Eva Verbeeck

As the world’s population grows, the pressure on our food system continues to rise. The upcoming problem of an aging farmer population across the North is most certainly concerning in terms of ensuring successful and efficient food production in the future. Growing up in a rural community I was very accustomed to the idea of an old farmer. In 2014, I decided to challenge that idea. I worked and lived with young farmers across the West Coast of North America for two seasons. As soon as I started working, I understood the need for young farmers. The average age of farmers is 65 and there aren’t enough young farmers to replace them. Through ups and downs I lived with these young farmers, growing food for their communities. The hard reality of living off the land became clear as well as bountiful beauty.  These young farmers are fighting for the future of agriculture.