Land has been sold to Cowichan Green Community to help secure financing needed to complete construction of its food hub and expand operations.
Municipality of North Cowichan sold the land to the organization for $10. Co-executive director Kortnee Smith said the sale is a significant step forward for both the organization and the region.
“It’s great to be able to access funding to complete the food hub,” Smith said. “This will help us serve the community in the way that it needs.”
Smith said with food insecurity growing in the Cowichan Valley, the continued expansion will allow the organization to increase services for groups that rely on the hub to support people in need.
“It’s an ever-growing problem, and for us to be able to provide access to food, education, and agriculture is just the beginning,” she said.
(L to R) North Cowichan Coun. Chris Justice, CGC co-executive director Kortnee Smith, Mayor Rob Douglas, CGC co-executive director Adrian Witt.
Photo credit: Justin Baumgardner, VistaRadio
The Cowichan Green Community has operated for more than 20 years. Co-executive director Adrian Witt said the land transfer will allow the organization to give back to the community that has supported its work.
“It’s a turning point that we can now get back into the community and continue the forward motion that we’ve had for two decades,” Witt said.
Both directors said the transfer by the municipality has helped the organization grow since 2015. During that time, the group has built a community kitchen, storage space, training areas and a gathering space.
Rob Douglas said the agreement will help address several community needs.
“This will advance North Cowichan’s goal of supporting local agriculture and increasing food production,” Douglas said. “As a long-time steward of the site, the Cowichan Green Community is well positioned to deliver much-needed facilities and programs to strengthen food security in North Cowichan and across the broader region.”
The sale agreement includes provisions allowing North Cowichan to repurchase the property for $10 if certain conditions are not met, including failure to complete the food hub within a set timeline or using the property for purposes other than the hub.
The Cowichan Green Community was founded in 2001.
