The City of Hamilton is moving forward with an east-end neighbourhood's plan to turn a three-acre field into an urban farm. 

Councillors have supported a $350,000 construction job to break ground on the McQuesten Urban Farm as early as late summer, making the farm ready for the 2016 growing season.

It's explained in this Hamilton Spectator article that the neighbourhood faces difficulty in accessing fresh food, and the urban farm will help with this as it will be large enough to offer produce to residents in McQuesten and other neighbourhoods.
 

The farm plans also intend to "help educate children, develop food skills and encourage entrepreneurialism."
 

The plans include: "grading the field; planting trees, perennial shrubs, food and medicinal plants traditional to local aboriginals; building entrance features, a storage structure, canopied picnic space and teaching garden."
 

The farm will also turn an area that's often flooded into an irrigation pond outfitted with a wind turbine-powered pumping system. Read more on this exciting development here.

"Before breaking ground, this venture was ground-breaking", said Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at the launch of Ontario's new Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC) in Colborne on May 1.

 The OAFVC will offer Ontario farmers and food producers important support through a unique opportunity to expand their business with value-added production. Services will include: wash, cut, quick chill, labelling, flash freeze, cold, frozen and dry storage, a fully equipped commercial kitchen, packaging, and a training facility.

For more information, including pricing and to book a tour of the new facility, read our blog post.