"Urban Agriculture" comes in many ways                                   

posted January 26, 2016 ..................Previously, CGL has posted some definitions of "urban agriculture". We rather like the one that talks not just about growing food in and around cities, but also that "urban agriculture" is part of the ecosystem of a city ... meaning it is part of the life - the web - of everything that makes a city. Here are some examples of situations that differ greatly by linking to different situations in their cities, but all benefit people and community.

Adapting to climate change through urban farming and organic waste recovery
In Madagascar's Antananarivo Urban Commune an urban vegetable growing project provides food to 500 households.  Household organic waste, composted anaerobically, is used in the gardens.  The project:
- gives employment training and self-reliance to rural people who have migrated into the city
- community cohesion is increased as more people know each other who are involved in food production, sales, and related businesses (e.g. a café)
- improves food security generally
- ensures food supply if climate change (flooding and transport cut-off, drought in distant supply area) cut off or decreased food supply
- reduces transport-related greenhouse gas production
- saves on transport and land lease costs associated with household waste disposal
- reduces greenhouse gases associated with household waste disposal
- results in healthier soil by using natural fertilizer instead of chemicals
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/climate/campaign-decentralized-cooperation-for-the-climate/article/ile-de-france-region-antananarivo-urban-commune-adapting-to-climate-change      January 2016          

Disabled Marine pursues new goal of aquaponics farming ...Brooklyn Mickell had been looking for a post-military career, when an accident ended that career sooner than expected.  Through on-line training and programs that help veterans move into agriculture work.  The type of agriculture work he's chosen stimulates his recovery from aspects of the brain-injury he suffered, and is less physically demanding than agriculture work entirely outoors.  Mickell now owns and operates Soul Crop, a closed-loop farming system of greenhouse and aquaponics.
He raises some 300 blue tilapia in a tank and pumps their waste through a filtration system. There, beneficial bacteria convert ammonia into nitrogen, which feeds the plants. Gravity then takes the water filtered clean back to the fish tank. In the greenhouse grow the culinary herbs and a wide range of salad greens, harvest at either the nutrient dense (and highly saleable) microgreen stage, or as baby greens (bite size at four to six weeks).
December 20,2015, Star-Banner via the Associated Press  http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/12/20/disabled-marine-pursues-new-goal-of-aquaponics-farming/77662402/

The Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) Farm School is a collaboration between the TFN and the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). First of its kind, the school fuses sustainable agriculture and traditional indigenous food systems as tools to build community and create dialogue around land stewardship for the future. The school program is open to all with curiosity on how to feed a growing population while restoring the land. The program curriculum takes place on traditional TFN lands on a 20 acre farm that boasts a traditional medicine garden, a 2 acre mixed fruit orchard, an organic market garden, farm animals and incubator plots for the students that graduate from the program. The TFN Farm School is a gathering place to raise awareness around human scaled alternative food production systems.
Full article: http://www.kpu.ca/tfnfarm       http://www.kpu.ca/agriculture Kwantlen Poltechnic University 

Vietnam's Da Nang farmers benefit from growing flowers in ‘golden’ land ... Dozens of farmers in the central city of Da Nang have been able to earn good incomes from growing flowers on unused land at desirable locations while beautifying the hub at the same time ........... - Land awaiting development  and owned by the City of Da Nang or by individuals may be leased.  This generates revenue for the grower, makes an area look better which is pleasant for passersby, and maintains the land for the owner.  This has been particularly beneficial in some areas which had been slated for development - and people had been relocated - and then there were delays (sometimes years).  Some relocated people and partners were able to negotiate with the City to grow on the land.  Again, this maintains the land.
- Some plots are in high-traffic and/or retail areas, so sales can be done on the spot, ie no transportation costs.
- Jobs are created for the person leasing the land to grow flowers, and also for any person he or she hires.
- Some growers have been able to change from heavy labour jobs or uncertain jobs for this.
- Some plots are near high-end residential areas. Value of the residences overlooking green spaces goes higher.
- A Da Nang Farmers' Association has been formed to assist people in understanding regulations, leases, environmental protection regulations, and in getting loans to begin their businesses.
- Land owners only need to give a notice of three to six months and the association will request the farmers to return the plots to them.  This return-of-land aspect is stressful, however, the association also helps growers locate other locations for their flower farminig. 
- Da Nang has instituted a Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and zoned four areas totaling approximately 100,000 hectares in Hoa Vang District for the cultivation of flowers and greens.  This new department will "will offer incentives to farmers including bank loans and training to facilitate their relocation to the future flower village, and adopt measures to better promote the city’s floral varieties to other cities and provinces,” said Nguyen Phu Ban, head of the department. Vietnam's Da Nang farmers benefit from growing flowers in ‘golden’ land
TUOI TRE NEWS, January 20 2016         
http://tuoitrenews.vn/features/32864/da-nang-farmers-benefit-from-growing-flowers-in-golden-lan

 

17 (ish) tips for Incredible Edible Activists

CGL webkeeper Maureen thanks the Incredible Edible Activists and volunteers of Todmorden UK for this list ... and recommends any reader check out their website! Tips are on this url

Posted by Incredible Edible volunteer Nick, June 2009 ... a few years old but the advice is as good today as it was in 2009.

Getting things done locally can be a slow frustrating process; here are some top tips that I have learnt at my auntie’s knee!

1) Apply the thin end of the wedge, You may have 16 things you want to get done, drop 15 for now and concentrate on one small, simple, possibly inadequate, but doable issue.

2) Ask for the earth not the moon, Make sure what your asking for is within the askees power. Magic is not possible.

3) Don’t devote all of your time/energy on winning over politicians. local governments consist of a few hundred elected officials and many thousand officers. Go figure who makes the majority of the decisions!

4) Don’t overstate your case, be calm reasonable, measured and friendly. Your passion is a driver but it’s often counterproductive to allow it to show (this is England after all!).
There are lots of bonkers people out there that make a career out of harassing council officers who have no choice but to respond professionally. Do try not to appear too mad!

5) Find a friend, an insider in the council is worth their weight in quality compost! Look in community engagement/community safety teams; any department prefixed by the word community is worth a try. Gardening is a key tool for community cohesion specialists.

6) Learn the language. Local government officers have a secret code that contains the directives they must fulfill. Finding the form of words to couch your request is the key. Find an off duty council officer who is a gardener to help you with this.

7) Parish councils may add support to your case but their hands are tied and for most things its the city/county level where decisions are made.

8) Don’t be a lone voice, find others who share your aims, prefferably in an area that has problems, Deprivation, minorities, disabled, children, etc, these all have targets attached for local authorities.

9) Lighten their load. Show the council that what you plan to do reduces their work load and costs, and that its sustainable, the community will run it for ever!

10) Harness institutions. Councils like handing things over to bodies, church groups charities etc. If necessary become a body, community association, local food group etc, you will find help with constitutions, insurance etc on this site.

11) Kill em with kindness, your appreciation for the smallest most pathetic step in the right direction should be rewarded with a truckload of appreciation and national press coverage. Stroke the dogs belly and it will be your friend for life.

12) Smother your enemies with love, they can’t oppose you because you are so dam nice to em!

13) Work on establishing precidents. With a few notable exceptions, all but the most senior council officers are apprehensive of doing the wrong thing and are most comfortable following what’s been done before.

14) Work in partnership. A partnership between your group and others including the council has a special resonance with the local authority mindset.

15) Carrot not stick. Show em the rewards for doing what you want, positive aprobation is a rare and treasured thing for the beurocrats, they will come back for more. Threats don’t often work.

16) Get the press on your side, they love a campaign and green issues are hot just now. Get loads of faces in the picture. Write the piece yourself. Make it positive, mention several organizations working together.

17) Link in with other issues, healthy eating, exercise, digging as a sport, education etc

17a) Be patient but persistent, the wheels grind slowly, but they do grind.

17b) Be reliable and safe. Do what you say your going to do and don’t wash your smalls in public, be a safe hand for council officers to work with, in time they will begin to trust you.

