Getting to Know: Jordan Wettlaufer

Creator of the People’s Garden

Across the world, many communities celebrate their heritage, culture and every-day milestones with food. No matter what the occasion is, the world is traditionally united through themes of food harvesting, growth, and creation. For Jordan Wettlaufer, creator of People’s Garden, this moves beyond one particular community, but embarks on a journey throughout the world. “I would say that I am continuing a tradition of growing a variety of different foods important and sacred from all cultures,” he says. “At the same time we are teaching important skills fostering cultural inclusion and celebration. The significance is that it is emulating models of sustainability and a triple bottom line: Social importance, economically feasible and responsible and ecologically rooted.”

With farming activity rooted deeply in his own family, including his grandparents who are farmers, and his time spent harvesting food with his own father and working with the environmental organization Clean North!, growing and preserving food has been an important action in Jordan’s Sault Ste. Marie community. “The People’s Garden emulates principles that I strive to live by such as sustainable practices, community engagement and community development. Growing food and preserving food is an extremely important skill that is seemingly becoming lost due to reliance on commercial food systems, especially in young people. It is a pleasure and good opportunity that I can strive to practice community development capacities through the facet of a community garden,” he states.

Although farming is traditionally thought to be a ‘slow moving’ activity, Jordan’s schedule has never been more full. “I learned the importance of collaborative leadership to collectively fulfill tasks that may not be possible alone,” he says. “That it is important to have, goals and schedules but that things change and don’t always happen as planned. I learned that this is ok and it is best to just go with the flow and good if not better outcomes will still come!”

As small farmers continue to jump through hurdles with every technological advancement that comes, Jordan wants to grow People’s Garden into a food cooperative in Sault Ste. Marie, creating a sustainable food sovereignty system and an interconnected network of community gardens and food producers. In turn, he says, “It would then be possible to offer employment and training opportunities to those who may not otherwise have them and teach these skills on a larger scale!”

The People’s Garden welcomes all members of the Sault Ste. Marie, and encourages those interested to reach out to them on Facebook or via email (peoplesgarden82@gmail.com or jordanwettlaufer@live.ca).

Story Written by Erin Ashley

Jordan is a participant in the Hook It Up program delivered by Socent7. Hook It Up is a support program for young social entrepreneurs in Ontario. Learn more at www.hookitup.ca.

**END OF PROGRAM UPDATE** With Hook it Up’s support the People’s Garden has established Algoma University’s first commercial-scope composting system along with rain barrel systems and targeted outreach strategies to engage new communities. His message to other young entrepreneurs: “creating allies, partners and participants in what ever your organization may be, takes time. Have patience, everything will come together!”