Format note

To browse sections of this website more easily, please use the link buttons on the right hand side of the page. When you finish an article, use your Control Home buttons to go back to the menu to select your next article. CGL knows that some articles are very long and browsing is not as efficient as it could be. A website that gives two lines of an article and then a "Read More" button that opens the full article requires Java Script software. We are on a limited budget and cannot afford the Internet upgrade cost at this time. We appreciate your patience and extra effort with this.

gLean on Me!

gLean on Me! connects London's fruit tree owners who can’t keep up with the abundant harvest produced by their tree(s) with volunteer fruit pickers and social service organizations that serve individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

gLean on Me! is just starting up in London.  It needs people to harvest.  It needs people who have trees that need harvesting.  It needs people to help publicize the project and nurture it along.  Other cities like Edmonton and Guelph have similar projects.

Use the Facebook page to connect.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glean-on-Me/405277856160633

Black out - Speak out for the environment and democracy on June 4

"Canada would be a different place without our 80,000 registered charities dedicated to everything from health to economic policy to the environment. We'd be much poorer without the two-million employees and millions of volunteers who devote their time to causes that strengthen our nation.

Recent efforts by the federal government and its backers in media and industry front groups like Ethical Oil to demonize and silence legitimate organizations ignore the important role charities play in Canada. That's why environmental and other organizations are joining with Canadians from all walks of life for Black Out Speak Out (blackoutspeakout.ca ), launched on May 7 with ads in the Globe and Mail, La Presse, and Ottawa's Hill Times and culminating in a website blackout June 4.

Canadians understand the value of charitable organizations. Close to 85 per cent of us over 15 years of age (22.2 million people) donate to charities every year. Often, it's to help people in other parts of the world. According to Charity Village, Canadians gave $20 million to the Canadian Red Cross, CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, UNICEF Canada, and World Vision within four days of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. For supporting worthy causes, Canadians are entitled to a small tax break.

Canadians also know that our spectacular natural environment is crucial to our national identity, health, and survival, and that we can't always count on governments and industry to look out for its interests. ...   If we are committed to these ideals then it follows we should also value freedom of speech and opportunities for a range of viewpoints on matters of national interest. It's fair to place limits on the extent and types of work organizations with charitable status can do. It's fair to ask questions about donations and what, if any, influence they may have on activities. But it is unacceptable to try to silence people with smear tactics designed to discredit them and deny their funding.

... We're asking all Canadians to join us to help preserve two core national values: nature and democracy. Let's keep Canada strong and free. Please visit the websites of your favourite environmental organizations on June 4 to add your voice."

The above is a selection from an email from the David Suzuki Foundation(www.davidsuzuki.org), By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Editorial and Communications Specialist Ian Hanington. References specific to the DSF have been removed, so that the message of supporting Canada's environment and environment advocates is an overall support.

Supporting Local Farmers through Community Supported Agriculture program

“When you buy a share of what the farmer has, you’ve basically got access to everything the farmer grows.”

So says Julie Richards-Bramhill, member and very active supporter of the Triple Cord Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.  Richards-Bramhill's garage in London is used as the farmer's drop-off point for the weekly produce, and members come to her place to pick up their shares.

Mervin Miller, an Amish farmer near Aylmer, is the farmer for Triple Cord CSA, now in its fourth year. 

A "Community Supported Agriculture" program allows a person to buy a share of a farm's produce at the beginning of a season.  A CSA pays the farmer for her/his produce, cuts out the middlemen involved in food transport and sales, gives a wide selection of food in weekly food baskets, and saves the eater money over the season.  The food you buy is as fresh as it can be, and you the consumer can choose organic.

Triple Cord CSA has 90 member families; there are still some shares.  This year’s deadline for Triple Cord CSA is May 17, with the first deliveries taking place the following week. Information is at  triplecordcsaorganicproduce.wordpress.com.

Richards-Bramhill also has a blog, titled Lady Locavore, which is well worth taking a look at.  Recently, for instance, she highlighted collards, an easy to grow and tasty cabbage related vegetable.  This writer happens to be growing collards for the first time this year, so a big thank you for the article and recipies Julie!

CGL thanks Debora Van Brenk and the London Free Press for highlighting Julie Richards-Bramhill's efforts to promote local eating.
More effort is needed to connect urbanites to the bountiful harvest at our doorstep. D. Van Brenk, London Free Press, May 8, 2012.  http://www.lfpress.com/news/whoslondon/2012/05/07/19729411.html

By Growing Food, the Occupy Movement Grows Up

“We don’t need corporations and we don’t need gene research to tell us how to farm. We’ve been doing it for thousands of years. We just have to remind each other how to do it.”
                        Gopal Dayaneni, urban agriculture activist, Albany CA

On Earth Day, April 22/12, hundreds of urban agriculture advocates marched under the banner “Occupy the Farm” and took over a University of California (UC) agricultural testing station.  The 5 acre site is the last of 104 acres,  originally deeded to the University in the 1920s.  It is the last agriculturally zoned land in Albany, California, and has been been used for agriculture research for over 30 years.  For at least 15 years it has been the subject of the "What to do withs."  In 1997 a representation by 40 groups had submitted a detailed proposal for an urban farm, and since there have been other such proposals.  Currently, the UC has been entertaining a proposal to build over the site.  The Occupy group planted one acre of crops on the land, while UC officials turned off water to the site (figuring this would deter the watering in phase of planting).  The next day, half an inch of rain fell, during a late-season storm. Mother Gaia wins again!                           

Read the full article, which talks more about the Occupy movement and has several useful links:  http://climate-connections.org/2012/05/02/by-growing-food-occupy-the-farm-helps-a-movement-grow-up/

.

Emerald Ash Borer - London situation

At the London City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 it was decided to not follow the recommendation from the Planning and Environment Committee to have a moratorium on ash cutting, while further information about TreeAzin program was being done. Cutting will resume. However, a three week ahead notice will be given to people and neighbourhoods where cutting is taking place.

The London Free Press Coverage of this Council decision is found at: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/05/02/19708936.html

Recommendations from the April 16/12 Planning & Environment meeting: a)         a moratorium BE PLACED on the cutting of ash trees, unless they pose a safety hazard, until such time as the Civic Administration reports back on the communications dated April 9, March 27 and April 16, 2012, from the Westmount Rate Payers Association; it being noted that the Civic Administration met with the Westmount Rate Payers Association on March 14, 2012 to discuss and respond to the issues and those comments will be included in the Civic Administration’s response back; and,

b)            a special meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee BE HELD on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, to receive a legal opinion on the proposed moratorium on tree cutting;

Emerald Ash Borer and Neem-based pesticide TreeAzin

WE THANK THE TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDENS for this item from its May 2/12 newsletter! TBG adapted it from LEAF organization. Websites are below the main text.

How to Save Your Ash                   April 30, 2012
(Adapted from Melissa Williams’ blog post on the April 16 edition of the LEAF (http://www.yourleaf.org/) e-newsletter—and no, this is not an ad nor are we being paid for it. It’s good information.)

By now, most of you will have heard of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which is infesting ash trees throughout metro Toronto, Scarborough and York Region. Unlike the scourges that affected elm trees and chestnuts, the good news is that there is an effective alternative to removal—a systemic insecticide called TreeAzin ™ which may also save you money in the long term.

There are approximately 860,000 ash trees in the City of Toronto and an estimated 2,800,000 growing in York Region. All are at risk of infestation and, if left untreated, most will succumb to this pest. This will create huge gaps in our urban forest canopy, a vital resource that cleans the air and conserves energy by shading our homes.

It is also important to remember that the larger a tree grows the more benefits it provides. It will take up to 30 years for a newly planted tree to fully take the place of a mature ash—and the cost of removing a mature tree is high.

If applied in a timely fashion, TreeAzin ™ Systemic Insecticide may be able to save your ash. This Canadian product was developed by Bioforest Technologies Inc. through the Canadian Forest Service, and is produced from an extract of Neem tree seeds—it is not Neem oil, however. It is the only effective pesticide available to control EAB in Canada, and works by being injected under the bark, where it is drawn upward with the flow of water and nutrients inside the tree. It will kill EAB larvae that feed on conductive tissues within the tree, and will also reduce the adult female’s fertility and egg viability when it feeds on the leaves of the tree. Injections are carried out in early summer, and treatment needs to be repeated every two years to remain effective (as long as the EAB is in the area).

According to the manufacturer’s website, in the year of treatment, 95 per cent of EAB larvae are killed, significantly fewer eggs are laid, and of those that are laid, 98 per cent are not viable. In the following year, larvae hatching from the few viable eggs that are laid will not complete development, and the length and number of galleries that larvae have created from feeding underneath the bark of the tree will be fewer and shorter in length, compared to those in ash trees left untreated.

Because the insecticide is injected under the tree’s bark, the treatment does not present a health risk to those carrying out the injections or to the surrounding environment. Studies show that TreeAzin ™ has low toxicity to mammals, birds, bees and other non-target species and low-to-moderate persistence in waters, soils and foliage. It is registered as a Class Four pesticide, which means it is the “least hazardous that is commercial.”

However, you need to act before the crown of the tree shows 30 per cent damage. LEAF recommends that you get quotes from at least three different registered service providers before choosing which company to hire. The cost of the treatment will depend on facts such as the size, health and location of the ash tree, but may be more affordable—even over a number of years– than the costs of removal, disposal and replacement of a diseased ash tree—not to mention the time it takes for one to grow to maturity. Additionally, this cost will be spread out over years, as opposed to one lump sum for removal.
For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer, TreeAzin ™ and licensed service providers in your area, visit the Bioforest Technologies Inc. (http://www.bioforest.ca/) website

- end of article - resources follow -

Toronto Botanical Garden has lots of great things going on, year round and the website has lots of interesting articles! http://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/

Davey Tree - London
Zone(s): 1
Servicing: London
Phone: (519) 660-6271
Email: Tim.Holley@davey.com
Web: davey.com

Davey Tree (London) is the only London tree service using Neem-based TreeAzin pesticide.  It sounds like TreeAzin is a licenced pesticide... and seems to be licenced through BioForest Technologies Inc. in Ontario and Quebec.  BioForest Technologies Inc.  www.bioforest.ca

LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests  http://www.yourleaf.org
Mission: We envision a city that is healthier because every citizen cares for the urban forest.
As an organization that champions the urban forest our mission is to... (1) Raise public awareness;
(2) Foster a sense of ownership; (3) Engage diverse communities; (4) Provide educational tools and resources; (5) Facilitate urban forest stewardship.
Contact information: 
Phone: 416-413-9244       email: infor@yourleaf.org
Artscape Wychwood Barns
601 Christie St, Suite 253
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M6G 4C7

Attracting Bees as Pollinators and building nesting sites

The latest newsletter of Seeds of Diversity Canada has a useful article with links to articles about different types of bees and several "how to" encourage them and build nest sites projects. The different articles outline the various types of bees and their nesting requirements and place in the natural web. http://www.seeds.ca/int/doc/docpub.php?k=8b7776006b6924027499a34fa695ec2e00000540
Our gardens benefit from having many different beneficial and pollinating insects around. If we provide plants that bloom at different times through the year, some habitat, and some food sources for their babies we'll keep the insects coming back and the gardens growing.

