Common Roots Urban Farm in Halifax faces funding shortfall

Common Roots Urban Farmhopes the offer of a contemplative guided walk blindfolded, if you choose through theirHalifax gardenwill help raise money so thework of growing food in the middle of the citycan continue.

The farm is in its fourth year next to one of the busiest intersections in Halifax on the site once occupied by Queen Elizabeth High School.It started as a temporary way to use vacant propertyobtained through a land swap with whatwas then the Capital Health Authority.

Common Roots now offers 175 community garden plots and a "nibble garden" that anyone can harvest. The farm also grows food for the Parker Street Food Bank.

Rhiannon Wells will lead the walk. She says it's not only a great opportunity to meet the farmers, but a chanceto take asilent stroll. Those who join can even do it blindfolded.

Pay attention to your senses

"The idea is to explore our senses, to come back into the present moment and to experience the world around us,"Wells tells CBC Radio's Mainstreet.

"It's good to pay attention to your other senses, besides sight. So often we pay primarily attention to what we are seeing, but often there are amazing smells here in the garden."

Jayme Melrose is the project coordinator at Common Roots and saysthe farm is the perfect intersection of community and nature, with a number of insects, birds and plants to explore.

"I often hear from people that they can forget for a moment that they are in the city, while they're in the middle of the city," she said.

Melrose said while Halifax can also boast about the Public Gardens, the Common Roots farm has a certaincharm.

"There's food and flowers and native plants and weeds everywhere," she chuckled.

The plot also includes a socialenterprise garden where food is sold at afarm market stand on site to help generate revenue and coveroperating costs.

Fundraising

The walk is part of a fundraising initiative Melrose hopes will help raise $8,000 by the end of October. The farm saw many of its traditional revenue streams dry up this year and needs to make up the shortfall.

Without the money, they won't be able to afford a staff member to guide the farm project.

The completive walk is only one part of their fundraising plan.A sponsorship program is planned, along with an end-of-year party.

Called the Harvest Hootenanny and Pumpkin Smash, the partyis held on Nov. 1 and area residents are encouraged to bring their Halloween pumpkins.Melrose said they will have sledgehammers on hand to help.

"Kids seem to love it," she said.

The guided walkis on Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m. at Common Roots Urban Farm. A $10 donation is suggested.