Organic farmer aims to donate half-million fresh meals a year

REGINA – A local organic food store owner and farmer wants to ensure fresh food isn’t out of reach for Regina families.

Rick Morrell, owner of Eat Healthy Foods, has started a project called No Child Shall Be Hungry with the goal of eventually producing 500,000 fresh meals a year for people who rely on Carmichael Outreach and the Regina Food Bank.

“A lot of Swiss chard, a lot of potatoes, carrots, beets, things that we can store,” said Morrell. “It really bothers me that so many people can’t afford to eat chemical-free food.”

A music, yoga and workshop festival was held Saturday to try and raise money for the ambitious but seemingly well-thought out five-year plan.

“The financial system just doesn’t provide for proper nutrition for people that are at the lower end of the income spectrum,” said Morrell. “If we just grow the food to feed ourselves, it’s cheap.”

Volunteers are working to help him grow the program, with the goal of eventually hiring staff members.

“We’re going to have WWOOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms). So people come here and they volunteer to help in the garden, help grow the food for the needy. In exchange they get a place to live and they get free food,” said Morrell.

“I wake up and go pull weeds or squish potato bugs or go make sure that the chickens have water,” said Sara Yagelniski, a volunteer at the Aloha Farm.

Old converted buses serve as accommodation for the summer: “It’s an old Greyhound converted into like a cabin. It’s pretty luxurious,” said Yagelniski.

Saturday’s festival and a Kickstarter campaign aim to raise $27,000.

“The money is for root cellar, greenhouse, bigger chicken coops for more eggs, pig run and winter accommodations,” said Morrell.

The whole idea originated on a trip to Hawaii: “What I learned about Aloha is that Hawaiian civilization is based on generosity.”