Join EFAO for the third field day in our farmer-led policy jam series at Urban Fresh Produce in Ottawa with farmer Chadwick Lewis!

Urban Fresh Produce is a family-run urban farm growing organic vegetables on land rented from the National Capital Commission. Founded by Farmer Chadwick who is originally from Saint Lucia, the farm is rooted in food security, cultural celebration, and community connection, growing a broad range of veggies alongside culturally significant crops such as okra and callaloo.

This field day will offer a practical look at what it takes to build a farm business through alternative land access pathways, from incubator farming to public land leases. Participants will learn about Chadwick’s farming journey, vegetable and seedling production and crop rotations including cover crops, CSA and farm stand sales, community-building events, and the realities and rewards of farming with a growing family.

After the farm tour, participants will have the opportunity to join an on-farm work bee, followed by lunch and a facilitated policy jam. Together, we’ll explore what farms like Urban Fresh make visible about public land access, urban agriculture, food security, farm viability, cultural crops, and the supports new and small-scale farmers need to get established and stay farming.

This field day is open to farmers, aspiring farmers, growers, land access advocates, food systems workers, community members, and anyone interested in urban agriculture, public land, food security, cultural foodways, and the future of small-scale ecological farming.

Please come prepared with closed-toe shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection, a water bottle, and work gloves if you would like to join the work bee.

Schedule

10:00 AM – Arrival and welcome at Urban Fresh Produce

10:15 AM to 11:15 AM – Farm tour

11:15 AM to 12:00 PM – Hands-on group work bee

12:00PM to 1:00PM – Lunch provided at Urban Fresh Produce

1:00 PM to 2:15 PM – Facilitated policy conversation and workshop: From public land to public good

2:15 PM to 2:45 PM – Group reflection and key takeaways

2:45 PM to 3:00 PM – Closing and departures

About Urban Fresh Produce

Urban Fresh Produce is a family-run urban farm in Ottawa led by Chadwick Lewis. Originally from Saint Lucia, Chadwick has been farming since 2015 and founded Urban Fresh Produce in 2021. The farm grows organic vegetables and seedlings, serves local communities (CSA and farm stand sales), and is rooted in food security, cultural foodways, and community connection. Chadwick’s farming journey includes incubator farming and now farming on public land rented from the National Capital Commission, with his wife Paula and three children.

This event is offered in partnership with the Farmers for Climate Solutions’ Farm Resilience Mentorship Program (FaRM).