A Little Bit About Us
How did LifeDirt Foods come to be?
Photo by Keith McHugh, Simply For Life KV
How We Got Started
LifeDirt is a COVID baby. Miriam started spending a lot of time in nature after being laid off at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was living in the South End of Saint John, and was brainstorming with her friends about potential small businesses that could benefit our community.
Produce markets have always been life-giving places for Miriam, wherever she has travelled or lived. She started noticing a gap in the availability of produce in uptown Saint John, even though there are farms all over the region.
In March 2021, LifeDirt Foods, Inc. was incorporated: a mobile green grocer and raw juice producer. For local farmers, we provide a new way to get their produce to market year-round. For families, we offer an easy way to safely get the vegetables and fruits they need and support local without wasting time in the grocery store.
Jessica joined the team in August 2021 and we love working together and serving the wonderful people of our community!
One of our passions is food security, which we are hoping to make a bigger part of our business model as we grow. For now, we offer opportunities to give toward produce boxes that we give to families/individuals in need in and around Saint John. We also sell “low cost” produce boxes to customers who could use it.
Read more about LifeDirt Foods here: https://gosolo.subkit.com/lifedirt-foods/
Miriam Westin, Founder
I moved to Saint John, New Brunswick in 2015 after having completed graduate studies in community development in India and Los Angeles. I have always been an entrepreneur at heart, starting with the “restaurant” that I ran with my sisters out of our grandparents’ shed in Ontario. After moving to Saint John, I was part of immigrant settlement services at the YMCA’s Newcomer Connections, and later on the founding team at Outflow Ministry’s Catapult Coffee & Studio.
I have spent most of my life in cities, but love spending time in nature and know how important it is for our physical, mental and spiritual health as humans to remain connected to the rest of nature even if most of us live in urban settings. LifeDirt allows me to offer a way for Saint Johners to stay connected with the earth through the food we eat.
Enterprising Women
Miriam participated in the Saint John Community Loan Fund’s Enterprising Women program in 2020. She highly recommends it to any women entrepreneurs who need a push to go get their business started! It’s a free program.
Our Inspirations
Here are a few groups from around the world that have somehow inspired the creation of LifeDirt. Check them out if you have some spare time!
Suprmarkt, Los Angeles
Low cost organic grocery market serving L.A.’s low income communities.
Loyal Workshop, Kolkata
High quality leather goods supporting sustainable livelihoods for marginalized women in India.
P.U.L.S.E., Saint John
Community centre in Saint John’s lower South End dedicated to the uplift of their neighbours.