Backyard Farmers Project

Project Overview

We are so excited to introduce our Backyard Farmers Project!

We will marshal our strengths in community engagement, volunteerism, and education to provide more fresh, nutrient-dense produce to our local residents at no cost. We are thrilled to be on this growing journey with our partners, the Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery team, to increase the capacity for food distribution in Kimberley. The ultimate purpose of the project will be to raise the bar on food security issues and produce sustainable food from the ground up.

 

We aim to help our community to become more resilient by:

Educating the community on how to grow food in their own backyards
In recent years, urban farmers around the world have been generating massive amounts of food right in their own neighbourhoods. Back in the day, regular folks everywhere were growing a large proportion of their household fare right in their own backyard gardens. The Backyard Farmers Project wants to demonstrate just how much produce we can generate here in and around Kimberley, one small plot at a time. Yard owners and volunteers get a hands-on education in mountain gardening. 

Producing more fresh, organic food for community members
We will invite community engagement by selecting three to five volunteer Backyard Farmers, both experienced and novice, to install an additional raised bed (offered by a local business at a discounted price) and donate the surplus produce to the Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery Depot. Our Sustainability Coordinator, an experienced urban farmer, will provide advice on how to purchase, plan, and design the new raised bed, and what to grow. He will also offer further suggestions on how to optimize food production in pre-existing gardens. Throughout the growing season, we will depend upon a core group of volunteers to assist the Backyard Farmers with gardening advice, maintenance, and harvest. 

Creating a local food community network
In addition to the social cohesion and networking that will naturally flow from goals 1 and 2, we are planning to develop a new Food Sustainability-Local Food Network page on our website that is designed to connect growers and producers from in and around the Kimberley area. On this page, we will offer links to free gardening resources, share a local grower’s “How To” video series, and design a local food live map. On this map, both growers and producers can choose to have their address pinned, with contact information to enable community members to network on ideas, troubleshoot food growing challenges, and increase both awareness and sales of locally grown/produced farmers.

Project Opportunities

What does it mean to be a Backyard Farmer?
Starting in early May, we will be building beds in local yards. We will also be connecting with local gardeners, from novice to expert, who would like to help grow a little bit of extra food this year for the Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery Depot. The project will rely on the urban farming expertise of our Sustainability Coordinator, Chad Kile, and a team of dedicated volunteers. Together, they will plan and build a raised bed and grow greens in each yard, water and maintain the bed, and help deliver the harvest to the Food Recovery. Backyard Farmers can lend a hand as little or as much as they like.

Not around this summer, but have some space in your yard?
Perfect; you can still be a Backyard Farmer. Lend us the land, and we will do the rest!

Volunteering
Do you have a little bit of extra space to grow some greens this year?
Would you love some free advice from an experienced urban farmer?
Want to help maintain the gardens and deliver the harvest to the Kimberley Food Recovery?
We have just the opportunities for you! 

Volunteer with us!

Do you have some more questions or would you like to sign yourself up?
Please contact Chad Kile: chad@wildsight.ca, 250-432-5954.

 

Looking to source locally produced food?
Check out the Kimberley Cranbrook Food Asset Map!


Thanks to the Regional District of East Kootenay for funding support in 2023!

Kimberley Cranbrook News

Make a difference in your community and let your name stand to be elected to our Board of Directors. As a volunteer board member, you become part of our team that is committed to evolving the organization through active visioning sessions and decision-making.Read More 
Are you a youth who’s curious about environmental sustainability, food security, and community building? If you said “YES!” and are between the ages of 16 and 30, the Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook Branch has a summer job just for you! Read More 
With amazement, another year has come and gone but what’s even more amazing is the work we have achieved — with your help of course! Take a moment with us, and reflect on just how much our communities come together to support each other and our environment. Read More 
Read more news

Upcoming Kimberley Cranbrook events

Co-Community Cleanup 2024

Saturday, April 20, 2024

This all-ages event is a fantastic opportunity to get outdoors, team up with family and friends, and do your part to give Cranbrook and Kimberley a spring clean.

Forest and Nature School: Spring 2024 Programs

April 5 - June 17, 2024

Using play-based, child-led, emergent curriculum, young explorers are offered time and space to build, play, and engage with one another. With regular and repeated access to nature across every season the children become the magic themselves, showing us what an amazing teacher nature is herself.

Camp Odyssey 2024

July 8 - August 23, 2024

Our incredibly popular Camp Odyssey will be back in the summer of 2024! Camp Odyssey offers weeklong day camps and single-day camps throughout July and August in Kimberley and Cranbrook. This is a great opportunity to have your children outside, in a safe, structured, and fun environment.

Kimberley Farmers' Market 2024

June 20 - September 19, 2024

The Kimberley Farmers' Market will be serving up fresh produce from local farmers, crafts from local artisans, live music, and delicious food for you to enjoy each Thursday throughout the summer!

View all events

Join The Team

Want to protect wildlife, clean water and wild spaces? Volunteer with us! Wildsight volunteers are a very special group of people who give generously of their time to stuff envelopes, attend rallies, help run events, put up posters, keep tabs on forestry practices in their communities and participate in citizen science initiatives.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Branch Information

Contact

97 Wallinger Ave
Kimberley, BC V1A 1Y6

Office Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm (by appointment only)
Phone: 250-427-2535

kimcran@wildsight.ca