Seeds of Diversity Canada "supports the work of seed saving and food biodiversity protection across Canada. Volunteers are involved with Seedy Saturdays and other events, seed growing and saving, article writing and translation, and a wide range of other project and event administration activities." Check out its website at www.seeds.ca

London Co-op Store - 42 years strong

For 42 years, The London Food Co-op has lived by the words "Food for People, not for profit."

The London Co-op Store is a non-profit, member-owned, co-operatively governed natural food store which supplies its members with natural, healthy and organic products, at fair prices. As one of the oldest Food Co-operatives in Ontario, some long-time members have lived their interest in healthy, local food before most of us ever thought of it! Members may use their talents to the betterment of the Co-op by volunteering time working in the store; this work can take the place of weekley membership fees. A member may contribute to the direction of the Co-op by committee work too.

Orientation sessions are held regularly, every second Saturday, so you can take a tour of the store and be briefed on the mutual responsibilities and enjoyment that comes from membership. For more hours of operation and other information check out the website at: http://londonfoodcoop.org/ or get in touch at generalinfo@londonfoodcoop.org

The 621 Princess Ave
London ON N5W 3L9
519-679-0570

London Bicycle Festival - call for video/film-makers!

May 25 through June 10, 2012

Calling all videographers who always wanted to prepare a film about bicycles and their impact on our culture and environment.  Videos should be taken locally and be no more than 5 minutes in length. Winners to be aired on a Rogers TV Special. The Grand Prize is a mentoring session with an experienced Rogers producer.

follow the London Bicycle Festival blog at http://londonbicyclefestival.tumblr.com/

Like London Bicycle Festival on FB at https://www.facebook.com/groups/149187751818050/

Growing Chefs Ontario Growing!

Growing Chefs Ontario program expanding

Growing Chefs Ontario is a not-for-profit organization that gets local chefs volunteering in elementary classrooms, growing vegetables and cooking.  Its mission is to have chefs and food growers "engage in the community and to support food sustainability" and to encourage children's involvement in urban agriculture.

Andrew Fleet brought the project to London in 2008 from B.C., and this season the project is expanding to 20 schools. 

During the six to eight week program, volunteers visit a classroom four times.  The children sow and grow an in-class windowsill vegetable garden, all the while learning about healthy eating and tasting fresh vegetables.  On the last visit the children's own grown food is cooked for them by the chef volunteer.  A wonderful way to learn about growing and good eating!

Community Gardens London thanks The Londoner community newspaper for bringing Growing Chefs Ontario to our attention through its recent article about GCO's recent fund-raiser at The Springs restaurant. Springs' chef Andrew Wolwowicz is even one of GCO's able volunteers.  http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3523580

Like any not-for-profit, GCL appreciates your interest, your volunteer time, and your donation to continue its programs.  Growing Chefs Ontario' website is found at http://www.growingchefsontario.ca/

Food Forward - PBS series

Don't miss Food Forward’s premiere episode, “Urban Agriculture Across America,”which is airing on PBS in April

The broadcast schedule and TRAILER!     http://www.foodforward.tv/

“We’ve all heard what’s wrong with the way we eat. Our program goes beyond celebrity chefs, cooking competitions and recipes to reveal the compelling stories and inspired solutions from Americans striving to create a more just, sustainable and delicious alternative to how and what we eat,” said Greg Roden, director of Food Forward.

"Shot entirely on location...Food Forward features food rebel John Mooney, whose space-age hydroponic farm on top of a historic building in the West Village of Manhattan, is a window into the future of rooftop farming. In Milwaukee, viewers meet the biggest name in urban agriculture, Will Allen, who is inspiring a new generation of aquaponic innovators.... After a stop in West Oakland, Food Forward finishes in Detroit with Travis Roberts, an eighteen-year-old who grew up watching the city struggle with increasing urban blight. In trouble and more than 100 pounds overweight, Roberts discovers the city’s urban agriculture movement and finds a new purpose in life through urban chicken farming. Food Forward opens the door into a new world of possibility, where pioneers and visionaries are creating viable alternatives to our food system."

"Food Forward is written, produced and directed by a veteran team, ... that includes director Greg Roden (PBS, FOX, National Geographic, Lonely Planet, contributor to the LA Times, Dallas Morning News, SF Chronicle), creator-producers Stett Holbrook (Food Editor for Metro Silicon Valley and contributor to the LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Saveur, and Chow.com) and Brian Greene (Food Network, Discovery Channel, NBC) and director of photography David Lindstrom (PBS, National Geographic, Discovery)."

Food Forward website with TRAILER!     http://www.foodforward.tv/
PBS Newsroom: http://pressroom.pbs.org/Programs/f/FOOD-FORWARD

Thanks to Mike Levenson of City Farmer, for his site's reference to this!!  www.cityfarmer.info

A bit more on Hillside Church of London's community garden

Londoners have a news source that we need to be reminded of: The Reporter, an on-line publication by students of Western's graduate journalism program. 

Recently, student journalist Arden Dier was in touch with Margaret Goodyear, initiator of the community garden at Hillside Church of London.  To find out more about the vision that is changing asphalt to green, the start-up grant, and the excitement about this upcoming garden, read Ms Dier's excellent article at: http://www.fims.uwo.ca/olr/Mar2712/Gardening.html

Ms. Dier also interviewed Maureen Temme, of Community Gardens London, for this article.

Thank you Arden for you for the positive mention and for your interest in community gardening!

.

Composting Stories wanted

Community Gardens London would like to hear your positive composting stories and would love to have a few photos. Do you go big? Do you go hot? How does your garden grow and your compost live? With your permission, we'll post on this news site ... and your information could be helpful as we develop ideas to take to the City.

communitygardenslondon@execulink.com

The London Community Resource Centre has a new home!

LCRC has moved to 255 Horton Street, 3rd Floor.  This is the new Goodwill Building near the corner of Horton and Wellington, and it looks like a great location.

LCRC has been awarded the contract by the City of London to be the Coordinating Agency for London's community gardens program.  If you have inquiries about a City community garden plot, get in touch with LCRC, Linda Davies executive director at ph. 519-432-1801, extension 223.  The website remains:  www.lcrc.on.ca
e-mail:  lcrc@lcrc.on.ca
Don't forget the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-Community-Resource-Centre/112997211711.

Farm Apprenticeships!

Canadian Organic Growers (www.cog.ca) promotes Canadian organics and has a terrific site. It has an e-news section you can sign up for - for free.

The latest news reminds people that this is the time of year to look into farm apprenticeships!  Check these organizations for yourself and see if any programme fits with your interests! 

CRAFT - Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farm Training in Ontario - offers on-farm apprenticeships in Ontario. Within regions, education workshops or field days are then offered to all CRAFT interns.   http://www.craftontario.ca/

Manitoba Farm Mentorship Program offers on-farm training
and support. Everyone is welcome to participate. http://organicfoodcouncil.org/mentorship/become-an-intern.html

SOIL - Stewards of Irreplaceable Land - Canada's national sustainable agriculture program helps match farms and apprentices for an on-farm experience. SOIL has regional partners in Alberta and Atlantic Canada, for additional regional support.       http://soilapprenticeships.org/

WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms - offers people opportunities to stay on farms with room and board in exchange for work contribution. Often people use this as a way to travel in foreign countries, or experience farmwife without full season commitment.    
Link to Canada site:           http://www.wwoof.ca/lbv?destination=

Garden Art Inspirations!

Garden inspired art by Liz Harris Martyn, Neala Kerridwen, and Ray Clancy. Designs and whimsey!

Through March 31
Cornerstone Room, Crouch Library, 550 Hamilton Road, London

Crouch Library: 519-673-0111 http://www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/locations/crouch#page=page-1

London Food Charter

During the last two years members of various community organizations have been meeting to develop a Food Charter for the city of London. There was a Food Charter endorsed by Council in April of 2011.

The Vision of the Food Charter states: London is a food secure community.

The Charter goes on to say:

The City of London and its people are committed to creating a food secure community where there is:
1.  A just and sustainable food system that contributes to the economic, ecological, and social well-being of our city and rgion which balances local production and fair international agricultural trade;
2. Sufficient personal income and resources to ensoure safe, nutritious foods in adequate amounts for everyone everyday;
3.  Ready access to quality grocery stores, farmers' markets and other food sources which provide safe, nutritious and culturally-appropriate foods;
4.  Opportunity for residents to become food literate; and,
5.  Opportunity for residents to grow and sell food within the City

What involvement do you or does your group have that works toward these ideas? Let us know at Community Gardens London and we'll put your event in the news, or get in touch with Trevor Fowler, program manager, Ending Poverty Implementation Team tfowler@london.ca

A pdf of the Food Charter can be reached through London website page: http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Child_Youth_Network/Food_Charter/default.htm

Community Gardening Toolkit

Community Gardening Toolkit -a resource for planning, enhancing and sustaining your community garden project.  This is a succinct 24 page guide to setting up community gardens, with neat cartoons!
University of Missouri Extension Services: http://extension.missouri.edu/p/MP906.

