Backyard Bounty

Transforming Urban Land into Local Food Havens!

Robert Orland Urban Agriculture London Conference November 19, 2016

Global Food System: Transportation • Our food travels an average of 4,000 km! The distance has increased more than 25% since 1980 • Contributes to Climate Change: the current system relies on cheap oil • Shipping food internationally uses 17 x more fuel than regional food systems

Global Food System: Monocropping • Growing for export, “high efficiency” • Decreases biodiversity • Increases inputs – pesticides and fertilizers • GMOs unpopularity • Increased water use • Soil compaction • Climate change

Global Food System: Vulnerability • Peak Oil – The rate of extraction will be decreasing and the price of oil will increase! • Many countries are no longer able to feed themselves without relying on imports. • Political/security crisis? • Natural disaster?

Global Food System: Net Energy Loss • Each kilocalorie (kcal) we consume has taken 10 kcal to produce, process and ship. • It takes 1,514 L of oil to feed the average North American • To eat sustainably, we must gain more energy from the food than is needed to farm it

Global Food System: Economics • Canadians only spend 6% of income on food • Despite the promises of industrial agriculture, about 1 in 6 people in the world are malnourished • Average Canadian farm family nets approx. $25,000

• “Livestock production” accounts for 70% of all agricultural land use and occupies 30% of the land surface • >60% of corn and barley, and >97% of soymeal, becomes animal feed

Environmental Impact

Food Gives Us Life • public disconnect with food system • Food is produced to withstand travel rather than for nutritional quality • Local food movement of today advocates good, healthy food that is produced with the least negative impact on the environment • Organic growing methods • Free of preservatives • No packaging

Creating a Diverse Local Food System • We don’t have any choice but to bring in huge amounts of food to an area that gets so cold for a long period of the year…right? WRONG! • Huge diversity of food that can be grown in our climate, many varieties we are not even familiar with

Additional Resources • “The 100 Mile Diet: A year of local eating” by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon (2007) • “The Good Food Revolution” – Will Allen (Milwaukee) • “Locavore” by Sarah Elton

Background • Ontario’s premier urban farming social enterprise, serving nutritious, local, organic vegetables to the citizens of Guelph since 2008 •Aim is to increase awareness about sustainable urban gardening and organic food production • Foster community, utilize urban space in an ecological manner and increase local sustainable food production and education •SPIN – “Small Plot Intensive” Farming

Lawn Culture • Originating in Europe, the lawn grew in popularity in North America and eventually became a middle class status symbol -- maintaining an expanse of emerald green land was a sign of wealth and power • Achieving the perfect residential lawn led to the use of fertilizers, pesticides which enter the food chain and water systems causing environmental pollution and harming wildlife, pets and people.

Lawns •

Food Insecurity

Household Food Insecurity 11.7% in Ontario 16.4% in Guelph Ontario Stats 3.4 % Marginal Food Insecurity • Worry about running out of food and/or limit food selection due to lack of money

5.5% Moderate Food Insecurity • Compromised in quality and/or quantity of food due to lack of money

2.7% Severe Food Insecurity • Miss meals, reduce food intake and at the most extreme, go day(s) without food

Food Bank Use During the month of March 2014, 4861 individuals used a food bank in Wellington County (including Guelph): 66% Adults 34% Children

Grow Local Sponsorship Program Promote your business or organization in the community by contributing to the growth of local vegetables for the Guelph Food Bank with Backyard Bounty

Give the Gift of Fresh Food • ½ acre plot of farmland will provide fresh organic produce for 30 people in need per season • Experienced organic farmers will dutifully till, seed, and care for a plot of donated land • Education of organic growing methods are passed to trainees and volunteers • Organic vegetables harvested each week will be delivered to the Guelph Food Bank, providing locally-grown, fresh, nutritious food for families in need

Partnership supplies fresh produce to needy From the Guelph Mercury (June 18, 2013):

“Until now, there has not been a guaranteed source of fresh produce coming into the agency's storage coolers. The donation and the agreement with Backyard Bounty will help address that problem.” Tracy Marchesich Community Liaison Facilitator Guelph Food Bank

Community Collaboration Backyard Bounty and the Guelph Food Bank have collaborated to share their respective proficiencies in food production and food handling/distribution in order to better serve the marginalized citizens of the City of Guelph.

Guelph Food Bank • The Guelph Food Bank was established in 1989, and assists over 22,000 individuals in our community annually • In 2013 over 1,000,000 lbs of food was distributed to those in need • Food Bank clients vary in age, ethnicity and socio-economic background, but all are facing financial hardship • Due to factors such as illness, short-term crisis, adverse economic conditions, and the ever-increasing cost of living, we assist community members who struggle to buy enough food to adequately feed themselves and/or their families

Growing locally, Together • Our farmland is donated by landowners in Guelph • We convert unused areas of field and lawn into productive farmland each season • Sponsorship from businesses is essential to support the process of organic food production: seeds, compost, mulch, equipment, and farm staff • Backyard Bounty’s experienced organic farmers complete the entire process effectively from site preparation and harvesting, to washing and delivering produce

Sponsorship Recognition • Sponsors receive a charitable tax receipt from the Guelph Food Bank and are promoted through the Backyard Bounty website, social media, and community events

Looking Forward • Under the former residential backyard lawn conversion program, Backyard Bounty last produced and delivered over 600kg of produce • 2013 announcement of Guelph Food Bank partnership • 2014 launch of Grow Local Sponsorship Program

Legacy Be part of a new generation of organic farmers!

• ½ acre

• Feeds 30 people $28,500

• 1 acre

• Feeds 60 people $37,100

• 1.5 acre

• Feeds 90 people $45,500

$53,700 • 2 acres

• Feeds 120 people

Program

Sponsorship $5,000 Grow Local Supporter $10,000 Community Partner $15,000 Local Food Leader $25,000 Top-of-the-Crop Partner

Thank you! Backyard Bounty supporters are investing in a local, sustainable food system for Guelph and a working model for other cities to adopt

Robert Orland Founder Backyard Bounty 519 829 2281 robertorland@backyardbounty.ca www.backyardbounty.ca