Sole Food Street Farms (Vancouver)
Vancouver, Canada · Operator: Sole Food Street Farms (non-profit social enterprise)
Overview
A social enterprise that transforms vacant urban lots into portable container farms, providing 'good food and good jobs' to socially marginalised residents. It was founded in 2008 by Michael Ableman and Seann Dory.
Citizen participation
Low-income Downtown Eastside residents, including people managing addiction and mental illness, take part as paid workers, gaining agricultural training and inclusion in a supportive community of farmers. Other citizens engage by buying produce through a weekly CSA, farmers' markets and on-site farmgate sales.
Operating model
A non-profit social enterprise leasing vacant city land for a nominal fee, funded by produce sales (CSA, farmers' markets, restaurants, farmgate) combined with foundation grants and donations. Since founding it has grown over a million pounds of food and paid more than $2 million in wages to people in need.
Impact
Provided paid employment and agricultural training to dozens of people facing addiction, mental illness or homelessness while supplying around 30 tonnes of fresh organic produce a year. It is internationally recognised as a North American model linking vacant-land reuse with social inclusion.
Land tenure
Leases City of Vancouver land at Olympic Village (West 1st/Crowe St) for a nominal fee; it is working with the city to secure a long-term stable site, so tenure remains interim in character.
Crops
- vegetables
- fruit
- herbs
Scale
北米最大級の都市農場のひとつ。現在は約3エーカー（オリンピック・ヴィレッジの市有地）で運営し、年間約30トン（30,000ポンド超）の野菜を生産
Sources（3）
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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