cleared weeds, fluffed up garden beds, and added granular amendments before planting our precious Russian Red Garlic – a heritage crop we've been saving and replanting for over 10 years! Meanwhile, others bundled herbs for market and CSA members and prepped garlic cloves for future planting.

The garlic will be covered with straw and will grow until we start harvesting green garlic in May, with a full harvest ready by July. These crops will eventually be sold at market by youth in our SOYL Internship program 🌱.

Thank you for your incredible energy and hard work – it’s always a joy to plant the future together!

Coast Capital

10/09/2024

🎉 The Big Day is Here! 🎉

We can’t wait to see you tonight at the Fresh Roots Harvest Celebration! 🌿 Enjoy live music, local vendors, raffle prizes, and our final market of the season! 🍅🎶 Let’s celebrate the harvest and community together!

🗓️ Today from 5-7 PM
📍 Vancouver Technical Secondary School
🎟️ Free Entry

10/08/2024

🌿 Meet the Vendor: Beespoke Textiles 🌿

We’re thrilled to have Beespoke Textiles at our final market of the season during the Harvest Celebration! 🧶✨ Using naturally grown and harvested plants, Bea creates one-of-a-kind, naturally dyed textile pieces. Each limited-edition item is a true celebration of the natural world, reflecting the seasonal harvest and years of close collaboration with plants. Don’t miss out on these unique, hand-crafted treasures!

🗓️ Tomorrow from 5-7 PM
📍 Vancouver Technical Secondary

Beespoke Textiles

10/08/2024

🍺 Raffle Highlight: 33 Acres Brewing Company Gift Basket 🍺

We're excited to feature a gift basket from 33 Acres Brewing Co. in our Harvest Celebration! It includes a tote bag, a six-pack of 33 Acres of Sunshine, and a $50 gift certificate. 🌞 This refreshing French Blanche beer pairs perfectly with these fall days! 🌿

🗓️ October 9th from 5-7 PM
📍 Vancouver Technical Secondary School

10/07/2024

🍅🥕 Last Market of the Season! 🌽🥬

Join us at our final market of the year during the Harvest Celebration! Stock up on fresh, seasonal produce like kale, carrots, squash, and more. Plus, we’ll have homemade jam, bread, eggs, and delicious coffee! ☕🍞 Don’t miss this last chance to grab your fall favorites!

🗓️ October 9th from 5-7 PM
📍 Vancouver Technical Secondary School

10/06/2024

🎶 Meet the Band: Sospiro Misterioso! 🎶

Our Harvest Celebration will be filled with the sounds of Sospiro Misterioso, Vancouver, a 7 to 10-piece folk band bringing lively tunes from Canada and across Europe. 🎻🎵 Expect everything from banjo and drums to mandolins and clarinets ! 🌍 It’s going to be magical! ✨

🗓️ October 9th from 5-7 PM
📍 Vancouver Technical Secondary School

10/05/2024

🌿 Raffle prizes Sneak Peek! 🌿

We’re so excited to feature a beautiful gift basket from Cafe Etico for our Harvest Celebration! 🎁 This basket includes fair-trade and organic treasures like extra virgin olive oil, handmade soap, Camino chocolate, and coffee beans from Chiapas, Peru, and Guatemala! ☕🍫

All proceeds go to supporting our programs. Don’t miss out! 🙌

🗓️ Fresh Roots Harvest Celebration – October 9th from 5-7 PM
📍 Vancouver Technical Secondary School

10/04/2024

The big day is almost here! Join us on October 9th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Vancouver Technical Secondary School for the Fresh Roots Harvest Celebration.

This free, family-friendly event is your chance to celebrate the season's bounty with fresh produce, live music, fun activities, and our final market of the year!

Plus, you'll have a chance to win amazing prizes, and enjoy delicious food and drinks. It’s going to be an unforgettable evening, and we can’t wait to see you there!

10/01/2024

One market left before our Harvest Celebration ! Our veggies are waiting for you : merlot napa cabbage, lettuce heads, salad mix, hakurei salad, turnips, radishes, beets, carrots. If you're craving for some greens, come pick our zucchinis, cucumbers, green tomatoes, green peppers, garlic & onions !

Join us on our market every Wednesdays @ 3-7pm at Vancouver Technical Secondary School (2600 E Broadway in Vancouver, May 29th - Oct 9th)

You can also buy fresh eggs from , bread or delicious cookies from .

See you all very soon !👨‍🌾

10/01/2024

On Truth and Reconciliation Day, we paused to reflect on the painful legacy of residential schools and the resilience of Survivors, their families, and Indigenous communities. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action https://buff.ly/4enhgt5 offer us a path toward healing, justice, and accountability. These calls are not just tasks to be checked off—they represent ongoing commitments to understanding, acknowledging, and supporting the communities that have endured profound trauma and loss.

At Fresh Roots, we have the privilege to farm, learn, and teach on lands that are not ours. Our schoolyard farms are located on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), stóō (Sto), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Coast Salish peoples. We acknowledge the harm that both farming and schooling have caused Indigenous Peoples and the land. As settlers, farmers, and educators, we commit ourselves to ongoing reconciliation by being listeners, food sharers, and responsible stewards of this land.