Proposed composting regulations left off from amendments

The councillors present* at the Public Safety Committee meeting, and the Mayor, were unanimous in deleting the two sections to do with composting that were suggested as additions to the Clearing of Land Bylaw PW-9.  Meaning, the regulations about composting and container size are not going to be added to the bylaw.

There were important and useful comments made by all the Committee members, and important and useful comments made by the head of Bylaw Enforcement, Orest Katolyk.  I think everyone there recognizes that there are opportunities for education about composting, and opportunities for many groups and projects to work together on ways to raise awareness about composting ... all in relationship to gardens and urban agriculture. 

London Community Resource Centre selected as Coordinating Agency for London's Community Gardens for 2012

London Community Resource Centre (www.lcrc.ca) has been selected as the Coordinating Agency for London's community gardens program. Congratulations to Linda Davies, executive director. The LCRC will be expected to work toward fulfillment of the Recommendations of the London Community Gardens Program Review, which was endorsed by City Council on April 4/11. http://council.london.ca/meetings/CNC%20Agendas/2011-03-29%20Agenda/Item%209.pdf

If you have questions/comments, the most senior City administrator on the selection committee was Cheryl Smith, Manager of Community Programs and Funding. csmith@london.ca or phone 519-661-2500, ext. 5880.

Possible Restrictions to Composting - bylaw amendments proposed

March 6, 2012    London City Hall on Dufferin Avenue near Wellington!
 A Public Participation Meeting for citizens to comment on some proposed changes to what is now called the Clearing of Land By-law PW-9 will be part of the Public Safety Committee  meeting on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. 
 
Some of these changes have to do with composting - putting restrictions on the size and type of composting done. 

The pertinent sections from the draft proposed bylaw changes are here in italics:

By implementing by-law regulations that address the containment and location of refuse and compost, various results can be achieved including the reduction of incidences of scattered garbage due to rodent, animal and bird ransacking, and the reduction of drifting garbage odours. The inclusion of regulations to address the removal of graffiti will further improve aesthetics within our community.

3) Compost containment Currently the by-law defines but does not regulate compost containment.  The proposed amendment introduces compost containment and location regulations.

2.11  Compost – containment and location Every owner of a residential property shall ensure that all compost which accumulates on their property is: contained within not more than 4 compost containers on their property; and contained within containers that each: (i)   have a maximum area not greater than 1.0m²; (ii)  have a maximum height of not higher than 1.8m; (iii) is located in the rear yard; (iv)  is enclosed on all sides by concrete blocks, a lumber structure, a metal frame, or a commercially manufactured compost container; (v)  does not include a fence or a building wall as one or more of the sides of a composter; and (6)  is covered in a manner to prevent the entry of rodents or other animals.

2.12  Leaf Compost – containment and location If a residential property owner chooses to compost leaves, the property owner shall ensure that all leaf compost which accumulates on their property which is not contained within a compost container as set out in section 2.11 is: (a)  contained within not more than 1 leaf compost area on their property; and (b)  contained within a leaf compost area that: (i)   has a maximum area not greater than 9.29 m²; (ii)  has a maximum height of not higher than 1.2m; (iii) is located in the rear yard; (iv)  is enclosed on all sides by concrete blocks, a lumber structure, a metal or wire frame, or a commercially manufactured compost container; (v)   does not include a fence or a building wall as one or more of the sides of a compost area; and (vi)  holds nothing more than leaves and soil.

The Public Safety Committee meeting itself starts at 4:00 p.m.  The actual time of the Public Participation part of this meeting should be listed on the meeting agenda, which should be posted  on the City website Friday afternoon, March 2.  On the City Website go to:
http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Meetings/Default/meetingpackages.htm

You do not have to be registered to speak at the Public Participation Meeting part of this.  There is always a call for people to get up and speak.

email Community Gardens London and Maureen will sent you more detailed information including the full draft bylaw changes, current Clearing of Land By-law PW-9: communitygardenslondon@execulink.com

Heather Chapman, Coordinator, Municipal Law Enforcement Services 519-661-2500 ext 5292.
hchapman@london.ca      is a good resource person and can answer questions.
 
If you want to send a note to a councillor on the Public Safety Committee, members are:
Councillor D. Brown (Chair)            dbrown@london.ca
Mayor Fontana (ex-officio)             jfontana@london.ca
Councillor Armstrong                      barmstro@london.ca
Councillor Bryant                             jbryant@london.ca
Councillor Hubert                             phubert@london.ca
Councillor Polhill                             bpolhill@london.ca

.

Port Townsend WA community gardens

Community Gardens London friend, Pamela, sent along links to several programs over the wonderful Peak Moment Television website. Thanks very much Pamela!

How Many Community Gardens?- http://blip.tv/peak-moment-tv/how-many-community-gardens-5421333- is an interview with Judith Alexander, a very active member of the Food Resilience Action Group of the Port Townsend, Washington Transition group. The interview is from July 2011.

Alexander and other volunteers have helped develop over twenty community gardens in the last 5 years. Alexander is a wonderful spokesperson for community gardens. The gardens of Port Townsend are managed by the volunteers and are gardened as community gardens - cooperatively - as compared to a pay your fee and do your gardening along model. Garden help is available to newcomers, who don't feel they have to know about gardening before starting. She does point out the importance of having some garden leaders who make sure main tasks do get done. Well worth watching and listening to ... oh! and one of the gardens has a chicken coop!

For further information about the Port Townsend Local 20 20 Transition Group: www.L2020.org

Hillside Church in Old South to open a Community Garden! Hurrah for all involved in this community project!

News just in from the Old South Community Organization.

This Spring Hillside Church will be opening a community garden. So far, 16 garden beds have been built in the back parking lot and hopefully there will be more to come!

Cost for the garden bed rentals per season are:

$30 (small bed), with $10 refundable at the end of the season, if you participate in both spring and fall clean ups (or that can be carried over to the rental for the next season); or

$25 (half of a large bed), with $10 refundable at the end of the season, if you participate in both the spring and fall clean ups.

If you are interested in renting a garden bed please contact Karen at 519-681-7313.

Rental agreements and a copy of the Hillside Community Garden rules can be picked up at the church office (250 Commissioners Road, East near Wortley Road).  

Edible Trees Grant for Community Gardens

Thanks to KingstonCommunityGardens Network for alerting us to this!!!!  

Would you like to plant fruit trees at your community garden this season?  Tree Canada’s Edible Trees Program is offering funding for community-based projects that provide residents with access to fresh fruit and nut trees while making a positive difference to the Canadian environment. Funding is available, but not limited to, community gardening groups, community housing projects, schools, parks and arboretums.  

http://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=Edible%20Trees&lang=en

All applications must be received by February 28, 2012.
Final Reports and projects must be completed by September 30, 2012.
Note: The number of projects will be based on available funding. In 2012 it is projected that approximately 15 projects will be funded.

Application Criteria
Tree Canada will consider projects that meet the following criteria:
Increases  equitable access to healthy food
Strengthens communities by empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of city-grown food resources
Benefits the local community by providing access to the trees and their fruit by the public ( i.e. food banks, volunteers, community kitchens)
Meets the needs of the community and includes creative plans for the produce grown
Takes place within a geographic area suitable for growing fruit and nut trees
Protects and preserves the Canadian environment
Assists residents in understanding and participating in environmental activities in local communities.

Visit the Edible Trees page* on the Tree Canada website for full details. http://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=home&lang=en

http://www.kingstoncommunitygardens.ca/
see the left menu bar  - edible trees - there's a downloadable application

Thank You City Farmer!

"In 1978, a group of young environmentalists working at the VancouverEnergyConservationCenter stumbled across a book called The City People’s Book of Raising Food by William and Helga Olkowski. It described in everyday language how the authors grew all their own food right in the middle of the city of Berkeley. This inspiring book led [them] on an exploration of urban food production ..."

Since then, Michael Levenston and others have developed and worked on varied urban agriculture projects in Vancouver, and maintained an incredible resource of urban agriculture projects in Canada, North American and worldwide.

The City Farmer website - www.cityfarmer.info - is running stories about its history.  Tune in and scroll down awhile for the anecdotes, photos and inspiration.  And send them a thank you for the incredible information and inspiration they give to us!

Get Inspired by American Public Media's Interview with Grace Lee Boggs!

This program is in several parts. Interviewer Krista Tippett speaks with 96 year old activist Grace Lee Boggs, visits the Feed 'Em Freedom Urban Growers and one of Detroit's 1600 urban gardens - gardens not just plots! 

Hear about some of Detroit's urban agriculture projects and listen to the people who are making them happen.  This is history combined with renewal.  A 50 minute broadcast and all worth listening to!

The January 23/11 City Farmer site has a link to the radio interview.
http://www.cityfarmer.info/2012/01/23/detroit-96-year-old-philosopher-grace-lee-boggs-feed-em-freedom-growers-urban-farming/#more-19595 [http://www.cityfarmer.info/   .

SPARKS Grants for Neighbourhood Projects deadline January 31, 2012

* SPARK the addition of art and beauty and greenery to your neighbourhood streets!
* SPARK the creation of places for neighbours to meet or celebrate!
* SPARK improved safety in your neighbourhood!

With City of London’s SPARKS! Neighbourhood Matching Fund, you can qualify for up to $5,000 in matching funds to help enhance, build and strengthen your neighbourhood and improve the quality of life for everyone.
The funds your organization raises may be services or donations; they don't have to be dollars.

Full information, application guide and budget worksheet at: http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Community_Vitality/Neighbourhoods/SPARKS.htm
or email neighbourhoods@london.ca or call 519 661-5336..

Jerusalem Community Garden - video link

Thank you and Happy New Year to The Horticultural Channel for picking up and City Farm for linking to a short video about the Jerusalem Community Garden: http://thehorticulturalchannel.info/2011/10/profile-jerusalem-community-garden/

The Jerusalem Community Garden exemplifies re-working of land - the garden is on what used to be an estate, and the house on the estate has been renovated to be a natural history museum; water-management - the cistern has been made functional again for rainwater capture; a garden in the heart of a city; and nature education programs for children.

The film was produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the State of Israel.

