Read more on...

• Final Report - Food Matters! Forum 2008
• Snapshot of Food Security Initiatives in BC's Capital Region

Top

2008 Food Security Champions

Victorian Epicure | Susanne Porter-Bopp, Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group (NRG) Food Security Collective | Kate Kittredge, Sooke Community Health Initiative | Mary Alice Johnson, ALM Farm | Karin Lengger, SPUD Small Potatoes Urban Delivery | Kezia Cowtan, LifeCycles Project Society | Mark Forsythe, host of BC Almanac on CBC Radio | Caryl Harper, VIHA | Kathleen Gibson, BC Food Processors Association | Bob Maxwell, Peninsula Agriculture Commission | Lee Fuge, Food Roots

Food Charter and Food and Health Action Plan:

It's official, after much work and input from you (thank you!) the Food Charter and Food and Regional Food and Health Action Plan have been officially released. The Food and Health Action Plan and the Food Charter can be accessed from CR-FAIR's webpage or a hard copy can be picked up at the Community Council.

Click to read more about the Regional Food Charter and how to create your own Food Charter

Regional Food Policy Council Proposed

One of the key recommendations of the Regional Food and Health Action Plan is to establish a Regional Food Policy Council to enhance regional policy, planning and cooperation. CR-FAIR is working on this with the Food and Agriculture Subcommittee of the CRD Roundtable on the Environment. The idea is to have a Regional Food Policy Council work in concert with the Capital Region District to enhance food security in the region.

Click to read more on the proposed Regional Food Policy Council

Top

Supporting key local initiatives

In line with the recommendations of the Food and Health Action Plan, CR-FAIR has specifically been supporting work in two key areas this spring, and will continue to do so in the coming year. The first area is concerning farmland viability and we are a key partner in the LifeCycles Farmlands Project. This project is bringing together key community based, private sector, and government agencies to look at farmland viability with a specific focus on farmland access and affordability. In the spring a meeting of the "key players" working on these issues took place, and we have formed an advisory which will be leading a fall conference that will explore issues and most importantly-solutions.

To learn more about the project, who is working on the Farmland issues (contact list), what they are doing, and for a list of resources, click the following links:

Farmlands Meeting Summary

Backgrounder on the Farmlands Project

Central Saanich Farmland Economic Viability Review Committee

This spring, CR-FAIR participated as a member of the Central Saanich Farmland Economic Viability Review Committee. This committee also consisted of Central Saanich Staff, Councillors, local farmers, the Peninsula Agriculture Commission, the Land Conservancy, and Ministry of Agriculture.

The main goal of the committee was to create, under the auspices of updating the Official Community Plan (OCP), a nurturing environment for supporting sustainable agriculture in Central Saanich. The Committee worked together to create a report that provided suggested recommendations and policy revisions to OCP. It also included a Central Saanich Agriculture toolkit created by the TLC to be considered for input into the OCP and ultimately feed in to the creation of an Agriculture Area Plan.

The report was accepted by Central Saanich Council and will now be utilized in the OCP review process.

Click to read the full report and recommendations from the Committee

Access to adequate and healthy diets

Another area of importance outlined in the Food and Health Action Plan is access to adequate and healthy diets. One way this is being done is to increase the recovery and redistribution of food with and for our most vulnerable populations. To this end, CR-FAIR is working with a wide range of groups to explore models for creating a centralized site and operation. Currently we are involved in an initiative to explore the creation of a "Victoria Quest" affiliated with the lower mainland Quest operation, to build a centralized emergency food distribution center.

Top

Growing our local food systems

CR-FAIR continues to work to build greater linkages with the University of Victoria and is now working with the Office of Community Based Research. This summer CR-FAIR will co-lead workshops on "Growing our Local Food Systems" at the UVic Summer Institute on Community Based Research, Sharing Stories and Spaces, July 17 and 18th, 2008.
Click for details.

New 'how to' resource for community food assessment

Click here to read an excellent context to community food assessment. An equally impressive overview of the entire process can be found here. A terrific resource to add to the list comes from the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia.

It's time to Get Dirty! Urban Food Growing and LifeCycles' Urban Agriculture Programs

Submitted by Linda Geggie

I, like many of you, am taking up the challenge to eat locally. It's mid June, and over the last few weeks I've been itching to get out of my greenhouse and into the garden. And as much as I want to involve my 4 and 6 year old boys in the garden, let's face it, they are "destructo-trons". So they have their own garden. Read more...

Top

Farmlands and Farm Viability

Farm-land as Food-land

Submitted by Zeb King, Councillor, Central Saanich

The gentrification of farmland threatens our food supply. Housing on farmland increases the valuation of the land, and increasingly larger estate homes are being constructed. People wanting land for farming and not housing have few choices. Read more...

How much do we really care about local food production?

