Site map

Sustainability Action Areas

Currently we have sustainability activities underway in the following areas: agricultural land and food security, community resiliency and well-being, emergency response and community preparedness, energy, health care, housing and multi-level seniors care, sustainable economics: community currency, transportation priorities and actions, and water. To see what each group is up to click on the individual topic.

Agricultural Land and Food Security

CONVENOR:

PARTICIPANTS:

Victor Anthony, Joelle Anthony, Phil Marchant, Cleone Ratcliffe, Deborah Ferens, Randy Young, Satyen, Robbie Huston, Eric Veale, Kees Langereis, Claire Dineen, Linnet Kartar

Emerging Themes/priorities

A reflection of what we have heard so far in our conversations and research.

We need to:

  1. Assist and encourage sustainable relationships with local agricultural enterprises.
  2. Facilitate partnerships with emerging farmers, growers and landowners.
  3. Identify Gabriola Island's Agricultural land and its current and future role and capacity for food security.
  4. Scan current local food economy including gaps and opportunities.
  5. Identify barriers to personal and collective food security including the role of government.
  6. Explore definitions and perception of "Food Security".
  7. Explore the relationship between the OCP/Islands Trust and food security--i.e.: how can the OCP/Islands Trust assist in the building of capacity?
  8. Develop strategies to recover existing seasonal abundance--i.e.: community kitchen, food storage.
  9. Identify resources/strategies for the creation of cooperatives/ social enterprise.
  10. Develop/adapt framework and toolkits for community and allotment gardens on public and private land.
  11. Identify educational opportunities and developing systems to give the broadest access to both local and regional food security.
  12. Identify opportunities to expand and enhance individual and collective involvement through education, mentorship and guidance.
  13. Develop and encourage organic waste catchment and recycling.

1. What are the long term objectives? What are we trying to achieve long term?

There is a need for education about food security for Gabriolans: a change of priorities is required.

It is estimated that approximately 5% of Gabriolans’ total food consumption is locally sourced.

We need to grow more, buy more local produce & support local growers.

2. Short term and medium term actions needed – what do we need to do to achieve our objective?

Need to find practical ways to address ongoing food issues on island: e.g.

  • through more community gardening opportunities
  • registry of food sources, gleaning etc
  • build soil health through composting

A local food potluck dinner challenge was suggested!

3. How will we know we have been successful?

When the ferry is Out-of-Service and there is enough food being grown to feed Gabriolans!

4. Which organizations and individuals need to be involved?

Whoever is willing:

  1. to share their skill sets around growing food, and its preservation, storage and distribution.
  2. to commit to educate towards, and contribute to, action.

Organizations already involved:

  • Gabriolans for Local Food Choices (GFLFC)/ Gabriola Commons/ 4H/
  • Gabriola School / PHC/ Agi Association Coop/ Supply Line Organics

Need action group to address RDN food waste proposal for Gabriola.

Discussion:

  • need support for local food growers: Gabriolans need to buy local & grow their own
  • Need winter food storage and emergency food storage: Commons?
  • Need for education/change of priorities around creating a network of community gardens throughout the island whether on private or public land to create opportunities for people to grow their own food.
  • The Commons has a list of people awaiting allotments.
  • The cost of infrastructure: fencing, irrigation etc needs a funding source.
  • Could landowners place covenants on growing areas to support food production into the future?
  • There needs to be some sort of broker to put together landowners and growers.
  • Need to prioritize crop growing: match crop to suitable locations
  • Consider share cropping, cooperative growing
  • Need registry of food resources: roadside stands, gleaning etc
  • Next OCP needs to be focused around sustainable practices.
  • Suggest OCP advocacy statement to support food security and local growers.
  • RDN scheme for compost collection @ $35 per household: can Gabe opt out?
  • Gabriola needs own on-island composting network and processing location to be zoned.
  • Need island-wide education about water storage to encourage more cistern usage: need 6000 – 9000 gals for a garden, use of water sensors, auto timers for irrigation saves 50% on H2O usage.

* Idea for winter: initiate local food potluck challenge to Islanders!