City Farm: www.cityfarm.info

Some new and forthcoming books

The Urban Food Revolution: Changing the Way We Feed Cities.  Peter Ladner. New Society Publishers, 2011.  paperback
You can look over the Table of Contents and read the Preface from the website of New Society Publishers: http://www.newsociety.com/Books/U/The-Urban-Food-Revolution
Book blurb from the New Society Publishers website:
               Our reliance on industrial agriculture has resulted in a food supply riddled with hidden environmental, economic and health care costs and beset by rising food prices. With only a handful of corporations responsible for the lion’s share of the food on our supermarket shelves, we are incredibly vulnerable to supply chain disruption.
               The Urban Food Revolution provides a recipe for community food security based on leading innovations across North America. The author draws on his political and business experience to show that we have all the necessary ingredients to ensure that local, fresh sustainable food is affordable and widely available. He describes how cities are bringing food production home by:
ü      Growing community through neighborhood gardening, cooking and composting programs
ü      Rebuilding local food processing, storage and distribution systems
ü      Investing in farmers markets and community supported agriculture
ü      Reducing obesity through local fresh food initiatives in schools, colleges and universities.
ü      Ending inner-city food deserts
               Producing food locally makes people healthier, alleviates poverty, creates jobs, and makes cities safer and more beautiful. The Urban Food Revolution is an essential resource for anyone who has lost confidence in the global industrial food system and wants practical advice on how to join the local food revolution.

Urban Agriculture: ideas and designs for the new food revolution.  David Tracey.  Gabriola, B.C. New Society Publishers, 2011.  London Public Library has 6 copies -  635 Tra  

The Essential Urban Farmer.  Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal.  Due for release December 2011. 
blurb: "share their experience as successful urban farmers and provide practical blueprints-complete with rich visual material-for novice and experienced growers looking to bring the principles of ethical food to the city streets. The Essential Urban Farmer guides readers from day one to market day, advising on how to find the perfect site, design a landscape, and cultivate crops. For anyone who has ever grown herbs on windowsills, or tomatoes on fire escapes, this is an invaluable volume with the potential to change our menus, our health, and our cities forever."
Carpenter does a blog: http://ghosttownfarm.wordpress.com/ and has a previous book (I haven't seen it)

Change Comes to Dinner: How Vertical Farmers, Urban Growers, and Other Innovators Are Revolutionizing How America Eats | Paperback by Katherine Gustafson / Social Science / Agriculture & Food / Cooking / Essays / Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection
Release date May 8, 2012

The City Farmer website has reviews of some of these and other books at http://www.cityfarmer.info/2012/01/01/five-canadian-books-put-urban-agriculture-on-the-map/#more-17295

City Farmer site - www.cityfarmer.info - is always the most brilliant site to go to for information about community gardens and urban agriculture in Canada and worldwide.

Community Gardens London Facebook Page

Community Gardens London now has a Facebook page.  We hope this will help communication. Thanks to Robyn Harvey for setting this up for us!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Gardens-London/220527951338866

Books for Every Child - Growing Children is as important as growing gardens!

For a child, "MY OWN BOOK!" is incredibly important.  You can give this gift.  Bookstores offer 20% off the price of books you purchase for the London Public Library's Book for Every Child project.  Please contribute.  Full details at the library link here:

http://www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/node/6818

Thames Region Ecological Association - 25 Years!

Congratulations!

Next monthly meeting is Thursday, December 8, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Grosvenor Lodge, 1017 Western Road

www.trea.ca

London wins Community in Blooms Award

http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3361965
By Alana Power Londoner, Thursday, November 10, 2011 .

Conference notes - part one .... Great conference! Thanks to everyone who came!

The gathering From Community Gardening to Urban Agriculture in London was attended by over 50 people! Themes that are emerging include: the need to have community gardens more known about within their neighbourhoods, as a way of making friends and allies; more ways of communication between gardeners, especially when it comes to new gardeners being helped by experienced gardeners; how to communicate environmental and health benefits of growing food close to home via home/shared gardens and urban farming operations; need to change bylaws so food trees could be planted and small food growing operations could develop.

Morning Conference Notes

Ideas put onto sheets posted on wall and some notes that people wrote at tables as conversations happened - each italicized section is one person's sheet

Governance:  Why is community gardens not run out of a Food Security arm of the City of London? 
Why the necessity for a community agency to manage the gardens?
Are we fragmenting what should be a central function of London ...

Food security

Use the [City]  "garbage calendar" as an interface for community garden and gleaning information.  "Not far from the Tree" in Toronto is an example.
- Gleaning is not a food bank issue but a community issue
- calendar could also be used to educate people about fruit trees in the city - their value - who to contact?

Urban agriculture requires a "hub"
- suggestion of acquiring Rath Greenhouse - just outside city limits
- develop a centre for coming together, training, educating youth
- centre for "growing early" as preparation / staging
- centre for composting each site
- centre for food preservation /storage each site
- bee-keeping centre
- sustainable technologies for each garden - geo/solar heating, etc - water treatment
- other aspects

How do we utilize unused greenhouses?

How to we integrate edible plants into public landscapes and give the community "ownership" or a stake in them?

I am new to this.  How do I get started?

Mentoring Program - climate, diverse production

Training
Community composting - how can neighbourhoods move ahead with composting organic waste from their homes - then share the compost for their gardens
- cuts down on landfill and transport (carbon footprint)
- could use current community garden land sites

Beyond symbolic gardening - trying to make some money and feed family - gardening becomes initiatives

How about an online registration page for businesses to ask for an assessment of land for tree (food) planting.
- community input on city tree varieties
-community food swaps (or banks)
- early learner plantings in neighbourhood

SPIN Farming?      [note: SPIN - Small Plot Intensive ]
 By-law prohibiting the sale of produce from non-agriculturally zoned properties

Neighbourhood Food Co-ops and CSA opportunities
- social enterprise
- harnessing youth
- public land i.e. hospitals, fire stations, etc
- no lawn - we love vegetables - ... cross-out and check symbols over diagrams
- public signs as trellises for growing beans, etc. for everyone
- partnerships with golf courses
- free seeds

How can gardening be extended in (into) the public schools?
- would lead to community involvement

How can we link community gardens and garden based learning to public education?

How can we educate the public about health and nutrition with community gardens?

How to support small neighbourhood gardens?

How do we integrate community gardens into their own communities better?  Engage the broader community even if they don't have a plot?

With 600 plots are they such that those who have plot are actually in their own neighbourhood?

How was "Operation Fruit Rescue" accomplished?
- social media versus phone versus flyers?
- Community organizations

Who is interested in developing/coordinating a local food rescue and promoting a land share (swap)?
- creating an interactive website
- attracting volunteers (email list / phone tree)
- attracting students from neighbouring schools, churches, community centres, etc.

How do we implement tool-sharing programs?

Funding for infrastructure such as tool sheds, greenhouses, cold frames, systems, and BEEHIVES at community gardens -  honey at gardens!

Would love to see Bee Hives in our community gardens.
Let's see if we can utilize the greenhouses at Eldon House

Educational programming on ecological gardening that is  community-based

More gardens, especially in neighbourhoods with waiting lists (Thames)

No more tilling community gardens, encouragement of ecological gardening - including the planting of perennials, winter gardening, green manures, etc. etc.

General Gardening -
1. How to make use of back yard gardens - e.g. if occupant is too old?
2. Using available lands better - keep them current
LCRCGardens - CityGardens
1. compost - permanent site
2. place to store staking materials, etc.

Organic Seed Saving - seed sharing.  How can we initiate?
Small Group discussion highlights reported back to group
  - notes taken by Maureen and Dylan unless otherwise mentioned

Group 1 - education and community garden concept

- Maryanne MacDonald report for a group discussing education and community garden concept
- why are children not connected to earth, not know where waste goes?
- integrated process - Western and Brescia with children and parents
- Community Gardens camp for the summer - university students who need practical jobs - nutrition, food - kids get camp experience - digging/compost/woodbad (?)
and the parents in the summer don't all get summer vacation
what coordinating agency can bring this together?
university students parents children get what they need?

Woman in group 1 gave Maureen these notes - who ?
- mandatory home economics in high school - policy change
- school age programs at community level
- disconnect between youth and environment
- integration between older students, teachers, parents and young kids
- summer camps, day programs to teach hands-on experience
- will facilitate future generations'  exposure from young age carries on
- entrance to post-secondary has background in gardening, nutrition, sustainability, etc. 
-Graduates have involvement and experience.
- adults need a place to send children to learn; little time when working
- older students need education, facilities, volunteer experience, part-time jobs
- young students need education, facilities, volunteer experience, part-time jobs
- young students need connection to their food, community and environment
- coordinating body required to make programs a feasible reality
- more than just volunteers, paid and organized system

-----------------------
Group 2     Governance - structure needed to support
Elizabeth Bright-See reported for a group on the topic of Governance
- we thought we'd talk just about gardens - got onto issues about the policies in this city that work actively against urban agriculture
- How to deal with this?
- there've been good reports - what will be done with the London Community Garden Program Review?
- used analogy with the Food Charter Committee
- it now has little public face
- the Child and Youth Network is effective at many things - because it has had the City behind it [financially?] to do things
- view for people at table - there'll
- We need a Food Security officer at the City Hall level
- a central networker - support
- or we'll talk forever
----------------

Group 3          Community Engagement      

- Jessie Roder reported for the group and then other people added things
- What are the resources in each community?
- interactive map
- City about to launch a new City website - the Neighbourhood Guide (Cheryl Smith mentioned)
        - how to share resources - who's doing what?
- online presence is necessary
- moving online, interactive presence and have interpersonal community building
- you can build community online but it's not the same as people together
- Resource needing to share - tools, leaves, mulch!
- Before end of the day we'll announce day of food swap at Wortley Village - swap skills too
- Engaging the community group
- Teresa added - is there a way for us to acknowledge our own skills before we leave today - - post on wall - what we do where we are

Group 4 - Public education   - who reported?!

- London Training Centre programs that work
- Real Food involves work        food = work
- know how to get ideas, place to learn and teach to community - enhance develop
- wellness and quality of life enhanced by connection with the earth
- food preferences accounted for - nutrition - a place to invite people to learn
- actually teach! - a demonstration garden
- how to reach out to non-native Canadians to suggest farming techniques that work in this country
- sustainable living - important component.

Group 5 - What's needed at the community gardens?

