Durham College's Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture is winding down its operations in Ajax, with a move to the college's Whitby campus planned for next fall.
The centre, which opened in 2023 on Harwood Avenue North, hosted its Fall Farm Open House on Oct. 8, giving residents one last autumn chance to connect with the farm's local produce before winter sets in, Daily Durham reported.
The Barrett Centre teaches community members about the role local farms and produce play in the region. Durham College horticulture and agriculture students grow vegetables, herbs and honey from the site's own beehive.
The fresh food is available for purchase on Thursdays throughout the harvest season, according to Daily Durham.
The relocation comes as the centre's lease on the Harwood Avenue North property ends. The move to the Whitby campus is scheduled for September 2027.
Before the doors close in Ajax, the centre plans to give the community a proper send-off. A farewell celebration has been proposed for the first week of August 2027, with a corn roast on the table as the centerpiece event.
Residents who want to visit the Ajax location still have time. Produce sales continue on Thursdays during the harvest season, and the centre's programming remains open to the community until the move is complete.
For now, the Fall Farm Open House marks the last of the centre's seasonal celebrations at its Harwood Avenue North home — a site that has served as both a working farm and an educational hub for Ajax since it opened three years ago.
