A Saskatoon initiative has quietly converted a seasonal abundance of wild geese and ducks into a reliable protein supply for community groups across Saskatchewan.
From a Kijiji post to a provincial food network
The effort began when a Saskatoon man, unfamiliar with waterfowl hunting, noticed an unusual online listing offering birds for free. What started as a small experiment—originally intended to produce dog jerky—turned into a formal non-profit called Nature’s Food Bank.
“Years ago, I just saw an ad on Kijiji from an outfitter saying, ‘There’s birds to take for free,’”
From that moment, the founder, identified by the surname Wurst, recognised a larger opportunity: a seasonal resource that could be redirected to communities experiencing food insecurity.
Growth in a few short seasons
Nature’s Food Bank began operating in 2023 with two outfitters and roughly 1,300 pounds of meat. Now entering its fourth season, the organisation has expanded to work with 11 outfitters and has recovered more than 35,000 pounds of wild goose and duck meat for distribution.
The non-profit now supplies 15 community organizations across the province, providing a source of lean protein to food banks, shelters and other support programs.
| Season | Outfitters | Meat recovered (approx.) | Community partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 (first season) | 2 | ~1,300 lb | — |
| Current (fourth season) | 11 | >35,000 lb | 15 organisations |
How the operation works
Donated birds are collected from outfitters and hunters, documented and stored in deep freezers at the organisation’s Saskatoon hub. The operation must follow strict record-keeping rules: hunter identifiers, licence numbers and harvest details are tracked so meat can move safely from field to recipient.
- Meat is inspected and bagged before storage.
- Freezers at the Saskatoon site hold inventory until redistribution.
- Each donation is logged with required harvest and licensing information to comply with regulations.
- Partner organisations arrange transport and distribute the food locally.
Those steps create accountability and allow the donations to reach community groups while remaining compliant with public-health and wildlife regulations.
Local roots, provincial reach
Despite the expansion, the charity still centres its work in Saskatoon. Board members, volunteers and partners handle logistics from the city while coordinating distribution across the province. Andrew Hunter, a board member and a proud Métis citizen, helps connect the organisation to community groups and distribution networks.
Volunteers say the freezers in Wurst’s backyard—the organisation’s operational base—represent the middle of the journey: the real benefit is measured by meals served and the support delivered to families and individuals facing food insecurity.
Impact and community reaction
The model addresses two needs at once: it reduces wasted protein that would otherwise go unused, and it supplies affordable, nutritious food to charities that serve those in need. Close coordination with outfitters ensures that birds legally harvested each season become part of a predictable supply chain for community providers.
As the organisation continues into its fourth season, leaders say they will focus on maintaining regulatory compliance and building steadier distribution channels so partner organisations can rely on a consistent supply.
For many prairie communities, lean protein like goose and duck can stretch limited food budgets and add nutritional variety to food-bank offerings. The non-profit’s expansion demonstrates how local initiative can turn a seasonal natural resource into meaningful community support.
Those interested in learning more or volunteering are encouraged to contact Nature’s Food Bank directly for information on drop-off points, donation rules and partner organisations receiving the meat.
