The Wakamow Valley Authority is celebrating another productive year at the Mosaic Community Food Farm, continuing a mission to ensure that all members of the Moose Jaw community have access to fresh, nutritious food.

Since its inception in 2015, the food farm has become a vital resource for the city. With a recently renewed partnership with Mosaic, the project continues to thrive, providing significant support to local charities and non-profits. The list of organizations benefitting from this year’s harvest includes the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank, Hunger in Moose Jaw, the Multicultural Council, Hope Ministries, and Square One.

According to Wakamow Valley Authority’s Executive Director, Donna MacQuarrie-Bye says “this year has been a successful growing season.”

While the farm has its own irrigation system connected to city water, the early summer rains were sufficient she says, meaning the reliance on artificial irrigation was minimal.

“The harvest began approximately two weeks ago, with squash and cucumbers performing particularly well,” says MacQuarrie-Bye. “While the season saw a slight delay for tomatoes due to the excess moisture earlier in the summer, root vegetables, a staple for the program, continue to produce high yields.

MacQuarrie-Bye says so far this year, the farm “has already harvested roughly 900 lbs of produce, with annual totals typically reaching between 9,000 and 10,000 lbs.”

The success of the Mosaic community food farm is driven by a solid volunteer base and professional management. The farm is managed by two regular staff members, one who started as an apprentice with the food farm a year of two ago, and now this year, another apprentice from Sask Polytechnic has been added continuing a long-standing tradition of working with local students from Sask Polytechnic.

As the season progresses, harvest efforts intensify. Beginning in late August and continuing through September, the farm welcomes volunteers from the Multicultural Council, various city organizations and local schools to assist with the gathering of crops.  During the local Kinsmen and Kinettes convention being held this past week in Moose Jaw, some of their members came out to the food farm to lend a helping hand in harvesting and caring for the garden.

The team usually aims to have the harvest wrapped up by Thanksgiving says MacQuarrie-Byes.

The impact of the food farm is significant, touching the lives of many Moose Jaw residents who require assistance. Wakamow Valley Authority encourages those interested in the program or looking to volunteer to reach out.

For more information about the Wakamow Valley Authority and the Mosaic community food farm, please call 306-692-2717 or visit the Wakamow Valley Authority website.

By Joan Ritchie

Moose Jaw Express