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

Seeking Composting Volunteers

Are You an Experienced Backyard Composter?

The City is looking for a handful of experienced composters to be part of a really interesting project this summer.

As part of an initiative to encourage backyard composting, the City will be working with 20 families in two small (4 block) areas in eastside neighbourhoods. In Grandview Woodlands the City is setting up a Compost Resource Team where the 20 participants receive expert instruction at bi-weekly workshops and field trips. In Renfrew Collingwood the City is delivering compost bins to the door and volunteers are providing Bin Doctor “house calls” to the 20 pilot participants.

Do you want to be part of this project?

Do you have time this summer to help out? We have some immediate volunteer opportunities as well as additional opportunities in July. Orientation will be included for all events.

Assessment and Recruitment Survey in Renfrew-Collingwood

Thursday June 16 – 5-8:30 PM
Sunday June 19 – Noon-4 PM

This week we are going door-to-door in the 100 home areas administering a 5-minute questionnaire survey on backyard composting. In the course of the survey, we also recruit the 20 participants in the pilot. Lunch and snacks included.

Bin Distribution Event in Grandview-Woodland

Thursday June 23 – 4:30 – 8 PM

Pilot participants come to pick up their compost bins and receive an orientation. Volunteers support staff with specific tasks during the event: showing participants how to weigh material going into their bins, etc.

Bin Distribution Event in Renfrew-Collingwood

Saturday June 25 – 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday June 26 – Noon – 4 PM

Staff will deliver compost bins to participating homes. Volunteers will accompany staff and provide participants with instruction on how to assemble and use the bins.

Curbside Material Weighing

Monday June 20, 5-8:30 PM

As part of the pilot we will weigh participants’ curbside carts and recycling containers. Volunteers will help to roll carts onto scales (no heavy lifting) and record data. This will also take place two other times during the pilot.

For more details and to apply, email Tamara at tshulman@eba.ca or for more information visit this website.

Natural Pest Control Workshop @ South Van NH

Everyone is invited to the next Food Security workshop presented by South Vancouver Neighbourhood House. There is space for 40 people.


WHAT’S IN YOUR CUPBOARD?

A Workshop on Natural Pest Control

Don't feel discouraged by insect damage in your garden! Join Estelle Bogoch, horticulturist, for a hands-on workshop in which we'll make two natural products for you to take home. Learn how to control insect problems in your garden without damaging the environment, and have a fun morning as well.

Saturday June 11th, 10 A.M. – 12 P.M. at the Nancy Styles Hall, Orchard Park, 5988 Nanaimo St & 45th Ave

Preregistration is required. Register at the SVNH front desk; by emailing foodsecurity@southvan.org; or by calling 604-324-6212

Cost: By Donation

Free Compost Bins, Collingwood Days, Summer Canning Workshops, Summer Employment Opportunity

Kimchi workshop.

Collingwood Days is our big annual community festival and is coming up this weekend. There will be lots of activities for people of all ages including a BMX trick show, rock climbing wall, live performances (including Hybrid Movement), face painting, Seniors' Strawberry Tea, and more.

This year's Food Security booth will feature seed and plant sales, volunteers to answer to your gardening questions, heritage garden plant displays, raffle prizes, healthy snack demonstrations, canning information, composting information, and lots of other fun stuff.

Carleton School (3250 Kingsway at Joyce St.)
Saturday June 4
11am-5pm.


If you live in Renfrew-Collingwood and would like to start composting, you can partcipate in our summer compost study and get yourself a very fine FREE compost bin! Click on the poster below for more details, or visit our Collingwood Days booth to find out more in person.

June Canning Dates

June canning workshops will be held at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (5288 Joyce St.).

Rhubarb Chutney
Wednesday June 8
1-4pm

Seasonal Fruit Jam
Wednesday June 15
1-4pm

And don't forget that Community Kitchen is always the last Wednesday of the month from 5-8:30pm.

Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Security Practicum Opportunity

We're hiring!

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

Term: July 8-September 2, 2011 (8 weeks)

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

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 RC FSI 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 2011.

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

• Ability to work independently and in groups

• Willingness to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings

• 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 related to gardening, food preservation, leadership, and participatory workshop facilitation

• Opportunity to obtain Food Safe Level 1 certificate

Compensation
$13.50/hr + benefits (35 hrs/week)
This position is subject to funding through HRSDC Canada.

Closing Date
June 13, 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@cnh.bc.ca
Attention: Stephanie Lim.