North America’s largest urban farm is preparing to move south across False Creek, from their current home at Pacific and Carrall, to a new spot in the Olympic Village.
Sole Food Street Farms has applied to the city to move the farm to a vacant lot at 215 West 1st Avenue, across from the James condo development, and an upcoming project by Concord Pacific called Avenue One.
Sole Food needs to move nearly 2,000 planter boxes to the new site by the end of October. Three shipping containers will also be set up on the property to house supplies and office space for the operation.
Produce from the farm will be processed on-site for distribution through farmers markets, delivery to restaurants and also sold on-site. Operating hours will be from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, and the farm will be open to the public Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The operators say the farm will have a minimal impact on neighbours and will help beautify the area. No machinery is used in day-to-day operations, and most work is done with hand tools. No chemical pesticides or herbicides are used on-site, and all plants are watered with drip irrigation. Sole Food says the new Olympic Village location will be very similar in structure to the current operation on Carrall Street.
The move comes as Concord Pacific prepares to get started on its waterfront entertainment district development plan for Northeast False Creek.
Sole Food is a non-profit, social enterprise offering urban agriculture employment opportunities to inner-city residents, many of whom reside in the Downtown Eastside.
Video: Story of Sole Food Street Farms
Video link:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2zVN9c_a2Y
Amazing what you have done with this site and it will continue to grow at your new site across the creek:)