A recent grocery store fire left only one shop to provide for the whole community of La Loche, Sask. — about 2,400 people — in an area where fresh produce comes at a stiff price.But this could soon change. Dene High School, which was one of two scenes of a shooting in 2016 in which four people died, is slated to receive a Brampton-made modular farm next month. The $200,000 unit is being donated by President’s Choice Children’s Charity, and the school will begin planting in September. It will offer leafy greens, fruits and other bounty year-round. “I really can’t wait to pollinate things,” said student Brelanda Montgrand, 17. “I love growing stuff.” Montgrand was among five students who visited an indoor farming system in Toronto on Thursday, where they learned how modular farms work and how to get a healthy yield.Eric Amyot, CEO and founder of Modular Farms, who was also on-site on Thursday, said the units can grow more than 50 varieties of plants.“Everything from what you’d expect, like lettuce, herbs and kale, but also strawberries, pumpkins, corn,” he said. “We’re currently doing quinoa, raspberries and blueberries in there. You name it, it’ll grow in there.”The first modular farm was set up in Calgary last year, Amyot said.The idea is to create a controlled environment, he said, a microclimate that can be adjusted to suit the needs of different crops, regardless of the time of year.“If it’s minus 40 (C) out here, it’ll be 19 to 20 degrees in there,” he said. “We maintain a constant, consistent environment, food and light for the plants.”Lisa Battistelli, executive director for President’s Choice Children’s Charity, said the students had wanted a greenhouse. “Sometimes growing is a challenge and so we started to look at solutions that were more contained.“The idea of having them grow the food that’s ...
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