17c) The article Newstart magazine (link in media pages on this IET website) should impress council officers especially those involved in regeneration, use it. In fact use all the media links, media aprobration oils the wheels somethink lovely!

17d) Be lucky and think HUGE!

Urban Agriculture Policy documents - Canada

Posting Sunday, Dec. 6/15

To make it easier for anyone researching Urban Agriculture policy, webkeeper Maureen is finally getting around to making a list. More will be added. No doubt any policy or plan has come after a lot of meetings, a lot of talking, a lot of thinking and doing.  And not one of them is perfect or will match what you have in mind.  However, for the policy-geeks and for the get-it-done people, for generating ideas, raves and rants ... here goes!

British Columbia
The Urban Farming Guidebook: Planning for the Business of Growing Food in B.C.'s Towns and Cities.  2013.  55 pages.  Lead author: H.B. Lanarc-Golder (subsidiary of Golder consultants)
Published by EcoDesign Resource Society (EDRS) "to support local governments and communities in finding innovative and creative strategies for sustainability and resiliency".
Report is online at website of the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia: www.refbc.com/sites/default/files/Urban-Farming-Guidebook-2013.pdf

A City Farmer reference gives excerpt, : http://www.cityfarmer.info/2013/01/17/urban-farming-guidebook/
but the link from the article to the documents does not work.

City of Vancouver's Urban Agriculture Garden Guide: Manual for starting and designing urban agriculture projects.  2015.  ~55 pages.  A Greenest City Scholar project for the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver parks and Recreation Board
The focus is on small projects and those that do not earn money.  Set up has lots of diagrams to take one through how to plan a project (have committed people!), how to apply, what do depending on whether idea for garden is on private or city land.  There's garden layout advice and plant suggestions ... and sidebar tips throughout that link to things like beekeeping regulations, and who to talk to if you have problems with an application form.
Report is online: http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/urban-agriculture-garden-guide.pdf

As of Dec. 10/15 (per email from Jason at the pbgreen) the contact for food policy at the City of Vancouver is: foodpolicy@vancouver.ca – and the contact for food growing projects in parks system is pbgreen@vancouver.ca

Edmonton
fresh: Edmonton's Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy
" developed in consultation with citizens, interested groups, businesses and organizations"  ...approved by Edmonton City Council in November 2012.
"fresh is a high level strategy that will help guide Edmonton towards the vision of 'a resilient food and agriculture system that contributes to the local economy and the overall cultural, financial, social and environmental sustainability of the city.' "
direct link to pdf: http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/FRESH_October_2012.pdf
Edmonton city website concerning such, including a video!: http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/urban_planning_and_design/food-and-urban-agriculture.aspx
** Edmonton altered several city bylaws in 2015 to make urban farming easier.  See:
City hopes new bylaw will help Edmont's urban farms bloom (June 30/15): here http://www.edmontonjournal.com/City+hopes+bylaw+will+help+Edmonton+urban+farms+bloom/11179488/story.html#__federated=1
New city regulations encourage gardens to sprout for fun and profit (oct. 28/15): here
http://edmontonjournal.com/life/food/new-city-regulations-encourage-gardens-to-sprout-for-fun-and-profit

Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton Facilitating Urban Agriculture with 'Tactical' Policy Changes .... Raise the Hammer article, written by Hamilton senior planner Jason Thorne, here

Planning and Environment Committee meeting of Sept. 16, 2014: http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=667&doctype=AGENDA
agenda item 6.2 - City Initiative 14-E   Official Plan and Zoning By-law changes for Urban Agriculture (Community Gardens and Urban Farms) in the Urban Area
http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/cache/2/wganlbm3fnbn0q5e1o0xm4tr/467751206201512583684.PDF
- there are a bunch of other documents along with this ... various bylaws had to be amended to add in stuff about community gardens and urban agriculture
e.g.: http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/cache/2/wganlbm3fnbn0q5e1o0xm4tr/4678012062015010023322.PDF

Toronto, Ontario

Grow TO: an urban agriculture action plan for Toronto.
direct link to document: http://tfpc.to/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/GrowTO_ActionPlan_Oct161.pdf
Toronto Food Policy Council page gives information about GrowTO ethos, partners, and links to the document:  http://tfpc.to/news/growto-action-plan     site: http://tfpc.to/   email: tfpc@toronto.ca
GrowTO: An Urban Agriculture Action Plan for Toronto was adopted by Toronto City Council on  November 27, 2012 after three years of "collaborative work by community and institutional stakeholders with participation from various City Divisions and Agencies.  The GrowTO Action Plan establishes a framework to help the City of Toronto realize the full potential of urban agriculture".

Vancouver, B.C.
Vancouver Park Board Urban Agriculture Policy
"In February 2015, the Vancouver Park Board adopted a new policy for urban agriculture to better reflect agricultural activities now taking place in urban parks.  The policy replaces the Park Board's Community Gardens Policy from 2005, and applies to existing and new food-focused projects like community gardens in Vancouver parks." from Vancouver city website:
                              http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/urban-agriculture-policy.aspx
link to document Park Board Urban Agriculture Policy: http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/park-board-urban-agriculture-policy.pdf
link to Vancouver Policiy document which contains Urban Agriculture Design Guidelines for the Private Realm: http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/urban-agriculture-guidelines.pdf
for information, contact the planning team: pbgreen@vancouver.ca
                 emailed pbgreen Sun Dec 6 2015 to check if s/he is contact person if one has questions

 

Homegrown Baltimore: Grow Local

posted Sept. 19/15

Homegrown Baltimore: Grow Local ... Baltimore City's Urban Agriculture Plan came about because the Mayor and others had an idea, set a timeline, did work, and got the document done. Below are some excerpts from the executive summary, which point out that urban agriculture is seen as integral to the "urban ecosystem" [see RUAF def'n] of the Baltimore community. The report recognizes that urban agriculture will play a role in the need for food security in a city much in transition, will create jobs and capabilities, and will develop community. It is also a readable document.

" ... Stemming from key strategies specified with the Baltimore Sustainability Plan, Homegrown Baltimore is an initiative of the City of Baltimore to increase the production, distribution, sales, and consumption of locally grown food within Baltimore. The City is highly committed to building a robust local food system tht provides equitable access to healthy foods for all residents; supports Baltimore's gardeners, farmers and businesses; promotes environmental sustainability; and utilizes vacant space productively. Initiated by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake and led by the Baltimore Office of Sustainability in collaboration with key partners from local government, institutions of higher learning, community organizations, area businesses, and residents, Homegrown Baltimore demonstrates this commitment by providing a concrete plan to build a healthy, local food system in Baltimore.

"Homegrown Baltimore includes three components: Grow Local, Buy Local, and Eat Local. Grow Local focuses specifically on increasing local food production ... [and] documents the history, benefits, and types of urban agriculture in Baltimore; lays out current local urban agricultural efforts and policies that affect them; and identifies challenges and provides recommendations for creating a more robust urban agriculture sector ... "

Ron Berezen on Urban Agriculture

Ron Berezen is "The Urban Farmer". He is permaculturist, advocate for sound agriculture, teacher, and writer. His Urban Farmer website carries an excellent article on urban agriculture. He points out that urban agriculture is not new, and remains a major source of food production across the world. He talks about how changing urban patterns and economics affects and will affect how we grow our food in more local areas, and that we can think about urban agriculture in relationship with all the systems of our locale. He gets us thinking about the sort of web, or urban ecosystem mentioned in the RUAF definition of urban agriculture. Berezen's essay is well worth reading, and his site always has something interesting and useful to read.

What is "urban agriculture"?

posted Sept. 17/15 and being added to

London City staff have been tasked with beginning to look into certain aspects of urban agriculture (see CGL News page). CGL webkeeper has been putting together information on urban agriculture for a while, and begins here a series on urban agriculture.

What is "urban agriculture"? Different sources give slightly different definitions ...CGL webkeeper will add more definitions over time, particularly cities' urban agriculture policies and programs.

Ryerson University / Change School offers 4 courses - Understanding Urban Agriculture - in its Food Security program. This indicates that it takes a while to get a handle on the topic! 

