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A non-profit urban farm in London has received a $10,000 grant to continue to expand agriculture in the city.
The announcement was made on Thursday at Urban Roots’ 0.4-hectare farm off Hamilton Road.
“Fall is a bit tricky for us to keep cash flow and to be able to cover things that arise throughout the season because we’re always at the mercy of Mother Nature,” said Anna Badillo, executive director at Urban Roots.
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The grant is part of London-based Libro Credit Union’s partnership with Concentra and EQ Bank’s Empowering Your Community grant program to support community initiatives focused on mental health, housing, honouring “Indigenous resurgence” and improving food security.
The funding will go into farm operations to prevent a financial deficit at the end of the year, cover crops to prepare the farm for winter, and expand revenue opportunities by extending its growing season and seedling sales.
Libro has sponsored Urban Roots since 2020.
“We’re excited to receive this grant,” said Jordan Moat, regional manager for Libro. “And it’s been really successful because it’s allowed them (Urban Roots) to get organic, fresh and affordable produce for people in our communities.”
Last year, the credit union renewed its pledge to contribute $60,000 from 2023 to 2025.
“Our goal is to find organizations where the funding will make a big impact,” said Colin Lewis, regional director of credit union services, Equitable Bank and Concentra. “And this amount for an organization like this has a big impact.”
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The farm has grown 10,000 kilograms of food this year, a “big jump” from 2017 when the organization began with only 225 kilograms that first summer.
Since then, the organization has grown more than 31,750 kilograms of food, with more than 9,000 kilograms being donated and about 13,600 kilograms distributed for affordable prices to London organizations.
The funding also will support staffing needs so the organization can hire farm workers and extend the contract of seasonal staff workers into the fall.
“It’s only one acre that we grow on, but we can produce a lot of food that then goes right back out into the community,” Badillo said. “Basically what we’re trying to do here is grocery for people and provide that access and affordability.”
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