Last week, a powerful storm ravaged the Greater Toronto Area, leaving a destructive path in its wake, particularly impacting a local flower farmer in North York.
Sylvia Cheng, the dedicated owner of Growing Tkaronto at Downsview Urban Farm, faced the brunt of the storm as it decimated 200 feet of her prized locally-grown flowers, totaling around $10,000 in losses which she must bear alone.
Expressing her distress, Cheng shared, “My small business cannot sustain such a significant setback. Three of our flower tunnels were destroyed in that fierce storm.”
To meet her commitments for September, Cheng resorted to procuring flowers from other local farms, deviating from her usual practice of using 100% locally-sourced blooms, which are integral to her sustainable business model.
Despite the setback, Cheng remains unwavering in her commitment to cultivating local flowers in Toronto, emphasizing their distinct qualities that distinguish them from others.
In a bid to secure her business’s future, Cheng is exploring additional revenue streams and planning to cultivate flower varieties that are more resilient to extreme weather conditions, ensuring her farm can weather future storms.
Acknowledging the immense challenge posed by the recent storm, Cheng shared her heartbreak at seeing months of hard work destroyed, highlighting the resilience required to be a farmer amidst a climate crisis.
Determined to bounce back stronger, Cheng is resolute in her resolve to continue farming, pouring her efforts into rebuilding and nurturing her flowers for the community.
