Get Involved
Get Involved!
Want to get involved with a local community group organizing on local food issues? There are many exciting projects and volunteer opportunities to get involved with, ranging from learning urban agriculture skills through working at the UBC Farm, working at a farmers market, volunteering at a community kitchen, or getting involved with food distribution and other food security projects. Check out the following opportunities for some inspiration:
On Campus
SFU Pocket Farmers Market / Harvest Box program
http://sfulocalfood.ca/projects
The SFU Pocket Farmers Market and Harvest Box program are continually looking for new volunteers. Email info(at)sfulocalfood.ca to find out more.
SFU Food Bank
http://students.sfu.ca/foodbank/index.html
The SFU Food Bank offers support for SFU students and families in need. It is a confidential service located in the Maggie Benston Building, room 1349. Email: foodbank(at)sfu.ca
Food Security
QUEST Food Exchange
http://www.questoutreach.org/page123.htm
Quest Food Exchange rescues food that would otherwise be tossed in the garbage and headed for our landfills, and redirects it to hungry people in the Lower Mainland who need it most. Volunteers are needed for a variety of duties. Phone (604) 602-0186 or e-mail gbokowski(at)questoutreach.org
Urban Aboriginal Community Garden Project
http://www.cityfarmer.info/?p=438
http://www.vnhs.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=67
To Urban Aboriginal Community Garden Project provides the opportunity and support for Aboriginal people living in East Vancouver to improve our capacity and create community by collectively, sustainably growing our own vegetables. In collaboration with 17 different agencies working in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), a plot of land on the UBC Farm is dedicated towards the DTES Aboriginal Community Kitchen Garden Project.
Food Not Bombs
Provides free vegetarian meals in the Downtown EastSide. Every Saturday! Meet at noon, serve food at 4pm.
For more info or to get involved, email foodnotbombs(at)sfpirg.ca
For Vancouver group, email van.fnb(at)gmail.com.
Food Action Collective for Transformation and Sustainability
http://aphvan.wordpress.com/community-health-projects/facts/
Born out of the 2008-2009 People’s Health Series, FACTS is a grassroots group of people working for food justice in our community. We are not a social service program or a food bank, we are a group of community members dedicated to organizing to meet our own food needs, and fighting for social and economic justice. Email allianceforpeopleshealth(at)gmail(dot)com.
Dig In!
http://www.cban.ca/Projects/Dig-In
Dig In! is a collaborative project started by the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (www.cban.ca), Check Your Head (www.checkyourhead.org), and the National Farmers Union Youth (www.nfu.ca)
The Farmland Defence League of BC
http://farmlanddefenceleague.org/
A community-based BC volunteer organization working to protect all farm lands of British Columbia. We hold a vision of defending & expanding the number of hectares available for food forever and to protect current food lands, promote farmland stewardship activities, and promote sustainable “organic” farming. Email: DonnaP(at)farmlanddefenceleague.org
Urban Agriculture
City of Vancouver Community Gardens
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/socialplanning/initiatives/foodpolicy/projects/gardens.htm
Contains contact information for current Vancouver community gardens and resources for starting new community gardens.
UBC Farm
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/volunteer.php
The great work that happens at the UBC Farm is made possible by the continued support of our dedicated volunteers. Most volunteering at the farm happens during the main growing season from April to October, and interested folks are encouraged to attend an orientation session to find out more.
Edible Garden Project
http://www.ediblegardenproject.com
The Edible Garden Project encourages people to get involved with growing and eating local foods, and to share home produce with food banks and those in need.
Vancouver Community Agriculture Network (VCAN)
http://vcan.ca/
The Vancouver Community Agriculture Network (VCAN) helps low income people and other groups start and manage community gardens and advocates for policies supporting urban agriculture. They provide education and consultation on how to grow food in the city organically.
Environmental Youth Alliance – Vancouver Urban Agriculture
http://www.eya.ca/index.php?id=9
The goal of this division is to bring urban youth into closer contact with natural spaces and food production. Through our programs we work with children, youth and adults in parks, schools, and gardens to create spaces to learn about and appreciate nature.
The Vancouver Fruit Tree Project
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/fruit/home.html
The Vancouver Fruit Tree Project is a community-based, registered charity that works to increase access to fresh local fruit in communities throughout Vancouver. We connect people who have fruit trees, people who can help harvest fruit, and community groups that distribute the fruit or use it in their programs.
Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project
www.richmondfruittree.com
The Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project connects volunteers with growing and harvesting fruit and vegetables for our neighbours in need.
email: info(at)richmondfruittree.com
Neighborhood Food Security Networks
Grandview Woodland Food Connection
http://gwfoodconnection.blogspot.com/
Initiated in 2004, Grandview Woodland Food Connection is a neighbourhood organization dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in the Grandview Woodlands neighbourhood by promoting an accessible, just and sustainable food system for our community.
Trout Lake Cedar Cottage Food Security Network
Learn more about food security issues in the Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage area. Their email list includes information on workshops and events in the area.
To subscribe: Send an email to: tlccfoodsecurity(at)gmail.com
Westside Food Security Collaborative
This group is made up of community organizations and community members who are affected by and interested in addressing the issue of food security on the Westside. For more information on this collaborative, refer to their brochure. To subscribe: Contact Catherine Leach, catherine(at)kitshouse.org or Lisa Ross lross(at)jfsa.ca.
The Renfew/Collingwood Food Security Institute
The institute develops community learning, leadership and networking around the issues of food sharing, organic growing and nutrition in the Renfrew/Collingwood community. to find out more about their current events and workshops, please visit their blog at: http://rcfsi.blogspot.com/. For information on volunteering, contact foodsecurity(at)cnh.bc.ca.
Community Kitchens
Fresh Choice Kitchens
http://www.communitykitchens.ca/main/
To find a community kitchen near you check out Fresh Choice Kitchens, the Community Kitchen program of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. The site also has manuals, handouts, and websites to support those interested in starting a community kitchen.