OUR URBAN FARM IN THE SIX

I’ve both lived in Toronto and on a farm my whole life. How is that possible? Well, my Portuguese immigrant parents turned our tiny patch of dirt formerly known as a backyard into an urban farm. We had a glorious vegetable garden and fruit trees, as well as chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigeons, and whatever else my dad decided to buy at the weekend farmer’s flea market. All this busy, noisy life was next to a public school that would call us from time to time to ask that we quiet our roosters during the school day! As if roosters can ever be told what to do…

When my husband and I purchased our own home in Toronto 15 years ago, the modest bungalow was situated on a generous parcel of land…a very empty, barren plot of land that had felt love and care many, many moons ago. I set pencil to paper immediately and drew up my urban farm dream. It would be a touch of camping, a sprinkle of Tuscany, a helping of English garden, and of course, a generous dusting of farm where my flock of hens would live.

I have to say at this point in my story that my husband is a very accommodating and understanding man. Having grown up in an Italian immigrant home, he was no stranger to growing his own vegetables and fruits. But having livestock in the backyard was next level for him! He was more than a little skeptical but went along with my crazy plan to raise our own chickens…in the city…and to try and live as close to the Earth as possible.

So this is what we did! We turned that sad and empty space into our urban farm oasis. Over the years, we’ve grown vegetables and chickens, children and dogs, cats and fruits, and we’ve done it all ourselves. We’ve had so many successes and more than a few tragedies, but that’s the cycle of all life.

Most importantly, we’ve learned to live peacefully with the Earth below our feet, on our patch of land, while still having hectic and active lives in the beautiful City of Toronto. We run our businesses in the corporate world, meet with clients, manage deadlines and deliverables, and deal with everything else that this great city throws our way.

But our days start and end in our urban farm, tending to our flock and our garden. It doesn’t take much…just a few minutes per day…but the gift of that connection and peace lasts all day, and sets the tone for a beautiful night’s rest. This is the “all” that I wanted us to have. Both city and farm. Both concrete and green. Both busy and rest.

This is the “all” that I want you to have…if you want it too. We’ve all been disconnected for some time now, and we all feel it on a deeper level. That’s why petting zoos and farms outside the GTA are so popular! We all seek that connection to a simple time and a purer life. We’re proving every day that you can have both…today…if you want it.

Let me show you how…