Course:LFS350/Projects/F2018/GalianoCFP

Project Title

What to do about our diets? - Analysing the Research on Diets

Project Description

We are looking at improving the meals that we prepare for the community – some for specialised diets, some for regular diets. We need the keep costs down but prepare and distribute as nutritious meals as we can. We would like to see an analysis of different dietary approaches – the Mediterranean Diet, the Keto Diet, Atkins, low carb, low fat, etc. – for their benefits and drawbacks. We would like to develop a number of low cost recipes for recommended diets that can be produced by our volunteers. We would be working in conjunction with the Galiano Health Clinic on this project.

Project Goal

To come out of the project with some new recipes that can easily be replicated and that are not cost prohibitive. The Galiano Club has as one of its objects: “to promote agricultural interests on Galiano Island including gardening, farming, other food related initiatives and production of agricultural products.”

The work of the Community Food Program fits this as does the exploration of nutritional meals.

Skills Preferred + To Be Developed

• Openness to new ideas – to learning how a small community works
• Analytical skills
• Interest in agricultural sustainability – especially ecologically
• Interest in food nutrition

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

This would be student lead but we would want to have regular check-ins via Skype or another platform.

Project Location

We envisage that the bulk of the work will take place at UBC using research and sources available at the University.

Project / partner orientation

One of the Food Program Steering Committee members is in Vancouver on a fairly regular basis and can provide the orientation.

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

As in the past, we would welcome the student team to come to Galiano Island to see how a small community works and to engage in some “community hours” related to the Food Program. This has generally involved a Saturday morning to Sunday evening on the island.

Organization Information

Name

The Galiano Club (Community Food Program)

Mission + Vision

The purpose of the Society on Galiano Island shall be:

• to encourage social, recreational and educational activity.
• to maintain a public hall which may be available for use by any person or persons who wish to use it in accordance with the above purposes.
• to hold and administer lands as described in the Bluffs Park and the Mount Galiano Trust Agreements, as directed therein.
• to hold and administer Heritage Forest Lands (zone FH) in accordance with heritage forest covenants on such lands.
• to promote agricultural interests on Galiano Island including gardening, farming, other food related initiatives and production of agricultural products.

• Mission

Building community by growing, preparing, preserving and sharing food while nourishing and strengthening island food security through learning and sharing.

• Vision

The Galiano Community Food Program envisages Galiano Island as a thriving, livable, food-secure community. It is a place where every resident is included, welcome and empowered to build a deeper connection with their food system. In so doing, the Program improves Galiano’s ecological sustainability and community resilience in the face of climate change and uncertainty. The program seeks to set an example that reaches beyond our local community and spreads across the country.

Guiding Principles + Values:

Guiding Principles + Values: 1. Collaboration is a key component of our community-building. We believe each individual has a role to play and something to contribute. Connecting and cooperating with other community organizations and a broad cross-section of community members is how we can ensure that our programs are broadly accessible. This is also important for attracting the volunteers and participants that are an integral part of our programs. We want to be part of shaping a community that is inclusive and equitable, and as such our programs are open to everyone. We make space for everyone’s cultural traditions and backgrounds, even when that might bring conflict.

2. A food-secure community depends on a healthy environment and healthy community members. We work to ensure our practices are sustainable and eco-conscious, and mindful of the fact that we are all connected.

3. Even when we are successful in working towards our mission, there is always more that can be done, people we aren’t reaching, new opportunities for improving our food security. As such, we believe in having an attitude of continuous improvement.

4. Our ability to build community depends upon the trust our community members place in us. As such, we work with integrity.

5. Our community is not just a collection of individuals. We have a responsibility to be actively responsive to the needs of our community as a whole, taking action when it is needed.

6. In the context of community-building, we want to promote food security in a positive way, so people are motivated to change their behaviour . As such, we work to inspire people. Our programs are fun and our messages are optimistic. Our messages are not prescriptive; instead, we help people question their own practices around food in order to learn more.

Primary Contact

• Contact Person(s): Jane Wolverton (President of the Galiano Club)/Alison Colwell (Community Food Program Manager)
• Email: jwolverton@telus.net colwell4@telus.net
• Address: 442 Highland Rd Galiano Island BC V0N1P0 (Jane); 114 Manzanita Galiano Island BC V0N1P0 (Alison)
• Phone: 250 539 2427 (Jane) 250 539 2363; (Alison)
• Website: www.galianoclub.org
• Best time(s) method(s) to contact: Email for Jane, Email and phone (daytimes) for Alison

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

I hope students will learn about...

• Sorting through the myriad of studies to determine health, sustainable (in all ways)
• Evaluating the benefits of different dietary approaches for different dietary needs.
• Building economical recipes for low incomes.
• Building recipes that can be “mass” produced.

I think students will come to appreciate...

• The way a community has come together through the medium of food.

Students will develop or hone...

• Their analytical skills

Organizational Outcomes

• Good research-based information.
• An opportunity to meet upcoming LFS students, interact with them and hear their ideas.
• New low cost recipe ideas.