Short Abstract:

Maranatha Farms is a self-sustaining social enterprise that holistically benefits people and the planet by using Martha Nussbaum's ten capabilities and sustainable development goals as frameworks in the projects. The farm intentionally incorporates all ten capabilities and seventeen sustainable development goals into the farm to help increase the overall impact.

Long Abstract:

Research Context

The project began in Ways of Knowing with Dr. Tim Brunet at the University of Windsor. In the fall of 2021, the class was asked to create an intervention to help with the housing crisis in Windsor, Essex. After experiencing the impacts of the housing crisis as an individual and within my family, De Bono's six hats led to the idea of creating a farm using the ten capabilities and sustainable development goals to help people and the planet.

Methodology

The process of development began through primary sources such as interviews. The framework used for the project was Martha Nussbaum's ten capabilities. The capability approach was used to guide developments and ensure everything was moving towards the goals holistically. People across sectors provided insight into farming techniques, ways of using sustainable energy, the development of greenhouses, and cold sellers, and recommendations on the farm for overall sustainability. Using the sustainable development goals as markers, research was done on creating a place where there could be responsible consumption and production, affordable and clean energy, climate action, and the protection of all life on land. The farm was designed to work as a social enterprise. This is possible because of the sustainable development plan featuring a housing plan, which allows for 20 residence units in a shipping container stacked layout, as well as over 6 acres of vertical growing on only 5 acres of land, leaving room for living quarters, a farm store, and recreational spaces. The plan costs very little to begin, costing under 3000 Canadian dollars with the current plan for a 5-acre farm in Trent River, Ontario, and the money is reinvested into clean energy, and the development of a greenhouse, then later into the development of shelters. Within the recreation spaces, the farm also offers a three-stream educational stepping-stone program developed by integrating successful methods that have reduced transitional homelessness and other forms, with the Ten Capabilities as a framework.

Conclusion

Many individuals were involved throughout the consultation process to work towards finding the most effective means of having a farm that can sustain itself financially and help those who attend to gain capabilities. Currently, multiple investors are interested in the project, which is moving towards development. The intention is to begin on a five-acre farm as a model for developing larger farm villages to help reduce poverty holistically.