A Mission farm designed to rehabilitate ex-cons is a front-runner in a national charitable funding contest.
Emma’s Acres, a fruit and vegetable farm in Hatzic, employs ex-offenders and offenders alongside victims of crime to grow organic produce. It’s currently one of the top-voted entrants in its category for the Aviva Community Fund competition, which will award $1 million to community projects across Canada.
They’re hoping to receive $45,000 from the fund, in order to upgrade drip irrigation, wire electricity to the site to power cold storage, and improve soil.
The farm is run by the L.I.N.C. (Long-Term Inmates Now in the Community) Society, an organization aiming to rehabilitate ex-cons by giving them positive, productive ways to re-integrate into the community and help victims of crime.
The fertilizer- and pesticide-free fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs grown at Emma’s Acres are sold at local farmers’ markets and businesses, and the proceeds fund programs to help survivors of serious crimes.
L.I.N.C. leases 20 acres of land from the District of Mission, near the Hatzic cemetery.
Emma’s Acres has 902 votes in the Aviva Community Fund Competition at press time, placing near the top of the “small community resilience project” category. Voting will close on Oct. 23. More information and online voting is available at their Aviva Community Fund page.