Words Jo Barnes Photos Kathryn Alvarez Photography
It’s January. For most of us, that means resolutions – get more sleep, lose weight, learn a new skill. But for one local farmer, the new year’s goals are not only personal but also impactful to the greater community. Sol Kinnis, owner of City’s Edge Farm in Central Saanich, is passionate about food production and food security, and at this time of year is busy planning towards the nutritious food she will grow to distribute to her numerous customers.
“What am I doing in January? Well, I have lots of spreadsheets!” exclaims Sol. “I am doing crop and business planning. I need to know what crops are needed, how much for each CSA box, how many crop varieties are needed to grow and harvest at any one time, and how much seed I will need.”
CSA boxes, integral to Sol’s operation, are Community Supported Agriculture boxes, a program whereby customers buy shares or subscriptions in seasonal harvests from local farmers. Planning for these boxes and other items on her new year’s list is firmly rooted in her farming background.
While Sol only started working the land at her current site a year ago, she has been actively engaged in growing food and learning about the soil for 25 years. Her former work experiences in Havana ignited this passion. “In 1999, I spent time in Cuba with the Foundation for Nature and Humanity. I interviewed people who were growing food on their patios and looked at what resources they needed and the impact on them,” says Sol. “It helped me to see the role of agriculture in food sustainability. I learned how people can move out of a crisis where they had lost access to imported food and could now sustain themselves.”
Sol returned to this area a few times, and each trip reaffirmed the importance of food security. She studied the environment and the restoration of natural systems at the University of Victoria and cultivated an interest in environmental activism. In 2009, she co-founded an urban farming co-op transforming people’s backyards into successful food landscapes.
“I was involved with City Harvest Co-op from 2009-2015 in Victoria,” she outlines. “We had 17 backyards and converted these areas into vegetable beds. The owner would get a bag of mixed vegetables each week, and we sold through our CSA and to restaurants and farmers’ markets.”
Subsequently, Sol managed an acre parcel on West Burnside Road where she initiated City’s Edge Farm. With a desire to expand the operation and access more land, she signed a lease on the current property in 2024. “I now have three acres to grow food. The name ‘City’s Edge’ refers to a couple of things. I started growing on land that was on the edge of urban and rural. Also, the ‘edge effect’ is a term in ecology meaning where two different ecosystems meet is where diversity happens.”
Diversity is top of mind for this enthusiastic farmer. It’s reflected in the variety of plants she grows, the abundance in customer CSA boxes, and the commitment to creating habitat for a variety of living organisms on the farm. “I grow a wide variety of produce. I also grow pollinator gardens of mixes of flowers including marigold, alyssum, cosmos and straw flowers,” relates Sol. “I like to give customers some content choice in their CSA box and also introduce one new vegetable to them each time.”
Sol is committed to sustainable approaches and quality of produce, and is now beginning the process to officially have her operation recognized through I.O.P.A (Islands Organic Producers Association) which is part of the BC Certified Organic Program. “I have always followed the rules and practices of organic farming, but I’m applying for organic certification,” she shares. “It’s the right time for me to do this. It’s about assuring people that I am doing what I say I am doing. I’m looking forward to being a part of a community of people dedicated to using organic practices and making the information exchange possible.”
While Sol enjoys learning about how to grow healthy produce and create a healthy ecosystem, she’s inspired by the reward and satisfaction that comes from her relationships with customers. “It’s really about my connection to customers. Years ago, I had an ongoing dialogue with one chef or one restaurant. Now I have this with each of my customers. We talk about what foods they use and what I can grow for them and when,” she explains. “I really like seeing the joy they get from the food and their appreciation for it.”
While Sol’s customers may, like the rest of us, be making their own plans for personal growth in this new year, Sol is “resolute” in making sure her goals for the upcoming year include planning, planting and providing better food for local families. And, that’s a resolution that’s worth sticking to!
For more information, visit www.citysedgefarm.ca.
