Agriculture and Climate Change: A Search for Low Greenhouse Gas Food

With the change of seasons come locally available foods. For example, spring yields rhubarb; summer ushers in a bounty of fruits and vegetables; apples rule autumn while winter supplies root vegetables. Imagine if all this were to change.

By 2050, global agro-ecosystems are projected to undergo rising temperatures and CO2 levels, erradic water availability and an increase of extreme weather events. Join presenters Tara Moreau and Tegan Adams who will introduce the science of climate change, examine the projected impacts on farming, highlight solutions for regional agriculture and explore individual actions for a low carbon diet.

Where: SPEC Demonstration Centre (2150 Maple Street, Vancouver BC) (www.spec.bc.ca/)

When: 10 July 2010 (2-4 PM)

Registration is $10.

Registration is available at www.spec.roundtablelive.org/events.

Note: space is limited to 30 participants to allow for interactive dialogue. All funds go to SPEC’s School Gardens Project, which promotes sustainable food choices through hands-on agriculture experiences in Vancouver area schools.

Supporters
Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

Job Posting: Sous Chef at Potluck Cafe

Potluck Cafe and Catering at 30 West Hastings St in Vancouver is seeking a Sous Chef.

Hours of Work: 40 hours/week on average

Salary: Competitive Salary + Staff Benefits Package

Primary Duties: The Sous Chef position is a 100% hands on food production role that also includes comprehensive kitchen management responsibilities. Under the guidance of Chef and Executive Director, the Sous Chef is responsible for the planning and execution of all aspects of Potluck's busy 'food operations' including corporate catering, community meal programs and the café. The Sous Chef is responsible for ensuring that all food operations are efficient, well organized, and meet food safe standards while guiding the creation of innovative menus according to Potluck nutritional, sustainability and budget goals. The successful candidate will integrate well into the Potluck mix working to ensure a supportive work environment for all food operations staff which includes individuals from all walks of life and abilities.

For information on qualifications: View the job posting.

To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter to Heather O'Hara, Executive Director at heather [at] potluckcatering.com. Only candidates invited for an interview will be contacted.

Vancouver Community Garden Seeking to Connect with Community Kitchen

The new EYA community garden at the corner of Raymur St. and Malkin Ave in Vancouver would like to connect with one local community kitchen on a trial basis to provide some herbs, greens and tomatoes. The ideal kitchen would be interested in food as well as be able to have at least one member come by to help pick the food the day before or the day of the community kitchen. This is the first year for the EYA community garden so the supply won't be huge and this will be a trial to see how the process works and develops.

If your kitchen is interested, please contact Samantha at: samantha [at] eya.ca or call 604-689-4446. Click here for more information about the EYA community garden.

2010 List of Free, Low Cost, and Community Meals in Vancouver

This list was compiled by the Health Information and Referral Centre at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) as a source list for use by staff at VCH and other community organizations. Click here for a .pdf version with an MS Excel attachment.

Albert Battistoni Awarded the 2010 W.J. VanDusen Community Service Award

Albert poses with with Collingwood Neighbourhood House staff members Paula, Cindy, Kulwant, and Nancy. Photo courtesy United Way of the Lower Mainland.

Albert Battistoni has been volunteering at Collingwood Neighbourhood House seven days a week for the last twenty years. Albert has many volunteer duties...and all of us who use the kitchen are especially grateful for his high standards for food safety. He ensures that all program staff and volunteers, as well as visiting groups, adhere to very strict cleanliness standards in and around the kitchen.

Albert's concern for food safety standards comes in part from his extensive experience in the food industry. His family owned and operated the Venice Bakery, the first Italian bakery in Vancouver (artifacts from historic Strathcona, the Venice Bakery, and a few of Albert's stories will be featured at an upcoming exhibit at the nearby Italian Cultural Centre's Il Museo).

Albert says the secret to a long and successful life is to keep moving, keep laughing, and stay connected to others. We are very proud that he is the 2010 recipient of the W.J. VanDusen Community Service Award. Please click below to watch a little video about his contributions to the Renfrew-Collingwood community.

Quest Fundraiser - Saturday June 26th

Uprising Breads Bakery, located at 697 Venables, will be hosting a fundraiser to promote Quest Food Exchange.

Quest is British Columbia’s largest food exchange program. Their approach to rescuing food and reducing hunger involves collecting and distributing quality food - overstock, mislabelled, or near-expired products that would otherwise go to waste - and redirecting it to those in need via four food-assistance programs.

The fundraiser will be held on Saturday June 26th from 9-3pm. There will be a limited quantity of Quest cookies; all proceeds go directly to Quest. A raffle will be held with the first prize winner receiving ‘bread for a year’ from Uprising Bakery. Fun door prizes will be given away too!

Companion Planting Workshop - June 27

The World In A Garden is pleased to present the first of the 2010 Seed to Table Workshop Series.

