In the 1970s, British Columbia produced about 86% of our vegetables. Today, the number is 43% for vegetables and about half for food in general. During the Second World War the region was essentially food self-sufficient, says Harold Steves in the Tyee’s Lots of Food, but for How Long?. We know we can do it, so why is our local food supply shrinking?
The most recent installment in the Good to Grow BC food series by David Tracey looks at our current state, and, who’s doing it better.
Vancouver has fewer than 2,000 community gardeners. Precise numbers are difficult to pin down, given the varying definition of the practice and the fact that most gardeners would rather plant a beet than fill out a survey. No matter how the actual numbers stack up, our ranks of community gardeners are tiny compared to a city like Berlin which has an estimated 80,000.
Even on the Canadian scale, we have room for improvement. Toronto has more than three times as many community gardeners as Vancouver. They’re supported by a city government which hires a full-time coordinator to help people grow, as well as non-profit organizations who rely on a history of good relations with city staff and the Food Policy Council.
Montreal, the urban agriculture capital of Canada, has more than 10,000 community gardeners. It also has zoning to protect shared growing spaces, city-hired teachers who help new growers get started, and notices sent out with utility bills each spring asking residents if they’re interested in a plot for the upcoming season.
Coming up in the series, Tracey will visit isolated and food secure Cuba, examining their successful urban farming programs.
BC’s home-grown food supply is shrinking. Who’s doing it better? – The Tyee, David Tracey