- Ray Clancy reported for group
- a mentorship program            
- sponsorship of new, novice gardeners
- meet at the veteran or amateur's plot - plant identification
- community gardens website - members blog
- seed exchange
- community gardens members meetings, current meetings
- workshops at the community garden plots, libraries and local organizations
- encourage bee population
- bee kits to attract the pollinators
- community garden drop-off compost drop - need volunteers to monitor this done right
- no till gardening - permaculture - reduces weeds
- climate change resilience through whole garden practices

Neala Kerradwin's notes from this   thanks Neala!  
- gardening earlier and later - extended seasons
- year round gardening
- no tillage gardening
- thinking of permaculture in the miniature
- 20 square feet feeding a person
- community garden greenhouse space
- no bare ground
- no lawn

Notes from ?  - left on table?
- Community gardens should establish a mentorship program
-appeal to new members/gardeners
- apply to get matched up with veteran gardeners on the website
- meet at veteran's plot and/or amateur's plot to learn technique, plant identification, access to seed

Community Gardens website members blog
- what's working
- trends
- seed exchange
- questions and answers

Community Gardens members meetings
- networking
- introduce new members
-talk about current issues

Sign up for workshops conducted at community garden plots
- promoted through libraries, local organizations

Encourage bee populations
- plant flowering plants in the gardens (attract pollinators)
- have bee kits to promote wild bee populations

Make community gardens drop off sites for compost from the neighbourhood
- designated times to ensure contents is monitored by veteran members

No till gardening at the plots
- encourage permaculture / perennial gardening (climate change resistance)
- prevents weed proliferation

Notes provided by Chantelle E.

           
Thank you Chantelle!
Intro and Discussion Period - presentation by Ross Fair about London Community Gardens Programme Review

1. London Community Resource Centre oversees all community gardens
2. Started 1993
3. Help from London-Middlesex Health Unit
4. 21 gardens with 600 individual plots – all but 2 sold out last year and one has a wait list
5.  2010 survey re: benefits
1. Increase access to healthy fruits and vegetables
2. Increase healthy eating
3. Increase positive relationships
4. Increase physical activity
6. Outcomes – provide value for the money the city spends
1. Gardening as an end in itself
2. Garden together – build relationships and promote gardening
3. Master Gardeners – special needs, low income communities
7. Neighbourhood based, smaller in scale, community based
8. City-wide “community garden” network
9. Sustainable
10. Nurtures neighbourhoods and communities
11. Promote social equity, environmental stewardship
12. Meaningful community outreach
13. Tools, training and leadership
14. Need to meet municipal standards
15. “Strengthening Neighbourhoods” initiative/strategy
16. Based in advocacy – getting funding, proving worth and sustainability
17. School involvement
18. London Food Bank – “Gleaners” – harvest trees for free – “Operation Fruit Rescue” started in Edmonton
19. Elgin House greenhouse is unused
20. “Over-wintering”
21. Wastefreeworld.org

Public Education Focus Group

1. Diverse population with diverse interests – wide spectrum of people to address
2. Different levels of education / knowledge
3. How do we communicate benefits?
4. Restaurant/foodservice
5. Through London Training Centre – industry certifications
6. Understand that real food involves work
7. Workshops
8. Media releases, brochures, flyers
9. Wellness and Quality of Life (QOL) enhanced by earth connection
1. How to get ideas to practical application and teach young people
2. Food preparation – nutrient preservation
3. Need for a place to invite people to learn
4. Demonstration Garden
10. White Oaks Garden has some of this infrastructure in place
11. Lack of information – address with gardening courses
12. How can we provide the skills that some people need to start and be successful?
13. Currently attracting many immigrants to Canada with their own ways of gardening – not always successful with Canadian soil/climate
14. Need a facilitator in every garden
15. Sustainable living normalization
16. Engagement and opportunity for engagement

Notes on other focus groups:
Education

1. Integrative process – Brescia students to work with children
1. Community Garden camp in the summertime
2. Students gain practical experience
2. Need a coordinating organization to make it happen

Governance

1. Policies that work against Urban Agriculture
1. How do we deal with that?
2. What to do with the information that is available
1. Food Charter – little public / political visibility
3. Need city staff – a dedicated paid person on the inside
1. “Food Security Officer” – connect people, coordinate programs, need this person in place for action to occur

Community Engagement

1. Sharing Resources – The Neighbourhood Guide
1. What are they?
2. Where are they located?
3. Online presence in complement to the actual physical community
2. Skills, extra skills, tools, leaves, mulch
3. Job creation?
4. Knowledge and skill swapping – online resource? For communities
5. Devine what we have and are willing to offer

How to Start

1. Mentorship program – learn technique, plant identification, skills
2. Website – trends, what is working well
3. Networking, introducing new members – talk about community issues
4. Workshops
5. Encouragement of bee population
6. Making community gardens drop-off sites for compost from neighbourhoods
7. No-till gardening

Urban Agriculture
“Growing Together With Community” – Merial Cromary, London Training Centre

1. Local food skills
2. Fee for service training and Employment Ontario
3. Local, sustainable organic slow foods movement
4. Restaurant and food service training
5. Culinary skills and training
6. Experiential learning
7. Culinary production garden
8. Farm Start program
9. Community hub – resource centre

Susan Ladner – Goddess Grown Heirlooms

1. There is a need to start saving seeds to increase biodiversity
2. Need to protect ourselves against GMOs, climate change, uncertain future
3. It’s not that hard
4. Works with Seeds of Diversity
5. Oppose Monsanto!

ShantreeKacera – The Living Centre

1. Started in 1983
2. Educating people on organics and herbalism, herb walks
3. Offers courses and workshops
4. Focuses on sustainability, renewability and community
5. 1000 square foot greenhouse on property
6.  Nutrition for both humans and soil
7. Forest gardening
1. Self-perpetuating, self-fertilizing, self-regulating, natural pest control

Linda Davies – LCRC

1. Manage the community gardens (600 plots in 21 sites)
2. People want to have a gardening experience
3. People need help, guidance and knowledge
4. Grow, Cook, Learn demo garden
1. Connecting with community members
2. Harvest and cooking classes
5. Continuous learning opportunity – full circle gardening

Seeds of Diversity London

1. National seed saving / seed trading organization
2. Project grow outs, seed evaluation
3. Protecting the diversity of Canadian seeds (much lower than in USA, need to increase)
4. How to save seeds book is available
5. Seed exchange catalogue

Transition London

1. Climate change and fossil fuel shortage mean we need to deal with evolving issues
2. Need to build resilient communities
3. Fossil fuels are NOT needed for successful agriculture
4. 2 day course will be offered at The Learning Centre – info is on TLC website and the Transition London website

TREA – Thames Region Ecological Association

1. Ecological responsibility, taking action based on knowledge
2. Composting demo plot – Master Composters do training
3. 100 mile diet issues – education
4. Waste management – material used when eating should be re-usable, not just recyclable
5. So much that we currently do is not sustainable
6. Need to take small steps, change individual behaviours
7. Need to address bike safety in London
8. Walkability forum

Trevor Johnston  and Tasha Densky – VeggieCity

1. Pilot project
2. Put employment first
1. Hire people to do gardening for people who want gardens but don’t have time or ability
3. Neighbourhood – Kipps Lane in EOA
4. Increase neighbourhood involvement
5. Skills and employment opportunities
6. Use green processes
7. How to collaborate with a number of partners
8. Back yard bounty – 13 residents offered their backyards and paid $125 for people to come and do a vegetable garden – 1 time per week (9 people working in teams of 2) would harvest and bring the veggies to a central depot, all shareholders could come and pick up a share (1/13th) of the produce for the day
9. Provided advice about how to use the veggies, some food prep demonstrated and recipes provided
10. Mentors from gardening communities to help the young people and teach them
11. Excess food was donated to the food bank

Jessie – Wild Craft Permaculture

1. Designing based on natural ecosystems – homes, communities, landscapes
2. Make people more self-reliant and self-sufficient
3. Urban planning background, based in Edmonton
4. Sustainable design
5. Regenerative design

Conference Notes from Education Discussion Group

1. How do we get youth involved?
2. Life skills need to come back into the schools including our children understanding where their food comes from and how to preserve it.
3. Need to connect the children back to the soil, back to nature.
4. There are currently some community gardens, e.g. Museum of Archeology that have need of volunteers - getting the youth involved would be ideal.
5. How do we work with school system and city to integrate gardening into the system.
6. Need advocacy but need to understand where the resistance is.
7. Could there be garden camps partering with Brescia and Museum of Archeology garden and could we integrate universtiy students, children gardeners and connect them into their community?
8. There is a capacity issue to educate the children about gardening.
9. Could there be a sustainability farm created?
10. Could we create online forums to be a repository of information and to create this community.

USC 2011 Report out - Seeds of Survival

“[S]toring seeds in banks to bail us out of future calamities is only a halfway measure. Equally worthy of saving is the hard-earned wisdom of the world’s farmers, generations of whom crafted the seeds and breeds we now so covet. Perhaps the most precious and endangered resource is the knowledge stored in farmers’ minds.”
National Geographic, July 2011

The 2011 report of the Unitarian Service Committee is now available on its website:
 http://usc-canada.org/resources/publications/annual-reports/

It focuses on USC's Seeds of Survival program and its 5 areas of activity: Seed security and diversity, Climate Change, Rural Economies, Gender Equality, and Young Farmers.

From the report's introduction: 
"Over 1.5 billion farmers around the world depend on a diversity of farmer-saved seeds for their food security. This diversity is slipping away with each generation, undermining the ability of rural communities to feed themselves. 75% of our plant genetic diversity was lost between 1900 and 2000. A dynamic collaboration between farming communities, indigenous peoples, and scientists is rebuilding seed-saving traditions and farming traditions that work with nature. Biodiversity is growing.

