Join with other groups and individuals who are involved in neighbourhood and city-wide food security and food system activities in looking at networking opportunities in and between different Vancouver neighbourhoods.

We invite individuals and groups who are engaged around food, food security, food justice, and building sustainable and resilient food systems to learn what local Neighbourhood Food Networks are doing, and to meet colleagues, share ideas, and explore ways to work together toward common food security goals.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010
1:00 – 4:00 pm
Langara College, 100 W. 49th Avenue
Room C509

FREE

To register: Please RSVP by calling Langara College Continuing Studies at 604-323-5322. Be sure to quote course number CRN 60916 and include your email address when registering.

• The snow peas have begun their happy ascent up the “teepee” (back right).
• Two different kinds of beets have sprouted and are flourishing thus far, largely because slugs do not appear to like them — they are in good company (bottom left).
• The carrots have sprouted (spot them front middle-ish).
• The poor, sad garlic has been denuded of it’s leaves and rust has taken over the remaining stalks. Scapes are in evidence (see if you can find them, mid-plot left side; use top photo showing healthy garlic as guide).
• The kohlrabi, two rows next to the beets, has not made an appearance. Not a single little sprout. Okay, no great loss.
• The dwarf tomato (front centre of plot where the kohlrabi was planted) appears none the worse for wear despite having been transplanted twice, however, it’s not thriving either. It may be hesitating to set down roots for fear of being roused once more, poor thing. I made an unfortunate choice — or two — of locations, both of which ended up being too shady. Note to self!
• Only a couple of the bush beans I seeded popped out and all of them are looking pretty sickly. Near as I can figure, it’s a mix of slugs and aphids, but I’ve caught only a few of each in the act.
• The two red cabbages I swapped with my neighbours D&D for 3 cauliflower are taking nicely to being transplanted.
• The spinach is just beginning to show itself (next to the rusty garlic).
• One kind of kale I seeded is happily growing away, while another kind is less enthusiastic about it’s emergence into daylight (here and there).  We’ll have to keep an eye on that.

And last but not least:

• The sprouted brassicas I bought and added are taking hold nicely: 3 Brussels sprouts, 3 broccoli and 2 cauliflower (mixed throughout).

Now if we could just get some sunshine instead of continuous clouds, cold and rain, we might see some real action!

Robin Wheeler is the founder of the Sustainable Living Arts School and runs Edible Landscapes on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Robin is the delightful, engaging and very knowledgeable author of Food Security for the Faint of Heart, and Gardening for the Faint of Heart, and her workshops are a real treat. (Click each book title for my book review of each.)

Workshops are offered on a pay what you can basis (typically $25 – $30 for 2 hrs, $40 for 3 hrs). Your contribution to these workshops make it possible for teachers like Robin to expand and deepen the scope of the important educational and social change work that they are involved in.

For info on additional workshops and events, including those listed below, visit the Village Vancouver website.

Intentional Community – Shapes in Sharing
Saturday, June 5, 2010
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
West End Community Centre

City Dwellers have many skills and resources all around them, but may not have a mechanism for organizing and drawing on those skills in times of trouble. This class will look at the different shapes in sharing that take place so easily in rural communities and may need a boost in the city. We will talk about building trust and safeguarding our precious possessions while opening up to a wider community and its valuable support.

Register online at www.westendcc.ca, in person, or by calling 604-257-8333.

Introduction to Medicine Making
Saturday, June 5, 2010
1:30 – 4:30 pm
Kitsilano neighbourhood, venue confirmed with registration

There are so many plants that are safe, easy to recognize and locate, and effective for personal use. We will learn some techniques, and then how to make teas, poultices, tinctures and infused oils for our own use. We’ll learn about solvents, supplies and storage.
To register, contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

Concepts in Year Round Gardening
Saturday, June 5, 2010
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Fairview, venue confirmed with registration

The Whys and Wherefores of food cycles – why we want them and how to get them. We will plan round the calendar food supplies, both in the larder and stored in the garden.
To register, contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

Gardening for the Faint of Heart
Sunday, June 6, 2010
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Kitsilano, venue confirmed with registration

We will confront the bare bones of garden needs, and begin our list of things to do, and create a do-able map of how to begin our 2010 food garden. If you’re new to gardening, this is a good introductory course.
To register, contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

Seed Saving in the City
Sunday, June 6, 2010
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Main Street neighbourhood, venue confirmed with registration

Seed saving is the missing link in food security. In our current climate of seed patenting and ownership, it’s important that our communities retain their knowledge about how to properly save seeds. We’ll talk about the politics and the joy of seed saving, learn basic skills, and discuss the creation of neighbourhood seed saving collectives in Vancouver. Your donation includes a copy of The Five Levels of Seed Saving by Terry Klokeid. (Draft copies of Robin’s new booklet How to Grow a Seed Collective: a community template for seed saving will also be available.)
To register, contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

Intensive Urban Microfarming
Sunday, June 6, 2010
3:30pm – 6:30 pm
Sunset neighbourhood, venue confirmed with registration

Getting the most out of a normal urban garden can take imagination. This class assists us to boost production through a deeper understanding of microclimates, and of lateral growing, food cycles, succession planting, “shoulder” cropping and much more.
To register, contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

Learn more about upcoming workshops and events at Village Vancouver.

This is the Festival’s 15th year of celebrating spring, food, the environment and importance to the health and”‘culture” of our community, and the associated Stone Soup Film Festival’s 2nd year of showcasing topical films exploring the politics of food.

