1. Black Creek “Community Farm” 2014
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

2. Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

3. Food Deserts (Sustain Ontario – Alliance for Healthy Food and Farming)
Food Insecurity, Jane-Finch
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

4. Our 7 Acres Between Jane St. & York University
Core Funding from Weston,andTrillium Foundations.
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

5. A Farmer’s Eye View
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

6. BCCF Site Map 2014
New: greenhouses (11); beehives (10); mushrooms (4B)
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

7. 4 6
July
 1339 People
 239/ 17
Tours
 1100 Festival
 Greenhouse
Build
May
 209 People
 12 tours
 Doors Open
TO.
June
 311 People
 12 tours
 HS Outreach
August
 256 People
 9 tours
 George
Weston Ltd.
 Big Brothers
September
 271 People
 10 tours incl.
2 schools
 Farmer for a
Day
 Live CTV
Broadcast
October
 496 People
 16 tours
 Success Beyond
Limits
 Land Access
Grp
BCCF Tour/Visitor Tracking – 2014
Seniors Pilot
 243 People
 10 Weeks
 Movies/
Cooking
Demos
Total: 3274 people over 8 months.
 Average Tour: 39 people
 Farthest visitors: California/Australia
November
 128
People
 4 tours
 90 TCDSB
teachers
December
 21 People
 3 tours
 Stride TV
Broadcast
Key Stats: 700% visitor increase over 2013
 Festival visitors: 1100 , + 250% over 2013
 Programs: Youth Interns + Seniors Pilot

8. Community Farm = Doors Open
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

9. Selling our food: TO markets
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

10. Selling our food: weekly subscriptions
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

11. Crops/Production Levels
Key Outcomes:
• 60 crops
• $18 K/acre
• +258% $$ from 2013
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

12. Crops/Black Creek Greenhouses
2 commercial greenhouses:
• Installed July 2014
• 100 volunteers engaged
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

13. Crops/Black Creek Sunflowers
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

14. Trialed New Crops + Production Techniques
New crops intro’d; increased yields:
• Sweet Potatoes – new 2014
• Bumper results: greens; eggplants
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

15. Farming/Farm Team
Not just farmers, also:
• Tour guides; community speakers
• Market promoters; grant writers
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

16. Programs - Kids
We’re growing kids programming:
• School and youth groups
• New in 2015 – summer farm camp
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

17. Programs: Interns
Urban Food Internship launched:
• 100 in 1 Day - $10K award winners
• Increased funding for 2015
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

18. Programs: Seniors
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

19. Corporate Volunteers
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

20. Farm Celebrations and Events
Annual Farm Festival:
• July 2014
• 1100 attendees
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

21. BCCF in 2015
Outdoor
Classroom
Bake Oven
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

22. BCCF Outdoor Classroom
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015

23. Thanks for Visiting - Questions
Prepared by Verity S. Dimock
Guelph Organic Conference 2015