NewsBreak26 with Vicki Hogarth and Mallory Thompson: July 16, 2024

An innovative project is transforming the community of Blacks Harbour. What was once a shuttered grocery store on Main Street has now become a thriving indoor farm, thanks to the efforts of ECW, a local non-profit. Inside this repurposed space, rows of leafy greens grow in glowing, vertical towers.

"In this grow room, we are growing leafy greens and herbs," said Farm Manager Brian Goggin, while touring CHCO-TV around the facility. "So we have some arugula, various types of lettuce, some kale, and then herbs like basil and cilantro. We are growing things that we know the community wants and that people use in their day-to-day lives, but can only be grown seasonally outdoors. So that's why we've taken them indoors to grow them year-round."

This is Project: Village Indoor Farm, an initiative aimed at providing fresh, locally-grown produce to a rural area previously considered a food desert. By using controlled environment agriculture, the farm is able to grow crops year-round, free from the challenges of pests and bad weather. Each tower can hold up to 44 plants, with a carefully managed rotation system that allows for harvest and replanting every four weeks.

"The ultimate goal is to become a food hub," said Goggin. "We want this building and this farm to be a space where people can access local food, especially the vegetables that we grow indoors and outdoors. It's also a place where people can connect to their local food sources and become more familiar with where their food comes from. There is often a disconnect between people and their food sources."

You can find ECW farm products at a number of Charlotte County vendors as well as restaurants, like The Kitchen in Blacks Harbour. And, as of this past week, people can now buy fresh produce directly from the farm’s storefront on Main Street. Prices are competitive and often lower than similar items in a grocery store.

"We're in St. Andrews at the Spice Box and at the Farmer's Market every Thursday, and we're at the St. Stephen Farmer's Market every Friday," said Goggin. "Starting now, you'll be able to buy it here in Blacks Harbour from this building. We've also sold to a few restaurants and stores around St. Stephen and Blacks Harbour, like Stuart's Village Mart."

The launch of this indoor farm addresses the immediate needs of the Blacks Harbour community and beyond, aligning with New Brunswick's broader goal of increasing its self-sufficiency in food production. As the province aims to double its indoor farming space by the end of this year, projects like these are leading the way.

"We worked a lot with the Department of Agriculture, and I don't know if a lot of people know this, but a statistic in New Brunswick is that 9% of the fresh greens and fresh produce we grow here stays in New Brunswick, while 91% is actually exported," said ECW Executive Director Briana Cowie. "So when you look at a statistic like that, there's a real opportunity to have fresh local year-round produce growth available for our community members. We are a non-profit organization, working off a social enterprise model, which means a large amount of our product is set aside for community kitchens, local food banks, and school programs."

ECW plans to host a community event for Charlotte County to formally launch the indoor farm later this summer.

Meanwhile, Ministers Island continues to offer familiar attractions like oceanview trails, the 50-room Van Horne mansion, and Sunday concerts. Recently, an art exhibit on William Van Horne has been added to the list of attractions. Within the first five days of the exhibit being open to the public, it garnered more than a thousand visitors. Susan Goertzen, the tour manager for Minister's Island, shared details about the exhibit.

"It is an art exhibit on William Van Horne, so we have many items, some paintings, some written works of his, things that we've never seen before," said Goertzen. "It's here for three months."

The exhibit is open until September 30th. Other upcoming events on the island include RailFest 2024, which showcases Sir William Van Horne-inspired Lego creations.

"We have RailFEST coming up on July 27th. It’s in the Bathhouse," said Goertzen. "People with a day pass or a membership can come and see it at no extra charge. It will feature trains, stations, and buildings made out of Lego."

Minister's Island is hosting RailFest from July 27th to August 5th, offering a family-friendly way to celebrate New Brunswick Day weekend through historic Lego builds.

"A lot of people come here without knowing who William Van Horne is, and after they've been here, they're amazed by what he built and what he did for Canada," said Goertzen.