Canada: Manitoba farm moves to the inner city

Woman works to bring agriculture to a part of Winnipeg where residents have few opportunities to grow their own food

By Andrea Geary, Freelance writer
Producer
Apr 15, 2021

Excerpt:

Louise May, owner of Aurora Farm, looks forward to helping Winnipeg’s inner city residents learn how to plant, nurture and harvest produce, and to possibly get acquainted with a goat or alpaca.

The inner-city area of Winnipeg can be described as a concrete jungle and a food desert, having virtually no opportunities for most residents to grow their own food. May is working to introduce part of Aurora Farm to this area and the people who live there starting later this year.

“They can’t come out here,” she said, because her farm lies a long way beyond the nearest city bus stop. “I need to go to them.”

Aurora Farm is located in St. Norbert, a historic Francophone area in southeastern Winnipeg. May grew up in St. Norbert and her land is situated on one of the long, narrow river lots first granted to Metis settlers. Although May’s 160 acres are located within the City of Winnipeg’s boundary, productive fields still surround her property.

May bought the property 16 years ago, and since that time, has turned it into what she describes as “an earth-friendly, animal-loving, solar-powered farm on the Prairies,” committed to sustainable farming practices and responsible land stewardship.

“I started out wanting to have a couple of goats and a dozen chickens for my food,” she said. Her alpacas were added for use as a natural fibre source, followed by horses because her daughter liked to ride.

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