Food Policy Council

KAMLOOPS FOOD POLICY COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting, December 05, 2012

 

PRESENT:

Paula Rubinson, co-Chair

Carole Hebden (minutes)

Nicole Beauregard, City of Kamloops, Parks Department

Maren Luciani, City of Kamloops, Planning Department

Mendel Rubinson, Farmers’ Market

Anne Grube, Farmers’ Market

Elaine Sedgman, Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners

Dave Whiting, Community Mapping, Thompson Shuswap Food Connections

Chandra KC, GIS

Daphane Nelson, Thompson Shuswap Chef-Farmer Collaborative

Robin Reid, TRU Faculty, Public Produce Project

Wendy Gardner, TRU Faculty

Donovan Cavers, City Councillor, Conscientious Catering

Shelaigh Garson, Community Gardens

Jacquelyne Foidart, Aboriginal Friendship Society

Sarah Harder, Urban Agriculturist

Deanna Hurstfield, SPIN Gardener

Scott Redgrove, District Parent Advisory Council

Dylan Houlihan, Urban Systems, BCSEA

Les Carty

 

REGRETS: Laura Kalina, co-Chair

Welcome and Introductions

MINUTES from October 2012 are available at http://kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com/

1)  City of Kamloops

(a)  Kamloops Agriculture Area Plan (AAP), M. Luciani, Planning Department

Public consultation Phase 1 is coming up in January or February

Consumers, producers, local retailers provide input

Roadshow 1: Soliciting feedback to issues identified related to local agriculture industry

Roadshow 2: soliciting input on strategies and actions to support local agriculture industry (public consultation phase 2 – feb./march

Background report is almost complete

Discussed the idea of AAP presentation (15 min. plus Q/A) at the January meeting or our AGM

(b) Urban Agriculture Plan, N. Beauregard, Parks Department

Food security and urban agriculture will be included as a chapter in the Social Plan.  The current (2008) Social Plan will be reviewed over 2013, a revision prepared early in 2014, final approvals end of 2014 and in 2015 policy adoption takes place.  KFPC will be included as a major partner in the consultation plan.

KFPC feedback provided to AAP has been referred to Urban Agriculture Plan

(c) Public Produce Project – evaluation of season’s activity is underway

 

2) Working Groups – Updates

(a)  Gleaning Program –D. Hurstfield (Members: D. Bone, E. Edwards, D. Hurstfield, R. Reid, Lisa Ritcey) – have met twice.  Decided to form a Society.  Are drafting a budget.  Seeking grants from City of Kamloops.  Model will be 1/3 picker: 1/3 owner: 1/3 non-profit.  Community Kitchen will benefit.  Open to fruit and other produce.

Q. (D. Nelson) – can farmers use the Gleaning Program given issues of shortage and affordability of pickers in our region?

A. question referred to working group.

Q. (M.Luciani) – Would picking produce on Lorne Street public produce site be a fit with Gleaning Program?

A. Yes

Comment by R.Reid – a paid coordinator is needed to ensure successful launch of this program.

Comment by D. Cavers – a paid coordinator is needed to identify trees

(b)      BC Election and Food Security – (Members: C. Hebden, D. Whiting, A. Grube, E. Edwards, D. Nelson).  Planning a questionnaire for all candidates.

Comment by M. Rubinson – invite candidates to KFPC meeting

(c)   Public Produce Project, E. Sedgman – debrief meeting was held with City.  Permanent signage is being developed.  Funding for a kiosk is needed for MacDonald Park.  Victoria St. location awaits design changes to facilitate sunlight exposure.  Discussion ensued regarding fall clean up and maintenance responsibilities.

(d)  A. Grube (i) Water Metering for urban food producers discussion of logistics, financial implications and other challenges (ii) Goji Berry Trail letter circulated; Parks & Rec Committee meets in March 2013. (iii) TNRD Planters – deferred to a future meeting.

 

3) Community Liaison Updates

W. Gardner (wgardner@tru.ca) is seeking an audience for TRU Ag Sci student poster sessions.  Suggestions included the Open House for AAP, the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets AGM March 1-3, KFPC AGM.  Contact her directly.

