Building Community Resilience: The Story of Stone Soup Food Centre
Client: Lac La Biche Community Learning
Year Completed: 2022
Building Community Resilience: The Story of Stone Soup Food Centre
In the heart of Lac La Biche, a small but mighty initiative took root to combat food insecurity and build stronger connections within the community. The Stone Soup Food Centre emerged as a beacon of hope, bringing together local residents, businesses, and organizations to address the growing need for food access and education. I am proud to have been part of this transformative project, contributing to its foundation, including the creation of its website and the launch of a kids' gardening club.
The Spark of an Idea
The Stone Soup Food Centre was born out of a simple yet powerful philosophy: collective effort can yield extraordinary results. The name “Stone Soup” draws inspiration from the classic folk tale where strangers work together, each contributing a small piece, to create something far greater than any could achieve alone. This ethos guided the project from its inception.
Food insecurity in Lac La Biche had been on the rise, and the community needed a space to come together, share resources, and build resilience. With this in mind, we set out to create a hub that would offer not only access to healthy, fresh food but also educational opportunities to empower individuals and families.
Bringing the Vision Online
One of my primary contributions to the project was developing the Stone Soup Food Centre website. The goal was to make the site more than just an online presence—it had to be an interactive and informative resource for the community.
The website was designed to:
Inform: Provide up-to-date information about the Centre’s programs, services, and volunteer opportunities.
Educate: Offer resources on gardening, cooking, and sustainable living.
Engage: Serve as a platform for community stories, testimonials, and local partnerships.
Creating the website required balancing functionality with a welcoming aesthetic. It needed to be intuitive enough for all age groups to navigate while showcasing the Centre’s values through vibrant images and stories. The site became a digital extension of Stone Soup's mission—a place where community members could learn, connect, and contribute.
Sowing Seeds with the Kids Gardening Club
One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey was launching the Kids Gardening Club. This initiative aimed to inspire the next generation to connect with the earth, understand where their food comes from, and develop a lifelong appreciation for sustainability.
The club offered hands-on activities like planting seeds, maintaining a garden, and harvesting vegetables. Each session blended fun and education, teaching children about topics like pollinators, soil health, and seasonal eating. We even incorporated storytelling sessions where the children learned about the cultural and historical significance of certain crops.
Watching the kids take pride in their little plots of land was incredibly moving. For many of them, it was their first time digging in the soil or tasting a tomato they had grown themselves. These small but significant experiences planted not just vegetables but also seeds of curiosity and resilience.
The Power of Collaboration
What made the Stone Soup Food Centre truly remarkable was the community effort behind it. Local businesses donated materials, volunteers dedicated their time, and organizations partnered with us to reach more people. The gardening club wouldn’t have been possible without the support of local growers who shared their expertise and donated seeds and tools.
The website, too, was a collaborative effort. By working closely with stakeholders, we ensured it reflected the community’s needs and spirit. Regular updates and user feedback kept it dynamic and relevant.
Looking Ahead
The Stone Soup Food Centre is more than a building or a website; it is a symbol of what a community can achieve when it comes together. It has already made a tangible impact on food security in Lac La Biche and sparked important conversations about sustainability, education, and collective action.
For me, being part of this project was a deeply fulfilling experience. It reminded me that true change starts with small, purposeful actions and that the best solutions often come from the collective wisdom of a community.
Whether it’s through teaching a child to garden, creating a space for neighbors to share a meal, or building a website that amplifies a mission, every effort counts. Together, we can all be part of the “Stone Soup” story.