From the Toronto Food Policy Council...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you interested in volunteering with the Toronto Food Policy Council to support and develop innovative food policies and programs for the City of Toronto?
Every year, the TFPC accepts applications for new members.
TFPC members donate their time, energy, skills and experience to keep Toronto Public Health abreast of food policy trends, challenges and possibilities. Members represent a spectrum of Toronto's diverse populations, and bring their insight and experience to the City of Toronto.
If you are interesting in finding out more about the TFPC and our membership, check out our website and blog:
www.toronto.ca/health/tfpc/
www.tfpc.to
To apply, please send a resume and one-page letter to Lauren Baker at lbaker2@toronto.ca, outlining:
- what food sector you are connected with
- the city ward/neighbourhood you live and/or work in
- the skills and experience you will contribute to the TFPC
The TFPC seeks participation from diverse food sectors and areas of the city. Applications will be assessed based on an analysis of current gaps in TFPC membership.
Applications are due April 13, 2012. Nominees will be contacted before May 15, 2012.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
A long overdue peak oil post
It’s been a while since I posted anything about peak oil and climate change, so here are a couple of recent related stories.
Because of the wacky weather across North America the last few weeks, it seems more and more people are thinking about climate change. Top of the list is an excerpt from an upcoming book you can check out on Scientific American. Concerning both peak oil and climate change it takes a look at a quintessitially American town and what the author believes will happen to it in over the next few decades.
-Also worth checking out is the National Wildlife Foundation's article about what we might expect, in terms of mental health, in a world shaped by global warming and climate change.
-We already know that man-made noise affects human beings and other mammals, now we know that it affects plants and their pollinators as well. Note to self or anyone else looking for a research project: Green roof and green wall studies need to be done to compare the performances of common green roof plants on noisy versus noise free environments.
One last somber read for this week. In the Southeastern USA there is a water battle pitting Georgia (spurred into action by Atlanta’s sprawling growth) against neighbors Florida and Alabama. Things don’t look good for the ATL.
-While there are massive concerns around the globe, I am folks are continuing to make changes for the betterment of their local communities. Minneapolis has good news for urban agriculture enthusiasts.
-And in the Bronx students planted dozens of fruit trees. Hopefully this is the start of an East Coast food forest.
Because of the wacky weather across North America the last few weeks, it seems more and more people are thinking about climate change. Top of the list is an excerpt from an upcoming book you can check out on Scientific American. Concerning both peak oil and climate change it takes a look at a quintessitially American town and what the author believes will happen to it in over the next few decades.
-Also worth checking out is the National Wildlife Foundation's article about what we might expect, in terms of mental health, in a world shaped by global warming and climate change.
-We already know that man-made noise affects human beings and other mammals, now we know that it affects plants and their pollinators as well. Note to self or anyone else looking for a research project: Green roof and green wall studies need to be done to compare the performances of common green roof plants on noisy versus noise free environments.
One last somber read for this week. In the Southeastern USA there is a water battle pitting Georgia (spurred into action by Atlanta’s sprawling growth) against neighbors Florida and Alabama. Things don’t look good for the ATL.
-While there are massive concerns around the globe, I am folks are continuing to make changes for the betterment of their local communities. Minneapolis has good news for urban agriculture enthusiasts.
-And in the Bronx students planted dozens of fruit trees. Hopefully this is the start of an East Coast food forest.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A couple of tasty TV tidbits
March 27th there will be an fundraiser in Tokyo to help spread the word about aquaponics. In tsunami impacted areas embracing aquaponics means farmers can experiment with closed loop systems and not worry about radiation contaminated soil.
If you're up for some tv, check out PBS' new series "Food forward".
And for those who want to learn about urban agriculture in Montreal, in French here's a terrific CBC show.
If you're up for some tv, check out PBS' new series "Food forward".
And for those who want to learn about urban agriculture in Montreal, in French here's a terrific CBC show.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Discussion concerning amendment to Toronto Green Roof Bylaw deferred
Betting the subway/LRT debate would scuttle the green roof discussion, I didn't go back to City Hall. It was indeed deferred, quickly, until April.
Now back to the transit battle, the vote on that comes around 4 pm. Hold on tight!!!
Now back to the transit battle, the vote on that comes around 4 pm. Hold on tight!!!
Green roof bylaw debate delayed until 1:30 pm
Because of the subway debate put off yesterday and resuming today, the green roof bylaw debate was delayed until 1:30 pm today.
The subway debate has been so contentious, this afternoon's debate could be delayed again.
We'll see.
The subway debate has been so contentious, this afternoon's debate could be delayed again.
We'll see.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
City of Toronto Planning and Growth Committee debates green roof bylaw tomorrow!
Late word that tomorrow, Thursday March 22, Toronto’s City Council will be discussingwhether or not to allow Public and Catholic Schools in Toronto to be exempted from the Green Roof Bylaw.
Some quick background. The Bylaw requires the building of green roofs on new buildings and has a cash-in-lieu provision which requires funds to be made available to the City’s Eco-Roof Program to help finance green roofs on existing buildings when green roofs are not included.
The Catholic School Board, in the midst expansion and the erection of several new buildings, wants white roofs instead of green roofs. Apparently, earlier this year, the industrial sector lobbied for this exemption and got it...that was news to me, I thought the decision was just delayed. The Chief Planner is all for a similar exemption for institutional buildings. We’ll see what happens. Critics say that the green roof bylaw is too expensive. Advocates say it has too many benefits to ignore and that it makes no sense to weaken the law.
