Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adel Ahmed

Food security

Local food farm sees a few changes as summer approaches

Mar 24, 2023 | 4:52 PM

KAMLOOPS — Local farmers are preparing to grow their produce as the summer season approaches. The Butler Urban Farm is looking to upgrade theirs as the rays of sunshine and hot weather approach in the coming months.

““We kind of like to grow melons and squash on this hillside cuz it looks nice,” Community Organizer of Butler Urban Farm Caitlin Quist told CFJC Today. “They sort of just drape down the hillside and again cover it up so that the soil and dirt isn’t blowing up and making things dusty in here.”

The upgrade is thanks to the $30,000 grant the farm received from Peavey Industries back in 2020. That wasn’t the only change that’s occurred within the last three years. According to the province, inflation cost from food has soared to 9.8 per cent in B.C. within the last 12 months. This has led to Quist seeing a younger demographic at the farm.

“In the past we’ve had a lot of seniors coming by to kind of help add some fresh healthy food to their diet on a limited income,” said Quist.

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“We still have that population. But a lot of younger people were coming by too. I think a lot of younger people are feeling the pinch with inflation in regards to food cost but rent cost going up a lot as well.”

As for those who are looking to grow their own food, Quist suggests to start simple.

“Plant things that seem like you’re gonna get a good bang for your buck. So for example if something is really cheap to buy in the grocery store and really difficult to grow, then you should probably just buy in the store. But if there’s something that really easy to grow but expensive in the store like tomatoes then that’s really good to grow at home”