Winnipeg’s Yazidi Healing Farm

The Healing Farm, which began in 2018 with a half-acre of land was donated by a volunteer who sits on the Operation Ezra committee. After the successful run with the half acre of land and the mass media coverage which followed, another generous donor came forward, Bo Wohlers, owner of Shelmerdine Garden Centre, and offered to donate 8 acres of land, seeds, and farming equipment. Today, we are working with close to 10 acres in St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba, the Yazidi community, predominantly women, have participated in, organized and planned the operations of the farm that provides fresh produce to more than 35 Yazidi families in Winnipeg.

The Healing Farm, supports the families both by helping them grow their own food and by teaching them marketable employment skills. In 2020, over 35 different fruits and vegetables were planted and harvested and produced upwards of 35,000 lbs. of fresh fruits vegetables. All remaining produce is sold at farmer’s markets in the Winnipeg area, including at Charleswood United Church, Shelmerdine Garden Centre and Asper Jewish Community Campus, and donated to local food banks. All funds raised are reinvested in the upcoming years farming supplies. This has helped address many food-insecurity issues as well as many healing and therapeutic outcomes by empowering Yazidi refugee women to be self-sufficient and independent, which has in turn created a safe space for healing. Yazidis are using the farm to help settle in to life in Winnipeg, with a goal of self-sufficiency. They want to be able to support themselves instead of relying on the government or community indefinitely.

As we move toward our vision of a sustainable, resilient and just regional food system, it is clear that projects like the Healing Farm are absolutely key. A Healing Farm is growing into a sustainable food source, in hopes to nurture roots for independence.