Sole Food Street Farms

Founded in 2008 by farmer Michael Ableman and Seann Dory, Sole Food Street Farms converts vacant and contaminated urban parcels across Vancouver into productive market gardens and North America's largest urban orchard. The nonprofit social enterprise pays local residents facing serious barriers to employment — many in recovery from addiction — to grow and sell organic produce to restaurants, farmers markets and a CSA program, while donating a share to neighborhood food agencies. Since its founding the farm has produced more than a million pounds of food, pairing paid horticultural training with long-term community support.