June Snapshots, Farm to School Video, Employment Opportunities

Harvesting armfuls of organic kale and mint from the Rooftop Garden...and don't forget the cookie!


Organic rhubarb from the Rooftop Garden.


Don't play with your food?


The deliciousness of our rhubarb chutney is not captured by this photograph.


Unloading bricks at Cheyenne Avenue Garden (salvaged from a Depression-era fireplace and chimney that had been renovated).


Pumped about jam!


Pumped about jam--more!


As part of the Collingwood Days festival, we raffled off 7 "Heritage Garden" baskets. Each basket featured four important plants from different food traditions from around the world: Aboriginal, Chinese, Filipino, Italian, Latin American, South Asian, and "Edible Landscaping."


King of the Plant Sale.


And a glorious plant sale it was.


Food Security info booth @ Collingwood Days.


West Coast Seeds helps us make organic gardening affordable for local residents.


Our volunteers are among the happiest volunteers.

Farm to School Program

Graham Bruce Elementary, Windermere Secondary, and Queen Alexandra Elementary partnered on this Farm to School pilot to connect schools with farmers and farm-fresh food. The farm-to-table project engages diverse players: chefs; teachers; children; parents; farmers, and; community volunteers. This urban farming project grows food on school board land abd connect that work with learning opportunities for students. Secondary school culinary arts students prepare a well balanced selection of salad bar choices for nearby elementary school lunches with the harvest. As parents help select each meal their children to learn more about making healthy eating choices. School communities benefit from a program that supports and strengthens the local food system and reduces the system’s carbon footprint, while improving child nutrition, and offering opportunity to enhance student skills and knowledge about the environment, food systems and their own good health.

Click here to watch the video!

Employment Opportunities

1. Part-time Job: COOK & FOOD RESOURCE COORDINATOR - PRE & POSTNATAL SERVICES (Burnaby)

Application deadline: June 24, 2011 at 4:00pm

Burnaby Family Life has a part-time position available beginning July 2011, working 21-25 hours per week (Monday through Thursday), planning, purchasing, preparing lunch meals and clean up for their Pre & Postnatal program.

For more information about the job: View the job description.

Submit your letter and resume to: Lisa Lothian Supervisor, Pre & Postnatal Services Burnaby Family Life. Email: llothian [at] burnabyfamilylife.org or Fax: 604-524-4153

2. Part-time Job: DTES KITCHEN TABLES NUTRITIONAL OUTREACH TEAM (Vancouver)

Application deadline: Thursday, June 30, 2011

Potluck Café Society has 2 part time jobs available for the DTES Kitchen Tables Project Outreach Team. More details in this job description.

To Apply: Please send your resume by email to Johanna Li, johanna [at] potluckcatering.com or drop off your resume in person to the Potluck Café at 30 West Hastings Street between 9 am and 2:30 pm Monday to Friday.


3. Volunteer - COMMUNITY KITCHEN CHILDMINDING ASSISTANT (Vancouver)

Britannia Community Centre is looking for volunteers to assist with childcare for up to 10 children during their community kitchens, during the times 2-5pm on these dates - July 2, July 16, July 30, Aug 6, Aug 20, Sept 3, Sept 17 and Oct 1, 16, and 19.

They're looking for individuals who genuinely enjoy engaging with children in a safe, meaningful, fun way. Good communication skills and confidence and comfort working around children is beneficial.

For qualifications and more details: Please refer to the volunteer description on the Britannia Community Centre website.

To volunteer, please contact: Ian Marcuse, Community Kitchen Coordinator at 604-718-5895 or gwfcnetwork [at] gmail.com


4. Job Posting - COMMUNITY KITCHEN COORDINATOR (Mission)

Application deadline: June 27, 2011

Missions Kitchens is looking for a person who is passionate about sharing food preparation and preserving skills to be the Coordinator for the Heritage Kitchens. The Coordinator must have Food Safe Level 1, great organizational skills, and superb communication skills. The Coordinator will work closely with the Coordinator of the Skill Building kitchens (Wednesdays) for scheduling, networking, and promoting the kitchens. The Heritage Kitchens are on Saturdays so availability on that day is key, with some participation at other events, like Celebrate Mission and Farmers Markets. The role requires about 30 hours per kitchen, with 6 Heritage Kitchens from July to October. The remuneration for this role is approximately $2500.00.

For more details: Read the job description.

Please submit your resume and expression of interest to: Elizabeth Thomas: eatwrite [at] telus.net