The first workshop in the nine part Seed to Table Series, explore the techniques and benefits of companion planting. Learn how to naturally enhance your garden this summer with mutually beneficial plant species. Take home seeds and a companion planting chart from West Coast Seeds and a copy of Organic Gardening magazine! Held at Vancouver's most fascinating urban agriculture project:

The World In A Garden, W. 57th Ave. & E. Blvd. 11 am - 1 pm.
$20.
Snacks and coffee provided.
All proceeds go to The World In A Garden.

We're looking forward to learning with you on the 27th of June. Register today as space is limited!

Happy Gardening,
The World In A Garden
--
Lily Canan Reynolds
"The World In A Garden"
Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator Intern

Jewish Family Service Agency
305-1985 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6J 4Y3
tel. 604-257-5151 fax. 604-257-5148
lcananreynolds [at] jfsa.ca

Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House Food Activist Job Posting

Job Position: Food Activist 21 hours/week through 31st March 2011 - Thursdays through Saturdays.
Depending on funding, this may become a fulltime, long term position.

The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House [DTES NH] is seeking a part time
Food Activist who will oversee the formal creation of the DTES Right to Food Network, born of our Food Philosophy, food related partnerships and multiple nutritional initiatives since 2004. [Please see our website for further information.]

About the DTES Right to Food Network
The working goal of the DTES Right to Food Network is to ensure that all DTES residents have demonstrated food sovereignty regardless of age, ancestry or income within a local DTES food economy. Its objectives are to increase DTES residents’ awareness of their legal, moral and political Right to Food by drawing upon local, national and international examples of comparable movements and to strengthen DTES residents’ economic capacity by supporting the call for a living wage/adequate housing while investigating potential Community Economic Development initiatives which can contribute to an affordable, accessible, sustainable and culturally appropriate DTES Food Economy.

Roles and Responsibilities
• Coordinate Right to Food Network’s nutritional outreach within the DTES and beyond including liaising with other Vancouver Food Security Networks.
• Employ existing local gap analysis/reports and review international case studies of models for Food Justice and Community Economic Development using Right to Food principles.
• Oversee and expand existing DTES Neighbourhood House Right to Food programming [eg Roving Community Kitchen, Banana Beat] to include Children/Youth Community Kitchens and other creative initiatives.
• Develop effective evaluation tools for Right to Food programs and reflect DTES residents’ priorities and feedback in programming.
• Coordinate the creation and distribution of our Right to Food Zine.
• Represent the DTES NH upon request.

Qualifications
• Minimum 3 years experience working in a similar inner city non profit environment or relevant comparable experience.
• Extensive knowledge of international Right to Food/Food Security movement.
• Familiarity with Four Pillars, especially Harm Reduction.
• WCB First Aid Level 1
• Food Safe Level 1 and 2
• Class 5 Driver’s License
• Class 4 Driver’s License an asset

Skills/Abilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated commitment to beauty and fun
• Understanding and practice of confidentiality and privacy
• Ability and enthusiasm to work in a team
• Supervisory, program and evaluation skills
• Demonstrated understanding of non-judgmental behavior
• Demonstrated comfort working with people of all ages, genders, ancestries, sexual orientations, abilities, occupations and classes
• Mature organizational skills

Reporting
The Food Activist reports directly to the Executive Director.

Compensation
$20/hour with benefits.

How to Apply & Closing Date for Applications
Please email your resume to johanna [at] potluckcatering.com.
The closing date for applications is Monday July 5th.
We thank all applicants for their interest.

Due to administrative constraints only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Food Security Institute is Hiring

Jaime and Crecien potting up sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes).

Thanks to our wonderful Rooftop Garden leadership team, the garden is in full swing. We have been harvesting herbs, radishes, mixed Asian greens, and heirloom varieties of lettuce for use in our community food programs. Rooftop Garden drop-in time (Wednesday evenings 5-7pm) is the perfect time to enjoy our food-producing urban oasis. Look around, take in the sights and smells, share some new gardening skills, and help out our community by contributing some time to the garden!

Scroll down to see a few recent rooftop photos.

Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Security Practicum Opportunity

Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute
c/o Collingwood Neighbourhood House
5288 Joyce. St, Vancouver BC
V5R 6C9, 604-435-0323

Term: 10-week summer student position

Level of education: Secondary or post-secondary with an interest in planning, geography, social work, environmental sciences, agriculture/land and food systems,
anthropology.

Projected start date: Last week of June 2010

Description of Organization: The Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute (RC FSI) is a non-profit organization established in 2002. We support and encourage initiatives focused on organic growing, healthful cooking, harvesting, sharing of food knowledge and resources, leadership development, and capacity building. The RCFSI works in collaboration with Collingwood Neighbourhood House to develop community learning, leadership, and networking around the issues of food security and food sovereignty through a community development model.

We believe that food is a human right, and that the “right to food” means more than meeting basic nutritional requirements. We use food as a meeting point for community capacity building, inter-cultural and inter-generational understanding, and making Renfrew Collingwood a place of safety and belonging.

