How an urban farming co-ordinator shops and eats with health and tradition in mind
Nicole Austin coordinates the Urban Farm at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she grows culturally significant crops for the local community. The initiative aims to improve food access for Black Canadians, who face high rates of food insecurity. Austin emphasizes the importance of cooking from scratch and incorporates diverse cuisines into her diet while promoting sustainable practices.
- ▪Nicole Austin launched the Harvest Collective and Learning Circle programs at TMU's Urban Farm in 2021.
- ▪The Urban Farm grows crops with cultural significance, including okra and Scotch bonnet peppers, for Toronto's African and Caribbean communities.
- ▪Black Canadians have a food insecurity rate of 38 percent, prompting initiatives like the Urban Farm to increase access to healthy food.
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Open this photo in gallery:Illustration by Kat Frick MillerShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountInside Toronto Metropolitan University’s health sciences building, students conduct labs, take notes and prepare for finals. Eight floors above the classrooms and offices, Nicole Austin spends her days sowing seeds, tending crops and harvesting food.Austin has been growing a variety of crops since 2021, when she launched the Harvest Collective and the Learning Circle programs at TMU’s Urban Farm – a project that’s given students, faculty and the broader community the ability to grow fresh produce and learn about farming.The initiative is spread across two rooftops, on top of TMU’s health sciences building and engineering centre.
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