BONNYVILLE - The Northeast Growing Project is about to get growing on another season.
Through the initiative, farmers in the Lakeland region grow crops which are sold locally, then donate the money to the Canadian Food Grains Bank, who then provides food and resources to those in need around the world.
Terry Stenher is chairman of the Northeast Growing Project committee. The project has been going for nearly three decades.
“This will be our 27th crop,” he told Lakeland This Week.
Stenher says the project is done each year because of the need for food security among people in many third world countries. Money raised through the Northeast Growing Project is also matched 4:1 by the federal government.
“Every dollar that we send into the Canadian Food Grains Bank is matched times four by the federal government under their foreign food aid program,” Stenher explains.
Crops being grown can vary from year to year, and for this year, the Northeast Growing Project is focused on planting canola. Depending on weather conditions, Stenher says seeding will most likely start around May 10.
Right now, Stenher says there are about 25 farmers from across the region who help with this initiative to fight hunger. He explains that these volunteers have varied roles during the process of growing the food.
There is a farmer who is going to volunteer to seed, while another will do all the spraying. If swathing is required, somebody will volunteer to swath and harrow. During the fall harvest, the farmers all bring combines to the field.
“We seed 120 acres and the field that we’ve had for the whole time is two and a half miles east of Bonnyville on Highway 28,” he says, explaining that the field is located near the Strike maintenance shop.
In addition to farmers and businesses in the area who donate their time, resources and money to the Northeast Growing Project, several local churches are also involved. They have contributed by taking up collections during church services.
Throughout the spring, the project committee has an ongoing ‘silent shovel auction’ fundraiser where people bid on a silver shovel. Whoever bids the highest not only gets their name on a plaque on the shovel, but they also can display the shovel in their place of business until the following spring.
The silent silver shovel, he says, is moving around among the various church communities in the area. The shovel has been in three of the churches already, and the auction will probably wind up around the end of May.
Stenher says the Northeast Growing Project is a worthwhile cause as it is a community effort and is about helping others.
“I think it works because the people that are involved in it are committed to it… and they’re doing it because they want to help other people.”
