This year’s Bear Lake Growing Project crop is in the ground and growing. Wheat was seeded at the beginning of May in a field located at Emerson Trail and Range Road 72.  

Gary Beyer got involved in the project back in 2013. He was interested in the Food Grains Bank to help people around the world.   

The first year was a pilot project when they simply took donations. At that time, Gary donated the land.  When it was time to harvest, neighbours from around the area decided to help. 

Bear Lake Growing Project Field/ Photo courtesy from FB Page

Photo from Bear Lake Growing Project FB Page

The initiative began to grow after the launch year with families from around the Bear Lake area getting together and eventually forming the Bear Lake Growing Project.  Since that time, a family in the group donates a quarter of land with corporate sponsors generally providing all the necessary chemicals and fertilizer.  All the proceeds from selling the crop go to the Canadian Food Grains Bank. 

“We also have sponsors who sponsor an acre for $200.  You can cover the input costs of growing an acre of wheat.  That way we, as farmers, provide the land and the machinery and know how to seed and harvest it.” - Gary Beyer 

If you want to sponsor an acre, go to the Bear Lake Growing Project Facebook page.