New Projects Sprouting Up

May 21, 2009

Spring must be on it’s way; Loving Spoonful is  overwhelmed with so many new projects for spring/summer 2009. We are working with several other organizations on a  number of  initiaives

We continue with food distribution from commercial donors but much of our attention is turning to GARDENING

Some of the initiatives we are working on are:

  • setting up a Big 2009 garden plot at the  Oak St Community Garden to grow food for donation.  This garden will be bigger than last years and will provide opportunites for lots of people to get involved.  We want people to share their expertise and we also want people who want to learn.
  • trying to identify opportunities for gleaning (harvesting the surplus after the commercial harvest is over) from local farms this summer
  • working with a group to set up a new farmers market in the north end of kingston
  • and more!
We also always need people to sit at information tables at various talks/fairs, and, of course, to deliver the surplus food that we collect.
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Work Bee at Oak St Garden

April 28, 2009

Weather permitting, we will be working in the Oak St. Garden Sunday May 3rd from 9am-2pm. Come one come all! Bring gloves (if you are the glove type) sunscreen, rakes and shovels and wheelbarrows if you have ‘em. Bring friends and family. Snacks and water too. Hope to see you there!

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ACORN Garden

April 26, 2009
Loving Spoonful is helping to host the ACORN Garden at Oak St. Garden.

The ACORN Garden is a family-friendly donation and learning garden at the Oak St Community Garden.  It provides a place where everyone can volunteer to help grow food for donation to local meal programs and food banks.  It is a great opportunity to learn about growing food, to meet other gardeners, and to share with the community.  Experienced gardeners are encouraged to take part and share their knowledge and skills with new gardeners.

Volunteers who help in the ACORN Garden will be encouraged to harvest some of the bounty for themselves.  Most of the food grown in the ACORN Garden will be distributed to local meal programs through Loving Spoonful or used in upcoming educational workshops such as  Make YOur Own Baby Food and Tomato Canning.

There will be a work bee in the near future, check back for more information soon!
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Grow a Row in Kingston this year!

April 12, 2009
Loving Spoonful is coordinating Kingson Grow a Row this year. Grow a row encourages home gardeners, community gardeners and farmers to plant an extra row of produce and donate their harvest to local emergency food providers including food banks, shelters and emergency meal programs. Grow a Row builds on the tradition of gardeners sharing their bounty with neighbours and friends.
Visit our Grow a Row page for more information.
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Kingston digs Urban Agriculture

January 18, 2009

(Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun. )

A bunch of us have been working with the city planning department and planning committee to have Urban Agriculture defined and included as part of the new Official Plan for the City of Kingston.  We are thrilled to report that our suggested definition of urban agriculture  ” generally undertaken by individuals, and non-profit community organizations, and may take place on rooftops, in backyards and open spaces, and as community gardens.” has been adopted as the official definition for the City in the draft of the Official Plan.

Other mentions of UA in the draft are

  • Urban Agriculture is designated as a Community Facility, along with Libraries, Community Centres, Fire Stations, Gov’t Offices, etc, in Section 3.2.8 (pg52). “Community based initiatives such as commuinty gardens and other forms of urban agriculture, and reforestation projects are permitted in all land use designations, subject to site by site evaluation.”
  • In Section 3.8.2(b), UA, community gardens, and garden plots are specifically listed as permitted uses.

WE STILL NEED YOUR SUPPORT.  Please write to your own coucillor and  to the councillors on the planning committee and let them know how much you support this initiative.  Below is a short suggested letter – FEEL FREE TO WORD IT HOWEVER YOU LIKE – and a list of the email addresses of the Planning Committee. And of course, the mayor.

Urban Agriculture/Food Production in the Official Plan

Dear Members of the Planning Committee

I would like to applaud and congratulate you on your adoption of several references to and your support for Urban Agriculture in the draft Official Plan, including its formal definition, its designation as a Community Facility, and the support of community gardens and garden plots.

I think this move is fantastic and will be of great benefit to the development of a sustainable food system in the City of Kingston. Integration of Urban Agriculture can improve the City’s food security, as well as the health of its citizens and the well-being of its economy and environment. There is already a growing movement toward local production and consumption of food across the province, the nation and the world. This move demonstrates that the City of Kingston is indeed striving to become ‘the Most Sustainable City’.

Once again I applaud your efforts and I thank you for your support. I look forward to liaising with you on future Urban Agriculture initiatives.

Sincerely,

send those cards and letters (and email) to

Vicki Schmolka  vschmolka@cityofkingston.ca
Steve Garrison  sgarrison@cityofkingston.ca
Bill Glover  bglover@cityofkingston.ca
Dorothy Hector  dhector@cityofkingston.ca
Ed Smith  esmith@cityofkingston.ca
Lisa Osanic  losanic@cityofkingston.ca
Harvey Rosen  hrosen@cityofkingston.ca

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