When I was growing up in the Okanagan, we used to visit the Summerland Research Station. They had a cow with a glass stomach there. I kid you not. In addition to turning cows into circus acts, the scientists developed plants that were adaptable to local conditions. But in the […] Read More
I came across a Greek myth that captures the current state of the world, in particular the global food crisis, and one that carries a harsh warning: it is not a good idea to piss off the gods. The vengeance can be quite macabre. Nevertheless, mere mortals manage to do […] Read More
The Vancouver School Board has gotten serious about reducing waste at its schools. They recently purchased three Earth Tubs, an automated, mid-scale composting system and have now set them up at three Vancouver schools: Windermere; David Thompson; and Grandview. The schools will process food waste from their cafeterias and some from the community. […] Read More
Susan Moore tells me she is an “above average” farmer. “Meaning I’m older than the average age of farmer,” she laughed. I laughed too, but the aging farming population is a growing concern. The average age of farmers in BC is fifty-eight now. “I look at the farms around me […] Read More
In his book, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, (Penguin Press, 2008), Michael Pollan recommends: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” I need to work on the middle part. But what else can we ordinary citizens do to counteract this culture of greed, particularly in the food system? […] Read More
My whole family spent this past Christmas at my brother’s condo on Apex Mountain in the Okanagan. I grew up skiing there, and it’s still my favourite mountain, even though it has changed a lot. Back then we used to slide down the bunny hill in the evenings, on trays […] Read More
When the bottom fell out of the global economy at the end of 2008, my contract work in the non-profit world dried up. I was impelled to be a lot more careful about how I was spending my money. I began eating at home more, making soups and stews, baking […] Read More
The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House in Vancouver has created a whole new category for healthy food distribution: nutritional outreach. Executive Director Joyce Rock and her team have developed a number of creative programs to deliver nutrient rich food to the vulnerable downtown eastside residents, or as she calls them, neighbours. […] Read More
When Diane Cairns from Fraserside Community Services in New Westminster, BC first conceived of a tiered garden box with trellis, her goal was to increase food production in her community. The Biggest Little Garden in Town, as she called it, would be perfect for balconies and patios. She developed the […] Read More
I had no idea what a neighbourhood house actually did until I started working with the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, or Kits House as it is fondly called. They are one of the founding members of our Westside Food Security Collaborative. Kits House was the sponsoring agency for the United Way […] Read More