For those interested, head to Committee Room #1 at City Hall tomorrow at 9:30 am. For those who cannot attend, I’ll be your fly on the wall...er, floor. I’ll do my best to be impartial, but, heck, I love green roofs. Let’s see how I do at playing journalist.
Stay tuned...
Some quick background. The Bylaw requires the building of green roofs on new buildings and has a cash-in-lieu provision which requires funds to be made available to the City’s Eco-Roof Program to help finance green roofs on existing buildings when green roofs are not included.
The Catholic School Board, in the midst expansion and the erection of several new buildings, wants white roofs instead of green roofs. Apparently, earlier this year, the industrial sector lobbied for this exemption and got it...that was news to me, I thought the decision was just delayed. The Chief Planner is all for a similar exemption for institutional buildings. We’ll see what happens. Critics say that the green roof bylaw is too expensive. Advocates say it has too many benefits to ignore and that it makes no sense to weaken the law.
For those interested, head to Committee Room #1 at City Hall tomorrow at 9:30 am. For those who cannot attend, I’ll be your fly on the wall...er, floor. I’ll do my best to be impartial, but, heck, I love green roofs. Let’s see how I do at playing journalist.
Stay tuned...
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
World Water Day 2012
To celebrate the day it's important to learn about it's origins and
do our part.
Here's a song from 2007's World Water Day !
do our part.
Here's a song from 2007's World Water Day !
Saturday, March 17, 2012
No need for farmer's markets in Korea
Why would you go to the farmer's market, if you could just buy your food virtually in the train station?
On the bright side, I guess this gives another meaning to the phrase "local food".
In Hartford, Connecticut (I know, I know for many Connecticuters...Connecticotian... Connecticutensian...Nutmeggers...there is no other "Hartford") they are discussing how to make their own greenbelt to ensure local food
On the bright side, I guess this gives another meaning to the phrase "local food".
In Hartford, Connecticut (I know, I know for many Connecticuters...Connecticotian... Connecticutensian...Nutmeggers...there is no other "Hartford") they are discussing how to make their own greenbelt to ensure local food
Thursday, March 15, 2012
March songs of the month
It's been a very mild winter in the Northeastern US, Southern Ontario region. As such, a little early we have our spring songs of the month! An ode to insects!!!
Rimsky-Korsakov -Flight of the Bumblebee
James Brown - I got ants in my pants and I need to dance!
Miles Davis - Frelon Brun
Butterfly, Doodlebug and Ladybug (Digible Planets) - Cool Like That
Leadbelly - The Boll Weevil
Rimsky-Korsakov -Flight of the Bumblebee
James Brown - I got ants in my pants and I need to dance!
Miles Davis - Frelon Brun
Butterfly, Doodlebug and Ladybug (Digible Planets) - Cool Like That
Leadbelly - The Boll Weevil
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Quiet on the living architecture front...
...maybe folks are gearing up for the spring? Ahhh...it's so close!
Open Spaces Sacred Places has $4 million dollars to give away. Get your cross disciplinary, urban team together and go get some money to green an urban setting!
Open Spaces Sacred Places has $4 million dollars to give away. Get your cross disciplinary, urban team together and go get some money to green an urban setting!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Occupy our food supply
-Calling all researchers. Paper submission season is here for bio char and green roofs.
-Since the winter-time occupy movement across the US and Canada was squashed, I have wondered how the movement could possibly morph. We may have one answer in the call to Occupy Our Food Supply.
-Can you get a better name for a city reporter than "Jill Urban"? Here's the appropriately named scribe on a fantastic affordable housing complex. These developers have given their all to get real enviro cred, including both extensive and intensive
green roofs among other amentities.
-If for no other reason, one can always say that urban agriculture brings communities together. In Minneapolis, it's to discuss
urban agriculture zoning amendments.
-Since the winter-time occupy movement across the US and Canada was squashed, I have wondered how the movement could possibly morph. We may have one answer in the call to Occupy Our Food Supply.
-Can you get a better name for a city reporter than "Jill Urban"? Here's the appropriately named scribe on a fantastic affordable housing complex. These developers have given their all to get real enviro cred, including both extensive and intensive
green roofs among other amentities.
-If for no other reason, one can always say that urban agriculture brings communities together. In Minneapolis, it's to discuss
urban agriculture zoning amendments.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Urban agriculture is good business in Kenya
-As more municipalities open the doors to raising animals, could we see an uptick in livestock being abandoned, roaming the streets and even going feral if they become to much to handle for the owners? Animal rescue centers are already reporting an
increase in rescue requests.
-$2,000 bucks, USD, buys you a greenhouse and the beginnings of an urban agriculture business in Kenya. Add in another $600 for advice and supplies and in under 2 years you could break even. Not bad in any business.
-In the past we have talked about various ventures linking
refugees and food sovereignity. ISED is another organization with a fantastic track record of helping small scale and limited resourced farmers around the world. Check them out.
Happy March everyone!!!
increase in rescue requests.
-$2,000 bucks, USD, buys you a greenhouse and the beginnings of an urban agriculture business in Kenya. Add in another $600 for advice and supplies and in under 2 years you could break even. Not bad in any business.
-In the past we have talked about various ventures linking
refugees and food sovereignity. ISED is another organization with a fantastic track record of helping small scale and limited resourced farmers around the world. Check them out.
Happy March everyone!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)