The Black Creek Community Farm are on a unique eight-acre property that includes pristine farmland, a heritage farmhouse and barn, and a surrounding forest that extends down into the Black Creek ravine.

Today, we’re shining a light on one of Humber River Hospital’s community partners, the Black Creek Community Farm who are situated on a unique eight-acre property that includes pristine farmland, a heritage farmhouse and barn, and a surrounding forest that extends down into the Black Creek ravine.

The Black Creek Community Farm is an urban agriculture centre that makes fresh, organic produce available to the local Jane and Finch community.  The Farm also provides hands-on training and learning experiences.

“We prioritize Black residents locally who live and work in our community with access to produce and community programming,” says Fatin Chowdhury, Development and Communications Manager at the Black Creek Community Farm.

Black Creek Community Farm’s Accomplishments

The Black Creek Community Farm produced 22,000 lbs. of produce.

As many organizations have had numerous challenges due to the ongoing pandemic, the Black Creek Community Farm has continued their mission to serve and enrich their community.

Most recently, Fatin said that their farm finished a successful year producing 22,000 lbs. of produce that went towards their harvest share program and weekly market stands.

“In response to the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 in our community, we implemented our Emergency Food Box program, which has delivered 30,068 emergency food boxes locally, and is equivalent to almost 490,000 lbs. of fresh produce.”

In addition, the Farm was selected for the national Nourish Leadership Anchor Cohort, alongside the Black Creek Community Health Centre. They are exploring interventions at the intersection of food and health.

The Farm’s Next Steps

Members of the Black Creek Community Farm.

While the Black Creek Community Farm is still experiencing winter weather, Fatin says that they are excited to resume their growing season in March since that is when their greenhouse and fields will be planted with crops.

Meanwhile, they are currently in the process of planning many more initiatives for their community.

“We are planning exciting community events for our residents, as well as developing workshops and kids’ camps for our youth and children living in the Black Creek neighbourhood. Next week, our Farm Education team is leading after-school workshops on vermicomposting, beekeeping, and how our food gets to our tables,” Fatin said.

Collaborating with Humber River Hospital

Urban Harvest Community Leaders

As the Black Creek Community Farm look forward to many more next steps, they are also looking forward to continue working together with Humber River Hospital.

“Our farm and the Hospital are both aligned in supporting our residents’ access to healthier food options and promoting a healthy environment to live and work in,” Fatin said. “As racialized folks have a complicated relationship to the medical-industrial complex, we want to build more relationships with Humber River Hospital where our residents feel safe accessing health services and better connecting to their bodies and minds.”

For more information on the Black Creek Community Farm, please visit their website at www.blackcreekfarm.ca