Grow Hope Saskatchewan—a joint project of the Mennonite Central Committee, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank—is entering its fourth year.

It is a creative way to address global hunger with urban residents sponsoring one acre of land in a rural Saskatchewan growing project. The $300 an acre cost—which can be split by multiple donors—offsets the cost of seed, fertilizer, fuel and other inputs.

The 305 acres in the Grow Hope Project generated $636,000 for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank last year—once you include the four-to-one matching grant by the Government of Canada.

Dan and Carol Siebart are retired farmers near the community of Herbert, about 50 kilometres northeast of Swift Current. They own 125 acres that grew canola last year, generating a $66,000 profit and over a quarter million dollars to the Canadian Foodgrains Banks after the matching grant.

“We averaged 47 bushels an acre and a lot of people helped too,” he said.

Neighbours Chaun and Sara Holfeld rent Siebart’s land and provided free labor and equipment.

“We both want to be part of something that is bigger than us,” Chaun said. “It’s not even a thought as to whether we would participate or not—it’s a few hours here and a few hours there.”

Eight combines harvested the canola during a community event.

This year’s crop will be durum wheat.

“I have a(four year) crop rotation on most of the farm where we do cereal/pulse/cereal/oilseed. So it’s durum this year and we’re hoping for another good crop,” Siebart said.

There were three other Grow Hope Saskatchewan projects in Goodsoil, Bruno and Rosthern. You can learn more about Grow Hope Saskatchewan at www.growhopesk.ca. The Dan Siebart radio interview can be heard below:

(Above picture–Dan and Carol Siebart on their farm)