NFU Opens Door to Canada's Urban Farmers

The National Farmers Union has opened its ranks to Canada's urban farmers for the first time.

At its annual convention last week in Saskatoon, the 41-year-old organization formally opened its membership to any Canadian engaged in farming — including city dwellers.

"Young and new farmers are supporting themselves and feeding their communities by producing fruits, vegetables, grains and in some cases livestock on lands within city boundaries," said NFU youth vice-president Paul Slomp, an eastern Ontario livestock farmer.

Earlier this year, farm supporters in Montreal and other Canadian cities lobbied to allow chicken coops in urban areas. And a poll conducted for Vancouver-based City Farmer information exchange found that 44 per cent of people living in Greater Vancouver produce some of their own food. A similar Ipsos-Reid poll found 40 per cent of people in the Greater Toronto Area grow some of their own food.

While there has been burgeoning interest in the development of hydroponic gardens in densely populated North American and European urban environments, there also are producers who operate fairly large tracts of land inside municipal limits, the NFU noted.