Crop Sharing Community

Short CBC news feature about several different Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations: Sundance Fields near Olds Alberta, Eagle Creek Farms near Calgary. A bit of something positive that made the national level news on the Thanksgiving weekend. (note: there are two short commercials before the item)
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/1221258968/ID=2150204838

Sunnivue Farm - a local, long-standing CSA

Sunnivue Farm
http://sunnivue-farm.on.ca/
Sunnivue farm is a long-standing example of innovative communuty supported agriculture.  Sunnivue farm itself  is land held in trust - the Redeeming Our Soil Economically Trust.  There are various types of memberships and volunteer opportunities available to support Sunnivue.  Non-members may shop at the store which is open from June until December 16 (for 2011) every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Directions:  http://sunnivue-farm.on.ca/directions.html

Since 1992 Alex and Ellinor Nurnberg have been Sunnivue's farmers - meaning their business (and home) is there - " helping soil, plants and animals toward greater health and sustainability through organic and biodynamic practices. Aided by apprentices, WWOOFer's (World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms) and volunteers, they provide locally harvested produce for the growing number of people who know that their farming methods benefit ecology as much as the produce itself nourishes human well-being."

"The Nurnberg family, R.O.S.E. members and many friends have helped Sunnivue toward such important accomplishments as:

• organic certification; recognition for exemplary cows and farm practices;
• improved housing for animals and poultry - as well as for people;
• the Sunnivue Farmstore, where customers from near and far buy organic vegetables, meat, eggs, homemade bread, healthcare items and more;
• deliveries of produce to area homes and to Covent Garden Market;
• collaboration with groups such as Lifespin and Camphill Ontario;
• work/study experiences for elementary and high school students;
• conferences about organic farming's role in health and education;
• increased freedom from mortgage and other debts."

London's Community Gardens Program Review - summary

Please note:  This overview of London's Community Gardens Program Review has been written by Maureen Temme of Community Gardens London.  It is, therefore, only one person's take on the document.  The Review is broad in its content and implications, and - we think - important and worth discussing.  Please read the document for yourself and decide what is important to you.  Your ideas are the ones needed on October 16 at the gathering From Community Gardening to Urban Agriculture in London.

London's Community Gardens Programme Review is a 13 page document, and an easier read than many City documents.  Again, we encourage you to read through it.  The review was submitted to the Community and Neighbourhoods Committee (agenda item 9 of the March 29/11 meeting) by the Executive Director of Community Services, Ross Fair.  The direct link to the document is:  http://council.london.ca/meetings/CNC%20Agendas/2011-03-29%20Agenda/Item%209.pdf

London's Community Gardens Program Review (LCGPR) is a commitment by the Civic Administration - endorsed unanimously by City Council, Monday, April 4, 2011 - to support a community gardens programme in London.

The Review makes 14 recommendations toward the practical development of a "Potential Vision" for London's Community Gardens Program.  This vision is stated as:  "To create a city-wide sustainable community gardens program that nurtures neighbourhoods and the people of London."   

The Review indicates that the City wants to bring the Community Gardens Programme more directly under the wing of the City, bringing its workings more in line with the City's 3 strategic priorities of Community Vitality, Environmental Leadership and Economic Prosperity.

A survey, done as part of the Review, found that people think community gardens are important and people who garden at them enjoy it. 

The review is positive about the benefits of community gardening, saying such things as: 

• "a community garden naturally draws people together"
• community gardens "provide opportunity for renewal away from the intensity of our urban realities"
• community gardens "model the way in land stewardship"
• people's ability to grow food for themselves in a community garden "promotes social equity"

Among the "key groups" identified in the Review as having an interest in community gardening are:

• people who garden for themselves and their families
• people interested in developing community
• people interested in developing skills
• people "committed to advocating for the role that community gardens can play in food security, environmental stewardship and neighbourhood renewal"

There is a general section that lists the types of gardens that can develop within a community gardening situation;  not all of these exist (yet) in London. 

There is a brief "best practices" review, which notes that most municipalities have some sort of partnership with their community gardens, and that municipalities deem community gardens to be good for their community.

There is a section titled "Areas of Improvement" which comments on things like:

• Londoners' lack of awareness about  the community gardens
• setting up community gardens in alignment with neighbourhoods (meaning City planning issues)
• integration of community gardens' goals with City goals
• need for greater coordination between the City and the agency that oversees the gardens
• lack of engagement by Londoners in the development of individual community gardens and in the development of an overall community gardens plan
• communication between the gardeners and the overseeing agency
• process and procedures
• fees
• the role of various City departments
• the need for partnerships between the community gardens program and various community

The fourteen recommendations in the Review focus on:

• community garden space being available for all people want healthy food, personal enjoyment, and/or social interaction
• future community garden planning/development being a part of City neighbourhood planning
• a closer relationship between the City and the coordinating agency for community gardens
• more and varied ties between the coordinating agency and its neighbourhood - partnerships for funding and projects
• various "how to" things like fee structure, clearer procedures for all involved in community gardens

If you want to ask a question or make a comment on the Review, you could get in touch with Ross Fair, executive director of Community Services for London (rfair@london.ca).  Or, get in touch with Community Gardens London (communitygardenslondon@execulink.com).  We are neither City Hall, nor involved with management of community gardens in London, but we do care about community gardening and will help answer or direct your questions/comments as we can.  Hey! Why not come to the gathering From Community Gardening to Urban Agriculture in London, on October 16, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Brescia Auditorium!

Pre-conference resource suggestions - this will be ongoing

What is "Urban Agriculture"?

Even the introductory descriptions of urban agriculture expand one's thinking! 

This introduction to the topic comes from Wikipedia Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around, a village, town or city. Urban agriculture in addition can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture. These activities also occur in peri-urban areas as well.

Urban farming is generally practiced for income-earning or food-producing activities, though in some communities the main impetus is recreation and relaxation. Urban agriculture contributes to food security and food safety in two ways: first, it increases the amount of food available to people living in cities, and, second, it allows fresh vegetables and fruits and meat products to be made available to urban consumers. A common and efficient form of urban agriculture is the biointensive method. Because urban agriculture promotes energy-saving local food production, urban and peri-urban agriculture are generally seen as sustainable agriculture.

The recognition of environmental degradaton within cities through the relocation of resources to serve urban populations has inspired the implementation of different schemes of urban agriculture across the developed and developing world. From historic models such as Machu Pichu to designs for new productive city farms, the idea of locating agriculture in or around the city takes on many characteristics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agriculture

This definition was contributed by Diane Szoller of Thames Region Ecological Association Urban agriculture is best described as a complex system encompassing a spectrum of interests, from a traditional core of activities associated with the production, processing, marketing, distribution, and consumption, to a multiplicity of other benefits and services that are less widely acknowledged and documented. These include recreation and leisure; economic vitality and business entrepreneurship, individual health and well-being; community health and well being; landscape beautification; and environmental restoration and remediation. Reference - Butler, L. and D.M. Moronek (eds.) 2002. Urban and Agriculture Communities: Opportunities for Common Ground. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. Ames Iowa. CAST May 2002   

This explanation appears on a website called "Sprouts in the Sidewalk ... it's all about urban agriculture" [ http://sidewalksprouts.wordpress.com/ua/ ]

Urban agriculture is growing food for urban markets in close proximity to where a community of people live.  More rigidly it is growing food in any manner (just use your imagination…) in or sometimes around the perimeter of cities and towns.  Even more rigidly it is:

integrated into the urban economic and ecological system: urban agriculture is embedded in -and interacting with- the urban ecosystem. Such linkages include:

1. use of urban residents as labourers
2. use of typical urban resources (like organic waste as compost and urban wastewater for irrigation)
3. direct links with urban consumers
4. direct impacts on urban ecology (positive and negative)
5. being part of the urban food system
6. competing for land with other urban functions
7. being influenced by urban policies and plans, etc.

The compiler of the site continues with these thought-provoking comments:
Urban agriculture is not a relict of the past that will fade away (urban agriculture increases when the city grows) nor brought to the city by rural immigrants that will loose their rural habits over time. It is an integral part of the urban system (RUAF.org) ...

Though the potential for urban agriculture is largely untapped and undervalued, it is currently a large industry of many small scale farmers and some large agribusinesses. Intensive urban agriculture can yield several times as much produce per area as rural agriculture.  Because inputs such as water, land, and nutrients are limited in cities, city farming uses techniques which require only a fraction of the inputs that rural agriculture use.  Also, urban farming can help to absorb some of the  urban solid and liquid waste, helping the city to reduce its waste management problems and costs.
Sprouts in the Sidewalk: http://sidewalksprouts.wordpress.com/ua/

Sites to check out when looking for Urban Agriculture

City Farmer       www.cityfarmer.info
Canadian site (since 1994) maintained by a City Farmer executive director, Michael Levenston.  It has a survey of fascinating articles about local, national and international community gardening and urban farming projects.  It's the sort of place to just browse, or put a few key words in "search" and see what pops up.  The items and sites you find will take you farther afield, which is both the joy and the the time-user of the Internet! As its site says: "... all can grow food at home after work in back yards, community gardens or on flat roofs. ... pull up a patch of lawn and plant some vegetables, kitchen herbs and fruit."

The current website address is www.cityfarmer.info   Email: cityfarm@interchange.ubc.ca
City Farmer’s first web site Urban Agriculture Notes (www.cityfarmer.org) has hundreds of pages of information about city farming.

Nourishing the Planet - a broad-ranging website - World Watch Institute website http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/
" project assesses the state of agricultural innovations—from cropping methods to irrigation technology to agricultural policy—with an emphasis on sustainability, diversity, and ecosystem health, as well as productivity. The project aims to both inform global efforts to eradicate hunger and raise the profile of these efforts. The project also considers the institutional infrastructure needed by each of the approaches analyzed, suggesting what sort of companion investments are likely to determine success—from local seed banks to processing facilities, from pro-poor value chains to marketing bureaus.                   

Sprouts in the Sidewalk ... it's all about urban agriculture ... website maintained by Leslie Heimer http://sidewalksprouts.wordpress.com/ua/

Garden City Harvest - Urban Agriculture in Missoula, Montana

Growing a Garden City*: how farmers, first graders, counselors, troubled teens, foodies, a homeless shelter chef, single mothers, and more are transforming themselves and their neighborhoods through the interesection of local agriculture and community - and how you can too.
A long title to an inspiring book. Fifteen people involved with the Garden City Harvest programs of Missoula, Montana recount their stories and their excitement about food and food production. The ideas are inspiring and the photographs wonderful. Example after example of how food connects people, not just the growers but all the eaters - and remember, eaters are every one of us!