Saturday, May 8th
Britannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, Vancouver
12:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Film listing, previews and schedule

The Stone Soup Film Festival responds to the enormous interest in food issues these days. Environmental concerns, globalization, economic collapse are alerting us to the fragility of our food system and the urgency of action. Although the realities surrounding our current land and food systems can be disheartening, our films aim to emphasize the positive efforts being made as a way to empower the current generation to take action.

In doing so, the Stone Soup Food Film Festival aims to broaden the community’s awareness and understanding of food issues, its problems and solutions by screening both locally and internationally films on a range of themes including health and nutrition, food economics, agricultural worker rights, sustainable agriculture, and urban gardening.

Later, I chatted with one of the other gardeners, discussing what we thought we could get to grow this year. (As newbie gardeners both, we  know it’s not necessarily what you plant!)

The last thing on our minds was tropical fruit. I mean, even experienced farmers wouldn’t waste time on plants that don’t naturally grow here. Would they?

Well, apparently yes.

Bob Duncan in North Saanich is doing just that, and having great success at that. I’ve often thought that having a 100% local diet is impossible because there are just too many things that have become staples in my diet that would need to be supplemented from around the globe, lemons being one. Looks like Bob has that all under control. See the  story in the Globe & Mail.

With over 300 tree types to choose from, the 100% 100 mile diet just got a little more likely:

• 200 apple tree varieties
• Over 80 other fruit trees, including: pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, figs, grapes, kiwi, quince and medlar (I don’t even know what that is)
• Over 30 citrus varieties
• Over 15 varieties of hardy sub-tropicals, including: pomegranates, persimmons, loquats, feijoa, jujubes, and olives

Now, if he can figure out a way to grow coffee and the occasional banana, we’re all set.

Eating is a political act. Find out how the food on your plate can affect a farmer half a world away. Through field trips, guest speakers, classroom presentations and discussions, students will explore the entire food system from table top to ground and back again.

This course covers local food issues and movements and the more complex global ones like genetically modified foods and seed monopolies, and examines the charity model and solutions oriented programs like fair trade to see if they really are fair. Students will leave with a basic understanding of the politics of food and 10 things they can do to strengthen the food system in their neighbourhood.

Warning: chocolate and coffee will be consumed!

The Politics of Food
4 Saturdays: Apr 10, 17, 24, May 1
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Instructor: Spring Gillard
Vancouver Community College, Broadway Campus

To register, call 604-443-8484 and quote: CRN # 20331

Additional part-time courses

Shiitake Mushroom Block

Start with a mushroom block. It’s a super easy way to keep yourself stocked up on delicious mushrooms throughout the year. The blocks come pre “seeded” and just need to be kept moist and cool. And, if properly cared for, each block can produce 3 to 4 crops.

The mushroom blocks, supplied by Western Biologicals Ltd. here in BC, will be available by the end of February. Email stephanie.lynn.leclair@gmail.com to reserve yours, instructions included. Last season’s sold out quickly, so order early!

Oyster Mushroom Block

Oh, and if you can’t get to mushrooms, they will come to you.

Bicycle delivery is available for an additional $2 if you live within the delivery area (west of Main St., north of 41st Ave, and downtown Vancouver). Map

GROWING OUT OF HUNGER
featuring Will Allen, CEO, Growing Power Community Food Centre, Milwaukee & Chicago.

Thursday, March 25, 7-9pm
Croatian Cultural Centre
3250 Commercial Drive (at 14th)
Vancouver, BC
(Transit: #20 Victoria bus from the Commercial/Broadway Skytrain station)

This event is free, however pre-registration is required. Click here to RSVP

More information is available from SFU Centre for Dialogue.

Village Vancouver is pleased to present gardening workshops with Grant Watson of Gourmet Gardens. Grant is a former organic farmer and has been teaching gardening to adults and children since 2003. He also operates an edible landscaping business.

A full list of workshops with dates and locations is available on the Gourmet Gardens website, along with course descriptions. To register contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

Here’s a sampling of what’s in store:

Garden Planning and Preparation
This course will get you started in thinking about how to start a food garden, and taking the first important step of getting the beds ready for planting. A sound garden plan that takes all the key factors into consideration has a better chance of producing and winning your enthusiasm.

Food Crops: Selection & Care
So you’ve got a garden all ready for planting. What are you going to put in, and when should you start? This course will cover all the major groups of vegetable and fruit crops that grow well in our climate. We will also discuss the specific needs of plants in each category.

Soil Fertility and Plant Health Management
An extremely important topic in organic gardening is soil health and fertility. Healthy soil is a vibrant community. Learn how to be an ally, not an enemy of your soil. We’ll also cover some key techniques for promoting and protecting your annual and perennial food plants, as well as the ones that just look pretty, from disease and pests.

If you’re getting all twitchy for a gardening fix, here are a couple of upcoming events at VanDusen Botanical Garden to get you ready for planting:

Seed Swap
Presented by the BC Master Gardeners Association, the annual Seedy Saturday is held in Floral Hall. A celebration of heritage varieties and organic gardening featuring more than 30 growers, seed companies and exhibitors and Heritage Seed Swap. There will be a variety of seed-inspired activities for the whole family. Admission by donation.

Saturday, February 27, 2010
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
5251 Oak Street at 37th Avenue
Vancouver, BC

Annual Manure Sale
Give your garden a spring tonic! Cost is $5 for a 20kg bag. For information and pre-orders email marcelfpichette@alumni.uottawa.ca.

Saturday, March 6, 2010
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
5251 Oak Street at 37th Avenue – Parking lot
Vancouver, BC