Growing our community

FortWhyte comes alive in summer.

FortWhyte Alive–a 640 acre ecological and environmental jewel located within city limits that has been part of our community for over 40 years, but what most people might not know is this tranquil and serene nature site is also home to an innovative award-winning social enterprise initiative–the FortWhyte Farms: Growing Youth, Food & Community program.

“It’s a very unique experience,” says Kristine Kzylstra-Moore, Program Coordinator. “It’s something meaningful for me to see the students making connections to the food and where it comes from and the incredible way things grow from seed to plant then to feed people.”

Established in 2003, FortWhyte Farms strives to provide inner-city youth with hands-on experience in urban agriculture and farming. The program itself focuses on building confidence, leadership skills, community relationships and work skills by engaging teens through sustainable farming.

Throughout the school year, students are taught various aspects of farming from growing plants from seed to hatching and raising pastured poultry to tending to the eight Berkshire Hogs to beekeeping–the first experience offered and most popular activity on the farm.

“The first day we bring the groups out we ask the students what they want to try and their number one thing is the beekeeping,” says Kzylstra-Moore. “There is a lot to learn when it comes to beekeeping and it is something the students are quite proud of because it takes a lot of courage to do it and it’s also not something that their friends or family have done.”

For many of the students who take part in the FortWhyte Farms program, the connection they make to urban agriculture and sustainable farming extends beyond the school year to the Summer Internship program.

Each year 12 students are selected to work on the farm throughout the summer–further honing their farming, leadership and employment skills.

“The students in the summer internship program really show an interest in farming. They are very curious and ask a lot of great questions, it’s really exciting to see them grow,” says Kzylstra-Moore.

During the summer internship, students are taught all aspects of farming and how to take what they have grown to create a meal. The students are also profiled in a weekly newsletter where the share stories about themselves, what the farm program has meant to them and recipes they have learned featuring the produce they have grown.

While the sole purpose of the farms is to teach inner-city youth about sustainable urban agriculture and work/leadership skills, it also serves as a way to generate funds for the program through two initiatives.

Every Tuesday afternoon during the summer, produce grown at FortWhyte Farms is sold at an onsite market. Here seasonal veggies, herbs and honey grown by the teen farmers are available to the public on a weekly basis. 

There are also opportunities to support the farm program though Community Supported Agriculture Shares (CSA). For a minimal price, people can purchase either a weekly vegetable share (produce grown onsite) or a meat and honey share (pasture raised Berkshire Pork, pasture raised chicken and honey harvested from the apiary).

The CSA program allows those who might not have a green thumb or the space to garden, the opportunity to purchase fresh produce every week.

“The students harvest a whole bunch of vegetables each week and the families who have purchased a share get a box worth of what’s in season for a 12 week period,” says Kzylstra-Moore. “It allows us to generate some income and ensure the food we produce is being eaten and it is good for the families because they know where their food is coming from.”

Produce and herbs from the farm are also used in many of the seasonal dishes served at the Buffalo Stone Café – the picturesque lakeside restaurant located in the Alloway Reception Centre at FortWhyte.

Access to the farm itself is limited to the teens, volunteers and staff members who help run the program however Kzylstra-Moore says tours are conducted from time to time.

“If people want to see what happens on the farm we do offer group tours for adults and children, but they need to be pre-booked,” she says.

In addition to group tours of FortWhyte Farms, there are a number of other annual outdoor activities that take place during the summer including bird watching, paddling, sailing, kayaking and fishing.

“This is Winnipeg’s lake district,” says Jackie Stephen, Director of Operations. “Having five lakes this close to Winnipeg, it is like having our own little oasis here with all the lakes and the green space.”

FortWhyte also offers ecological tours of the site. Each tour can span anywhere from one to four hours and accommodate groups ranging from 10 to 45 participants depending on the type of eco-tour booked and takes visitors on an in-depth and educational journey through marshlands, gardens and eco-exhibits. 

“We can do historical tours that take you to see a sod hut and Red River Cart, you can throw an Atlatl, cook bannock and make tea using seasonal local herbs,” describes tour guide and Public Program coordinator Dana Race. “Or, you can rent a naturalist for the day and go around looking at the different plants and animals at FortWhyte.”

As one of North America’s premier environmental education centres, FortWhyte Alive is a definite must-see for nature lovers and novice outdoor adventurers wanting to learn more about the environment and Winnipeg’s ecosystem in a fun, active and breathtaking setting.

Related Links:
Summer Camps for Kids and Events
Volunteering at FWA