Missoula has become what the book terms an Agriculture Supported Community: "a community bound to one another by local food and farming ... encompasses diverse members and multiple locations and projects, each undertaken to improve lives and create individual connections."

Missoula, Montana is a city of only 68,000 people. One in 5 people live in poverty, and it has a frost-free growing season averaging fewer than 100 days (short).  Missoula's Garden City Harvest has 7 neighbourhood-based farms and community gardens and produces 100,000 pounds of food per year grown to feed people in need.

Garden City Harvest website is www.gardencityharvest.org
and states "Garden City Harvest builds community through agriculture by growing produce with and for people with low-incomes, offering education and training in ecologically conscious agriculture, and using our sites for the personal restoration of youth and adults ... Garden City Harvest was established in 1996 to provide local, sustainably grown produce to those in need. We are reviving the regional tradition of producing our own food for our community, focusing on the 20% of Missoulians who live in poverty.
Garden City Harvest has community education programs that offer children and adults opportunities to do some gardening or farming. GCH has four farms around Missoula, including one that works in conjunction with the University of Montana's environmental sciences masters degree program and another that gives job experience to young people. All the gardens provide food for social agencies in Missoula. There is also a program offering employment and therapeutic support to at-risk youth referred by several social agencies. The teens work at a mobile food market, and harvest and deliver produce for low cost to seniors. employment.

The Garden City Harvest project also has community gardens in low-income neighbourhoods in Missoula. Each community garden provides "the participants with a 15 by 15 foot plot, tools, water, compost, straw, common space, and the knowledge and guidance of a garden coordinator. Weekly programs for young gardeners include lessons about gardening, botany, food sources, and cooking.

In their own words "Our gardens are places where long time growers and newcomers garden together, learn from each other, and share resources. Gardens reduce stress on food budgets. They teach an essential skill: how to grow our own food. Gardens mean self sufficiency, pride, and the taste of a homegrown tomato. They bring people together for potlucks and workdays."

PEAS farm          The PEAS farm - part of the Garden City Harvest - is the 10 acre farm where students in the Program in Ecological Agriculture and Society program of the University of Montana work as part of their degree. Check this post for a great overview. Facing Hunger in America, July 7, 2011                http://facinghungerinamerica.blogspot.com/
*Growing a Garden City: Written by Jeremy N. Smith. Published in 2010 by Sky Horse Publishing (Thomas Allen in Canada). London Public Library call # 635.0978685 Smi

Canadian Organic Growers Blog of Perth-Waterloo-Wellington

The COG Blog   http://localorganic.wordpress.com/
For a good read. The COG Blog is the initiative of the Perth-Waterloo-Wellington chapter of Canadian Organic Growers, an organization supporting farmers, gardeners, and all citizens in building an organic food system.

.

Growing Food Locally - video from UK

http://transitionforestrow.org/video/growing-food-locally

Made for Transition Forest Row, this video looks at the need to grow more food locally and some of the different ways that can happen in a community. These include, garden share, allotments, CSA farms, and more.

There are some truly heartening statements from people who care about the quality of food they eat, the need to reduce "food miles" to table, and the importance of healthy soil.  It is obvious that good relationships - friendships and mutual respect - develop when people connect with each other over food.  Neighbours who open up a yard for gardening, allotment gardeners, members of community supported agriculture operations and the farmers ... all know each other more.

.

Kitchen Garden Day - Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sunday, August 28, 2011 - let's get planning! Please let Community Gardens London know your celebration plans - communitygardenslondon@execulink.com

In 2003, Kitchen Gardeners International* decided to celebrate healthy food, as a response to Snack Food Month events organized by those industries! It is an opportunity for people anywhere** to get together with friends, family, and members of their local community to celebrate the pleasures and benefits of home-grown foods prepared by real people we know.

Goals:
-To celebrate the positive role of organic kitchen gardening in society, health, and gastronomy
-To raise awareness about the benefits of eating local and to encourage people to explore local food options in their areas
-To build community spirit, at local and international levels, around the universal experiences of gardening, cooking, and eating

We get to choose how to celebrate Kitchen Garden Day .... with gatherings of friends and neighbors at a shared garden or other locale enjoying food together, or at our own home enjoying one simple local apple. The pause to think about food, gardens, cooking, and eating is important.
-a walking tour of gardens in your area
-a kitchen garden or local agriculture potluck
-a kitchen garden taste-test
-a harvest or planting party
-a benefit for a local food/gardening charity
-a kitchen garden "teach in"
-a single food theme party
-an activity at a local farm

*Kitchen Gardeners International http://kitchengardeners.org

**http://kitchengardeners.org/blogs/preeti-patil/indias-urban-gardeners-are-busy-planning-kitchen-garden-day-festivities-shouldnt-

London's Million Tree Challenge

London's Million Tree Challenge
ReForest London and the City of London are the founding partners in an initiative to plant 1,000,000 trees in London during the next 10 years.  Already over 25 London organizations, institutions and corporations have signed on to promote tree planting initiatives within their organizations.  Individual Londoners are also being challenged, as the important people who own more than 80% of land through home and business property.

The Million Tree Challenge begins with a first phase goal of One Tree for Every Londoner in the next three years.

“A tree provides vital natural infrastructure that contributes to our health and economic well being and sustains our environment for over a hundred years,” said David Crockett, Chair of ReForest London. “The cost- benefit grows every year from a tree planted today. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the next best time is today to realize this beauty and value.”

Learn more about the challenge at http://www.reforestlondon.ca/ or www.milliontrees.ca.  You'll also find out about the benefits of trees to environment and economy, tree planting and care.  You can record trees you plant or pledge to plant, or sponsor tree planting.

.

Food Down the Road

Community Gardens London's team members are absolutely inspired by the interesting and useful articles that fill the latest issue of Food Down the Road.

A publication of National Farmers Union Local 316, Food Down the Road  is not just a  connection to local food in Kingston and countryside.  The articles takes any reader beyond her or his back yard or shared garden, into the farms surrounding cities, and beyond to the foodweb issues that affect us. 

We won't mind if you skip the rest of this entry to go straight to the on-line version of Food Down the Road. The brilliant people involved actually had a flash mob of 100 people show up at the Kingston Farmers' Market on June 4, mingling and reading the latest edition of the newspaper. (www.fooddowntheroad.ca)

The lead item is titled Food Sovereignty. Aric McBay, author of the piece and editor of FDtR, says that "At its core, the idea of food sovereignty is simple: communities should have a say in where and how their food is grown." McBay explains that all of us are affected by how food is grown or travels through our community: we all eat. The choices we make may add to a local, vital food system or may contribute to destruction of land and loss of jobs half way across the world. How do we make food choices that maintain jobs in our local community, contribute to children's health, heal soil, reduce fossil fuel use, and ensure that local varieties of food - usually the tastiest -continue to be grown? McBay brings all this together in this wide ranging article.
 
Among the other items:
Karen Holmes on Meeting the Challenges of Local Food
Greg Williams on Food and Oil
... a directory of local food growers and stores for Kingston and area
... two articles about children and healthy eating ... an item about seed saving and .... read for yourselves at:  www.fooddowntheroad.ca

Maureen, of Community Gardens London, feels privileged to have been given a printed copy of Food Down the Road - several days prior to its launch - by Karen Eatwell, executive secretary of the Ontario NFU and co-partner, with her husband Peter Duenk, of Duenk (organic) Farms.  Thanks Karen.  As always, you pass along some really important resources!  http://eatwellfoodsatduenkfarm.blogspot.com

Veggie City - Northeast London

The Veggie City project is an innovative urban agriculture project starting up in Northeast London's Kipps Lane community.  The goal is to distribute fresh produce to local residents in the community.  
 
The Veggie City project incorporates aspects of  Community Shared Agriculture (CSA), with a garden-share-on-unused-backyard-space program, and a work training program for young people.

Area residents who have space for a vegetable garden and also want fresh produce, register to allow their space be gardened and  also pay $125 for a share in the produce grown through the season at the various gardens involved in the project. The $125 CSA share is less than a share would be on a farm-based CSA because the resident/shareholder's own land is being used.   

Garden work is being done by young people who live in the community.  They will be in each garden twice per week.  They will gain real world work skills like marketing and contracting, as well as physical gardening skills, to help them find jobs in future.

Produce grown will be brought to a central location and shareholders will pick up their weekly bounty once a week.  If there is extra produce it will be sent to a local foodbank operating out of the Life Resource Centre on Huron Street. Once a month Veggie City will participate at the Northeast Community Market on Kipps Lane and sell produce there.

This neighbourhood project brings together people who might not have met each other. Experienced neighbourhood gardeners are helping teach organic gardening skills to the young gardeners, and neighbours lending their yards are meeting each other too. Local organizations and businesses are pitching in enthusiastically in quite varied ways.

Everyone involved is learning that there are links between simple neighbourhood gardens, urban agriculture on a scale to feed cities, and economic and environmental sustainability.

Partners in this Project include: City of London, Fearnlea Flowers Ltd., Fire Roasted Coffee Company, Home Depot Canada Foundation, Life Resource Centre, London InterCommunity Health Centre, London Training Centre, Middlesex London Health Unit, LUSO Community Services, Tim Hortons, TLC Professional Landscaping, and Youth Opportunities Unlimited.

If you live in the Kipps Lane area and want more information about participation, or if you want to find out more details about the Veggie City project and how such a project is run, contact Tosha Densky, Youth Co-ordinator with Neighbourhood and Children's Services at tdensky@london.ca    There's a blog at http://londonveggiecity.blogspot.com

.

Healthy Eating to get Easier in Westminster Park

London has many organizations and City departments that work together on projects to help Londoners have affordable, healthy food.

On Sunday, June 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Westminster Park Neighbourhood will hold its first farmers' market in a parking lot on the corner of southdale and Adelaide Streets.  Weather permitting, the outdoor market will be held weekly until around Thanksgiving.

This is a joint project of the Child and Youth Network, Investing in Children and residents of the Westminster Park area, helped by David Cook, owner of Fire Roasted Coffee and the force behind the Western Fair and Masonville farmers' markets. 

