History

What is a
City Farm?

 A City Farm is an urban project where children, youth, families, students, teachers and other adults can discover and engage in practices associated with growing food, animal care, nature on the farm and adventure recreation. As a visitor, you might pull carrots and make soup; pick beetles and feed them to chickens; cook bannock in a clay oven; help conserve a habitat and/or build playful huts. Visitors discover how crucial and intriguing our natural world really is while finding abilities and aptitudes within themselves that they can transfer to other parts of life. 

What is the origin
of the concept?

 City farms are very popular in Europe, where they have evolved over 50 years. Britain alone has more than 130 city farms that see 3.5 million visits a year.

 Where is Edmonton's 
City Farm?

 Cityfarm Edmonton shares land with Riverbend Gardens, 3830 195 Avenue NE, a fertile market garden in a unique microclimate at the northeast edge of the city. As well, planning is underway to help other Edmonton and Canadian community leaders to bring Cityfarm to their neighborhoods.

Why do we need a
City Farm?

Child obesity, a lack of understanding about where our food comes from, and concerns about whether children will have the desire and skills to care for and support the environment as adults, signal a need for significant shifts in lifestyle. Cityfarm is a creative response to such issues that:

·    supports healthy and active living,

·    connects visitors (especially young people) to the environment,

·    helps urban dwellers understand the food cycle and make healthy choices and

·    builds community capacity by engaging people in earth-friendly skills. 

What opportunities does Cityfarm Edmonton provide?

Visitors to Cityfarm are invited to explore four ‘communities of practice’¹:

·    Soils, Plants and Foods

·    Animal Care

·    Nature on the Farm

·    Adventure Recreation

The emphasis on practical activity and a sense of discover and adventure is encouraged through the European tradition of social animation² to maximize the visitors’ experience and to build competence and understanding. Cityfarm provides a unique and significant approach to community development. Visitors co-construct and transform an open space to reflect their evolving interests and needs and over time, the surrounding community.

 How is
Cityfarm Edmonton
operated?

 The not-for-profit, charitable Personal Community Support Association of Alberta operates Cityfarm with support from an advisory group that includes the City of Edmonton, Alberta Agriculture and Food, Legacy Lands Conservation Society and Evergreen Canada.