In this insightful interview, Leslie Williams, the Executive Director of the Sharing Farm, shares the inspiring journey and mission of this impactful non-profit. The Sharing Farm in Richmond is dedicated to combating food insecurity through sustainable farming and community engagement. By providing fresh, nutritious produce to low-income families and fostering connections among community members, the farm addresses both food scarcity and social isolation.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
The Sharing Farm is a non-profit farm in Richmond dedicated to addressing food insecurity in our community. Our vision is to ensure access to healthy local produce for everyone through sustainable farming and community engagement. Our mission is to grow food and community through farming, to advance food security, reconnect people to agriculture, and champion sustainable food systems.
What problem does it aim to solve?
We primarily focus on addressing food insecurity in the Richmond community. We grow fresh, nutritious produce to donate to low-income families and households who might otherwise struggle to access healthy food. Over 2,200 people access the Richmond Food Bank each week. Nutritious food is a crucial determinant of mental and physical health and child development, but it’s often the first thing people tend to cut from the family budget in times of poverty.
We also try to address social isolation and inclusion. Many people in our community, including seniors, new immigrants, and individuals with disabilities, face social isolation. Through our volunteer programs and community engagement activities, we create opportunities for people to connect, build relationships, and feel part of a supportive community.
When did you start/join it?
I joined the Sharing Farm in 2012, but the farm’s roots go back to the late 1990s. Back then, there was a significant lack of fresh produce available for food bank clients. A woman named Mary Gazetas and a group of her friends founded the Sharing Farm to provide healthy food for community members facing food insecurity.
What made you want to get involved?
I’ve always been passionate about food security and sustainable agriculture. The Sharing Farm combines these two things in an incredible way. It is a real community hub that brings many diverse people together for meaningful work.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I started with The Sharing Farm in 2012, there was less awareness and concern about the importance of local food systems. Back then, our focus was on meeting immediate needs, and there was (and still is) a significant lack of fresh produce available for food bank clients. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically highlighted the vulnerabilities in our food supply chains and increased awareness of the need for local, sustainable food sources. However, at the time, we faced challenges with limited resources and infrastructure, making it difficult to consistently provide healthy food to those in need. Our output was smaller and community engagement was not as robust as it is today. Despite these challenges, we had a dedicated team and a strong vision, which laid the foundation for future growth and impact.
How has it changed since?
Since then, we’ve seen a significant shift in people’s attitudes towards food security. Increasing inflation, the rising cost of living, and growing refugee and newcomer populations have heightened food insecurity in the Lower Mainland. But more people are starting to realize how vital it is to support local sources of food. It’s incredibly exciting to see the community’s enthusiasm for eating food grown practically in their own backyard. This awareness has driven greater support for our mission and has made sustainable local food systems a priority for many. At the Sharing Farm, we’re now producing more food than ever for donation, thanks in part to hardworking volunteers, and our reach within the community has broadened.
What more needs to be done?
At the Sharing Farm, we believe food insecurity arises from social inequities and that access to nutritious, healthy, and culturally appropriate food is a universal human right. I believe that there needs to be systemic change to recognize food security as a human right. We need more land set aside for sustainable agriculture to build local resilience in our communities.
How can our readers help?
So many ways! Readers can help by donating, purchasing our produce, and volunteering with us. You can purchase our food through our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Harvest Basket program, at our farmstand three times a week, (Thursdays-Saturdays) and the Steveston Farmer’s Markets. We have drop-in volunteering opportunities to help in the field, as well as the opportunity to bring your workplace to the farm for a few hours of group volunteering. And of course, monetary donations are invaluable. They help us purchase all of the inputs that we need to keep the farm running – tools, seeds, and infrastructure. This year, federal and provincial funding has been scaled back, leaving a lot of local non-profit organizations in a tough spot.
Every year groups large and small come to the Sharing Farm for their team volunteering days and company days of giving.
Do you have any events coming up?
Yes, we’re excited for our annual Richmond Garlic Festival on August 17th! It’s a great event for families, garlic enthusiasts and those looking for a fun day out. You can look forward to a bustling farmers market with local foods and crafts, live birds-of-prey demonstrations, and a variety of kid-friendly activities. We’ll have garlic-themed dishes from food trucks, live entertainment from local artists throughout the day, and even garlic-flavored ice cream. The proceeds from this festival go towards our mission of providing nutritious, local produce to those facing food insecurity.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Instagram | Facebook
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
Two fantastic local charities that we love are the Richmond Food Bank, to whom we donate most of our produce, and FarmFolk CityFolk, which supports sustainable agriculture and food security initiatives.