Yesterday, today, and every day, we commit to learning, growing, and working towards a future where equity, healing, and justice are realities for all Indigenous Peoples.

09/25/2024

🌿 Traction Rec Volunteering with Fresh Roots 🌿

We had a fantastic time with the Traction Rec team on September 17th ! The day kicked off with a special sneak peek of our market stand, where everyone had a chance to grab some fresh veggies before heading out to the fields.

Once in the garden, the team got right to work clearing weeds in an old allium bed, prepping it for new cover crops like buckwheat, broadbean, and barley. The energy and dedication were incredible!

This important work will help improve soil health and support carbon capture, contributing to a more sustainable future. 🌱 Big thanks to the Traction Rec team for their enthusiasm and hard work!

09/24/2024

Only a few markets left ! Our veggies are waiting for you : radishes, carrots and Hakurei turnips, cucumbers but also cherry tomatoes, Asian pears🍐 and many more !

Join us on our market every Wednesdays @ 3-7pm at Vancouver Technical Secondary School (2600 E Broadway in Vancouver, May 29th - Oct 9th)

You can also buy fresh eggs from , bread or delicious cookies from .

See you all very soon !👨‍🌾

09/20/2024

🌿 Team Build with Fresh Roots - Cossette 🌿

It was great to have the Cossette team out in the garden with us on September 18th ! After warming up with some leafy intros, everyone jumped right into action. Some folks worked hard clearing weeds and laying down cardboard and woodchips to create new pathways, while others prepped beds and sowed cover crops like buckwheat, broadbean, and barley.

The harvest crew joined Farmer Nicole to pick beans, brussel sprouts, and basil for the market stand, adding a fresh touch to the day's work.

The team's efforts are helping build healthier soil and contribute to sustainability through carbon capture.
We loved having this amazing group bring their energy and hard work to the farm. 🌱✨

09/17/2024

🎉 Join Us for the Fresh Roots Harvest Celebration! 🎉

🌿 When: October 9, 2024
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Where: Vancouver Technical Secondary, 2600 East Broadway, Vancouver

Celebrate the end of the season with us! This is your chance to gather with the entire Fresh Roots community—students, families, volunteers, donors, CSA members, and more—to enjoy an afternoon of fun, food, and festivities! 🌱✨

Here’s what we’ve got lined up:
🥕 Last market of the season – grab fresh, local produce!
🎶 Live music
🎁 Prizes, activities, and games for all ages
🛍️ Local vendors with unique goods

Plus, we'll take a look back at our summer programs like SOYL, Summer Camps, and all the amazing work on the farm! Come celebrate with the Fresh Roots team and help us close out the season in style. 🎊

The event is free, please register so we can plan your visit ! https://form-can.keela.co/harvest-celebration-oct-9-sign-up

💚 Everyone is welcome! We can't wait to see you there!

09/16/2024

Wednesday we're back to our roots! Radishes (red radish and daikon), carrots and turnips (purple top turnips and rutabaga) but also baby kale, mix Frisee and celery. 🥕

Join us on our market every Wednesdays @ 3-7pm at Vancouver Technical Secondary School (2600 E Broadway in Vancouver, May 29th - Oct 9th)

You can also buy fresh eggs from , bread or delicious cookies from .

See you all very soon !👨‍🌾

09/11/2024

School's back in session, but 2024 Camp Fresh Roots is one we'll never forget! Thank you to our campers, youth volunteers, families, and our incredible staff that made it all happen. 💚

One of our camp parents said it best.
"Our kids LOVED Fresh Roots. The leaders are amazing, kind, responsible and inspiring!!"

Address

5050 Wales Street
Vancouver, BC
V5R3M6

Website

http://freshroots.ca/

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Videos

Here’s how our 2024 #GreatBigCrunch went! Stick around for a surprise twist… Take action and learn more with the Coalition for Healthy School Food: https://buff.ly/4c9SGv9

Thank you to Kitchen Table Restaurants for making Fresh Roots your charitable partner last month, raising nearly $2K to support kids and youth on schoolyard farms 🌱 In April, $1 from each featured dish at their restaurants was donated to support our programs. Kudos to the everyone who ordered these delicious dishes! A huge shoutout to the incredible staff who work hard every day behind-the-scenes at each of their restaurants to make each dish: Ask For Luigi Carlino Di Beppe Pourhouse Bacaro Farina a Legna Pizza Farina

Fresh Roots% 2023 Great Big Crunch

We took the #GreatBigCrunch with Coalition for Healthy School Food to celebrate #HealthySchoolFood! � From coast-to-coast-to-coast, Canadians getting together today to take a #GreatBigCrunch for a healthy school food program. If you want to celebrate #HealthySchoolFood, come crunch with us! bit.ly/Virtual_GBC2023

Working with Fresh Roots_Charlie 2023

Thinking about applying to be a Camp Facilitator this year? Check out Charlie’s story about working at Fresh Roots! Spread the word - we have TWO OPENINGS LEFT! Final interviews start after March 20th: https://freshroots.bamboohr.com/careers/58

