Produce on the Yonge Line

Likam Kyanzaire –

At the north end of Toronto is Downsview Park, 291 acres of parkland, forestry and tons of concerts. Acquired for manufac­turing by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada in 1929, the site be­came an Air Force base in the 1950s and is now owned and operated as a federal park by the Canada Lands Company, a crown corporation.

On the west end of the park sits 11 acres of fields and green­houses leased to urban farmers. Downtown East residents might not realize that the produce they purchase at farmers markets is grown just a 40-minute subway ride away.

Jessey Ngau, the founder of Zawadi Farms in the Park, built a successful hi-tech career after coming to Canada from Kenya. But feeling disconnected from food, Ngau gave up IT to start farming first, in his backyard and eventually in Downsview Park. Together with the Many Hands Collective co-members, they took over a lease from Fresh City Farms.

The Many Hands Collective, a social group of urban farm­ers, educators, composters and local organizations, work to im­prove access to healthy food and green spaces. It includes farm­ing groups such as Sarn Farms, Crooked Farmz, Ubuntu Farm, HomesteadTO, the YMCA and Zawadi Farm, said Ngau.

The collective was helped by former tenant Fresh City Farms, whose founder Joel Ran also gave up his tech job to pursue farming. “Farming is hard work. We were barely breaking even,” Ran said.

Up against supermarket gi­ants, farming in the city is not easy. Fresh City “They help create a community,” Ran says of the collective. Ran now runs Mama Earth, an online grocery retailer that delivers produce across the city, including from the Many Hands Collective.

Sustainable food and com­munities are about more than money. A part social enterprise, part for-profit farm, Zawadi not only sells produce directly to consumers but also provides meals for social programs such as Foodshare Toronto, a charity helping those who need good food. According to the Daily Bread Food Bank, a tenth of the Toronto’s residents relied on food banks in 2024.

“Another way we make in­come is through space rental,” Ngau said. “We put those funds into the farm to pay for educat­ing the community.” He also gives lessons to local schools on agriculture and farming.

On Saturdays, members of the Many Hands Collective rep­resentatives operate under the Harambee Collective banner at St. Lawrence North Market. On Sundays, produce from Sarn Farms, Ubuntu Farm and Zawa­di Farm is available at the Les­lieville Farmers Market.