Friends – I am the President of Beetbox Cooperative Farm in Nepean. Beetbox is more than just a farm. It is a vibrant community hub where children learn outdoors, farmers grow food for local families, and people gather to reconnect with the land. We have launched an urgent fundraising campaign for the farm: https://gofund.me/46625226f

Our land is home to many incredible local community projects:

• Growing Together Community Farm — growing fresh vegetables to share directly with participants.
• Ottawa Garlic — cultivating unique local garlic using ecological farming methods.
• Out to Play — a Forest and Nature School centred on conservation, play and learning.
• Mahjabeen Garden Centre — supplying market garden vegetables to local families.
• Our New Agro-Innovation Hub — supporting emerging growers and small farm businesses as they get established. These include Good Care Farm, Willow’s Flowers, Miniature Veg, and Checker’s Refreshments.

Together, these projects support more than 400 local families while creating opportunities for learning, connection, ecological farming, and outdoor play across Ottawa.

But right now, this shared community space is facing a serious financial challenge, and we need your help.

The Problem

On September 27, 2025, a devastating fire destroyed the farmhouse on our property. Since then, the house has remained a fenced-off hazardous and uninhabitable site. No one can safely enter or live in the building.

For years, the farmhouse provided important rental income by housing Beetbox farmers. Since the fire, Beetbox has had to rely on reserve funds to cover ongoing costs, and those reserves are becoming depleted. Individual farms and businesses within our community have already started stepping in to help.

While the rebuilding process moves forward, Beetbox continues to pay the lease costs connected to the home. Every month, the NCC withdraws $1,617.67 — the house portion of the farm lease payment — from Beetbox’s account.

The NCC has received an insurance settlement to rebuild the home. We are grateful reconstruction is beginning. However, the rebuilding process is only just underway, and we need community support to help carry Beetbox through this difficult period.

Why We Need to Raise $20,000

Eight months have already passed since the fire. Over the course of a year, these ongoing lease costs will total approximately $20,000.

We are pursuing legal steps because we believe no business or individual should be required to pay for a home that cannot safely be used. While that process unfolds, we are turning to our broader community for support.

Every dollar donated will help cover Beetbox’s lease costs until the farmhouse is rebuilt and once again able to house one of our hardworking farmers. Your support will help sustain this shared community space and the many programs and partnerships that depend on it.

How You Can Help

Beetbox is a place where children play outside, fresh food is grown locally, and community connections thrive. We need our neighbours to stand with us so we can continue this work.

• Donate: Every contribution helps keep our farm infrastructure running, our fields growing, and our partners working on the land this season. https://gofund.me/46625226f
• Share: Please share this page with friends and neighbours using the hashtag #SupportBeetbox.
• Follow: We will continue posting updates about the rebuilding process and the ongoing work happening at the farm.

If we are successful in recovering these lease costs through legal action, every dollar raised will be reinvested directly into community food programs, children’s outdoor spaces, and farm maintenance.

Thank you for helping protect this shared community space and the many people who depend on it.