Urban agriculture is the cultivation, processing or distribution of food in and around cities. It can include activities such as vacant lot, community or rooftop gardens, urban farms, hydroponics, and aquaponics. Edmonton, Alberta: Urban Agriculture bylaw info page http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/urban_planning_and_design/urban-agriculture.aspx

Urban Agriculture [is] the act of growing and, according to some definitions, distributing food in a defined urban area.  The idea is to produce food closer to where the majority of consumera are, in cities.  Urban agriculture tends to be small-scale agricultureal enterprises, even on a household scale.    
Food and the City: Urban Agriculture and the New Food Revolution
by Jennifer Cockrall-King, Prometheus Books, 2012

Urban Agriculture   "Urban agriculture can be defined shortly as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities."

"The most striking feature of urban agriculture, which distinguishes it from rural agriculture, is that it is integrated into the urban economic and ecological system: urban agriculture is embedded in - and interacting with - the urban ecosystem.  Such linkages include the use of urban residents as labourers, use of typical urban resources (like organic waste as compost and urban wastewater for irrigation), direct links with urban consumers, direct impacts on urban ecology (positive and negative), being part of the urban food system, competing for land with other urban functions, being influenced by urban policies and plans, etc.  Urban agriculture is not a relic of the past that will fade away (urban agriculture increases when the city grows) nor brought to the city by rural immigrants that will lose their rural habits over time.  It is an integral part of the urban system"
from Holland-based RUAF Foundation (Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security)
quoted in Urban Agriculture: ideas and designs for the new food revolution.  By David Tracey. New Society Publishers.  October 2011.  London Public Library  635 Tra

Urban agriculture or urban farming is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around a village, town, or city. Urban agriculture can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agroforestry, Urban beekeeping, and horticulture. These activities occur in peri-urban areas as well. Urban agriculture can reflect varying levels of economic and social development. In the global north, it often takes the form of a social movement for sustainable communities, where organic growers, ‘foodies,’ and ‘locavores’ form social networks founded on a shared ethos of nature and community holism. These networks can evolve when receiving formal institutional support, becoming integrated into local town planning as a ‘transition town’ movement for sustainable urban development. In the developing south, food security, nutrition, and income generation are key motivations for the practice. In either case, more direct access to fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat products through urban agriculture can improve food security and food safety. Wikipedia entry as of September 18, 2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agriculture  ... this definition is just the beginning of a long entry, which has 94 footnotes!  (in 2011, there were 47 footnotes)

Urban agriculture comes in many forms and refers to the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in and around cities
... this reference is often cited ... Bailkey, M., and J. Nasr. 2000. "From Brownfields to Greenfields: Producing Food in North American Cities," Community Food Security News. Fall 1999/Winter 2000:6

Working definition of Urban Agriculture ... the process of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around, a village, town, or city.  (Bailkey, 2000)
Working definition of Urban Farm ... a portion of urban land where food is grown, primarily for sale. Working definition of Urban Farming ... growing, cultivating and distributing food within a city or town boundary to generate revenue.  Revenue generating urban agriculture has been termed market gardening, commercial urban agriculture and entrepreneurial urban agriculture. (on p. 1 it also says "This involves farmers finding space in the city - backyards, vacant lots, parking lots, rooftops, parks, private or public spaces to grow food for wholesale and retail sales to urban consumers.") British Columbia.  The Urban Farming Guidebook: Planning for the Business of Growing Food in BC's Towns and Cities.  2013.  A  project of city staff and community members from Campbell River, Kelowna, City of North Vancouver, and Vancouver British Columbia

The City of Baltimore's urban agriculture plan cites part of the definition of urban agriculture used by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: "small areas within cities, such as vacant lots, gardens, verges, balconies and containers, that are used for growing crops and raising livestock ... for own-consumption or sale". The Baltimore document expands on commercial and community urban farms, community gardens, youth gardens, aquaponics and aquaculture, rooftop gardens, home gardens and other specialty gardens. The overall Baltimore plan really puts urban agriculture in the context of community, food security, and economy ... while giving practical guidelines that work with city bylaws (many of which were amended for the plan).   Homegrown Baltimore: Grow Local ... Baltimore City's Urban Agriculture Plan. Adopted November 2013 by the Baltimore City Planning Commission. 

Urban agriculture can be loosely defined as growing plants and raising animals within and around cities.   In August 2010, the Seattle City Council voted to expand opportunities for urban agriculture in the City of Seattle.  These code changes help create a more sustainable and secure local food system by increasing opportunities to grow and sell food in all zones. Seattle's Land Use Code recognizes five different urban agriculture uses: animal husbandry, aquaculture, community gardens, horticulture and urban farms. taken from Urban Agriculture
Tip 244 of Seattle Permits, a multi-departmental City of Seattle series on getting a permit www.seattle.gov/DPD/publications/CAM/cam244.pdf

 

Keeping Bees in Ontario

Just to touch on this topic, because Maureen webkeeper was asked ... and this is just a quick look-up.

In London, Ontario, the City bylaws and animal control info does not say anything specifically about keeping bees.  This may be because ... keeping bees comes under the jurisdiction of the province of Ontario. 

There are pages of information to do with beekeeping - apiculture - on the Ontario provincial website: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/bees/apicultu.html

The newest document - issued June 2012 - is Overview of Beekeeping Regulations in Ontario: What you should know if you own honeybees.  It, in turn, has links to all sorts of other documents.
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/bees/beekeepingregulations.htm

The Ontario Beekeepers Association - http://www.ontariobee.com - has a lot of information, including links to regional Ontario beekeeping associations (http://www.ontariobee.com/community/local-beekeepers-associations ).  For your convenience, in the London / Southwestern Ontario region:

Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin Beekeepers' Association
Arva, ON
Contact: Bob Crowhurst, President
Telephone: 519-666-1670
Email: robert.crowhurst@sympatico.ca
Website: www.moebeea.com

Southwestern Ontario Beekeepers' Association
Chatham, ON
Contact: Mike Dodok, President
Telephone: 519-351-8338
Email: thedodocks@yahoo.ca

Huron-Perth Beekeepers' Association
Wingham, ON
Contact: Bill Higgins
Telephone: 519-395-0248
Email: whiggins@sympatico.ca

Toronto District Beekeepers' Association
Milton, ON
Contact: Grant MacKinnon, President
Telephone: 905-878-4668
Email: gmackinnon2@cogeco.ca
Website: http://www.torontobeekeepers.org/
Check the website for upcoming events.

Bees and Beekeeping - books for adults and children and a few videos

note: If you have additions to this list, please send them! This list has been compiled by CGL webkeeper Maureen, who is not a beekeeper.  She is an organic gardener, and always wants to learn about wholistic ways of doing things. She also collects old books, hence the inclusion of the ABC and XYZ reproduction.  The selection below reflects this.  (list begun March 2014)

