The HJEDS Project: Growing Futures, Food and Soil

Much has improved for Canadian job seekers in recent years with many styles of employment counselling and lots of information on the subtle art of getting hired. But what if you live in a small community with only basic resources and supports, far from major job markets? And what if you have the challenge of a disability?

The Haines Junction Employment Development Society formed in 2003 "to create a learning opportunity for job seekers with disabilities that will enhance their employability skills and lead to sustainable self-sufficiency through employment" (the HJEDS mandate). It is a community organization, volunteer driven, and serving people whose lives have been variously shaped by schizophrenia, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and addiction. They want to work. We provide a supported work environment in horticulture through a small nursery: information on employment readiness and career development workshops; life skills training; small business training; computer training; Alcohol and Drug Services workshops; and gardening and greenhouse training. Haines Junction is a community of 800, 160 km west of Whitehorse.

Our work support operation has depended on a "cold frame"--basically a hoop frame covered with plastic sheeting--for nurturing our plant stock through the short Yukon summer which gives no guarantee against freezing nights. Spring seeding occurs wherever we have been able to find space, including the local campus of Yukon College and various private homes. Our output so far consists of bedding plants, flowers, herbs and a small selection of vegetables. Our trainees perform all the functions of a nursery, including customer service as well as specific work projects in the village.

The HJEDS program has seen modest success, with several graduates obtaining jobs or making the decision to return to school. More generally, our trainees develop confidence and self-esteem, and a sense of possibility, optimism and participation in the community.

However, there is a limit to what we can do with the present ‘cold frame’ facility: it provides only 4-5 months of work at best. If HJEDS had a facility that could grow produce nine months of the year our trainees would have a much better sense of their contribution to a community. The trainees would have a greater sense of self-worth and be less dependent on social assistance. Providing tangible products would help them to see themselves as a vital part of the community and the community would see them as equal contributors.

Accordingly, the HJEDS board has developed a plan to expand our activities, with a new focus on food production. Professionally prepared plans now exist for a real greenhouse, innovatively ‘green’, and a small building to serve as a meeting place, spring seedling nursery and office. (Last year's information sessions took place on benches outside, and were also well attended by mosquitos.)

Perhaps the word "soil" in the title seems odd. Haines Junction has virtually no humus: the ground here is the colour of wet concrete. In an era of climate change and economic uncertainty, it is prudent for all communities to have a strategy for food self-sufficiency. This is particularly true of Haines Junction, which is very remote from conventional food production centres.

The expanded operation includes plans for windrow composting for the village and a new community garden that would allow seniors and schoolchildren, among others, to use raised-bed garden plots. Maintenance will be performed by HJEDS trainees, and this in turn develops additional skills in customer service and composting technique.

The new greenhouse and admin building will be the nucleus for a facility that produces compost, grows food locally, expands the venues for participation and physical activity for residents, and meets the HJEDS core concerns of providing an avenue for self-development (that would not otherwise exist) for people intent on rising above the challenges of disability and addiction.

Project supporters include Champagne & Aishihik First Nations, the local Health Centre, St. Elias Seniors Society, Haines Junction Community Justice Program, the Learning Disabilities Association of the Yukon, and the Municipality of Haines Junction.

This entry is an effort to obtain funds solely for the construction of a new greenhouse and admin building. The project has operation and maintainance funding in place for our essential purposes, including trainee wages.

We see an opportunity to integrate solutions to a variety of community concerns by supporting individual aspirations. We seek to ensure that each local resident has the ability to fulfill personal potential, and in so doing enhance food security in our village and reduce reliance on food transported from the south (reducing greenhouse gas). The project simply makes sense for us; we hope you can share our enthusiasm and support our vision. Thank you for considering the HJEDS Project.