Seeds for Thought: Fostering Rural Resiliency through Agro-tecture

Abstract

Post-anthropogenic food industries have disconnected people from the land and, inherently, their food. Such issues have contributed to increasing levels of food insecurity across Canada, disrupting food memory and culture. This thesis investigates the problem of food insecurity as a local subject in rural towns in Canada. The context of Cochrane, Ontario, serves as a testing ground, as it exists as a connector between the north and south, the remote and the urban. The architectural project intertwines a cyclical program, from growing to wasting, and modern foodscapes, such as regenerative farming and foraging. The intersection of architecture and agriculture can lead to solutions by increasing food yield and enhancing intrinsic knowledge. By learning to see through the lens of food, we can dissolve disconnections between people and the earth to foster future land stewards.