From: Elaine Hughes <tybach@sasktel.net>
Date: July 14, 2008 8:33:38 PM GMT-06:00
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: LISTEN: 'Deconstructing Dinner' looks at community farming
in BC.
The Co-op Alternative
http://thetyee.ca/Life/2008/07/14/CoopAlternative/?utm_source=mondayheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=140708
Podcast: 'Deconstructing Dinner' looks at community farming in BC.By
Jon Steinman
Published: July 14, 2008
TheTyee.ca
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It's been a topic of discussion throughtout many broadcasts of
Deconstructing Dinner: while there is clearly a widespread interest
in supporting more localized food systems, the bigger picture of how
such systems can be physically, economically and politically
sustained is a far more complicated and serious matter.
As long as our food and farming continues to be built upon the same
market-based systems of economics that govern all else, the
preservation of and access to farmland in close proximity to urban
centres will only become increasingly harder to maintain. In most
parts of the country, agricultural land has become next to worthless
for the production of food, and we now watch cities sprawl into the
fertile soil.
So what's the solution?
One solution is a project currently being expanded upon by The Land
Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) and Vancouver-based FarmFolk/
CityFolk. The program is called the Community Farms Program, first
mentioned on Deconstructing Dinner on April 19, 2007.
While specific to British Columbia, ths is a model that could be
applied anywhere in North America.
"Community farms" represent a more holistic model of food production
than the more conventional approaches. They produce additional
outputs to food and fibre, such as ecological services, bioenergy,
landscape preservation, employment, cultural heritage, food quality
and safety, and animal welfare.
A farm that becomes a part of the Community Farms Program is
collectively owned in public trust. Long-term leases are assigned
for local food production, and farmers are housed on the land.
Agricultural activities are small-scale and intensive, and are
carried out by a group of people working collaboratively or co-
operatively.
This segment uses recordings compiled by Deconstructing Dinner at
the 2008 conference of the Certified Organic Associations of B.C.
(COABC), held in Saanich.
Cross-Canada Trike Tour
On May 7, 2008, Darrick Hahn and Sinisa Grgic departed Victoria from
the zero-mile mark of the Trans-Canada Highway and embarked on a
cross-Canada journey to raise awareness of Deconstructing Dinner.
The pair are travelling by recumbent tricycles (or trikes).
This third installment of the Cross-Canada Trike tour begins at the
Manitoba border and takes us through their time in Ontario.
Guests/voices
Ramona Scott, manager, Agricultural Programs, The Land Conservancy
of British Columbia (TLC) (Victoria, B.C.) -- In 2006, Ramona
established two farm co-ops. The land was purchased and co-
operatively managed by their respective communities. These
operations are the first of their kind in Canada, and provide models
for future projects.
Heather Pritchard, executive director, FarmFolk/CityFolk (Vancouver,
B.C.) -- Heather has over 40 years' experience assisting non-
profits, co-operatives and small businesses with financial planning,
organizational development and personnel management. She is a member
of Glorious Organics Co-operative, a certified organic farm-business
operating from Fraser Common Farm Co-operative in the Fraser Valley.
Darrick Hahn and Sinisa Grgic, cross-Canada cyclists, Deconstructing
Dinner Cross-Canada Trike Tour (Monkton, Ont./London, Ont.) --
Cyclists Sinisa Grgic and Darrick Hahn are old high-school friends
based in Southwestern Ontario, and are the proprietors of Fresh
Entertainment. Darrick grew up on a farm in Monkton, Ontario and
Sinisa, who is originally from Croatia, moved to Canada 17 years ago.
Related Tyee stories:
• The Culture of Meat
Podcast: 'Deconstructing Dinner' launches Livestock Lost series with
an inside look at factory slaughterhouses.
• Best of Show
Podcast: Deconstructing Dinner's 100th episode.
• The Emperor Has No Clothes
Podcast: 'Deconstructing Dinner' looks at food politics in BC.
Jon Steinman is producer and host of Kootenay Co-op Radio's program
Deconstructing Dinner. A new podcast with notes is posted here every
Friday afternoon. All Deconstructing Dinner podcasts can be found
here.