The ABC and XYZ o f Bee Culture.  Original written by A.I. Root. This is a 1975 reprint of an earlier edition on bee culture that had evolved from its original 1877 edition.  It is an encyclopedia, fascinating for its information and its diagrams of equipment.  Published by the A.I. Root Company, which, in 1975, was still in family hands.  London Public Library 638.1 R678A36
If you ever take it out, please emphasize to the library that books like this need to be kept, not culled.  This is our culture's knowledge history!
Bees: nature's little wonders. Candace Savage. London Public Library catalogue 595.799 Sav.  Greystone Books, with assistance from the David Suzuki Foundation, 2007.  You can dip into this book anywhere and learn something about bee behaviour, history of beekeepings ... or read a poem or just enjoy the illustrations which come from all over. Great book.
Fruitless Fall: the collapse of the oney bee and the coming agricultural crisis.  Rowan Jacobsen.  Bloomsbury, 2009 edition with added afterward to the 2008 first edition.   LPL call no.  685.15 Jac
Harmonic Farming: Bees.  Werner M. Gysi.  Gooly Mooly Publishing, 2011.
note: Maureen purchased this from the author when he was in London, Ontario on his Save the Bees tour.  He's kept bees for over 30 years and has an outlook that is wholistic plus. This book and others can be ordered through the Gooly Mooly website: http://www.goolymooly.com
Keeping the Bees: why all bees are at risk and what we can do to save them.  Laurence Packer.  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., 2010.    LPL call no. 595.799 Pac                 note: Packer is a Canadian researcher.  His lab at York University is: http://www.yorku.ca/bugsrus/
Natural Beekeeping (Revised and Expanded version).  Ross Conrad.  Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013.
        There's also a DVD.  Check out the Chelsea Green website for this then browse further on the site because Chelsea Green publishes a lot of terrific stuff!
A short history of the honey bee : humans, flowers, and bees in the eternal chase for honey.  images by Ilona McCarty; text by E. Readicker-Henderson.  Timber Press, 2009.  638.1 Rea
A spring without bees : how colony collapse disorder has endangered our food supply.  Michael Schacker. 2008.  638.15 Sch
Storey's guide to keeping honey bees : honey production, pollination, bee health. Malcolm T. Sanford and Richard E. Bonney.  Storey Publishing.  c2010.  638.1 San  To find Storey's complete list of guides, put "Storey's guide" in search on its site.  Check out the Storey Publishing  website for this, then browse further on the site because Storey publishes a lot of terrific stuff! 
The Thinking Beekeeper: a guide to natural beekeeping in top bar hives.  Christy Hemenway. New Society Publishers, 2013.  London Public Library 638.1 Hem       New Society Publishers is another that has great books and interesting stuff on its website.
Top Bar Beekeeping.  Les Crowder and Heather Harrell. Chelsea Green Publishing. There's also a DVD!  http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/topbar_beekeeping:paperback
A World Without Bees: the mysterious decline of the noeybee and wht it means for us.  Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum.  Guardian Books, 2009.

Children's books a sampling Maureen happened upon and liked (especially artwork) - there are many more in the children's library tho' so check the catalogue.

Big City Bees.   Written by Maggie de Vries.  Illustrated by Renne Benoit.  2012.  Fiction. jP DeV
Buzz about Bees.  Kari-Lynn Winters.  2013.  Non-fiction.  j595.799 Win
Flight of the Honeybee.  Raymond Huber with Illustrations by Brian Lovelock.  Candlewick Press, 2013. Non-fiction. jP j595 799 Hub
The Hive Detectives: chronicle of a honey bee catastrophe.  Loree Griffin Burns, with photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz.  Houghton Mifflin, 2010.  Non-fiction.  j638.14 Bur
In the Trees, Honeybees.  By Lori Mortensen with illustrations by Cris Arbo.  Dawn Publications. 2009. Fiction.  jP Mor

Videos - a selection of titles run across

More Than Honey.  http://www.morethanhoneyfilm.com/
From the description in the Library's ACCESS publication:"Colony collapse disorder affecting honey bees is a worldwide phenomenon of the last 15 years. What are the causes? What are the solutions?"
Queen of the sun: what are the bees telling us? Produced by Jon Betz. Directed & produced by Taggart Siegel. 2012.   638.1 Que
Vanishing of the bees: little bee, big mystery.  Produced and directed by George Langworthy and Mayam Henein, 2010.  638.1 Van

Pollinator and Monarch butterfly resources - in progress

Make Way for Monarchs: a milkweed butterfly recovery alliance. Alerted to this March 10/14 from Mother Earth News email. Browse around this site! http://makewayformonarchs.org/i/our-organization

Pollination Week - Monday, June 16 thorugh Sunday, June 22, 2014
located where you are ... celebrations and activities will be added as we find out

Through the work of environment and gardening organizations around the world, a celebration of the services - gifts really! - provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, and other insects is celebrated in the 3rd week of June - June 16 - 24, 2014.  Pollination Week originated by decree of the U.S. Senate, in 2007, and has spread far beyond U.S. borders.

Pollination Canada is a partner program of Seeds of Diversity (http://www.seeds.ca)
- Pollination Canada - http://www.pollinationcanada.ca/ - offers a website of information about pollination and pollinators - " pollinator profiles", and:
- carries news items about education and advocacy campaigns
- will list your local celebration of pollinators
- has resources for teachers
- links to many resources, including a neat one about

Roadsides ... http://roadsides.caroldunk.com/
This website is maintained by Carol Dunk.  It is about pollinators and creating pollinator friendly gardens and restoring native plants (surely a great partnership!).  There's much useful information. Dunk carries her "Pollinator Patches" idea through a how-to guide called Roadsides, that can be downloaded, free!  The guide was developed by Carol Dunk for the Ontario Horticulture Association with funds from TDCanada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation.

The Pollinator Partnership, a non-profit based in the United States,  http://www.pollinator.org/ is working to protect pollinators and their habitat with projects all over the United States and globally. From tThe website:
"the largest organization in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems. Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. They also sustain our ecosystems and produce our natural resources by helping plants reproduce. Unfortunately they are in trouble. Some species have seen a 90% decline in their populations over the last decade.  Without the actions of pollinators agricultural economies, our food supply, and surrounding landscapes would collapse.
The Pollinator Partnership (P2) advocates S.H.A.R.E. (simply have areas reserved for the environment) approach to the planet. 

Some Urban Agriculture Organizations

RUAF - Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security - www.ruaf.org (posted April 20/14)

Based in the Netherlands, the non-profit RUAF Foundation "promotes (intra- and peri-) urban agriculture and city region food systems for more sustainable and resilient cities. Since1999, RUAF is supporting local governments, urban producer organisations, NGOs, CBOs, research centres and other stakeholders with training, technical assistance, action-research and policy advice in the field of urban agriculture and urban food strategies." RUAF reaches 800,000 readers around the world through its Urban Agriculture Magazine, books, and articles. RUAF's member organisations are in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe.

"RUAF is a not-for-profit organisation registered in the Netherlands and in operation since 1999 that seeks to contribute to the development of sustainable cities by facilitating awareness raising, knowledge generation and dissemination, capacity development, policy design, and action planning regarding resilient and equitable urban food systems."

 

Urban Agriculture, Community Gardening and Food Security Resources for London and some beyond

- updating is in progress January 24 2017 ... sections finished give a date

note from Maureen:  this list is sort of alphabetical, but not entirely ... it is also just a start ... with a few particularly neat things and then the alphabetical list of organizations

additions are gratefully accepted: communitygardenslondon@execulink.com

Incredible Edible Todmorden – An absolutely inspirational TED Talk by Pam Warhust of Incredible Edible Todmorden           ***this is a must see video***     (01 25 2017)
 http://www.ted.com/talks/pam_warhurst_how_we_can_eat_our_landscapes.html

City Farmer website at www.cityfarmer.info is a Canadian site and the go-to place to find out what's happening worldwide about urban agriculture.  It is an inspiration and adds to one’s thinking so much!  City Farmer began in 1978.  Its founder, Michael Levenston is still at work. Thanks always! (01 25 2017)

London's Food Charter                        (01 25 2017)
The Vision – (hope for London) - of the Food Charter states: London is a food secure community.

one pager gives the basics ... http://www.london.ca/residents/children-youth/child-care/Documents/London's%20Food%20Charter%20one-pager.pdf
four pager gives a bit more info   http://www.london.ca/residents/children-youth/child-care/Documents/London's%20Food%20Charter.pdf

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 region which balances local production and fair international agricultural trade;
2. Sufficient personal income and resources to ensure 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
London's Food Charter is cited in a number of places, including the [draft] London Plan (new official plan) in the Food Systems chapter.

CGL webkeeper's comment, Jan 25/17: London's Food Charterwas endorsed by City Council on April 4/11.  Its vision and mission are important.The Food Charter's basic ideas are there to be used by any food-systems-interested groups.  After all, London City Council endorsed the ideas.  Reference to London having a food charter does appear in the Food Systems section of the city’s new official plan, The London Plan.  However, after endorsement, the ideas of the food charter were not brought widely to the community by the City. At this time, the London Food Charter exists on the Child and Youth network website, placed too modestly in a list of reference documents (http://londoncyn.ca/background-documents/) and with no explanation of how it came to be written or its importance.  It would not be found by a casual searcher.  It is to be hoped that the Middlesex London Food Policy Council, formed in the fall of 2016, will bring forward the vision of the food charter, and actions will come from it.
.

Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security. (01 25 2017) Canada-wide,The Bauta Famiy Initiative on Canadian Seed Security (http://www.seedsecurity.ca/en/) is a 4-year project of USC-Canada (www.usc-canada.org) and Seeds of Diversity Canada (http://www.seeds.ca/en.php), with funding from Garield Weston Family (Bauta Family). This initiative works “with seed producers, farmers, farmer organizations, seed banks, organic industry partners, researchers in plant genetics and climate, governments, and food organizations "to at least double the production and spread of biodiverse, locally-adapted seed." 

USC-Canada (http://www.usc-canada.org ) (01 25 2017) brings interesting food security news to us via its “In Case You Missed it Monday” feature, updated most Mondays.  News about USC’s overseas and Canadian programs is on the site.  USC-Canada staff speak at important forums like the Canadian Climate Network’s 2015 Food and Food Security summit. USC-Canada gives nformation on agroecology, food sovereignty, seed saving, climate change and small-scale farmers.  There is attention given to the roles of women worldwide in food production.  This is a site really worth exploring.  Get on their enews!

Carolinian Food Forest        (01 25 2017)
"This 1 acre forest is planted on public park land in London Ontario in the beautiful Thames River valley. - its blog "is intended to inform you about our project as well as provide enough detail and inspiration to help you build your own food forest in the community you live in."
- Located at the end of Dillabough Street, not far from Egerton, in London
- the website explains about the Carolinian ecosystem (our London area), what a food forest is, the  importance of food producing trees in a sustainable, biodiverse environment, and how food forests can be planted for people to harvest as well as be for the critters living there.
http://londonfoodforest.blogspot.ca/       facebook page      londonfoodforest@gmail.com

Canadian Organic Growers         www.cog.ca          1-888-375-7583 office@cog.ca
”Mission: To lead local and national communities towards sustainable organic stewardship of land, food and fibre while respecting nature, upholding social justice and protecting natural resources.”
[Supporters] ...”share a vision for a sustainable bioregionally-based organic food system. Our members believe that organic food production is the best choice for the health of consumers and producers, for the protection and enhancement of the environment, and for the sustainability of the food production system. In fact we believe that the survival of our country and even of the planet depends on it.”       (01 25 2017)

Community Gardens London - www.communitygardenslondon.ca        (01 25 2017)
"Through community actions and this site, Community Gardens London celebrates urban agriculture and the shared and community gardens of London and area.   Our focus is to support and advocate for urban agriculture and its role in individual and urban food security, our good health and environmental health.  We try to celebrate, educate and connect. Maureen does the website - answers questions and connects up people as best she can - communitygardenslondon@execulink.com

Community gardens program for the City of London        (01 25 2017)
- London's program is an allotment type of program ... there is a fee for plot rental, scaled to income. The City of London funds this program with dollars and in-kind services from several departments. Documents related to the program, including its strategic plan are on the City of London website here http://www.london.ca/residents/Parks/Community-Projects/Pages/London-Community-Gardens.aspx
- approx 450 garden plots over (15) gardens
- As of January 2017 a management transition is underway. See the News section of CGL site for more up to date information. The London Community Resource Centre, hired manager of the program, has had its term extended until the end of March 2017. See http://www.lcrc.on.ca or email info@lcrc.on.ca

Council of Canadians, London Branch        (01 25 2017)
The London Council of Canadians members put much energy toward energy issues, food issues, and climate change ... all of which are related!. They have a blog and a facebook page. email is info@londoncouncilofcanadians.ca        www.londoncouncilofcanadians.ca

Covent Garden Market - www.coventmarket.com       (01 25 2017)
Bob Usher, manager           bobusher@coventmarket.com         info@coventmarket.com
Outdoor market info:  Christine Scheer - farmersmarket@coventmarket.com or 519-439-3921, ext 229
- there's a kitchen upstairs for programs - the London Free Press Market Kitchen on 2nd floor is available for rent and programs. - maximum capacity 30 people. 

EVAC - East Village Arts' Co-op http://www.eastvillagearts.ca/       (01 25 2017)
EVAC's purpose is to support art and creativity in the East Village and greater London community, by providing inclusive, accessible and affordable gallery/creative space, resources, workshops and events. 
757 Dundas Street, Our open hours are Thursday 2pm-6pm and Saturday 1-4pm. - other open times would be special events.

The FoodNet Ontario website has links to various food charters at       (01 25 2017)
http://foodnetontario.ca/wp/policy-advocacy/charters/ ... and it mentions a document titled Thought about Food? A Workbook on Food Security and Influencing Policy, which CGL webkeeper tracked to the Food Secure Canada website here: http://foodsecurecanada.org/resources-news/resources-research/thought-about-food-workbook-food-security-influencing-policy-0

Food Not Lawns LondonCanada: http://www.foodnotlawnslondoncanada.org      (01 25 2017)
-  An active group that gets things done! "turning yards into gardens and neighborhoods into communities."
-  "Focused on 'cultivating an edible future," we are committed to working together to offer information, facilitate communication, and otherwise act and effect local change regarding a variety of food justice issues, including problems with our food system and working to address those problems with creative solutions."

Food Secure Canada          (01 25 2017)
Food Secure Canada is a pan-Canadian alliance of organizations and individuals working together to advance food security and food sovereignty. It produced the Resetting the Table report, which dvocates for a Canadian food policy. It encourages and produces research into food issues, holds workshops, talks and an annual meeting which brings together a lot of people from across Canada and beyond.
Food Secure Canada is committed to:
Zero Hunger. All people at all times must be able to acquire, in a dignified manner, an adequate supply of culturally and personally acceptable food.
A Sustainable Food System. The production and consumption of food in Canada (harvesting, processing, distributing, including fishing and other wild food harvest), must maintain and enhance the quality of land, air and water for future generations, and provide for adequate livelihoods of people working in it.
Healthy and Safe Food. Safe and nourishing foods that are free of pathogens and industrial chemicals must be available. No novel food (genetically modified organisms - GMOs) may enter food system without independent testing and monitoring.
http://foodsecurecanada.org/

Fresh food markets: as well as Covent Garden, Western Fair Market, and the market out at Masonville, 2 community centres and Brescia College have had farmers' markets. There's also been a market in the SOHO area of London (01 25 2017)

Green Energy Co-op, London - http://greenenergylondon.com/         (01 25 2017)

Hancock, Dr. Trevor, public health physician, and food policy analyst Wayne Roberts were speakers in London at the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition annual meeting.  Main points from their presentations are on the Community Gardens London news page (http://www.communitygardenslondon.ca/news.html#reflectionspossibilities) ... and the OHCC is going to post their presentations (or may have already).   http://www.ohcc-ccso.ca/ (01 25 2017)

London Area Organic Growers: http://www.londonareaorganicgrowers.com/ Organics map - there's a map of area organic growers, with links to their sites. (01 25 2017)

London Horticultural Society (01 25 2017)
http://www.gardenontario.org/site.php/london
based at the Civic Garden Complex, City Greenhouses, 625 Springbank Drive
Members of this organization grow 8000 plants a year, and supply them to all sorts of community services and events in the city.  Awesome!
They hold regular meetings with guest speakers, run courses and have plant sales. Membership is always open ... an organization where members really participate in projects

London, city of  - main city website: www.london.ca       (01 25 2017)

London Community Foundation    www.lcf.on.ca (01 25 2017)
The London Community Foundation publishes a Vital Signs report, "...an annual community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada. It provides a comprehensive, reader-friendly look at how our communities are faring in key quality-of-life areas such as learning, health, housing and the environment. " It also offers grants for various projects - check the website - some garden/food projects would fit their parameters. In November 16/12 - London Community Foundation hosted a gathering of people interested in local food, ... the Food Forum - part of focus was how urban agriculture enterprises can grow good food and provide jobs. Search News on CGL site. LCF also gave initial funding (and?) towards development of a London Food Assessment and Food Policy Committee. LCF also gave core funding which led to the Middlesex London Food Policy Council (see other note)

