Food Security Raised to a New Level of Concern as COVID-19 Continues

Food Security Raised to New Level of Concern as COVID-19 Continues

Article by Erin Hitchcock

Lucien O’Connor, 4, helps water his family’s garden box at the Memory Garden Community Garden this spring. Community gardens help families and individuals access local, nutritious food while also increasing food security and additional urban green spaces. Photo: Jolene O’Connor

The COVID-19 pandemic has recovering good quality un-sold food from threatened our lives and stores and restaurants for organizations transformed how we live. It also providing emergency food, creating more places our economic security at opportunities for people to access spaces to risk, especially for those most vulnerable. As grow food, and supporting local farmers and a result, food security is increasingly becoming food producers. that much more important. Pre-COVID-19, when schools were in

Outbreaks at meat processing facilities in session, many students relied on school-based Alberta and the United States, at an Okanagan meal programs. After the schools closed, they farm, and at a Saskatchewan grocery store were no longer able to access those programs. have pushed the issue of food security front School District 27, Daybreak Rotary, and the and centre—if COVID-19 continues to affect Boys and Girls Club, along with some other the places we currently rely on for food, it will helpful people, began distributing care kits dramatically disturb the food supply chain for containing food and personal care items to the all of us. The virus is a reminder of how critical youth the district identified most vulnerable. it is for communities to become resilient to Farmers markets and community gardens food shortages, not just in the face of this have been deemed essential services. The pandemic but in the long term as well. Williams Lake Farmers Market is up and

Governments and organizations are running—Initially COVID-19 regulations responding toCOVID-19-related food security specified that only food items could be sold issues by allocating federal and provincial at markets, but since June 5, the provincial funding to relief efforts. regulations allowed some artisans and craft

The Williams Lake Food Policy Council vendors back. An online platform for food (WLFPC) has also responded by convening and other market vendors was created and regular virtual meetings with representatives is another way to access products online. from local government and community Visit https://www.localline.ca/williamsorganizations to coordinate a local food lake-farmers-market. The WLFPC is also security response. considering other online platforms to connect

“Communities are facing an unprecedented food producers with consumers. challenge in managing the human impact of The Memory Garden on Carson Drive and the pandemic, so there’s no better time to the Potato House provide garden boxes to work together on innovative ways to make individuals and families in Williams Lake. sure our community stays fed, our local food Working groups are currently trying to identify system is bolstered, and systems are put in possible public and private spaces to build place to make sure food security is a priority more garden beds. Schools may also be able in our region over the long-term,” says Megan to allocate space—150 Mile Elementary School Dark, Williams Lake Food Policy Council cois currently working to build garden boxes at chair. “Local governments and community the school that will help teach youth about agencies are stepping up in a big way to do this growing food, while also providing them with important work, and we’re glad we can play a healthy snacks. role by bringing everyone together.” Anyone interested in freeing up some

These calls have focused on areas such as yard space for community garden boxes or coordinating emergency food distribution, volunteering at existing gardens can contact

A large cabbage grows at the Memory Garden Community Garden last summer. Earlier this year, the B.C. government declared both community gardens and farmers markets essential services. Photo: Erin Hitchcock

the WLFPC. WLFPC can also help connect new gardeners with some basic gardening skills to help them grow their own food.

“COVID-19 has raised the stakes when it comes to food security for all of us, but especially the many people in our region who were struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic,” Dark says.“The Food Policy Council’s initial focus has been to coordinate emergency food efforts to prevent a worsening of hunger issues. We have incredible community agencies in the area that are working tirelessly to keep people fed.”

The Williams Lake Food Policy Council would like to thank all of those who have taken part in food security calls and for those individuals’ heart-felt efforts to help increase access to food in the community. These include representatives from the City of Williams Lake, the Cariboo Regional District, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, Tsilhqot’in National Government, Cariboo Chilcotin Tribal Council, School District 27, the Salvation Army, Daybreak Rotary, Social Planning Council Thrive Poverty Reduction Initiative, the Boys and Girls Club of Williams Lake & District, the CaribooChilcotin Conservation Society, Potato House Sustainable Community Society, Cariboo Friendship Society, the Williams Lake Garden Club, Interior Health, Pregnancy Outreach, the Cariboo-Chilcotin Child Development Centre, Williams Lake & District Seniors Activity Centre Society, Puddle Produce, the Williams Lake Farmers Market, and the Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce. -GG

