Urban farm may be coming to Westville

Officials propose urban agriculture project in downtown

Westville may soon become a little more agricultural, with the introduction of a potential plan to convert a lot in the downtown area into an urban farm.

Rachel McLean, planner and development officer for the towns of Trenton, Stellarton and Westville, said the potential project is a partnership and collaboration to take place on a lot near St. Paul United Church, meant to grow food locally for those in need.

The Town of Westville, if the project happens, will provide services — such as machine work from public works for the initial build — to help develop and maintain the urban farm.

McLean and Clare Steele, the recreation co-ordinator for the Town of Westville, announced their plans to Westville town council at their April 30 meeting.

“This will be really great — it will help strengthen the fabric of the downtown area, adding some diversity. It’s an empty lot right now, and being taken care of by neighbours,” McLean said to council.

“I reached out recently to the Garden Club, and we’re working on how the recreation program can be involved in it,” said Steele to council. “It’s obviously a great idea, and a lot of families in need could use ... the accessible food.”

Council expressed a unanimously positive sentiment about the plan, and commended McLean and Steele for their idea.

“All we can say is best of luck,” said Westville Mayor Roger MacKay. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed — and thank you, for taking the initiative to do this project.”

“I’m sort of jealous I didn’t think of something this great first,” quipped Coun. Charlie Sutherland.

“You’ll need a good fence to keep the deer out,” said Coun. Lynn MacDonald, referring to the abundance of deer present in Pictou County.

The project is pending funding, and so the plans are in their initial stages. McLean told council that she and Steele have applied for population health funding from the Aberdeen Health Foundation. They are looking for $10,000 to get started.

The Aberdeen Health Foundation’s website notes that funding is intended for local community-based projects that “maintain, protect and improve the health of people in Pictou County.”

“This is the definition of population health,” said McLean to council on Monday, referring to those funding guidelines. “We’re hitting every single factor.”

In a call with The News, McLean said they are looking at a lot of potential community partners going forward, adding that “this can’t happen without the community behind it.”

McLean said local partners showing interest in the project include St. Paul United Church, Kids First and the Westville Garden Club. The project is being planned around the guidelines of the CSA community supported agriculture model, and the food grown at the lot will be free.

Although the urban farming project is intended initially to feed 10 families, McLean said that number was chosen for the sake of consistency.

The farm is expected to occupy a 50-by 50-foot space — likely to produce more than just what is needed for 10 families during the growing season.