Food for thought!

September 19, 2018

Food for thought! There is something awe inspiring about big machines and, when used for a good cause, the ‘awesome factor’ is exponential. On Sept. 9, 2018, 14 massive combines completed a 135-acre barley harvest in two hours, just beating the rain. The ‘big field’ harvest on land donated by Pembina Pipelines East of Gibbons, Alta., was one part of the new Grow Hope North project of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Alberta. The project encourages donations of $300 an acre to pay the input costs of farming the land. A group of local farmers near Fort Saskatchewan and Gibbons volunteer their time and expertise to raise the crops. Profits from grain sales are matched 4 to 1 by the Canadian government, and the money goes to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to alleviate hunger around the world. The Grow Hope North project is a partnership of local farmers, agriculture businesses, and various Christian denominations and organizations. MCC Alberta helped to sponsor 100 of the 135 acres. This was MCC Alberta’s first year partnering with the groups in Grow Hope North. Another MCC project, Grow Hope South, is in its second year of sponsoring 100 acres on Richard and Esther Goerzen’s farm near Carstairs. —Donita Wiebe-Neufeld

—By Donita Wiebe-Neufeld

Photo: 

An aerial shot of the Mennonite Central Committee Alberta Grow Hope North’s fledgling harvest in aid of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. (Photo by Armin Hasenbank)

Share this page: Twitter Instagram