Leon E,’s Post

Nanaimo Foodshare: Growing More Than Just Food While NPC plans to introduce and support principles of doughnut economics in Nanaimo, there are already numerous existing examples of doughnut economics initiatives in the city. Nanaimo Foodshare's community garden covers nearly an acre at the Park Avenue Farm and provides vegetables for many of its programs and other community agencies. Not only does this engage the community but it adds another dimension to local food security, environmental stewardship, skill-sharing, and other principles found within the Doughnut. “People want to help out, they want to contribute to our local food security,” says educational facilitator, Alia McIntyre. Nanaimo Foodshare's impact extends beyond food production; it nurtures a vital community network. By fostering connections and promoting sustainable practices, Nanaimo Foodshare is a shining example of how local initiatives can contribute to a more resilient and equitable community. #Nanaimo #DoughnutEconomics #CommunityGardens #LocalFoodSecurity #EnvironmentalStewardship #SkillSharing #SustainableNanaimo #EquityForAll #Wellbeing #SupportLocalInitiatives #Community #NurturingSustainability #DoughnutEconomicsInAction

The Importance of Proper Planning in Building Localized Food Systems is Difficult to Overstate. At NuLeaf Farms, we believe that the foundation of any successful food system starts with meticulous planning. Whether you're aiming to build community farms to combat food insecurity or looking to grow fresh produce at your home or office, the importance of a well-thought-out plan cannot be overstated. Proper planning ensures that your project is sustainable, efficient, and tailored to meet your specific needs. Our team of experienced professionals is here to guide you every step of the way. We invite you to visit our facility in Calgary to discuss your project ideas and explore a range of innovative technology solutions that can bring your vision to life. Come see firsthand how we can help ensure your project is a success. Let's work together to create thriving, resilient food systems for our communities. 📍 Visit NuLeaf Farms in Calgary and meet our team of experts. 🤝 Discuss your project ideas 🔧 Explore different technology solutions Together, we can grow a better future. #local #food #projects #foodsovereignty #projectplanning

Lessons for life, from the farm: At my farm in England, our core purpose wasn't just one clear thing. The main activity was the rearing and re-introduction of the native British honeybee, but through that we introduced people to organic, pollinator-friendly gardening, and ran workshops and experience days to introduce people to the wonders of the honeybee. Those workshops expanded to organic eating and growing, and even open fire cooking. Everything we did was centred around doing the right thing for the environment, showcasing harmony with nature, and exciting people about thinking and living differently. The farm won several awards, was certified as organic by the Soil Association, and became the world's first certified Carbon Neutral honey farm, with one acre of pollinator-friendly gardens. It wasn't a solo effort by any means, and my team of 12 in total helped to create something magical that still means a lot to so many people who experienced it and who enjoyed the time with us. Here's just some of the important lessons I learned: 1. You don't have to set out to do only one thing: maximising impact while we are here is about exploring harmony, and multiple ways of making an impact. 2. Doing the right thing is often the most expensive option. 3. Everyone must care; the passion for a project must be continuously reinforced, and the more each of your team play a part and have input, the better it is for everyone. 4. With the right team around you, everything is more enjoyable, and the tough times are easier. If you're doing the right thing, in the right way, the right people will find you. 5. When things get tough, bring your team close: share it with them and help support each other. It helps reinforce and strengthen a team. #leadership #team #wednesdaymotivation

"Food is a unifier, and it’s the one thing that we have in common across all ideologies, races, creeds, whatever you want to call it. So the greenhouses can act as a connector with the broader Aurora base." Food Justice NW Aurora is partnering with the City of Aurora to renovate and reactivate two city-owned greenhouses to address food insecurity in the community. If City Council gives the green light, this project will provide food-producing plants, perennials, community groups, and urban farms at affordable prices. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gyEw4yks

Yes, a complex issue! As usual, the devil's in the detail. While the planning scheme provides opportunities for new residential development, a key consideration is how do we deal with existing low-density suburbs where domestic urban agriculture already exists but is under increasing pressure from densification. Food accounts for nearly 40% of the Victorian ecofootprint, almost double that of housing and four times that of transport. Our cities are generally built on the most agriculturally productive parts of the landscape and research is increasingly showing the physical and psychological benefits of home gardening, including food production. Home gardening would go a long way to resolving the current 'lifestyle' disease burden epidemic and enabling preventative approaches to future healthcare as the population ages as well as better enabling the sustainability of cities. A critical issue that remains largely unresolved is how much land we need per capita to be self-sufficient in fruit and vegetable production.