Submitted by Karen Platt

The newly formed Friends of Madrona Society (FoFM) has entered into an agreement with The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) to purchase Madrona Farm, located near Victoria. FoMF must raise $2,157,000; of which more than $600,000 will be donated by the landowner. TLC's mission is to ensure that the agricultural productivity and ecological values of Madrona Farm are protected forever. This fundraising campaign for the purchase of the farm by the community it serves, and the placement of the farm in the hands of a land trust, will be the first of its kind in BC, and part of the solution for local food security. Read more

Top

Working Holidays: Roll up your sleeves and become a farmer for a few days

Submitted by Paula Hesje

Working holidays are a new concept to many Canadians but they are quickly gaining popularity as an affordable and inspirational way to vacation. Gone are the days of lounging on the beach. People are looking for adventure and educational getaways, and TLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia's Farm Conservation Holidays are the perfect ticket. Read more

A Farmer's Lament

Participating in meetings and public forums can be a challenge - and can lead to frustration if the issues being discussed are about you and the work you do. CR-FAIR certainly hears and understands the great frustration for farmers to attend meetings or be at events at times where seeds need to be planted, crops need to be harvested - all of the deadlines that nature controls. There are other ways to contribute meaningfully to discussions, as we have learned from farmer David Pollock.

A Farmer's lament

By David Pollock

David Pollock's calf Rosie - born noon May 20th (during a CR-FAIR roundtable meeting)

I stand in front of the gathering, shabby hat in hand, worn clothing, unpolished boots and weatherbeaten face giving mute testimony to my station in life.

I say, "Hello, my name is Dave and I am a farmer."

My peers chant back, "Welcome, Dave."

I say, "I come from a long line of farmers, dating back to colonial times in the Victoria area."

"We hear you, Dave."

"This year, urban deer, rabbits, grey squirrels and wireworm devastated my crops, and C-difficile may be lurking in my carrots."

"We have all been there, Dave." ...read more

Top

Food and Climate Change

Green Your Campbell Cash campaign

The Green Your Campbell Cash campaign is a website designed to showcase BC climate action projects toward which you can contribute your $100 Climate Action Dividend. Taking action collectively will help to ensure the BC government's Climate Action Dividend achieves its intended purpose: to help British Columbians make lifestyle changes to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. The site was developed in partnership by The Tyee, Western Canadian Wilderness Committee, Voters Taking Action on Climate Change, David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute.

One great local opportunity to use your Climate Action cheque from the BC government is the Protect Madrona Farm Forever initiative. Click here to view the site's profile on Madrona Farm. Once on the site you can also browse other projects.

You Are Where You Eat CHEK News special series

On BC Day, August 4th, at 6:30, and again at 11:30, CHEK News will be airing a half hour special on local food. As well, during the week of June 16-20, 2008, CHEK News ran a special series on Vancouver Island food entitled You Are Where You Eat. Each night the channel aired a segment discussing aspects of local food. Episodes are posted on the CHEK News website, along with background stories and thoughts on sustainability from some of the people interviewed, behind the scenes accounts and more. Click to go the the site.

Vancity envirofund grants

Vancity's envirofund was conceived as a way to support community initiatives that address local environmental concerns in a positive, constructive and creative manner. Applications are due July 21, 2008. Click for details.

Top

Community Announcements and Submissions

TLC Farm Conservation Holiday: Duck Creek Organic Farm on Saltspring Island

July 23-25, 2008 - Roll up your sleeves this summer: come out and learn about sustainable food practices by immersing yourself in the lush fields of Saltspring Island! Click for details. Other Farm Conservation holidays are also happening throughout the summer, click to find out more.

Demeter's Wheats. Growing local food and community with traditional wisdom and heritage wheat

Author and organic agronomist Sharon Rempel has worked with heritage wheat for twenty years. As founder of seasonal festivals to celebrate seed (Seedy Saturday and the Bread and Wheat Festival) she recognizes that 'culture' is missing from today's agricultural system. Rempel's new book, Demeter's Wheats, Growing local food and community with traditional wisdom and heritage wheat, offers practical growing information, seed saving basics, and a list of Canada's heritage wheat varieties. Find out more: www.grassrootsolutions.com

LifeCycles Project Society seeks volunteer board members

LifeCycles is seeking dynamic individuals to fill key roles on their Board of Directors. LifeCycles is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating awareness and initiating action around food, health, and urban sustainability in the Greater Victoria community. Click for details

UVic Food Collaborative to Host Local Foods Festival - September 2008

From Labour Day to September 27th, the UVic Food Collaborative and partner groups are organizing a number of festival events throughout Victoria. These include a speaker's series, films, bike-to farm trips, local and seasonal cooking classes, gardening, composting, canning and preserving workshops, tastings, feasting and much more. The core of the festival is a "Local Eating Challenge": members of the community will pledge to eat local foods for the entire course of the festival.

UVic Food Collaborative's purpose is to be catalysts for social change and to find solutions to climate change by raising awareness of what we eat and where it comes from. Email food@commonenergy.org for more info and if you or your food group would like to get involved in this exciting event!

North Saanich Community Farm Market Begins July 12th

Starting July 12th a community based farmer's market will be held every Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Deep Cove Market (10940 West Saanich Road). All local growers are welcome: big, small and in-between. If you are interested in renting space, or if you would like to volunteer, contact Alice Finall @ 250-656-6668.

Top

Events

Click here to see a calendar of food related events going on in the region.

Summer Recipe: Local Strawberry Smoothie

For a meal or snack, at home or on-the-go, try this refreshing, easy to make smoothie using local ingredients.

• Soft tofu (or dessert tofu)
• Fresh or frozen strawberries
• Juice

You can also add optional ingredients like different fruit, yogurt, skim milk powder, wheat germ, ground flax, coconut or bran. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix until smooth.

Tip: To make a thicker smoothie (more like a shake), try using frozen strawberries or other fruit.

Top