Prospering food together becomes popular

Food is one of our most basic human needs (and rights) — but what if you don’t have access to land to grow it?

Tejaswinee Jhunjhunwala ran into this problem when she moved to Calgary from Montreal last fall settling into a basement condo with no patio or yard. When spring arrived she arranged pots of herbs and greens in the strip of dirt outside her window but wanted space to grow even more. Her community garden in Mission was full with a waiting list.

In a city with plenty of green space much of it unused Jhunjhunwala couldn’t find anyone willing to share some of their excess land. The owner of a large longtime vacant lot was dubious about her request to plant a small garden along the fence and share the harvest. And so Jhunjhunwala looked further finding permaculturist Simon Chauvette who shared her dilemma. Together they decided to make it a project — surely others would be facing the same challenge and needing a matchmaking service of sorts to pair wannabe growers with people who have excess land.

Beyond small-plot urban gardeners access to land is a huge obstacle for new farmers — overhead costs are huge when it’s real estate you need to produce your product. Plenty of Calgarians own land they’re not interested in selling but would be happy to put to good use. And there is a growing population of seniors who own property but lack the physical capability to plant grow and maintain backyard gardens and would benefit from access to fresh produce. There’s a new boom in small-scale growers — access to land may even open up opportunities for young entrepreneurs looking for a summer job growing food and selling it at farmers’ markets.

An Internet search came up with Landshare U.K. — an overseas organization with the catchphrase “connecting growers to people with land to share.” In just two years the U.K. group has amassed over 60000 members. They offered rights to a Canadian version and Jhunjhunwala and Chauvette launched Landshare Canada a national non-profit initiative that raises awareness and connects potential growers with individuals businesses and organizations with available land. The interactive website is quickly becoming a hub for the Canadian gardening community allowing members to create groups add links and events and write blogs encouraging a network of like-minded people willing to support each other and share information. Since its launch about a month ago almost 200 members have joined some offering land and expertise others requesting access to it.

Each relationship is unique — a tool kit helps structure partnerships and offers free legal documents if they are deemed necessary — but generally the arrangement involves the grower sharing the harvest with the landowner. A map pinpoints growers helpers and landowners that can be searched by location or keyword.

Beyond privately owned land they encourage seeking out unused public land — there is the option on the website to identify available spaces should someone opt to approach government agencies about accessing it. News about the latest Landshare Canada campaigns allows members to help push for more allotments and new growing spaces —part of the goal is help to promote a grow-your-own revolution and to plant seeds of change in schools businesses hospitals and churches across Canada. They envision benefits not only for individuals wanting to grow peas and carrots but for stronger communities and a greater sense of food security nationwide. It’s all starting in our own backyards.

If you’re looking for land to garden or have some you’d like to share visit landsharecanada.com.

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