Hope’s backyard growers invited to sell surplus bounties

Gardeners encouraged to take part in community event aimed at strengthening food security

Hope’s backyard growers invited to sell surplus bounties Published 1:30 am Friday, July 17, 2026 Hope’s backyard growers, food lovers and families are being invited to gather next month for a new community event aimed at strengthening local food connections. The Community Food Showcase will run Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Northwest Harvest Church. Organized through the Hope Food Collective, the event will give local backyard food growers a chance to sell surplus produce directly to community members.

Growers can rent a table for $10, with bursary table spots available for those who may face a financial barrier. The collective will also create Community Food Showcase gift bucks for local families experiencing food insecurity, allowing more residents to take part while still supporting growers through sales. Kim Paolini, a member of the Hope Food Collective and Hope Garden Club, said the idea grew from the Collective’s earlier Spice and Seed and Container Garden giveaways, which helped residents access supplies and information to grow and preserve food at home.

“I think growing gardens in your backyard is very important,” says Paolini. “Getting your hands in the dirt is one of the healthiest things you can do. It is good for you physically, mentally, and you know where your food comes from!”

The showcase will also include a rotating workshop station from the Yale First Nation Food Sovereignty program, where attendees can learn basic food preservation techniques. Kim said the event is meant to be an accessible way for growers to share what they have, connect with others and possibly earn money to put back into their gardens. “If you know something grows well, plant extra,” she said.

“This is a good way to make connections with other growers, to share your overabundance and perhaps make some extra cash you can put back into your garden next year.” Organizers say the showcase follows the “one up” rule: if residents grow it themselves, they can sell it directly to consumers. Eggs, for example, can be sold by the person who has the chickens, but not on behalf of a neighbour.

Proceeds from table rentals will return to the Hope Food Collective to support future food sustainability initiatives, including programs that promote growing, preserving and sharing local food. For more information about the Hope Food Collective contact Darla at darla@empoweredhope.ca or call 604-860-0510. The event is not intended to replace the current farmers market, Kim said, but to provide a simple, community-based option for people with surplus food.

“We hope to be able to bring this event annually to the community,” says Paolini. “It is an easy, accessible means to sell your surplus, to go in with your neighbour on a table, or to share a table and connect with fellow growers.”