A small farm in Carlsbad Springs is teaming up with the Parkdale Food Centre to not only grow delicious produce but also create a learning ground for young people. Students Max D’Amato and Aster Cuddihy are gaining experience from the ground up. “It’s different than sitting in a classroom all day,” D’Amato said. “We’re learning how to plant, like, foods and plants and stuff and harvest them,” Cuddihy told CTV News Ottawa. They’re both co-op students working with the Parkdale Food Centre. “I really enjoy, like, being involved with the community and stuff. So, I thought this is a perfect opportunity for that,” Cuddihy said. “The program offers building employment skills but also the opportunity for our youths to kind of connect with the community,” explained Emilie Waters, the Parkdale Food Centre’s youth coordinator. Every week, the students head out to “Thunder Gardens” in Carlsbad Springs, to help with various farm tasks. “We wanted that kind of component where the youth got to learn more about their local food systems, like, where does the food come from? And just being able to kind of see that growing process and the appreciation that comes with growing something from start to finish,” said Waters. The students are gaining not only knowledge but are also helping to reap the rewards. “We donated probably around 1,200 pounds to the Parkdale Food Center,” said Jay Smith, the farm’s co-owner. Smith, a former Algonquin College teacher, re-rooted his life and opened the farm to several youth groups. “That’s been the biggest gift,” he said. “What we’ve seen through the emotion and joy that the people who come to our farm experience, like when a student sees an eggplant, they didn’t know what it was like. They ask so many questions, but they’re always full of wonder and curiosity.” Some of the produce grown on the farm will be used by various programs at the Parkdale Food Centre. “We get a lot of farm fresh, amazing produce, which is obviously a very great benefit to Parkdale. It’s really great,” said Waters. “I get to go to sleep at night knowing that I helped people other than myself. And I build skills that I wouldn’t have gained in the classroom,” said D’Amato.
