Community

The City of Vancouver has produced a set of urban agriculture guidelines for residential buildings four storeys or more.

Created through a collaborative process with the community, developers and the Vancouver Food Policy Council, these guidelines are a valuable tool for planning and designing urban agriculture into new residential developments in Vancouver.

On January 20th, these guidelines were presented to the mayor and council. The report is available on line
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20090120/documents/p2.pdf

Cool stuff!

24 HOURS: Chickens on your block?
By MATT KIELTYKA, 24 HOURS

Backyard hens are making their way up city council's pecking order.

Following their meeting Wednesday night, the Vancouver Food Policy Council will pitch council to change city bylaws to allow residents to raise chickens at home for food.

"There is a lot of interest around this issue," said Trish Kelly of the food policy council.

"It goes with the trend of eating local food and having things like community gardens."

Coun. Andrea Reimer sees it as a great way for people to access local food.

"Obviously it's not for everybody, but I can't imagine why you wouldn't want as much food produced within city limits as possible," she said.

"I've casually spoken with most of the councillors and they're broadly supportive of the concept."

http://andreareimer.typepad.com/in_the_news/2009/01/courier-playing-chic...

January 21, 2009
COURIER: Playing Chicken
Jeff Nield
Vancouver Courier

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

From curbside on a brisk autumn morning on a quiet Mount Pleasant block just west of Main Street, a neatly kept house gives no hint that illegal activity is taking place out back. But, in a city rife with well concealed grow-ops, local residents know that looks can be deceiving. Mary, the retired owner of the property, is as non-threatening as her house, and on first impression she wouldn't fit anyone's stereotype of a lawbreaker.

The next Food Policy Council meeting will be

Wednesday January 14th 6-8:30 pm
Strathcona Room at City Hall

We have a packed agenda, as usual, and guests are welcome.

Claire Gram, Regional Coordinator of Vancouver Coastal Health's Healthy Communities & Community Food Security program will be presenting about what VCH is up to.

By making sure that all people, at all times, have access to adequate amounts of safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate foods, produced in an environmentally sustainable way and provided in a manner that promotes dignity*, Vancouver Coastal Health is working towards a healthier tomorrow for communities, families and individuals.

Vancouver Coastal Health is working in partnership with communities across the region to address food security issues. Currently, there are 8 local Community Food Action Initiative (CFAI) committees in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

VFPC member Melanie Kurrein was featured in the Vancouver Sun recently. Melanie is a Community Nutritionist working for Vancouver Coastal Health. Her current role as Citywide Nutritionist involves working with Vancouver schools and the Vancouver School Board to help improve children's access to healthy foods at school.

The article is about nutrition and the economic downturn.

Home cooking keeps our eating healthy and cheap
Nutritionist says some simple planning can stretch the food budget a long way
Amy O'Brian, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, January 02, 2009

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=1744b49b-3502-4b26...

It was a packed room tonight at the monthly VFPC meeting! Thanks to all our guests from UBC, Environmental Youth Alliance, SPEC, and the social planning department.

Make sure to check back soon for notes from this month's VFPC meeting, including the skinny on the Environmental Youth Alliance's presentation to us, Alex Chisholm's study of community desires around community gardens, and a poll of your thoughts on Backyard Chickens!

trish kelly