(Photo: Phil Wallis) Lorraine Johnson is a self-described cultivation activist and author of numerous books on environmental issues and growing. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in literary studies from the University of Toronto, Johnson worked for many years as a book editor before writing her first book, Green Future: How to Make a World of a Difference (Penguin… Read More
Scholar Strike Canada hosted a Teach in with a focus on the Migrant Workers in Canada: Unfree Labour on Stolen Land. This teach in helps to situate the viewer with the current state of Migrant Workers in Canada as well as the ways in which systemic injustice is propogated within the nation. The teach in… Read More
Masks, hand sanitizer, face shields. Stickers placed six feet apart, lining the floor and facilitating physical distancing. Clear, plastic windows at the checkout counter. These are familiar images in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought widespread disruption to the ways people obtain food. Some have turned towards growing produce to reduce the frequency… Read More
In February, the traffic flow between the Pacific Mall and the Silver Star Blvd, a Chinese food mecca for the Greater Toronto Area, could be best described by a Chinese proverb: “Carriages flow like a stream and horses whinny like dragons”. The tasty kebabs, boiling hotpots, and hand-pulled noodles sold in the mall normally drew… Read More
“Gary Hoyer and Chinh Do of George Brown College have just released Generating Success for Farm to School, a report that researches the benefits of farm to school. Its recommendations include instituting a universal healthy school food program across Canada, complemented with a farm to school approach.” This article is definitely worth a read, it… Read More
Food banks are a relatively long-standing part of community landscapes across the country, and fill a critical role of feeding individuals and families who rely on their services. However, this was not always the case. When food banks were first introduced into Canada in 1981, they were meant to be a temporary measure, designed… Read More
How can urban growing reach more people? Who is at risk of being excluded from urban agriculture initiatives? How can community and municipal leaders identify and remove barriers to accessing growing space? In the process of implementing equitable agricultural initiatives in the city, these are the questions that need to guide decision-making, to ensure that all… Read More
The three Malvern community gardens are located in the Malvern neighbourhood, and reflect the diverse nature of the community. Gardeners come from Caribbean, South Asian, and European backgrounds. (Photo: Google Maps) Randy Bhagwan, Malvern Garden Lead and Communication Coordinator of the Malvern Food Security Workgroup. Due to physical distancing measures, the gardeners and garden leads… Read More
Across the country, community organizations, school food programs, school districts and parents continue to pay close attention to recommendations as governments continue to release guidelines and frameworks for what the return to school will look like. As of the end of July all provinces and territories have released some form of documentation framing what school… Read More
The Alternative Federal Budget Recovery Plan is an offshoot project of the Alternative Federal Budget project. It is a collaboration among organizations and researchers from a variety of sectors including: populations, and areas of expertise including human rights, labour, environmental protection, anti-poverty, arts and culture, social development, child development, international development, women, Indigenous peoples,… Read More