E. Sedgman – Parks & Rec City guide has various Master Gardener courses (soils, structures, seed planting).  April 19-20 free workshop on “organic methods for disease control”.

R. Reid – grant applications to analyze and map 80 survey returns.  United Way is interested in the results to gear some of their programs in strategic directions.

M. Rubinson – Farmers are resting now.  Winter farmers market locations are on the Kamlops Farmers Market Facebook page.

S. Garson – Community Garden registrations are completed and waitlists started.  Received city funding to finalize “Cultivating Community: A Guide to Starting a Community Garden” but the document will need desktop publishing.  Planning courses for springtime.  ICS website has been updated to include Community Gardens.  TRU has a culinary arts garden.  Thrive Festival in June 2013 at TRU will include a focus on Agriculture.

P. Rubinson –City of Chicago has rooftop beehives that help fund Arts Programs. GE-free BC is launching anti-GMO apple campaign and seeking volunteers – S. Harder volunteered.  Thanks to all who support organic producers.

D. Nelson (www.tscfc.org) – strategic planning now complete and identifying next steps.  AGM is Feb.  Received first grant application and it’s from ICS Community Kitchen Program.

4)  ROUND TABLE

A. Grube – Farmers Market awarding $500 to a horticulture student.

- BC Association of Farmers’ Markets March 1-3 AGM will be held in Kamloops at 540 Hotel.  They are seeking silent auction donations and sponsors.

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, January 23 at 5:00

Future Meetings: Feb. 20 and Apr.03. 

KAMLOOPS FOOD POLICY COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting, October 24, 2012

PRESENT:

Laura Kalina, co-Chair

Paula Rubinson, co-Chair

Carole Hebden (minutes)

Maren Luciani, City of Kamloops

Mendel Rubinson, Farmers’ Market

Anne Grube, Farmers’ Market

Dave Whiting, Community Mapping, Thompson Shuswap Food Connections

David Hoar, Open Door Group & Gardengate

Daphane Nelson, Thompson Shuswap Chef-Farmer Collaborative

Erin Edwards, Kamloops Public Produce Project, Kamloops Food Bank

Robin Reid, TRU Faculty, Public Produce Project

Chris McCuaig, Community Kitchens

Dede Bone, Community Kitchens

Sarah Harder, Urban Agriculturist

Deanna Hurstfield, SPIN Gardener

Jeff Conners, Phoenix Centre

Lisa Ritcey, Bear Aware Program

Nick Barry, TRU Student

Matt Greenwood

REGRETS: Nicole Beaureguard

Welcome and Introductions

MINUTES from September 5, 2012 are available at http://kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com/

1) Kamloops Agriculture Area Plan (AAP):

(a) Farm Tour Report, A. Grube – described some producer challenges with equipment transportation over rail crossings, need for temporary workers (pre-Christmas), the local food distribution system.

(b)  AAP Update, M. Luciani – Public consultation phase commences early December with a “road show” of presentations to interest groups/individuals and feedback gathered (KFPC will be included).   Clarified that the AAP is for commercial agriculture not urban agriculture but the Farmers Market is an area of overlap.  In 2013, the Social Planning Council starts to develop a Kamloops Urban Agriculture Plan.  KFPC input on the draft AAP Issues document was forwarded to J. Casorso.  Possibility of presenting the AAP draft plan at the KFPC AGM in Feb. 2013.  AAP meetings are open to the public.– refer to Agriculture Advisory Committee meetings for specific times and location.  ‘Like’ their facebook page for more information.

2) City of Kamloops, M. Luciani for N. Beaureguard

(a)   An updated Public Produce brochure was distributed.

(b)  Gleaning Program – N. Beaureguard and J. Casorso suggested a Working Group be struck to include 4 KFPC members.  The City will not run a Gleaning Program, but can participate as a partner.  Applying for a Social Planning Grant by November 13 deadline could be an initial action item.

ACTION: Gleaning Program Working Group was created.

