Course:LFS350/Projects/2015T1/littlemountain

From UBC Wiki

A Blueprint for the Mini Food-Hub in LM-RP

WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY?

Organization name: Little Mountain Riley Park Neighbourhood Food Network (LM-RP NFN)

Mission of organization: LM-RP NFN is sponsored by Little Mountain Neighbourhood House. Visit www.lmnhs.bc.ca for more information on the role and mission of NH’s.

The Little Mountain Riley Park (LM-RP) Neighbourhood Food Network works with community members, businesses, and organizations to ensure that all our residents have access to healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate and nutritious food. Together, we are growing the community – one connection at a time. Growing food, eating together, sharing around the table connects us to each other and to our community.

LM-RP NFN is a member of the VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhoood Food Network). NFN’s are part of the Greenest City action plan as a strategy to increase access to local food.

We have three priorities: the RP-LM Community Garden Project, the Food Asset Map and increasing community awareness around our work and food security issues.

Description of project opportunity:
There are two components to this project.

  1. To define the mini food-hub for LM-RP, the model, systems, processes and a plan.
  2. To create the Operational Procedures for the Community Garden.

The redevelopment of Riley Park is on the site of a field house, a farmers market, a community garden, Ed’s Garden, rainwater and native species among other components. Discussion has started with community groups and partners to create a mini food-hub. We want to continue this community dialogue and formalize a vision with plans based on best practices locally and internationally.

For the Operational Procedures, a bibliography from the UBC Community Engagement Librarian may be useful as a starting point. The bibliography, compiled in August 2015, will include references for: Commons Gardens defined; Models for commons gardens; processes and best practices; lessons learned. Deliverable: A manual that outlines recommended Structure, Governance Contracts, Membership, Volunteers, Budget for the LM-RP Community Garden (1st year is mostly construction cost estimates).

LM-RP Community Garden: We are building a garden (phase 1) of the Riley Park Redevelopment that is:

  1. community based;
  2. builds on our existing gardens, allowing us to share our collective knowledge and expertise, contributing to our resilient, healthy community; and
  3. is accessible and inclusive for all members of LM-RP.

Skills required:

  • Knowledge of mini food-hubs, community kitchens, or commissaries.
  • Outgoing and capacity to make phone calls, set-up meetings and gather information from community members.
  • Capacity for research to learn and apply best practices for our food-hub

Skills to be developed through the opportunity:

  • Research of models, processes, systems, best practices as it relates to the project
  • Community capacity building
  • Community engagement, dialogues and outreach

Project location: Project will take place in Little Mountain Riley Park with great public access and bike paths (NH is at 24th and Main St). Other gardens are in the area. Some work is done on the phone and email.

Days of week and hours project will take place?: Some evening meetings and weekend (Sunday October 18 daytime) to help with the Sustenance Festival Event at Hillcrest. The project scope should fit the hours recommended by the course.

Primary contact for the students:
Joanne MacKinnon, Coordinator LM-RP NFN
Email: foodnetwork@lmnhs.bc.ca
Address: 3981 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 778.998.3471
Website: https://www.lmnhs.bc.ca/wp/programs-services/foodnetwork/

Experiential component to enhance student engagement:

  • Sustenance Festival at Hillcrest on October 18. Time 1-4.
  • Volunteer at the Winters Farmers Market Community Table.
  • Work with Youth at Hillcrest and/or Little Mountain Neighbourhood House on their food and cooking programs.
  • Community Dialogue and input setup table at Vancity, at Hillcrest or other location(s) to be determined.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes:

  • Conducting community dialogues
  • Developing a mini food-hub concept based on best practices and research
  • Community engagement to identify and work with stakeholders and partners on the project.


Organizational Outcomes:

  • A blueprint for the mini food-hub to work with the Vancouver Park Board, our stakeholders, partners and businesses to move from concept to implementation.
  • Identifying and working with stakeholders on this project.
  • Increasing the community connections and network to build accessibility and inclusivity of the Riley Park redevelopment project in the LM-RP neighbourhood.