A greenhouse to tackle food insecurity is to be built in May just north of Lloydminster.
Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity (LVE) and Sustainable Food Security called a meeting at the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre on Tuesday, April 1 to talk about the plan. About 40 people came out and enjoyed a soup and bannock supper, which, to everyone’s amazement, cost $97.50.
Raygan Solotki with Sustainable Food Security said some grant dollars came via the Local Food Infrastructure Fund.
“This funding was just perfect to create something. And we knew they (LVE) had a garden at the Gibney House. They had done community gardens before.”
The space which is planned for the project is about an acre and the greenhouse which has already been ordered is about 40×16 feet.
“We hope that where it is, it will not see a lot of negatives. In fact, it can create a very comfortable, homely space for people who are just looking for community. And looking for a space to spend time during the day and feel useful.”
Sustainable Food Security works with partners across Canada. Solotki has worked in the north and Red Deer.
“When I was in Red Deer, we built a Geodisic dome with the Red Deer Food Bank and I had a greenhouse in my backyard to work on research and development for having a year-round greenhouse.”
“You’re doing street teams. You’re already feeding people. You’re already trying to find ways to empower and enrich the lives of people – who other people think are a problem. But they’re not. They are members of our community.”
Tigra-Lee Campbell with LVE says they are excited to bring the greenhouse project to Lloydminster.
“It’s going to be a community hub where we build community capacity, and we help to reduce food insecurity not just for the unhoused and vulnerable, but for Lloydminster as a whole,” says Campbell.
In stressing the rationale for the work that she does, Solotki says, “Until the unhoused and the people without food have food, we are failing as a community.”
More details will be shared via the LVE social media in the coming weeks ahead of construction which should last about a week when it begins in May.
