Young Roots Farm

Every year before the summer holidays end, Young Roots Farm runs a 5-day program for teenagers from 12-17 years old. In 2023, from August 21st-25th, we will be serving up a week of fun activities, wild workshops and wholesome nourishment. Practice growing food, forest survival, running a business and much more!

Find out more

• Grows around 800 kgs of vegetables and fruit
• Composs 4㎥ of food and organic waste from the kitchen and bathrooms, sparing the atmosphere of 525 pounds of methane gas.
• Sells over $3000 of fresh vegetables, pesto, hot sauce pickles and other merchandise at 4 different markets around the region with our teen entrepreneurs.
• Hosts more than 300 people
• Delivers over 100 lessons

Learn more about our initiatives Below!

When we ask our campers about their dreams for the future, their answers are simple: Clean water, less pollution and more kindness for a better future. As an organisation that has the well-being of children at heart, we take seriously the responsibility of moving towards those dreams despite the difficulties that lie ahead. We know that there is much more to be done and we need to hustle!

During the summer, our camp is a village of hundreds. The good times and delicious meals come with an environmental impact.

Per day of operation, our composting program collects about 100 lbs of food waste from the dining hall, brown paper from the bathrooms, yard waste from the camp and farm and animal manure all to be combined and composted on-site. Using a static-aerated-pile method to reduce odor and speed up decomposition, we turn our waste products into a valuable source of organic matter and nutrients for our farm.

As a farm, we are constantly working on improving our relationship with neighbouring indigenous communities and farmers, incorporating regenerative farming practices and practicing our best intentions of what it means to live in good relation with the land. Our next goal is to reduce the amount of garbage produced at camp, reducing single use plastics and dollar store purchases that fill our dumpsters.

On top of all our fruits, veggies, eggs and mushrooms, we also make our own products! Our oldest campers known as the Leaders-in-Training (LITs) as well as our Farm and Wilderness Camp participants are given an opportunity to learn what it means to run a business. Throughout the process of bottling deliciousness, they learn skills and experience different sides of our local food system. Takeaway lessons include the sweat and tears it takes to make a buck and how often you have to wash your hands.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to know where you can find our pickles, hot sauce, pesto, vegetables and t-shirts!

Every year in September, we invite all friends, family, campers, old and new staff to come share the end of season harvest. It’s a chance for everyone and anyone to come see what we are about and share food, recipes, live music and great weather. Don’t miss out!

Harvest Event 2022

Special thanks to our funders and donors who help make the farm possible.

• TD – Friends of the Environment
• Concordia Student Union
• Association Facultaire Étudiante des Sciences Humaines de L’UQAM
• Dubois Agrinovation
• Arcteryx
• La ferme coopérative aux champs qui chantent
• QPIRG McGill
• Tremplin Santé
• QPIRG Concordia

Thanks to Koumbit for gratuitously hosting our website!