The Hacienda Sarria Market Garden is a volunteer-driven initiative to develop an inclusive, hands-on learning environment to demonstrate, promote, and share knowledge about sustainable local food production and environmental stewardship.
Ron Doyle, owner of the Hacienda Sarria has offered The Working Centre a unique arrangement to establish a productive community market garden on the back property of the Hacienda Sarria. He has upgraded the land with terraces, top soil, and compost and has been planting over 40 fruit trees. Approximately 20,000 square feet in gardening beds have been laid out. Mr. Doyle has made a commitment to The Working Centre that in return for creating beautiful gardens, developing urban food production and teaching market garden skills, we can market and sell the produce and use the revenue for project sustainability. Ron has provided a significant contribution of land near the downtown that can be used towards establishing an urban sustainable food production model and land stewardship.
The Hacienda Sarria Market Garden aims to...
- Create beautiful, bountiful gardens
- Teach urban food production
- Develop sustainability through market produce sales
- Offer fresh food for those participating in the garden community
Community-Based Market Gardening
The Hacienda Sarria Market Garden project is designed to give people the opportunity to participate in the production of food three kilometers from the downtown core. Growing food is hard work and involves specific tasks that include preparing and amending the soil, planting, weeding, and watering. The harvesting is crucial and this work must be attended to daily, to ensure the fresh produce will get to markets. Our goal is to work closely with volunteers who want to learn these skills or are looking for the opportunity to be involved in a large scale community gardening project.
This project is designed as a teaching garden. We hope to involve people in the work of the garden as well as teach the skills of urban market gardening from planting, harvesting and marketing. It is our goal to offer harvest vegetables in return for people’s labour.
Markets for Garden Produce
Our main markets are nearby restaurants and stores looking for fresh local food, as well as a small CSA share program and a market stand at the Hacienda Sarria. We are presently developing other plans to make our produce available to several Kitchener neighbourhoods. The main crops at the Hacienda Sarria Market Garden include salad greens and spinach, radishes, green onions, carrots, beets, kale, chard, basil, parsley, cilantro, and more!
For more information about how to volunteer or to join our mailing list, contact Kim or Adam.