London Community Resource Centre (01 24 2017)
Runs the Grow, Cook, Learn program. Hired manager of community gardens program for a lot of years, and will be handling registration until the end of March 2017. At which time the program paperwork will be handled through the City's Parks and Rec programs and a person will be hired by London to manage gardens. To see community gardens strategic plan year one review and first year update ... see news section of CGL site. Linda Davies, executive director: www.lcrc.on.ca

London Food Co-op -45th anniversary was 2015! - check this out!!
http://londonfoodcoop.org/ London's original food cooperative, on Princess Ave., with lots of good people! (01 24 2017)

The London Food Bank has helped Londoners for more than 30 years. During the last few years it has developed a Community Harvest project (info here), which gets in touch with area farmers who have produce to donate, and finds the volunteers to harvest and bring the food to the London Food Bank. The "Grow a Row" program has been around for even longer than the Community Harvest. (same page). - www.londonfoodbank.ca. (01 24 2017)

London Poverty Research Centre at King's University College, London. checking on status ...
In December 2013 the London Community Foundation awarded an Insight Grant to a group of community leaders interested in establishing a Centre for the study of poverty in London Ontario. Funding was enhanced by generous grants from the Sisters of St. Joseph and the London Bank and on December 12, 2014 the Centre found a permanent home at King’s University College. The London Poverty Research Centre has released it first report on food security in London: A Guide to Emerging Practices in Food Security. You can find it here. Main website is www.povertyresearch.ca
MISSION: The mission of the LPRC is to assemble research on poverty in London, Ontario and to inform governments and the public about its findings to improve the local policy and program response.
MANDATE
To gather research, data and information about poverty as it is experienced in London Ontario.
To conduct analysis and produce related documentation in support of efforts to eradicate poverty in London
To seek out and disseminate practical solutions or evidence based best practices in response to poverty and its impact on the community.
To engage the public in discussions about poverty in London and advocate for progressive change.

Mary Ann Colihan - journalist, writing instructor, and with great interest in sustainable food issues -  (01 25 2017) - wrote really great summary notes about workshops she attended at Urban Agriculture Summit in Toronto August 2012.   see post on Community Gardens London news page:  www.communitygardenslondon.ca and her linked in page here

Middlesex London Food Policy Council and Middlesex London Health Unit.    (01 25 2017) The Middlesex London Food Policy Council information page is on the Middlesex London Health Unit website: here  https://www.healthunit.com/middlesex-london-food-policy-council  The page gives names of people on the council, the minutes of their first meeting back in November, job "application" for membership on the council, council terms of reference.  The minutes of the November meeting has a drop-box link to a presentation that gives some of the lead-up happenings to the Middlesex-London Food Policy Council formation.  The next meeting of the food policy council is actually this Wednesday, Jan. 15, according to one of its members I happened to be talking with.

Lead up and related to Food Policy Council
The funding/initiative to develop a London Food Policy Council came from the London Community Foundation (LCF).  Starting about 5 years ago, a couple of food security related events were held in London, initiated by the LCF.  e.g. for notes from the 2012 Food Forum, search "food forum" in CGL News page ( can't get a more direct url to work ... sorry)

A food charter was developed for the City of London (basically a City initiative) and was endorsed by City Council April 4, 2011.  It is online here). 
Maureen's comment: The food charter gets mentioned by the food policy council, and in the City's London Plan (new official plan, found from here), in ways that make it sound like it had been publicized and things had been done because of it.  However, it had basically no publicity and there were not city staff assigned to any projects.  Maureen who's writing this was on the initial team that developed the charter.

A core group got together for about 2 1/2 years, and engaged a consultant group (EcoEthonomics) to do some surveys and to produce the Middlesex-London Food Assessment Report ( reached thru' the MLHU page). 
Maureen's comment: Funding for that came initially from the London Community Foundation, but there was never anything on its website or annual reports about this going on; neither was there information beyond a core group about what was happening; there was no budget associated with this ... and there still hasn't been any dollar or in-kind service figures given about about the entire food assessment / food policy council undertaking.  Partners in this time period were the London Community Foundation, the Middlesex London Health Unit, the City of London and the Food Bank.

Text on the MLHU Food Policy Council page says: "The purpose of the Middlesex-London Community Food Assessment project was to develop an understanding of the Middlesex-London food system, and to allow this understanding to inform recommendations for proposed community action towards increasing food sovereignty and greater community food security in the region".  The document has lot of useful information, some visions for what could be done about food issues in London, and a lot of graphics. The assessment is an oversize print document (11" x 17" pages).  Released to the public in June 2016, it still has not been formatted online into letter size pages for easy on-screen reading or print out.  You can get a printed copy of by contacting Ellen Lakusiak. 
Ellen Lakusiak MSc RD, Public Health Dietitian, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Middlesex London Health Unit, Ellen.lakusiak@mlhu.on.ca , ph. 519-663-5317 ext. 2694
Ellen Lakusiak, an employee of the Health Unit, has been assigned to work with the food policy council (25% of her work time!).  She's a great resource person and would be able to answer questions and connect you with people on the food policy council, who are people with different backgrounds and experience which is relevant to food topics.  

Museum of Ontario Archaeology - http://archaeologymuseum.ca - is a great place generally and has been the generous host of space for a three-sisters and native plant garden.   (01 25 2017)

Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition seminar September 28 and 29.   (01 25 2017)
Maureen Temme attended, as a member of the Thames Region Ecological Association.  She posted notes on the News pages of Community Gardens London         www.communitygardenslondon.ca 
Speakers included: Trevor Hancock - started the healthy communities, prof at U.Victoria.
Wayne Roberts, food policy analyst and former head of the Toronto Food Policy Council

Thames Region Ecological Association - TREA - htttp://www.trea.ca (01 25 2017) .. Trea is restructuring, so the website is not up to date just now
covers air quality, ecowise consuming, empowerment, energy, transportation, waste and water
TREA has worked on environment issues for over 30 years.  Its areas of focus are waste reduction, fossil fuel reduction and active transportation ... which can fit in a lot of environmental activism!  www.trea.ca
- in 2011, then TREA president Maryanne MacDonald worked with Rogers TV to put together a series on local environment issues. At least two of these had to do with local food. Tricky to get 'hold of these, but a great series!.

Transition London Ontario    a community group, member of the international Transition Network, which works to make more resilient communities. Resilient communities are able to adapt and prepare for changes that will result as we have less fossil fuel available, as the economy shifts and as climate change becomes even more evident.    note: as of March 2015, some Transition-interested people are active in their community, but not doing much under the actual TLO banner. (01 25 2017)

Urbancopia report on Urban Agriculture in London ... Spring 2012 ... project of 4 students from the Masters of Environment and Sustainability program at Western.  Ended up re-focused on community gardens program, but has a good resource list and by interviewing City of London staff, the students got some ideas of urban agriculture to them. (01 25 2017)
Maureen at Community Gardens London will supply you with copy: communitygardenslondon@execulink.com

Urban Agriculture Summit held in Toronto in August 2012 (01 25 2017)
Mary Ann Colihan of the London Community Foundation attended and wrote a clear summary of the workshops she attended and gave "takeaways", suggestions that London could look into, based on the project presentations she attended.  A summary of these notes is on Community Gardens London website news page (www.communitygardenslondon.ca).   With Mary Ann's permission, the full 8 pages of notes is available: communitygardenslondon@execulink.ca

USC-Canada (http://www.usc-canada.org ) (01 25 2017) brings interesting food security news to us via its “In Case You Missed it Monday” feature, updated most Mondays.  News about USC’s overseas and Canadian programs is on the site.  USC-Canada staff speak at important forums like the Canadian Climate Network’s 2015 Food and Food Security summit. USC-Canada gives nformation on agroecology, food sovereignty, seed saving, climate change and small-scale farmers.  There is attention given to the roles of women worldwide in food production.  This is a site really worth exploring.  Get on their enews!

