Growing Culture. Cultivating Community.
The Kara-Kata Africa Village Project (KAVP), established in 2020 in Mission, BC, is the beating heart of Kara-Kata’s land-based work — a vibrant space where culture, food, education, and healing come together. It is here that we are reclaiming food sovereignty for Black, African, and Caribbean (BAC) communities in Canada, one seed at a time.
Pioneering African Crop Cultivation in Canada
Since 2020, KAVP has successfully experimented with and grown a wide variety of African and Caribbean cultural crops, including okra, jute leaves, African eggplant, Efo/callaloo, and more, in Canadian soil. This groundbreaking achievement is made possible by a proprietary Loamy Soil Mix, created by our founder Toyin Kayo-Ajayi, a lifetime farmer with over 24 years of experience growing in Canadian climates.
Toyin’s innovative soil formulation mimics the rich, well-draining properties of tropical soils, making it possible to grow heritage crops that typically struggle in Canada’s colder and denser environments. This innovation is more than agricultural, it’s cultural survival.
Why This Work Matters
BAC communities in Canada experience some of the highest rates of food insecurity. Research shows that Black households are 3.5 times more likely to be food insecure than white households. At the same time, the majority of culturally important foods consumed by BAC communities in Canada are imported from the African continent and the Caribbean.
This reliance on overseas shipments creates serious barriers:
- A large portion of imported cultural produce arrives spoiled or inedible,
- Import delays and waste drive up costs, often placing these foods out of reach,
- When culturally familiar foods aren’t available, we’ve witnessed a decline in the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our community.
Food is not just nourishment — it’s memory, identity, and belonging. Having access to the foods that raised us reinforces cultural pride, intergenerational connection, and a sense of home.
That’s why KAVP exists.
What Happens at the Village
- Culturally Relevant Farming
We grow nutrient-rich, culturally important foods using traditional and sustainable methods. A major portion of all harvests is donated directly to the African Foods Foodbank, which was born out of Kara-Kata and became its own incorporated organization in 2024. - Goat Herd & Goat Banking Partnership
In partnership with the Canadian Black Farmers Association, we raise a growing goat herd and support the Goat Banking Program, an innovative investment and agricultural training model that gives community members the opportunity to co-own livestock, share in profits, and build farming knowledge. - Mentorship & Farmer Training
At the Village, new farmers, youth, and community members learn how to grow culturally relevant foods, care for livestock, and apply sustainable agricultural practices. We pair practical experience with mentorship that honours traditional African and Caribbean growing knowledge. - “Watch It Grow” Youth Program
Our youth-led initiative empowers young people to plant, tend, and harvest crops while learning about cultural identity, land stewardship, and food justice. What started as a pilot project is now expanding nationally as a model for empowering the next generation of Black farmers. - School Partnerships & Farm Visits
We work with local school districts to provide culturally appropriate food for student meals and host interactive farm visits, helping students connect what they eat with where it comes from — and why it matters. - Seed Saving and Sharing
Every year we harvest and save our organic heritage seeds. Our original cultural seeds come from our sister farm in Nigeria, (link to 50 Acres Plus). These are untouched completely natural seeds, which are a critical component to our food sovereignty work. We share our seeds with the community through KAVP, and the Canadian Black Farmers Association.
Looking Forward
The Kara-Kata Africa Village Project is more than a farm — it’s a model for cultural renewal, food sovereignty, and joyful resistance. As we expand our greenhouses, build new training spaces, and increase food donations across the province and country, we remain rooted in our founding vision: a future where BAC communities grow what they eat, know where it comes from, and thrive in harmony with land, culture, and community.
Please reach out to us to arrange for farm visits, events, mentorships and other on farm programming.
