One of The Root’s successful pilot projects was the Foodraiser, in partnership with Grow Local from The Agricultural Alliance and Local Salt, Salt Spring’s digital marketplace app. Local farmers and gardeners grew almost 500 lbs of root vegetables this fall, with customers able to purchase boxes of carrots, potatoes, beets and more -- for themselves or for families in need through November. Proceeds of the sales were directed to The Root’s much-anticipated 2023 educational programming.
One major partnership that emerged was with Salt Spring Elementary who purchased vegetables to up the local food quotient in children’s school meals, including a school-wide pumpkin soup celebration for Halloween (pictured above.) The connection between schools, local food, farmers, and knowledge will definitely be on the menu for The Farmland Trust’s first full year of operating The Root in 2023.