Description of Roles and Responsibilities:
• Assist the Coordinator in promoting and developing food and food growing programs and resources, including rooftop gardening, community kitchens, and mason bee monitoring
• Facilitate or co-facilitate cooking and food preservation workshops with participants
• Work with volunteers and leadership teams to harvest and/or collect locally produced fruits and vegetables for distribution to low-income residents
• Document residents’ food traditions through photography, interviews, and storytelling transcription. Examples include immigrants’ gardening practices and Aboriginal food traditions
• Help map community food resources and facilitate participatory initiatives through volunteer support and leadership teams
• Assist in hosting community celebrations and educational events around organic food growing and sustainable food systems
• Assist in website/blog content development and maintenance
• Document and evaluate progress of work through weekly reports to supervisor

Specific Qualifications: Due to restrictions from HRSDC funding, the suitable candidates must be 15-30 years of age, legally able to work in Canada, and have been in full-time studies in the previous year and be returning to full time studies in the fall of 2010.

Preferred Qualifications Include:
• Knowledge and passion for food issues and urban agriculture
• Familiarity with "food security" and "food sovereignty" issues
• Experience working with/leading volunteer teams
• Organizational and time management skills
• Willingness to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings
• Ability to work independently
• Preference will be given to persons living in the Renfrew-Collingwood Neighbourhood

Training Provided:
• Program development and delivery
• Community development models for sustainable agriculture practices, food sharing, and related issues
• Skills around gardening, food preservation, leadership, and participatory workshop facilitation
• Opportunity to achieve Food Safe Level 1 certificate

Compensation: $8.50/hr + benefits (35 hrs/week; 10 weeks)
This position is subject to funding through HRSDC Canada.

Closing Date: June 17 2010

We thank all individuals who apply for this position, and will be contacting shortlisted candidates directly. No phone calls please.

Please send resume and cover letter to foodsecurity[at]cnh.bc.ca
Attention: Stephanie Lim.


Rainbow chard seedling. Notice the remains of its cotyledons (baby leaves) (May 27).


Icicle radishes are ready for harvesting, interplanted with mixed heirloom carrots. The first feathery carrot leaves are popping up (May 25).


Mixed heirloom lettuce--transplants from thinning (May 26).


Lush perennial herbs: rosemary, thyme, flowering chives, lovage, oregano, lemon verbena, parsley (May 15).


Mixed heirloom lettuces prior to thinning. May 26.

Career Opportunity: Executive Director

CAREER OPPORTUNITY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Collingwood Neighbourhood House


Does this Sound Like You?

If you are a motivated self-starter who lives or works in the Renfrew Collingwood neighbourhood of Vancouver, this opening may be for you. If you are confident, organized, and a visionary leader with outstanding leadership abilities and interpersonal skills, this may be the career for you.


About Collingwood Neighbourhood House

Over the last 23 years Collingwood Neighbourhood House has grown into a large multi-service organization serving a neighbourhood of 48,000 people, 70% who have English as a second language. We offer over 165 programs and services in areas of childcare, family support, settlement services, youth leadership, senior supports, culture, recreation, education, and community development. Our approach is to build on the capacities of the people and institutions in our neighbourhood and to develop community leadership. Currently, the neighbourhood house has 118 staff, 215 volunteers, and 65 collaborative partners who assist in developing and delivering broad based services and initiatives created and led by neighbourhood residents, and institutions.


Our Values and Beliefs

• Cooperation and mutual respect among people;
• Self-reliance of individuals and the empowerment of people and the Collingwood community as a whole;
• Social justice and equitable treatment for all individuals;
• Accountable to the community and responsive to its changing needs;
• Full participation of all peoples in social, cultural, and economic life of the community;
• Valuing and recognizing the work and accomplishments of staff and volunteers and providing ongoing support, feedback, and learning opportunities;
• Resident involvement in problem-solving and decision-making;
• Integration, collaboration, and co-operation among service providers within the organization and the Collingwood community;
• Diversity and multiculturalism.


The Responsibilities

The Executive Director is responsible to the Board of Directors and works with the Directors Team to further the goals and direction of the CNH Strategic Plan. This is a management position and includes Board Support, Strategic Planning, Community Research, Community Issue Resolution, Community and Neighbourhood Development, Leadership Development, Public Relations, Human Resources Support and Mentoring, Government Relation and Advocacy, Finance and Fundraising, and Systems Maintenance.


The Ideal Candidate

A contagious passion for capacity-building and inclusive community relations, a commitment to the beliefs of inclusion and respect, a desire to work with our community partners, and an understanding of our unique neighbourhood and its needs are necessary for success as the Executive Director. Good communication skills, both oral and written, as well as a good command of the English language, both written and oral are required. This is a full time permanent position, but job-sharing proposals may be entertained. Proposals by those interested in being mentored into the position are also welcome.


How to Find Out More

If this sounds like the position for you, please send an introductory letter in confidence to EDSelection [at] cnh.bc.ca on or before Monday, June 14, 2010.
All those who express an interest will receive further information about Collingwood Neighbourhood House, the Executive Director’s job description, and further information about applying.