8. Hastings Community Centre: Growing Calorie Crops to Increase Food Security

Organization Information

Organization Name

Hastings Community Association

Mission and Vision of Organization

To increase the capacity & connection of the Hastings Sunrise Community through empowering food & garden programming, the Hastings-Sunrise Community will be an active player in helping Vancouver become a global leader in urban foods systems through strengthening our food & garden skills to create a community connected through growing & sharing our own food.

Guiding Principles + Values

N/A

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Shayna Huang
• Email: seasonsoffoodhcc@gmail.com
• Phone: 604-718-6230
• Address: 3096 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 2A3
• Website: Hastings Community Centre Food and Garden Programs

Preferred Method of Contact

• Best method(s) to contact: Email
• Best day(s) to contact:Wednesdays, anytime via email
• Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons

Project Description

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

Hastings Community Association has a large vegetable and fruit garden called the Learning Garden where the community is invited to participate and learn in gardening and harvesting activities. This year we would like to focus on intensifying our yield to produce a significant amount of calorie crops to provide fresh food for those who may be experiencing food insecurity in the neighborhood. This project addresses community food insecurity, and aims to strengthen our urban agriculture work in a meaningful way.

Main Project Activities

Working with our Dietitian, Garden Manager and Lead LFS496 student soil expert, the students will research and create a week by week plan to

• Ensure the nutrient viability of the garden for high production growing
• A seedling starting, planting, growing, harvesting, storing plan for the 2020 growing season If time the students can also contribute to research on how to best disseminate the produce to the community.

Expected Project Deliverable(s)

• A complete 2020 Intensive Calorie Crop Growing Garden Plan for the Hastings Learning Garden

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Attention to detail
• Strong research skills
• Resourceful
• Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
• Team player

Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)

• Team work
• Gain new knowledge of growing and harvesting food in a efficient way in the urban agricultural setting
• Organizational skills
• Planning
• Research and application for current setting
• Communication

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

• No

Is a criminal record check required?

• No

Project Location

Hastings Community Centre

3096 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 2A3

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• Wednesdays

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

We are always looking for volunteers with our entire Food & Garden portfolio!

• Community Gathering Luncheon (bi-weekly)
• Elementary School Garden Days (weekly)
• Intergenerational Garden Days (weekly)
• Various food & sustainability workshops (monthly)

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:

• Let's mobilize: How to start a community action program
• Siegner, A., Sowerwine, J. & Acey, C. (2018). Does urban agriculture improve food security? Examining the nexus of food access and distribution of urban produced foods in the United States: A systematic review. Sustainability, 10(9). DOI: 10.3390/su10092988
• Request the relevant past LFS350 student reports from your TA

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

The following will be provided at the first community partner meeting:

• Building & garden tour, in-person community orientation.