Groundbreakers Agriculture Association is a charitable organization made up of volunteers, teachers, cooks, facilitators, and advocates that work together to engage people, particularly students, in all aspects of local food production in the Smithers and Telkwa areas. As indicated on the website, the charity’s has as one of its goals to: “help develop food producing gardens in each school yard across the region. Groundbreakers is currently active in delivering programming and supporting gardens at Muheim, Heartwood and Walnut Park Elementary schools in Smithers, as well as at Telkwa Elementary.”
Groundbreakers has an informative website and it outlines some of their projects like Groundbreakers Wild, where students go out on local trails to learn about wild plants and foods through sensory exploration. Their website also has a great resource list for anyone to use including Newsletters to download to find out more about local food initiatives, gardening, and cooking with kids including lesson plans and recipes.
The past 4 summers have seen Groundbreakers support local farmers and producers through the Youth on Farms program by helping over a dozen of young people be employed on local farms to help increase production while learning about farming as a possible future career.
Groundbreakers Agriculture Association also supports at-home food production by owning and maintaining a Good Food Tool Library consisting of canners, shredders, dehydrators etc., available for rent. This is a great, low cost way to explore and learn new skills before purchasing your own equipment.
Last but not least, a local food recipe book with recipes submitted by Smithers and area children and youth is available at Out of Hand in Smithers.
