What was the initiative?
Sam’s initiative focused on supporting the growth and development of Élèves des Champs, a youth-run non-profit and small-scale vegetable farm in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC. Having helped found the non-profit out of the ashes of a student club at McGill’s Macdonald University, Sam’s work was largely laying and supporting the organizational foundation of the farm as it went through its first year as a non-profit in collaboration with the other members of the farm. This included lots of outreach and engagement through volunteer days, events and free-food giveaways at the farm as well as administrative set-up, visioning, grant and policy writing, bookkeeping and recruitment. As a youth-run farm, specializing in sustainable agricultural practices, the group’s goal is to provide opportunities for youth to explore the many gifts and challenges of small-scale agriculture and provide knowledge, training and opportunities in sustainable livelihoods and community building. At full capacity, the farm grows over 35 different crops on 2 acres of land, with around 50% of the crops being donated to free food services in and around the Island of Montreal.
What was the community connection?
Over the past few years, Sam has worked with several different community-oriented and youth-led agricultural projects in the Montreal area and has found a radical passion and potential, both within myself and dozens of other young folks, for more just, accessible and joyful agricultural spaces that support the health of communities, farm workers and the land alike. Supporting the growth of these relationships and spaces, and their capacity to spur change, was the driving force behind his initiative.
How was it innovative?
Sam finds much inspiration and empowerment to be found in having youth run their own enterprises and organizations that serve the vision of the future they want to see, not just the one they have inherited. As a non-profit founded and run exclusively by youth under 25, the work the farm does and how they do it is very unique in the perspectives, stories and vibes they bring to their collective effort towards building stronger and more sustainable systems of care and community.
What is Sam doing now?
Sam is continuing to work with Élèves des Champs, both in the fields and behind the scenes!