Veggie City - Was an important project - collaboration of the Kipps Lane Community Association and the City.  Part CSA, part job-training, it ran in 2011 and 2012.  It was important for being a cross-over between type project, a learning experience for all.  CGL webkeeper comment: The final report document - which took over a year and a half to be done - focused on positives, but did not address any of the problems and what might have been learned from them. A copy of the report might be available from the assistant to the Children, Neighbourhood and Fire services' (London dept), pdafreit@london.ca       (01 25 2017)

Wayne Roberts       (01 25 2017)
Where local sustainable food policy meets action.  Roberts has spent years working on food security and food policy.  It’s worth reading anything he writes.  He has a website - http://wayneroberts.ca/ - and it’s worth just browsing.  He says he’s retired, but that’s only from paid work and now he gets more time to blog, consult and write!

 

Some area entrepreneurs, charities and training programs whose work involves food, urban agriculture and education

Beautiful Edibles - Jana Keller                       (01 25 2017)
The Beautiful Edibles website is, as I type,  in process of being updated, and expects to be back online by the end of January 2017, at http:// beautifulediblesca.wordpress.com    with Twitter handle @ldnurbanaggies
- school food education programs, custom kitchen gardens, custom kitchen gardens, ability-sensitive gardens adapted to physical needs of seniors or others, consultants, vacation with confidence

David Cook – farmers’ markets, business incubator                 (01 25 2017)
Cook founded Fire Roasted Coffee business, developed  the London Farmers and Artisans’ Market on Dundas St. east (which has spun off several new businesses in the area) and several outdoor, seasonal  farmers’ markets, anddeveloped a business “incubator” in an older building on Dundas Street. This latter includes a small grocery store - in this area that needed one – and does job training; it is in partnership with Pathways Skills Development and ATN Access, both of which do job training for persons with disabilities. (articles on this are here and here
Fire Roasted Coffee 519-438- 5225    theroastery@fireroastedcoffee.com

Growing Chefs Ontario                       (01 25 2017)                              
Its mission?  “To get kids excited about wholesome healthy food!”
Founded in about 2007 by Andrew Fleet, registered charity (2008) Growing Chefs Ontario brings volunteers into school classrooms and students to the kitchen at Covent Garden Market to so they can learn about growing and cooking good food.  The teacher/leaders are volunteers – real chefs!. Part of Growing Chefs’ success has come through partnerships with various London organizations.  Most recently (fall 2016) the Western Fair District donated $30,000 to support its food education projects for children http://www.lfpress.com/2016/09/13/western-fair-growing-chefs-announce-partnership
Located at 211 King Street, London, NNA 1C9              ph. 226-700-2061
info@growingchefsontario.ca           www.growingchefsontario.ca

LIFE*SPIN -                  (01 25 2017)
Low Income Family Empowerment / Sole-support Parent Information Network
- - LIFE*SPIN partners with individuals and groups in its immediate community and beyond.  Almost everyone associated is a volunteer.  They have a free store on Thursday, can advise people on access to social supports, lend a sympathetic and practical ear, do some kinds of taxes, and offer workshops depending on community need and ideas.  Director, Jacqueline Thompson, is incredible.  They’re in a heritage building which they’ve refurbished (winning a heritage award too) and apartments have been put in on the top floor.  LIFE*SPIN developed a garden space called Old East Common on its property - http://lifespin-org.doodlekit.com/home/old_east_common - it has a "pocket-size farm" project - which involves children in the area creating and maintaining gardens -
 Life*Spin, 66A Dundas St., P.O. Box 2801, London N6A 4H4     http://www.lifespin.org    life@execulink.com ph. 519-438-8676

 London Training Centre  and the Sustainable Food Systems Report                  (01 25 2017)
“London Training Centre is a dynamic non-profit, social enterprise generating revenue to support quality training, skill development and employment opportunities for people.”
It has employment support services, pre-employment training – including its Local Food Skills Program -and helps match its students with local employers.  London Training Centre has for several years grown food on land just outside London, giving its Food Skills students extra experience in how food travels its path from ground to kitchen to us.
David Corke is the innovative director of LTC.  His enthusiasm and broad understanding of food systems has ended him up being on London’s newly formed food policy council!

Sustainable Food Systems, a collaborative approach was published in September 2012 by The London Training Centre (LTC).  It is page after page of good ideas, with links to organizations and projects, and a glossary of the terms you'll find in urban agriculture and agriculture literature and policy documents.  See this blog for an overview http://savingtheworldinmysparetime.blogspot.ca/2012/11/sustainable-food-systems-report.html   or go right to the report http://www.londontraining.on.ca/SFS_Final_Reports.htm
David Corke, director of the LTC, and Tom Schell, one of the Sustainable Food Systems authors, gave an overview at the November 16/12 forum on local food organized by the London Community Foundation.  (search “food forum” on Community Gardens London’s News page for notes). This forum brought together about 50 local people with an interest in local food production. 
London Training Centre, 317 Adelaide Street South,Unit 110, London, ON N5Z 3L3
http://www.londontraining.on.ca                       info@londontraining.on.ca     Tel: 519 685-4331

Wildcraft Permaculture                   (01 25 2017)
Jessica Robertson, permaculture designer and planner, principal
Jessica and her crew design and install regenerative, sustainable landscaping for small and large sites, using permaculture principles.  They design and offer workshops on varied and seasonal topics for individuals as well as clients.  Jessica is a skilled workshop leader and speaker too!
http://www.wildcraftpermaculture.ca      info@wildcraftpermaculture.ca       ph. 519-857-7615

The Living Centre - Shantree Kacera and Lorenna Bousquet Kacera                  (01 25 2017)
The Living Centre is an eco-spiritual centre and education space, with a wide range of programs such as 4-season permaculture training and certification, Woman Earth - respecting the role of women in the global challenge, and many more programs.  The Living Centre is a beautiful space, always changing and growing along sustainable, permaculture-based principles.
Not too far outside London - 5871 Bells Road London Ontario N6P 1P3 Canada
www.thelivingcentre.com       info@thelivingcentre.com                 ph. 519-652-9109

Gardening of all sorts book list compiled by Maureen Temme
(printable book list)

