Course:ENVR400/ Minutes (10/20/10)

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Attending: Ruhi, Marianne, Connie, Nicole, Emily Missing: Xiaowei

In class

  • Discussed proposals
  • Documentation is important! Can do pen and paper or online.
  • Everyone is a little concerned about what stage we are in our project. Probably should start solidifying potential projects

Afterclass Meeting

Marks distribution-

  • alter attendance mark to participation mark?
  • consider peer evaluation (within group)
  • consider whether we want the marks to be completely group based or have some individual components

Possible topics?

  • Urban Food/Food Security vs. Black Wastewater.
  • LFP: Interesting because they do marketing and certification
  • Black waste water, maybe change to rain or gray water?
  • Consider whether we’re looking at the scientific process and end goal.

Central question to ask ourselves (focus of project) : How do we make Vancouver’s food system more sustainable? (Refer to framework put by Metro Vancouver – Draft Regional Food System Strategy)

Areas of interest mentioned in document:

-Boulevards, right of ways, sidewalks, rooftops garden

-Monitor and indicators for productivity (food or garden)

-Nutritious food waste (e.g. blemished products aren’t sold)


How do we make the area of interest more concise in the project?

Investigate specific areas: -agriculture inputs - emily -water usage- (might want to consider contacting metro van water usage people) -land use (ie. ALR, commercial etc) -fertilizers and pesticides-


-food waste (local, regional, consumer, company)- connie


-composting- food scraps and food waste (things you can't eat vs just waste) -ruhi


-seasonal food availability -xiaowei


-methods of agriculture -nicole -rotational vs. mass -vertical, greenhouse, community gardens, horticulture, permaculture -land use


-carbon footprint –marianne


NB: Marianne will be our point person for the City of Vancouver Food Strategy plan.


!! Future Wednesday Meetings should be dedicated to: !!

  • Logistics
  • Summaries/Check-in
  • Decision Making- Concensus
  • Decide who’s doing what research/part


Plan for next Wednesday (3:30- 5:30pm)

1) Summarize:

  • Research assigned area/topic
    * Try to at least three potential experts (document in spreadsheet google file)
    * Think about feasibility of area/topic for this project
    * Think about how we can frame this project

2) Important questions:

  • Do we need funding? And how are we getting it?
  • Have we cleared this idea with Tara/Sara?
  • How interested is everyone on this topic?

3) Work on project timeline.


Things to consider in the future: Meta-analysis Outcomes Thank you notes