We've had ample opportunity to train people in urban farming over the past 2 years, which has meant lots of learning for us too. We find we learn so much from each person who comes along, and we make it our aim to do so. By focusing on what we can learn from the plants and farm system as we work the land, we immerse ourselves in an environment of learning.
This season we have the assistance of multiple Workshares who work on the farm in partial exchange for their shares, and volunteers. During lockdowns Kingstonians sought opportunities to get outside, get exercise and connect with others and the earth. Those are all goals of our farming, so we found ourselves training several new volunteers in the basics of the market garden style urban farming we practice.
Recently we've had 1 Queens grad and 2 high school youth join us as paid employees. The Queens grad has been working with us as a volunteer for several years, and has been employed May-August 2021. The youth have each come for a month of immersive agricultural training, which for them functions as workplace skills training and personal upgrading. We're pleased to be able to offer a functional farm environment in the city, easy to access and with low commitment expectations (we accept people to work with us for as little as 2-4 hours a week). And we're pleased to see how each individual shapes their time to get the farm work done, and learn what they need to from the setting.
