The United Way is helping the Inuvik Community Greenhouse start its new Farm to Table for Everyone program with a $7,500 grant.
Ray Solotki, executive director of the greenhouse, said the program will aim to make gardening more accessible and increase food security among its participants.
"We want local people involved," said Solotki. "If you are an Inuvik resident, and have been for a long time, and have never gardened, and your reason is that you didn't have the resources, you didn't know what or how to plant, we want you to be a part of this program."
Program participants will receive a "starter package" for a greenhouse plot free of charge. They will have the cost of their plot covered, bedding plants, seeds, a simple drip irrigation system, a dehydrator and a water bath canner. There will also be no mandatory minimum of volunteer hours.
Samantha McKay/NNSL photo
"We do ask people to volunteer, but we're taking away the mandatory volunteer position," said Solotki. "Instead, we want people to help where they can and when they can."
The greenhouse has facilitated accessibility initiatives in the past with United Way funding, such as raised beds for people with restricted mobility and small beds for those with limited time or skills.
Solotki said while some of the greenhouse's accessibility initiatives have worked, they haven't fostered the level of sustainable food security or long-term membership that they were hoping for.
Solotki said she hopes that with closer monitoring and better communication, this program will be different.
"This project is to specifically try to get people who have found gardening to be intimidating and have not had the resources to get started," said Solotki. "We are targeting people who have not been exposed to gardening before. One of the things that people are really intimidated by is how to use the space, so we're going to give them a plot plan, we're going to show them how to execute that plot plan."
Program participants will also have the opportunity to participate in workshops to learn how to use the equipment they've been given.
According to Solotki, having a garden plot can drastically reduce your grocery bill, which is the hope for those participating in the program. She said one plot can yield approximately $500 worth of food in a season.
In addition to creating a new food source, Solotki said gardening can also be therapeutic and build community.
"We're hopeful that this will create a new skillset, a new way to feed people's families, new opportunity to bring food in for a cheaper rate, and that's all because of the funding from the United Way," said Solotki. "We want to make sure the current barriers to people are being broken down. Some people don't feel as welcome as others because they don't have the skillset coming in. Gardening isn't something people have always done, so we want to offer that skill."
So far, one person has signed up for the program. Solotki said she is hoping to have approximately five participants this summer.
Those interested in participating in the Farm to Table for Everyone program can apply by emailing info@inuvikgreenhouse.com.