Westminster Park does not have a store that sells fresh fruit or fresh vegetables, keys to healthy eating and - it is hoped - reduction of childhood obesity and diabetes.  This project will be a first step to changing Westminster Park's designatioin as a "food desert", a neighbourhood where there is a "disadvantaged population" and no access to affordable groceries.

Westminster area does have a community garden located at Westminster Optimist Park. The garden is a partnership of the City of London through LCRC, the Southdale Caplaincy, UWO, Neighbourhood Resource Assn of Westminster Park, Wilton Grove Senior Public School and St. Francis Catholic School. This garden began in 2009. For information about plot availability, call the London Community Resource Centre at 519-432-1801 or email lcrc@lcrc.on.ca

2 news items related to this are:
June 6/11       London Free Press: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/06/06/18246341.html
May 26/11    The Londoner:  Westminster Park won't be a "food desert" any longer, at least for this summer.   http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3137108

EcoVox TV launching series on Rogers Cable

Wednesdays, 8:00 p.m. beginning June 8, 2011

WATER! is the first episode in a new TV series highlighting environmental topics -  from walking and biking, to giving up bottled water, growing a vegetable garden to buying local, this show is a natural extension of the EcoVox magazine launched in the fall of 2009.

Maryanne MacDonald of Waste Free World London and EcoVox environment journal was asked by Rogers Cable TV to bring us the stories of inspiring Londoners who have taken action to reduce their impact on the earth. She'll be speaking with Londoners who are passionate about protecting the environment and are willing to share their knowledge. 

Rogers Cable Schedule:  http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=1&rid=9
EcoVox London: www.ecovoxlondon.com

Amazing Tree Quest

The Amazing Tree Quest is a city-wide contest to celebrate the important role that trees play in our lives. London is proud to be the Forest City, and our city is full of amazing trees. The contest allows you to nominate trees located in London, Ontario. This year, you can enter a tree, tree-inspired art, or a video. Click "Enter to Win" in the left menu to enter your tree or video.

Further information and a great video about the trees of 2010's Amazing Tree Quest: http://reforestlondon.ca/londons-amazing-tree-quest.

Old East Common is Oasis of Green for East London

London Strengthening Neighbourhoods Strategy - funds available - deadline June 12, 2011

London's Strengthening Neighbourhoods Strategy (LSNS) supports community gardens because they are places that connect individuals to each other and to their neighbourhoods, and because shared gardens are green spaces that add to the beauty of our city.  The LSNS year end report*, accepted at Council in April 4, 2011 included ideas to do with increasing the number of community gardens. 

Aligning with this, the Strengthening Neighbourhoods Strategy group has some funds available to support community projects (not just for community gardens!). 

Think up a great idea to strengthen your neighbourhood and take a look at the requirements page at the SPARKS link to see if you and your group are eligible: http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Community_Vitality/Neighbourhoods/SPARKS.htm

- the explanation of the project seems pretty clear, and there is contact information if you have questions
- applications must be sent in by "registered not-for profit groups" or other ad-hoc groups "in partnership" with a registered not-for-profit.  There is an explanation given for how to form a partnership.
- deadline for application is June 10/11
- this is a "matching funds" project, but that doesn't mean your group has to make its contribution in cash. It sounds like - for example  ....  if a group wanted $4,000 for a project, the group could submit in its proposed budget that it had $250.00 donated, plus $750.00 worth of donated materials, plus $1,000 worth of volunteer time lined up; the group's application would be for $2,000 money.

*The LSNS first year report can be found on the CNC agenda of March 29/11, agenda item 19.  Go to url http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/meetings/CNC%20Agendas/meetingpackages.htm This will take you to the new PDF formatted agenda and items.

Full information about the London Strengthening Neighbourhoods Strategy (LSNS) is found at: http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Community_Vitality/Neighbourhoods/Strengthening_Strategy/default.htm

Vacant Lot Gardening Association 1918 ... London Ontario 2011 +

Many Canadians today do not know what 'rationing' was. During World War I and II resources like metals and paper, and food, were available in limited quantities in Canada; people were only allowed a certain number of eggs per month, or a certain amount of butter or flour. Food grown on farms was shipped overseas from Canada to feed Canadian soldiers, and there were fewer male agricultural workers around. Food production had to make changes. Growing fresh food in cities - like right here in London - was the logical thing to do. City-grown food helped feed cities.  Gardens were grown not just in people's backyards, but were on land adjacent to many local companies.  In London, gardens were organized through committees in the (then) 4 wards of the city. 

The London (Ontario) Advertiser of June 11, 1918 reported:

"Nearly 500 lots are being cultivated this year under the direction of the London Vacant Lot Gardening Association. Practically all the vacant land in the city has been utilized. ... The smallest number of lots being cultivated in any one ward this year is more than twice the number planted in all four wards last year ... Plans are already being discussed for making the campaign next year even more successful ... Efficient work has been accomplished by Ald. S.R. Manness, F.R. Watkinson, W.A. Wilson and L.S. Holmes, as chairmen of the four wards, with the assistance of their committees. ... About 175 lots have been secured in Ward 3 by Ald. Watkinson. In addition to this the employees of many of the large firms in the east end are cultivating land supplied by the companies. Street railway employees are planting twelve acres with potatoes; McClary employees are gardening about ten acres; the McCormick Manufacturing Company has donated nearly seven acres for the use of their employees; Beatty Bros.' employees have a large tract in Chelsea Green, which they are farming in an effort to beat the Hun and the high cost of living. The weather so far has been favorable for the amateur gardeners, and the crops are all doing well. Many have been supplying their tables with home-grown lettuce, radishes, etc., for some time, and this fall will see numerous cellars full of potatoes and other vegetables."
 
Now we are in 2011.  Over the next few years there is going to be a tremendous increase in the number of people who have home vegetable gardens, or who garden in a shared garden. Certainly some of this will come as people realize the cost savings and health factors of fresh, organic food. But other interest will come we recognize the environmental costs and financial cost increases of fossil fuel used for transportation, and what are called agricultural inputs (synthetic fertilizer and pesticides). Home gardens and urban farming will develop to ease the stress on individuals and communities as fuel prices go up and climate change becomes even more evident.

Over the next few years there will be a great increase in the number of shared gardens in London; their locations, set-ups and reasons for being will be shaped by gardeners, neighbourhoods and evolving community need and awareness.  Projects arising from the recent Community Gardens Program Review and the implementation of the Food (Security) Charter for the City will interweave as people get together on projects to do with their concerns in food issues and food growing.  Exciting times!

[Right now, here in London, there is an established community garden program. It has expanded over the last years and has a waiting list for its 600 plots. To reserve a plot, see www.lcrc.on.ca

Seeds of Survival program of the Unitarian Service committee - sustaining life, securing livelihood

The gardens we have at our homes and that we share with others in our neighbourhoods are part of the worldwide network of gardens and small farms in communities.  Your care for your own garden and for the Earth is a gift to yourself and others.  Don't underestimate this. 

The Unitarian Service Committee (http://usc-canada.org/) projects nurture farmers and the Earth.  Its Seeds of Survival (SoS) programs work to "promote long-term food security for marginal farming communities in developing countries. It stresses the importance of using time-tested farmer knowledge and practices, limiting the need for external farming methods that are often incompatible with local growing conditions.  The first objective of SoS is to ensure a secure source of food and livelihood for small-scale farmers without losing the resource base essential for sustaining it. The second, and equally important goal is to promote crop diversity."

SoS programs encourage young people to farm, promote gender equality, encourage biodiversity and innovation within traditional knowledge systems, and respect the knowledge of farmers in their communities. 

If you'd like to learn more ... http://usc-canada.org/what-we-do/sos/

Urban Farming Steps to the Future

Growing Power is a national nonprofit organization and land trust based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  With two acres and 6 greenhouses right in the middle of the City, it teaches young people to grow food and sells the healthy produce to the surrounding community.  It's pretty amazing and the best thing is to check out its website at: www.growingpower.org.

Growing Power was just awarded $450,000 to build 150 hoop houses (a type of plastic tent greenhouse) on vacant land within the city.  150 people will be trained and employed to work in these neighbourhood farms over the next three years.  Growing Power will have to raise even more to do the project right, but founder Will Allen is confident in the program and its precedent for green jobs: "“We can find this money. The low overall cost for the benefits the program will bring – both in terms of creating jobs and providing fresh, nutritious food for urban families – will hopefully be a powerful formula for success.”

reference article: Growing Power Initiative to create 150 new jobs aimed at African American males
from:  Milwaukee Courier newspaper, 16 April 2011
http://milwaukeecourieronline.com/index.php/2011/04/16/growing-power-initiative-to-create-150-new-jobs-aimed-at-african-american-males/

London's Community Gardens Program Review

London's Community Gardens Program Review was accepted at City Council, Monday, April 4, 2011. The review was attached to the Community and Neighbourhood's Committee report of its Tues. March 29/11 meeting. The report can be found at: http://council.london.ca/meetings/CNC%20Agendas/2011-03-29%20Agenda/Item%209.pdf

The London's Community Gardens Program Review states that the Municipality of London wants to support community gardens in London and it makes 14 recommendations toward the practical development of a "Potential Vision" for London's Community Gardens Program.  This vision is stated as:  "To create a city-wide sustainable community gardens program that nurtures neighbourhoods and the people of London."   

If you want to ask a question or make a comment, get in touch with Ross Fair, executive director of Community Services for London (519 661-2500-5430, email: rfair@london.ca).  Or, get in touch with Community Gardens London (communitygardenslondon@execulink.com).  We are neither City Hall, nor involved with management of community gardens in London, but we do care about community gardening and will help answer or direct your questions/comments as we can. 

Council and Committee agendas are found at page: http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Meetings/Default/meetingpackages.htm

If you require information about City Hall procedures, there is a useful Guide to City Hall available on the Urban League of London's website: http://www.ul.london.on.ca/urbanweb/News/News2011/Guide%20Feb%2028.pdf
Scroll down the Home Page a bit until you come to the triple column or articles.  The Guide is listed at the top of the left column.

Food Charter for the City of London

The Food Charter for the City of London was also accepted at Council on April 4.   This document, is found at: http://council.london.ca/meetings/CNC%20Agendas/2011-03-29%20Agenda/Item%2020.pdf .