At a community farm in Ottawa\u2019s Greenbelt, residents are learning how to grow their own food, share knowledge and reconnect with what they eat.<\/p>\n
Organizations such as Just Food<\/a> are using urban agriculture, including community gardens and shared farm spaces, to strengthen local food systems and expand how people engage with food beyond the grocery store.<\/p>\n While growing food can\u2019t move the needle much on affordability challenges, urban agriculture can increase access to fresh produce while building skills and strengthening connections.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are at a critical point with geopolitical pressures, climate change, farmers aging out. We need to be strengthening our local food systems, not only so people can afford to purchase the food but so they can actually find it and access it in the face of increasing volatility,\u201d said Kate Veinot, a food system planner at Just Food.<\/p>\n Strengthening local food systems is becoming increasingly important as external pressures affect food production and access, she added.<\/p>\n There are structural challenges to growing food, said Coral Sproule, a first-generation farmer and owner of Queen Beet Farm<\/a>, who emphasizes the importance of land access.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess to land and community farming would be integral pieces in making growing food accessible,\u201d Sproule said.<\/p>\n She said growing food can also offer benefits beyond cost savings, including skill-building, community engagement and a stronger connection to food systems.<\/p>\n The work at community farms and gardens helps people get on the land and participate more directly in the food system, said Veinot.<\/p>\n These spaces create opportunities for aspiring farmers when land and infrastructure costs can prevent people from starting. Community farms allow farmers onto smaller plots and share expensive equipment.<\/p>\n For some participants, it creates opportunities to grow culturally relevant foods and take part in food production in ways that are often not accessible through traditional food systems.<\/p>\n Veinot said local food systems require sustained investment from all levels of government, including funding for infrastructure, land access and community-led initiatives.<\/p>\n At Just Food, its 150-acre community farm is a place aspiring farmers can develop the skills needed to grow food for their households or small-scale businesses.<\/p>\n The organization\u2019s broader work includes community gardening networks, food policy advocacy, and local food system development supporting community-led food solutions and working toward a reduction in reliance on food banks.<\/p>\n This work also focuses on building space for people who want to grow their own food, whether for their households or as part of entering the food system as new farmers.<\/p>\n Together, these initiatives aim to support more resilient, community-based approaches to food.<\/p>\n Community-based growing spaces can also reduce barriers for new farmers by providing shared equipment, land, and mentorship.<\/p>\n