August 17, 2006

Imported produce travels an average 3450 kilometres further and contributes 70 times more greenhouse gas emissions than local fresh produce.  One of the costs of choosing imported foods can be the demise of local and regional farms. With these facts in mind, the Community Garden Tour shows how buying local or growing your own produce today ensures a secure local food supply for the future.

“We know people must take from their food budget to make ends meet,” explains Catherine Schwartz-Mendez, Public Health Nutritionist. “We are also hearing about local farms that will be ceasing production. It seems that they just can’t compete and be profitable against international suppliers who don’t have the same labor and environmental standards as we enjoy.  When we see these signs that our district is losing the ability to feed itself, we should be very concerned.”

One way of providing food security, the availability and affordability of nutritious food for our residents, is to encourage people to renew their ability to feed themselves either individually or cooperatively. To do this, the Health Unit and the Neighbourhood Capacity Building Project work with local agencies and residents to organize Community Gardens and promote local food producers. Today’s Community Garden Tour shows off the success of local programs and the work of community members.

“But it doesn’t stop there, both individuals and organizations could incorporate edibles into their flower gardens and landscaping and donate extra produce to local food banks.  When local farmers are profitable, they often participate in gleaning programs,“ explains Matthew Roy, food security coordinator at the Neighbourhood Capacity Building Project. “These are all ways that we can work together to ensure everyone has food security.”

More information is available at the Health Unit website http://www.tbdhu.com/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/FoodSecurity/default.htm

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Community Garden Facts:
Year 2000: 3 gardens, 20 participants
Year 2006: 15 gardens, 100 participants
Average number of people one small garden plot can feed: 3.5

Community Gardens:
o St. Luke’s
o Little Lions
o Lakehead University
o Castlegreen
o Kinderplace
o CMHA
o LPH
o Monty Parks
o Ecole Superior
o Aboriginal Head Start
o Regent St. Park
o Academy
o Westfort
o County Park
o RFDA/ANC Garden Project
 
There is also a Community Garden at the Public Library in Schreiber.

To Join:
Call TBDHU 625-5956 to get your name added to the list for next year. Plots are assigned starting in February of each year.

Locally Grown Food:
Number of local farms in Thunder Bay District:
o 1996: 307 vs. 2001: 238 (Census Canada-Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)

To get to Thunder Bay:
o Imported fresh fruits and vegetables travel more than 3500km
o Local fresh produce travels less than 50km
o Difference: 3450km
Less travel time means less pollution which means less impact on climate change
Local produce is picked within a few days so it’s more nutritious and loaded with flavour than produce that was picked unripe and has travelled for many days
Keeps money in the local economy, creates jobs, supports farmers, major contribution to food security in Thunder Bay

Wild Foods:
Thunder Bay has plentiful sources of wild produce, fish and game – ask around.
 
Partners: 
- Neighbourhood Capacity Building Project (NCBP)
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU)
- Community Garden Leaders
- Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA)
- EcoSuperior
- Food Action Network (FAN)

Cost of Food information

Get involved in other Food Security Programs:
Grow-A-Row, Community Kitchens, Gleaning, Good Food Box
Call TBDHU 625-5956 or visit: http://www.tbdhu.com/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/FoodSecurity/