Located just west of the village of Creemore, is The New Farm. The New Farm is a certified organic family farm owned and operated by Gillian Flies and Brent Preston. At The New Farm, they produce premium quality organic vegetables for restaurants, retail stores and wholesale customers. Every summer The New Farm holds a fundraiser that benefits Farms for Change. Last year they raised over $100,000.
This year’s annual Farms for Change fundraiser will take place Saturday, June 10th. The party will feature a superb lineup of chefs on the front lawn, and legendary east coast singer/songwriter Joel Plaskett in the barn, backed by his amazing band, The Emergency. Tickets are now sold out and the waitlist is full.
Brent Preston has written a book called “The New Farm: Our Ten Years on the Front Lines of the Good Food Revolution” that shares the story of one family’s transition from die-hard urbanites to bonafide farmers and passionate advocates for a more just and sustainable food system.
It’s the story of a small, sustainable, organic farm that ended up providing not just a livelihood, but a happy, meaningful and fulfilling way of life.
It is also from this story came the need for Brent & Gillian to nourish their community and assist in many ways to build a stronger, healthier community.
For 35 years, The Stop Community Food Centre has been at the forefront of dignified, innovative programs that provide access to healthy food; build skills, health, hope, and community; and confront the underlying issues that lead to poverty and hunger.
Their mission is to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds health and community, and challenges inequality.
The Stop uses food as a tool to build healthier, more connected, and more self-determined communities.
Their Programs include:
•Community Action Program
•Community Kitchens
•Drop-in
•Food Bank
•Healthy Beginnings & Family Support
•Markets & Bake Ovens
•Urban Agriculture
•Youth Engagement
The Stop began as a volunteer-run organization in the 1970s, and volunteers continue to play a vital role in every aspect of their work. They offer a wide array of volunteer opportunities, all of which have one thing in common: meaningful and rewarding work that meets the needs of the community.
Many of their volunteers have experience with issues facing the community: unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. The connection between volunteers and participants in their programs creates a unique sense of community marked by a non-judgmental and empathetic environment. Empowering community members to become engaged citizens is one of The Stop’s most important mandates.
The Stop is proud to be the founding affiliate of Community Food Centres Canada. To support Community Food Centres and The Stop a partnership between organic farmers and Community Food Centres Canada has been formed that aims to increase access to healthy organic food while strengthening organic farms. This partnership is referred to as Farms for Change.
