Overview
Project Title
Can You Dig It: Community Garden Environmental Scan
Organization Name
Public Health Association of BC
Related Course Concepts
Food justice, Food security, Food insecurity, Asset based community development
Organization Information
Organization Name
Public Health Association of BC
Mission and Vision of Organization
The Public Health Association of BC is a voluntary, non-profit, non-government, member driven organization that provides leadership to promote health, well-being and social equity. We fulfill our mission through advocacy, collaboration, education and research and do this work though the spectrum of public health practice; including prevention, promotion, protection and policy.
The Board of Directors is composed of public health leaders from various locales including Health Authorities, the Ministry of Health, post-secondary institutions, and the non-profit sector. The Association was founded in 1953 and has close to 500 members.
In 2019, a culmination of a two-year effort resulted in PHABC's successful application for charitable status. PHABC is now a registered charity and all funds donated will support our efforts to create a safe, healthy and fair British Columbia for all.
Vision
A fair and healthy British Columbia for all.
Mission
PHABC promotes health, wellbeing and equity for all British Columbians through leadership in public health.
Approach
As a member-driven organization, we fulfill our mission through advocacy, collaboration and engagement activities, education, and research throughout the spectrum of public health practice and systems including prevention, promotion, protection and policy.
Identified Priorities
Eliminating poverty; reducing health/socioeconomic inequities; addressing climate change and healthy environments; contributing to a sustainable, equitable economy; and preventing violence.
Guiding Principles + Values
PHABC has four guiding principles to our work:
- Health surveillance, evidence and innovation;
- Monitor performance and continuous improvement;
- Equity;
- Working together.
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person(s): Aaren Topley
- Email: prov [dot] managerCYDI [at] phabc [dot] org]
- Phone: 250-885-7752
- Address: Victoria
- Website: [cydi.ca]
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Preferred platform(s) for project meetings: Email, Phone, Zoom, Text
- Preferred platform(s) for collaboration and student meetings: Email, Zoom
- Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
- Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons
- Work to happen online or in person: Online
Project Description
Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?
Can You Dig It (CYDI) transforms communities by creating sustainable, inclusive and beautiful neighbourhoods in the form of community food growing spaces. Access to community food growing spaces can lead to stronger, more vibrant communities and a secure food supply for everyone. This program aims to ensure all people have equal access to these inclusive growing spaces by amplifying work that is already happening in municipalities through the promotion of regional and cross-municipal learning and network-building opportunities.
LFS350 will work with Can You Dig Provincial Manager, Aaren Topley to develop an environmental scan of community gardens in BC. This scan will include: Google and Facebook searches of community gardens, and inputting the relevant data to an excel sheet. Student's will be asked to provide recommendations into how the information can be shared publicly and will be asked to co-write a blog post for CYDI website about their experience. If time permits, students will be asked to do foundational analysis of the information found this will include looking at the number of gardens per health region and exploring any trends that emerge (i.e. the majority of gardens have a Facebook pages or gardens in urban areas have smaller plots).
Main Project Activities and Expected Deliverable(s)
- An environmental scan including Google and Facebook search community gardens
- Recommendations on how the environmental scan results can be shared publicly
- Analysis of environmental with short one to two page report (if time permits)
- Blog post about experience
Will the project work for the students be online, in person, or a combination?
- Online
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- Research and analysis (required)
- Proficient in writing
Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?
- No
Is a criminal record check required?
- Yes, to be initiated by the community partner at the first meeting
Related Community Service Opportunities for Students
- N/A
Required Reading
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials
- in-person training and regular check-ins
Organizational Outcomes
Intended Project Outcome (Short Term Outcomes)
- CYDI has an increasingly accurate, systematic, and detailed knowledgebase of all the community gardens in BC