Erin Hitchcock is the Food Action Coordinator with the Williams Lake Food Policy Council. She can be reached at foodpolicycouncil@ hotmail.com

Conservation Conversation What We Can Do for Our World

Article by Amber Gregg

Iam writing this in spring 2020, amid the COVID-19 craziness. I don’t know where we will be by the summer when this article is published. Maybe by then we will have put terms like quarantine and social distancing behind us and resumed our normal lives, or perhaps we are adjusting to a new way of life.

I am very aware that for many people, this pandemic has caused both mental and physical challenges, and possibly financial hardship and increased food security concerns. That said, I have been impressed by what I have witnessed from family, friends, coworkers, businesses, and neighbours during this time.

Online communities have been popping up to offer support and alternative virtual options for everything from fitness to arts and entertainment to content for kids of all ages. Businesses and organizations in our community have come together to provide resources for those that need it. I see my neighbours cleaning up their yards or walking and biking while following appropriate social distancing. On Earth Day, my kids and I saw many other families out picking up garbage while maintaining appropriate physical distancing guidelines. When I check in with friends and family, they are trying new things (how did everyone make out with their sourdough recipes?) or finishing up previously abandoned projects.

At the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS), our educators spend much of their time delivering presentations in classrooms. In April, we would have held our popular Earth Challenge, a jeopardy style quiz for grade 7 students held on or around Earth Day. When it became apparent that schools would be closed indefinitely, rather than throw in the towel, our team brought ideas forward to provide an online, virtual version of the challenge, set for mid-May.

CCCS team members are often a constant presence at community events, providing

zero waste coaching and shining a unique and entertaining light on waste diversion. With event cancellations, our team has had to consider alternate ways to provide waste diversion education to the community at large. Without hesitation, they jumped into creating a video series about composting and recycling, including a tour of our recycling facilities. Check out our Facebook and Instagram for #trashtalktTuesdays” and get all your questions answered.

If we look at this from the mindset, ‘What can I do? What fits into my life?’ and start there, we may not be perfect, but we will make progress.

When asked to completely upend our lives for the sake of the vulnerable and to conserve resources, the world has found ways to continue to be there for one another and focus on what we can do. If we were to apply this type of thinking to making sustainable choices, imagine the results. I hear from people that it is hard to keep up with recycle guidelines. What goes where? What doesn’t get recycled? It’s so confusing. Why bother recycling when that process also uses up resources?

If we look at this from the mindset, ‘What can I do? What fits into my life?’ and start there, we may not be perfect, but we will make progress. Maybe joining a climate action group is not your thing and attending litter pick-ups and clean up days is too much of a stretch for you. It is possible that trying to only use local, homemade products seems a daunting task. Perhaps the thought of taking a shorter shower or having a golden lawn is not something you are willing to do.

Climate change has become like a dark cloud looming above our heads and moving in a positive direction may seem impossible. Scientific data and reports can put a real damper on even the most enthusiastic conservationist and make you feel like there is no point in even trying. If we shift our focus from the problem to the solution, we start to forget that it seems impossible and see some positive results.

Our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 have had a positive impact on the Earth and many cities around the world are using this information to move forward into a greener, more sustainable future. More bike paths and walking areas are being created to offer safer options for alternatives to travel by fossil fuels. Some cities are even turning full auto travel routes into bike routes.

I understand that we each have our own lifestyle and the freedom to make choices that suit that lifestyle. I think most of us recognize that these choices impact the world we live in. As the lockdown becomes less strict and you are able to resume your normal, everyday activities, I urge you to look at how you might adopt one new footprint reduction habit into your routine, or leave a less sustainable one in the past. Whatever that means to you, the hard part has already been done. You have already had to change your entire lifestyle for over a month—I know you can do it!

If you need any support or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at CCCS. We are always happy to help share our thoughts and ideas and answer your questions. -GG

Amber is the Coordinator for the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society. When she is not working on spreadsheets or supporting the CCCS team, she enjoys getting outdoors with her husband and two boys. Visit CCCS at https://www.ccconserv.org to learn more about our education programs or community projects.