20 years ago, we (Wally and Gail) began farming on an acre-sized plot outside of Saskatoon, adjacent to the South Saskatchewan river, 40 miles north of Saskatoon. After six years farming our rural site, we realized there was a better living to be made growing multiple crops intensively in the city. We sold our farm and became urban growers. While some have been skeptical that growing three crops a year in Saskatoon is too labour-intensive, this is much less work than mechanized, large-scale farming. We used to have a tractor to hill potatoes and cultivate, but we find it’s more efficient to do things by hand. Other than a rototiller, all we need is a push-type seeder and a few hand tools.
City growing also provides a more controlled environment, with fewer pests, better wind protection and a longer growing season. We are producing 10-15 different crops. Our volumes are low compared to conventional farming, but we sell high-quality organic products at sustainable profit margins.