Nestled in the heart of the City of Kawartha Lakes, an area of Ontario that draws awe with over 250 shimmering lakes, is a community farm spearheading a movement towards food security. Edwin Binney’s Community Farm & Education Centre is a 3.5-acre urban farm in Lindsay, ON. Created in 2019 by the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes, Fleming College, and Crayola Canada, this collaboration has resulted in over 70,000lbs of fresh produce donated to community support agencies. It also functions as an outdoor classroom, science lab, meeting location, and offers sensory exploration for those looking for a taste of nature. 
Though the area is largely agricultural, many community members face food shortages. Current income data suggests 10.2% of the population is classified as food insecure. Each year, organizations that we work with report ever-increasing demands on their food banks and other food programs. During the 2024 season we distributed produce to 16 different organizations throughout CKL and Haliburton County. That season we grew over 18,000lbs of produce with a market value of just over $52,000, supported over 4,000 community members, and helped the most vulnerable in our communities save an average of $30 per week.
That same season, our resiliency was tested as the farm suffered an incredible crop loss due to a hailstorm. Without the support of West Coast Seeds and fantastic neighbors in BGC Kawarthas whose youth group volunteered to help us clean and replant, our season would not have been as successful. West Coast Seeds supported our project with a generous donation in 2023 which we continue to work through that included a variety of seeds such as beans, beets, brassicas, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, herbs, onions and other alliums, lettuces, peppers, tomatoes, and much more.
As a non-profit, it would be very difficult to operate this project as effectively as it has been without donors like WCS. We hear back every year from the recipients about how much they appreciate having access to fresh food. The food programs that we support help community members maintain their physical health and their social/mental health by promoting community involvement, and it all starts with a seed! However, none of this could happen without the financial support from donors and grants that allow us to support our staff, purchase tools and other farm equipment, and other necessary items to host educational programs for youth groups.