2023 Camp Registrations Open Now!

Camp Fresh Roots registrations are now open! Sign up for one of our summer day camps in July and August, where kids ages 5-11 will grow, play, and learn on our schoolyard farms at David Thompson Secondary (South Vancouver) or Suwa’lkh School (Coquitlam). Check out our website for more info & to register: https://freshroots.ca/education/camp/

2023 Summer hiring SM

New year, new job postings! Grow with us this summer by applying to one of our 2023 positions: 🍅 SOYL Program Facilitator 🍅 Good Food Market Lead 🍅 Good Food Field Lead 🍅 Farm Day Camp Staff 🍅 Day Camp Food Specialist 🍅 Assistant Day Camp Director Check out our website for more info: https://freshroots.ca/about/job-opportunities/

Image from iOS (4)

#FlashbackFriday to Maria seeding at Suwa’lkh in July! As we enter a weekend of thankfulness, we are grateful for the seeds that were planted by supporters over the summer to allow SOYL youth and campers to learn and grow on our schoolyard farms, including our site at Suwa’lkh School, which includes the Suwa’lkh Medicine Garden, an orchard and The Healing Forest. Thank you Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Canada Summer Jobs, School District 43 - Coquitlam, and Bonita Zarrillo MP, Port Moody-Coquitlam, Anmore & Belcarra for creating opportunities for youth to engage in our summer schoolyard farms educational programs for kids and youth! Give back to the community this Thanksgiving weekend by donating to our Make It Sow fundraiser campaign by Monday, October 10th: https://freshroots.ca/make-it-sow-2022-fundraising-campaign/

Make It Sow Video

FINAL WEEK to support our MAKE IT SOW Fundraising Campaign! Join Alexa and the Camp Fresh Roots team as we raise $25,000 more to get reach our $75,000 goal to GROW, NURTURE, and DEEPEN our kids & youth programs by the first week of school on SEPTEMBER 6TH. Help us spread the word! You will get a FREE digital copy of our famous Fresh Roots Cookbook when you donate $25 or more! DONATE HERE: https://freshroots.ca/make-it-sow-fundraising-campaign-is-back/

FR Wednesday ICC Market

Which Fresh Roots market are you visiting this week? 🌱 Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre Pop Up Market (3075 Slocan St): Wednesdays @ 3 - 7 PM 🌱 Suwa'lkh School (1432 Brunette Ave in Coquitlam): Thursdays @ 2 - 6 PM 🌱 Delta Farm Roots (6570 1A Ave in Tsawwassen): Thursdays @ 3 - 7 PM 🌱 Riley Park Vancouver Farmers Markets (30th Ave & Ontario St): Saturdays @ 10 AM - 2 PM Markets start NOW! Come support kids & youth farm-based learning with every purchase!

Suwa'lkh Cedar

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day & Summer Solstice! Check the latest blog from our Suwa’lkh Lead, Jaimie, about the importance and process of making cedar bundles as one of the four sacred medicines with the Leadership students at Suwa’lkh School: https://freshroots.ca/making-cedar-bundles-at-suwalkh/ You can purchase cedar bundles by donation to raise funds to re-indigenize the Healing Forest with native plants in the place of invasive plants. For more information, email Jaimie at [email protected]

Shortcuts

Our Story

Fresh Roots’ envisions urban agriculture that fosters safe, inclusive communities where everyone has access to healthy, locally grown foods!

We achieve this by developing and managing community market gardens for a diverse range of partners on their own institutional land while providing education/engagement programming services.

Our community market gardens and programs create: • Multicultural, intergenerational community spaces • Good food for our partners and communities • Green collar jobs and a replicable, innovative model • Understanding of the connection between environment, culture and our food.

Our market gardens have become community focal points, bringing a variety of multicultural, intergenerational communities together for learning, celebration, or simply experiencing the joy and wonder of growing food.

We work in an inspiring collaboration with the Vancouver School Board. Together we have established two 14,000 sq ft Schoolyard Market Gardens, commercially producing spaces used as outdoor learning classrooms by the school community and for community gatherings and celebrations by the neighbourhood.

Through the gardens we host professional development days for teachers, helping 'train the trainers' how to use gardens to achieve core curricular objectives. We also host workshops, events, farm tours and field trips for elementary, secondary, and university classes. We offer corporate and non-profit team building opportunities as well.

Produce from our Schoolyard Market Gardens is distributed through our weekly Veggie Box program, sold to local school cafeterias, and purchased by the community at Vancouver Farmers Markets.

A big part of our vision is connecting youth with the food they are eating while at school. To reach this goal we partner with a number of school cafeterias to bring fresh schoolyard grown produce onto the plates of students for the entire school year. Through consultation with our cafeteria partners we’ve identified vegetables that best suit each school’s menu and plan our plantings and harvest to ensure we can consistently provide these crops. Through this unique relationship students can create a link between the food they see growing in the garden and menu items featuring Fresh Roots produce available to them at lunch.

To learn more about Fresh Roots, teacher professional development opportunities, and how to purchase school-grown produce from us, find us at:

www.freshroots.ca Twitter: @FreshRootsFarms Instagram: @FreshRootsFarms