14. Edible Garden Project

Organization Information

Organization Name

Edible Garden Project

Mission and Vision of Organization

Mission

To work together to meet the grassroots needs of our neighbours, especially our most vulnerable residents, to build a safe, healthy, and strong community.

Vision

Our vision is an inspired culture that celebrates and experiences growing and sharing fresh, healthy food for all in the North Shore community.

Guiding Principles + Values

• To cultivate a network of people growing and sharing local food on the North Shore
• To increase access to fruits, vegetables, and garden space for those most in need on the North Shore
• To increase land used for fruit and vegetable production on the North Shore
• To increase knowledge and skills relating to food gardening, thereby increasing community capacity to grow and share locally grown fruits and vegetables
• To advise on and support policy development around urban agriculture

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Cindy Wei
• Email: schools@ediblegardenproject.com
• Phone: 647.964.3888
• Address: 225 2nd St E, North Vancouver, BC, V7L1C4
• Website: [ http://ediblegardenproject.com/]

Preferred Method of Contact

• Best method(s) to contact: Email
• Preferred platform(s) for project meetings: Email, Phone, Zoom, Text
• Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
• Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons

Project Description

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

The Edible Garden Project (EGP) is a program based within the North Shore Neighbourhood House focused on food security and sustainability. We connect people with fresh, healthy food by cultivating a network that grows and shares food while supporting sustainable regional agriculture. Urban green spaces (i.e. gardens and farms) provide multifunctional solutions based in nature for cities to help mitigate and adapt to climate change. Additionally, they create a sense of belonging, cultural identity and social cohesion for community members.

One of the main pillars of our organization is education. We strive to connect with students of all ages across the North Shore to deliver meaningful gardens-related education. We aim to connect the community with local food systems by getting them immersed in the process of growing food and maintaining gardens. Throughout the years, the Edible Garden Project has been supporting elementary and high schools across North Vancouver by delivering hands-on programming out of school garden spaces. This program (the Edible Garden Education Program) has reached hundreds of students across North Vancouver, and aims to connect students and teachers with local food systems by empowering them to steward their school's garden spaces. A consistent challenge with our in-school programming is the sustainability and maintenance of school garden spaces beyond the scope of our program. It is often difficult for schools to maintain their gardens spaces in a sustainable manner without external guidance. This has been identified as a key issue in the long-term sustainability of school garden spaces, and the Edible Garden Project has partnered with other community organizations to create resources for sustainable school gardens.

Main Project Activities and Expected Deliverable(s)

• Students will first review the barriers in schools to sustainable garden maintenance, and research case studies of successful gardens projects.
• Students will then review existing resources for school gardens and identify best practices from local experts RE: school gardens maintenance.
• Students will then design a workshop highlighting these best practices and providing teachers with strategies for engaging students and the school community in long-term gardens sustainability.

Work to happen online or in person?

• Combination of in-person and online. Sometimes I will be on the farm or doing programming without reliable access to a cellular device, thereby making it difficult to reach me for a few hours at a time.

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Research and communication
• Basic knowledge/interest in local food systems
• Organization

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• No

Is a criminal record check required?

• No

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

• Students can volunteer with our education programs (fall 2021) in schools, or at Loutet Farm.
• Students are also welcome to learn more about urban farming at our drop-in volunteering sessions, harvests, or markets (https://ediblegardenproject.com/volunteer/).

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

• TBD

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Flexible Learning Session: meeting with EGP's Education Coordinator, discussion of organization and project scope.