Members are D. Bone, E. Edwards, D. Hurstfield, R. Reid and Lisa Ritcey from the City Bear Aware Program.

(c)     Signage at MacDonald Park – by Nov. 01, the City needs to know sign content and costs.

ACTION: E.Sedgman, L. Kalina and E. Edwards

3) Public Produce Project, L. Kalina

(a)  Final Report to be posted on KFPC website.  Over one year to complete.  Reads like a “Best Practices Report”.  Darrin Nordhal has included Kamloops as a chapter in his new book.

(b)  Applying for Social Planning Grants – to develop and deliver power point presentations that would train community groups in the implementation of public produce gardens throughout the city.  Also submitting an application to complete the community garden how-to manual.

 (c)   A. Grube requested that KFPC support another approach to the TNRD to plant food in the planters outside the Library/TNRD building.

ACTION:  L. Kalina to ask permission to present this idea at a TNRD Directors’ Meeting.

4) A. Grube

(a) Described current water metering rates and urged a special rating system for urban agriculturists.  M. Luciani suggested this idea be presented to the urban agriculture planning process.

(b) Renaming of W. St. Paul Street multi-use path to Goji Berry Trail in recognition of Chinese workers’ contribution to local food security.  Dried goji berries were sampled by members as A. Grube described their history and location and the support for renaming from the Kamloops Chinese Cultural Association.

ACTION: KFPC will submit a letter to the City requesting this name change.

5) BC Election – making food security a priority, C. Hebden

Call for a Working Group to develop a plan for KFPC that would elevate food policy on BC’s political agenda.  D. Whiting suggested the Ontario Local Food Act would be a good resource.

ACTION:  Working Group created.  Members are C. Hebden, D. Whiting, A. Grube, M. Greenwood, D. Nelson, and E. Edwards. C. Hebden to call first meeting.

6) Community Liaison Updates

Community Mapping, D. Whiting

Mapping continues to support Community Gardens and R. Reid’s work through TRU.

Food Bank, E. Edwards

(a) “Cost of Eating” report is out.  Encouraged members to read it.  Low income Canadians are very food insecure.  40% of food produced is wasted in the food management chain.

(b) Music Makes Meals November 10, Kamloops Conventions Centre.  Tickets are only $10 to hear 4 bands and help raise food money.

(c) Basics for Babies November 23 breakfast at Hotel 540 with proceeds going to baby food

(d) Trailer fire was a serious loss.  Will be applying for grants to construct a fully accessible client use area.

 Farmers’ Market, M. Rubinson and A. Grube – AGM was recently held.  Food bank donations were made by vendors.  Research reports are available for Wednesday and Saturday Farmers’ Markets.  These reports need to be put onto the internet for KFPC.

 Thompson Shuswap Chef-Farmer Collaborative, D. Nelson (www.tscfc.org) – Grants are available for C-F Collaborative members who have non-profit projects.  Application form is on their website.

Gardengate (Open Door Group), D. Hoar (http://www.opendoorgroup.org/)

(a) Pumpkins of Light – October 25

(b) Increasing by 12’ their greenhouse to accommodate seedlings.

(c) School tours of their program

(d) cold storage built last October, now have shelves filled with beets, carrots, onions, squash, potatoes.  Community Kitchens (D. Bone) thanked Gardengate for being their largest food donor.

Community Kitchens, D. Bone – need new stove.

ACTION: D. Bone and C. Hebden to prepare a grant proposal.

 Shuswap Thompson Organic Producers Association, P. Rubinson – urged members to support local farmers and resist GMO.

 

7) ROUND TABLE

R. Reid – is conducting a comprehensive survey of citizens who use the community gardens.  This data will link in with D. Whiting and C. KC mapping program.  More results will follow.

D. Bone – stressed the ongoing need to educate people on food preservation and preparation.  Stated that insurance coverage is a barrier to more people running community kitchens in our City.

D. Bone – a Food Swap will be held December 5.

 

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 at 5:00

 KFPC scheduled meetings in 2013 are Jan. 23, Feb. 20 and Apr.03.