Quick question for non-gardeners: Do you like to see how the soil is used that is made from your food scraps? If yes, how much of the composting process would you like to see? If no, I’m really interested why that is. Today’s eye candy: Tim Bowater planting pineapple sage & sorrel at the Ceres Organics workplace edible garden, pointing out that the soil used to grow these seedlings at Kelmarna Community Farm was made with the food scraps from hundreds of customers in Ponsonby — businesses and homes supporting an urban farm to grow food for locals. I find this cycle fascinating, but is that just because I love making compost? 🌱🌱🌱 Blue Borage: connecting food scraps to food through top quality compost. Speaking up for workplaces, home gardeners and the soil itself within the Tāmaki Makaurau Composters Network. 🌱🌱🌱

Community gardens are a popular form of urban agriculture, where groups of people come together to grow food in a shared space. They provide a space to share knowledge, and grow food in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. 👨🌾 These gardens can be found in a variety of locations, including public parks, schoolyards, and unused plots of land. The commitment to establishing connections among people is at the heart of the community garden concept. Beyond the act of growing food, these gardens serve as communal gathering places for people from many backgrounds to come together, share knowledge, and collaboratively nurture the planet. This collaborative method not only promotes sustainable food cultivation, but it also fosters a sense of connection and shared responsibility. Community gardens contribute to biodiversity, improve local ecosystems, and decrease the urban heat island effect as pockets of greenery inside urban settings. Composting and organic gardening, for example, demonstrate a dedication to environmental care within these community-driven efforts. 🌱 Community gardens also provide an easy way to cultivate their own fresh vegetables, encouraging local food resilience and lowering reliance on centralised food systems. This not only improves food security but also promotes a healthy lifestyle by making nutritious, local products more accessible. 🍅🍆🥕 As cities evolve, community gardens serve as models of sustainable and inclusive urban agriculture, providing a template for building resilient, interconnected communities. #ugardenproject #ugardeneu #urbangardens #gardening #urbangarden #ugarden #sustainablegardening #communitygardens #biodiversity #community #compost #sustainableagriculture #localfarming #seazonalfood #organicgardening #organicfarming #organicfood #organicgardening #biofood #urbaneurope #urbanfuture #greencities #greencity #urbanlivinglabs Find out more about urban garden practices in our research paper - https://lnkd.in/dFD28nZ6

Here's a helpful article from 2022 about 'taking a bite out of your consumer footprint': https://lnkd.in/eUEFzse5. David Lobell is a Professor of Earth Science at Stanford University and has published extensively on food security and climate change. He discusses how to grow food in confined spaces. We have a garden in our backyard and love it...ideas came from my students and, of course family members who are far better versed in responsible gardening than I am, and each year we learn something new (that's not a surprise to committed gardeners, but we lived overseas for nearly two decades so having a garden again is both wonderful and inspiring). Pears, strawberries, peas, peppers, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, apples, plus roses and a host of other flowers have really brought our garden to life. While the article focuses mostly on Lobell's tips for a garden, being a responsible steward of the land is the larger message that pertains to us as individuals and to the companies where we work. #sustainability #sustainablebusiness #business #foodsecurity #climatechange #leadbyexample #leaders #leadership #doingwellbydoinggood #businessasaforceforgood

How to Build a DIY Chicken Coop: A Comprehensive Guide Raising chickens in your backyard can be a rewarding experience, providing fresh eggs and an opportunity to learn about sustainable living. Building a DIY chicken coop is a key component of this endeavor, allowing you to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your feathered friends. #DIYHomeProjects

How to Build a DIY Chicken Coop: A Comprehensive Guide Raising chickens in your backyard can be a rewarding experience, providing fresh eggs and an opportunity to learn about sustainable living. Building a DIY chicken coop is a key component of this endeavor, allowing you to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your feathered friends. #DIYHomeProjects