Beresford-Kroeger, Diane. A Garden for Life: the natural approach to designing, planting and maintaining a north temperate garden. 2004.
Beresford-Kroeger, Diane. The Global Forest. Viking Press, 2010. 398.242.Ber
Bradley, Fern Marshall (Ed.). Rodale’s Ultiimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. Rodale Press, 2009. This is a new update with a climate change statement. note: Rodale Press gardening books are always good ones.
Dunnett, Nigel and Noel Kingsbury. Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, 2004. Just because it’s interesting 635.9671 Dun.
Dunnett, Nigel. Rain Gardens: Managing Rainwater Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, April 25, 2004.
Elton, Sarah. Locavore: from farmers’ fields to rooftop gardens – how Canadians are changing the way we eat. Toronto: HarperCollins Canada. 2010.
Gussow, Joan Dye. This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader. Chelsea Green Publ., 2001.
Harris, Marjorie. Ecological Gardening: How to Garden with the Planet in Mind. (revised/updated) 2009.
Harris, Marjorie. Botanica North America : the illustrated guide to our native plants, their botany, history, and the way they have shaped our world. New York : HarperResource, c2003. r581.97 Har
Hemenway, Toby: Gaia’s Garden: a guide to home-scale permaculture. 2001 635.048 Hem
Johnson, Lorraine. City Farmer: adventures in urban food growing. Vancouver: Greystone Books, 2010. 630.91732 joh
Johnson, Lorraine. 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens. [updated from the 1999 edn.] Photographs byAndrew Leyerle. Vancouver/Toronto: Whitecap Books, 2005. 635.95171 Joh
Plants are in categories by growing conditions, as well as an alphabetical listing of them. She talks about
native-plant gardening, gives ethical gardener’s guidelines and lists native plant nurseries.
Johnson, Lorraine. The Ontario Naturalized Garden: the complete guide to using native plants. Toronto: Whitecap Books, 1995. 635.951713 Joh
Kingsolver, Barbara. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: a year of food life. HarperCollins, 2007.
Kingsolver, Barbara. Small Wonder. (a book of essays, including A Fist in the Eye of God, about genetic modification of seeds) HarperCollins, 2002.
Lima, Patrick. The Natural Food Garden: growing vegetables and fruits chemical-free. 635.0484 Lim.
Lovejoy, Ann. Ann Lovejoy’s organic garden design school : a guide to creating your own beautiful, easy-care garden. Emmaus, Pa. : Rodale, c2001. 635.0484 Lov
Lovejoy, Ann. Naturalistic gardening : reflecting the planting patterns of nature. Photographs by Allan
Mandell. Seattle, WA : Sasquatch Books, c1998. 635.951 Lov
Matthiesen, Peter (ed.) Courage for the Earth: writers, scientists, and activists celebrate the life and writing of Rachel Carson. Houghton Mifflin, 2007.
McGrath, Mike. Mike McGrath’s Book of Compost. Sterling Publishing Co., 2006. 631.875 MacG
Mollison, Bill. Permaculture: a designer’s manual. 631.584 Mol library only has one copy!
Mother Earth News magazine. Published 6 times a year. the library gets
Organic Gardening Magazine. Published monthly. the library gets
Palassio, Christina and Alana Wilcox, eds. The Edible City: Toronto’s food from farm to fork. Coach House Books, 2009. 641.309713 edi
Primeau, Liz. Front Yard Gardens: growing more than grass. Toronto: Firefly Books. 2003. Photography by Andrew Leyerle. LPL 635.9 Pri there’s an updated version, 2010
Rodale Press– anything about gardening is going to be good
Schaper, Donna. Grass Roots Gardening: rituals for sustaining activism. 2007.
Tukey, Paul. The Organic Lawn Care Manual. Storey Publishing, 2007. www.safelawns.org 635.9647 Tuk]
York, Karen. the Holistic Garden: creating spaces for health and healing. Toronto: Prentice Hall Canada, 2001. Community Gardens London Book List Page# 2

For the joy of having your own copy of a book ... books will either be there or you can order:
Mandala Books, 190 Central Avenue, just west off Richmond Street, London, Ontario - 519-432-9488 - www.mandalabookshop.com

Oxford Books, 262 Piccadilly Street just east off Richmond Street, London, Ontario.  Ph. 519-438-8336, or visit the website at http://bookmanager.com/1682091/?  

Attic Books for second hand and collectible books - another local, independent store - is at 240 Dundas Street, London.   Always worth visiting.  Phone:  519-432-7277.   www.atticbooks.ca/ or https://twitter.com/AtticBooksCA

And don't forget you can visit a Library - put 'organic vegetable gardening' in search engine          https://catalogue.londonpubliclibrary.ca   

 

Vegetable Gardening Resource Book List compiled by Maureen Temme

please note: not all these are "how to" books. There's a huge range of gardening books out there. Every one of them has something to offer ... sort of like 100 varieties of tomatoes. Browse and enjoy. These are here just because I've used them and like them.

Beck, Alison. The Canadian Edible Garden: vegetables, herbs, fruits & seeds. Lone Pine, 2008. LPL 635.0971 Bec
Beresford-Kroeger, Diane. A Garden for Life: the natural approach to designing, planting and maintaining a north temperate garden. 2004.
Bradley, Fern Marshall (Ed.). Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. Rodale Press, 2009. This is a new update with a climate change statement. note: Rodale Press gardening books are always good ones.
Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs: the essential guide to more than 125 of nature's most potent herbal remedies. Rodale Press, 2009. ..... has 'how to grow' information about each herb.
Chelsea Green Publisher's site: brilliant books on many topics - has garden videos of the gardeners whose books it publishes.
Coleman, Eliot. The New Organic Grower's Four-Season Handbook: how to harvest fresh organic fresh organic vegetables from your home garden all season long. Chelsea Green Publishing, 1992. LPLibrary 635.0484 Col
Coleman, Eliot. Winter Harvest Handbook: year-round vegetable production using deep-organic techniques and unheated greenhouses. Photography and illustrations by Barbara Damrosch (his wife and also a garden writer). Chelsea Green Publishing, 2009. LPL 635.0484 Col
Damrosch, Barbara and Eliot Coleman. The Four Season Farm Grdener's Cookbook. Workman Publishing, 2012

Elton, Sarah. Locavore: from farmers’ fields to rooftop gardens – how Canadians are changing the way we eat. Toronto: HarperCollins. 2010. LPL 641.300971 Elt .....note: Sarah has another book, Consumed: food for a finite planet, which is not a gardening book but is important. 2013. LPL
Fukuoka, Masanobu. One Straw Revolution. A New York Review Book, 2009. 978-1-59017-313-8 Garden "how to" combined with biography and buddhist-based philosophy. Fukuoka's ideas on integrative gardening are cited by gardeners interested in permaculture and organics. First published in 1978, reprinted in 2009. Fukuoka's land is still being farmed. http://www.onestrawrevolution.net/
The Gaia Book of Organic Gardening. Forward by P. Holden, Soil Assn of UK. London, England: Gaia Books, 2005. LPLibrary: 635.0484 Ryr
Gussow, Joan Dye. This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader. Chelsea Green Publ., 2001. LPL 635.0484 Gus Far beyond gardening, Gussow links to food issues.
Hemenway, Toby: Gaia’s Garden: a guide to home-scale permaculture. 2001 635.048 Hem
Jeavens, John. How to grow more vegetables: and fruits, nuts, berries, grains, and other crops than you ever thought possible. Berkeley, CA. Ten Speed Press, c. 2002. LPLibrary 635 Jea
Johnson, Lorraine. City Farmer: adventures in urban food growing. Vancouver: Greystone Books, 2010. 630.91732 joh
Kingsolver, Barbara. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: a year of food life. HarperCollins, 2007. LPL 641.0973 Kin
Kingston Community Gardens Network. Community Gardening 101. www.kingstoncommunitygardens.ca
Lima, Patrick. The Natural Food Garden: growing vegetables and fruits chemical-free. LPL 635.0484 Lim. this book appears in the library under two titles - I admit I come back to this one a lot!
McGrath, Mike. Mike McGrath’s Book of Compost. Sterling Publishing Co., 2006. 631.875 MacG
Mother Earth News magazine. Published 6 times a year. Library has it. Absolutely useful magazine, and it has a terrific website. www.motherearthnews.com 
Ogden, Shepherd. Straight Ahead Organic: a step-by-step guide to growing great vegetables in a less than perfect world. Chelsea Green Press, 1999. LPLibrary 635.0484 Ogd
Organic Gardening Magazine. Rodale Press. Published monthly. Really useful magazine. the library gets
Packer, Laurence. Keeping the Bees: why all bees are at risk and what we can do to save them. HarperCollins, 2010. LPLibrary 795.799 Pac 
Rodale Press – anything about gardening is going to be good
Thomas, Wendy. Getting Started on a Great Canadian Garden: ideas, information, inspiration. Prentice Hall Canada, 2001. 635.0961 Tho.
Whitman, Ann H. et al. Organic gardening for dummies. IDG Books Worldwide, 2001. LPL 635.0484 Whi

For the joy of having your own copy of a book ... books will either be there or you can order:
Mandala Books, 190 Central Avenue, just west or Richmond Street, London, Ontario - 519-432-9488 - www.mandalabookshop.com

Oxford Books, 262 Piccadilly Street just east off Richmond Street, London, Ontario.  Ph. 519-438-8336, or visit the website at http://bookmanager.com/1682091/?  

Attic Books for second hand and collectible books - another local, independent store - is at 240 Dundas Street, London.   Always worth visiting.  Phone:  519-432-7277.   www.atticbooks.ca/ or https://twitter.com/AtticBooksCA

And don't forget you can visit a Library -           https://catalogue.londonpubliclibrary.ca