The PATCH History

The PATCH project arose from three different aspirations. A group of neighbours looking to repurpose a derelict urban space, an established not-for-profit looking for new training opportunities, and a memorial fund looking for collaborators to manage an indoor hydroponics farm.

In turn, this offered a chance for a community to come together, for individuals in our community to build transferable skills in urban agriculture, as well as spread the idea of indoor hydroponic growing all year round that could meet food security concerns in London and surrounding area. Kensington Village, Hutton House and Nathan’s Urban Farm are the three founding partners of the PATCH project.

Repurpose

First, Kensington Village neighbours were looking for creative ways to re-purpose a City of London Works Yard sitting in one of London’s largest riverine parks. Given the large interest shown in urban agriculture in prior projects such as the award-winning Wood St Park Food Forest, West Lion’s Gleaning Food Forest, Petersville Community Garden, and KEVA Boulevard Veggie project, Kensington Village neighbours envisioned an urban farm with food production taking place in raised beds as well as a larger space where the community could gather for events.

Opportunity

Second, Hutton House Association for Adults with Disabilities was looking for new opportunities to transferable skills training as well as recreation and leisure programming. Earlier they had established connection to Sunnivue Biodynamic Farm near Alisa Craig, as well as a connection to Greenhouse Academy as part of their employment placement initiative. Hutton House were hoping that a closer opportunity would arise that would allow more of their participants to take part in programming.

Collaborate

Third, Nathan’s Urban Farm was looking for collaborators to help in managing an indoor hydroponics farm consisting of 10 Tower gardens. Help was needed in keeping the Tower gardens clean, nutrients supplied at the required levels and the food harvested and distributed to organizations working with marginalized groups. The collaboration was also going to help spread the idea of indoor hydroponic growing all year round that could meet broader food security concerns in London, Ontario and beyond.