Growing an urban revolution

Photo by John Lehmann

Vancouver farmer’s rooftop and backyard gardens are being heralded as the next generation of agriculture in the city

Frances Bula
Globe and Mail
Jan. 03, 2010

Take one Saskatchewan farm boy and move him to the big city. Add a Vancouver condo building’s unused rooftop garden and several vacant backyards.

The result is urban farmer Ward Teulon, also known as CityFarmBoy on his website, a 45-year-old former agrologist who has put his farming skills to work in the middle of some of Vancouver’s densest neighbourhoods.

He produces $30,000 worth of vegetables, herbs and fruit a year on 8,000 square feet of land in garden plots around the city.

Mr. Teulon, an understated man, said it all began as a lifestyle choice, so he wouldn’t have to work for a big company. He was encouraged because people seemed to be looking for quality food.

“People are interested because it’s local and it’s fresh,” said Mr. Teulon, who had 30 families sign up last year to receive shares of his produce and is planning to add 20 more spots next year.

While his operation may seem modest, many people in the food-policy field see Mr. Teulon as someone who is showing the way for what they call “next-generation urban agriculture.”

“I really think what Ward is doing is a trend,” said Janine de la Salle, the director of food-systems planning at the sustainability consulting firm of HB Lanarc. “It’s moving out of the community-allotment garden and into business models.”

See complete article here.

See Teulon’s web site here.