Community farms on shaky ground amid MetroWorks financial troubles

Common Roots Urban Farm, which operates community and market gardens in Halifax and Dartmouth, says its assets were seized as a result of financial troubles with MetroWorks, its parent organization.

MetroWorks, a Nova Scotia non-profit organization which has been in operation since 1977, filed for bankruptcy on March 6. In a post to social media, the farm said its assets were seized the same day.

"Last Thursday was a total shock to us as we were ramping up for the season," Nicola Nemy, co-ordinator of the farm's Halifax site located at the bottom of Bayers Road, told CBC's Mainstreet Halifax on Tuesday.

"The farms were just really deeply loved and cared for places and this closure has put all of that at risk for now."

Hilary Lindsay, who co-ordinates the Dartmouth farm at the Nova Scotia Hospital, told Mainstreet that the farm needs a new parent organization.

"There do seem to be some possibilities out there," Lindsay said. "A lot of people have been reaching out to us, organizations and the city trying to figure out how we can save the farm.

"So, nothing is for sure yet by a long shot, but there [are] definitely a lot of people who want to see the farms continue and recognize the really important role they play. So, that feels hopeful."

According its website, Common Roots Urban Farm has three types of gardening plots at both of its locations — common, community and market garden.

'There's so much at stake'

Common areas are plots where anyone can explore. The market garden grows food to sell and donate. The community garden rents out plots to people or groups to grow food for themselves and their community.  

"I think there's so much at stake," Lindsay said.

"Hundreds of people have plots there where they grow food. And a lot of the people who have plots at our farms are new to Canada and are used to growing their own food and want to grow their own food and can't actually either afford or find the food that they want to buy here."

Lindsay says another big part of the farms is the community aspect.

"A lot of people are really heartbroken and devastated, especially given everything that's happening in the world right now," Lindsay said. "I think for a lot of people the farms are places to go and find community and connect with the soil and the plants and each other and that stuff is really important."

In addition to Common Roots Urban Farm, MetroWorks also operated social enterprises Stone Hearth Bakery and The Ampersand Café. It also ran the Cunard Learning Centre and employment skills programs for newcomers.