I don’t know if anyone happened to notice that 2016 was considered the year
notice that 2016 was considered the year
notice that 2016 was considered the year of the ten-dollar cauliflower it’s
of the ten-dollar cauliflower it’s
of the ten-dollar cauliflower it’s likely that a lot of you didn’t because
likely that a lot of you didn’t because
likely that a lot of you didn’t because really that kind of information if
really that kind of information if
really that kind of information if unless your vegetable forward just
unless your vegetable forward just
unless your vegetable forward just really slides right under the radar
really slides right under the radar
really slides right under the radar although you might have been aware of it
although you might have been aware of it
although you might have been aware of it on some level in your grocery bill each
on some level in your grocery bill each
on some level in your grocery bill each week by december of last year news media
week by december of last year news media
week by december of last year news media we’re reporting how grocers were not
we’re reporting how grocers were not
we’re reporting how grocers were not bringing in certain fruit and vegetable
bringing in certain fruit and vegetable
bringing in certain fruit and vegetable items because the costs were too high
items because the costs were too high
items because the costs were too high and shoppers simply weren’t buying them
and shoppers simply weren’t buying them
and shoppers simply weren’t buying them seems a little unreal we’ve grown up
seems a little unreal we’ve grown up
seems a little unreal we’ve grown up expecting to be able to go into a
expecting to be able to go into a
expecting to be able to go into a grocery store and get anything anytime
grocery store and get anything anytime
grocery store and get anything anytime anywhere but I want you to consider how
anywhere but I want you to consider how
anywhere but I want you to consider how would you feel if tomorrow you walked
would you feel if tomorrow you walked
would you feel if tomorrow you walked into the store and the shelves really
into the store and the shelves really
into the store and the shelves really were mostly empty so you might be
were mostly empty so you might be
were mostly empty so you might be thinking well how can that be let’s take
thinking well how can that be let’s take
thinking well how can that be let’s take Venezuela as an example it’s a country
Venezuela as an example it’s a country
Venezuela as an example it’s a country that depends on oil exports for its
that depends on oil exports for its
that depends on oil exports for its economy it’s also a country that hasn’t
economy it’s also a country that hasn’t
economy it’s also a country that hasn’t really developed its domestic food
really developed its domestic food
really developed its domestic food supply so in 2014 when will coil prices
supply so in 2014 when will coil prices
supply so in 2014 when will coil prices dropped suddenly Venezuela didn’t have
dropped suddenly Venezuela didn’t have
dropped suddenly Venezuela didn’t have enough money to import enough food to
enough money to import enough food to
enough money to import enough food to feed its citizens so to this day
feed its citizens so to this day
feed its citizens so to this day Venezuelans are still facing long
Venezuelans are still facing long
Venezuelans are still facing long grocery lineups food shortages and
grocery lineups food shortages and
grocery lineups food shortages and astronomical prices for basic goods so
astronomical prices for basic goods so
astronomical prices for basic goods so you might be thinking okay well that’s
you might be thinking okay well that’s
you might be thinking okay well that’s them it’s not us for over a decade now
them it’s not us for over a decade now
them it’s not us for over a decade now scientists have been warning us that
scientists have been warning us that
scientists have been warning us that there have been massive die-offs of bee
there have been massive die-offs of bee
there have been massive die-offs of bee colonies all around the world in Canada
colonies all around the world in Canada
colonies all around the world in Canada in the United States these are at their
in the United States these are at their
in the United States these are at their lowest population numbers in over half a
lowest population numbers in over half a
lowest population numbers in over half a century one out of every three things
century one out of every three things
century one out of every three things that we like to eat come from plants
that we like to eat come from plants
that we like to eat come from plants that need bees in a few minutes we’re
that need bees in a few minutes we’re
that need bees in a few minutes we’re going to be breaking for lunch and I
going to be breaking for lunch and I
going to be breaking for lunch and I heard a lot of you clapping and cheering
heard a lot of you clapping and cheering
heard a lot of you clapping and cheering for pizza early this morning so imagine
for pizza early this morning so imagine
for pizza early this morning so imagine your meal
your meal
your meal though bees there’s going to be no green
though bees there’s going to be no green
though bees there’s going to be no green peppers on your slice there won’t be any
peppers on your slice there won’t be any
peppers on your slice there won’t be any onions or garlic for flavor and there’s
onions or garlic for flavor and there’s
onions or garlic for flavor and there’s definitely not going to be any tomato
definitely not going to be any tomato
definitely not going to be any tomato sauce either for your pizza oh okay
sauce either for your pizza oh okay
sauce either for your pizza oh okay we’ll take the crust we’re going to fold
we’ll take the crust we’re going to fold
we’ll take the crust we’re going to fold it over the pepperoni and cheese we’re
it over the pepperoni and cheese we’re
it over the pepperoni and cheese we’re going to call it a calzone and we can
going to call it a calzone and we can
going to call it a calzone and we can still eat right not so fast because in
still eat right not so fast because in
still eat right not so fast because in the Midwestern United States the largest
the Midwestern United States the largest
the Midwestern United States the largest underground water source is called the
underground water source is called the
underground water source is called the Ogallala Aquifer it supplies water to
Ogallala Aquifer it supplies water to
Ogallala Aquifer it supplies water to eight states from South Dakota all the
eight states from South Dakota all the
eight states from South Dakota all the way down to Texas this region produces
way down to Texas this region produces
way down to Texas this region produces one-fifth of all the wheat and corn and
one-fifth of all the wheat and corn and
one-fifth of all the wheat and corn and cattle in the United States if not North
cattle in the United States if not North
cattle in the United States if not North America at the current rate of watering
America at the current rate of watering
America at the current rate of watering the Ogallala is being predicted to run
the Ogallala is being predicted to run
the Ogallala is being predicted to run out of water for growing crops in about
out of water for growing crops in about
out of water for growing crops in about 20 years so now imagine your lunch
20 years so now imagine your lunch
20 years so now imagine your lunch without any pepperoni or cheese because
without any pepperoni or cheese because
without any pepperoni or cheese because we don’t have enough crops to feed the
we don’t have enough crops to feed the
we don’t have enough crops to feed the hogs and cattle and there’s likely no
hogs and cattle and there’s likely no
hogs and cattle and there’s likely no crust either because wheat is simply too
crust either because wheat is simply too
crust either because wheat is simply too expensive we’ve been getting groceries
expensive we’ve been getting groceries
expensive we’ve been getting groceries off store shelves for decades with the
off store shelves for decades with the
off store shelves for decades with the benefit of an abundant food supply and
benefit of an abundant food supply and
benefit of an abundant food supply and selection so what’s changed well in the
selection so what’s changed well in the
selection so what’s changed well in the beginning Norman Borlaug known as the
beginning Norman Borlaug known as the
beginning Norman Borlaug known as the father of the Green Revolution he
father of the Green Revolution he
father of the Green Revolution he dedicated his life to improving
dedicated his life to improving
dedicated his life to improving agriculture so that he didn’t have to
agriculture so that he didn’t have to
agriculture so that he didn’t have to watch people die from lack of food his
watch people die from lack of food his
watch people die from lack of food his efforts were so revolutionary at the
efforts were so revolutionary at the
efforts were so revolutionary at the time that he’s credited with saving over
time that he’s credited with saving over
time that he’s credited with saving over a billion people from starvation and he
a billion people from starvation and he
a billion people from starvation and he was awarded a nobel peace prize for his
was awarded a nobel peace prize for his
was awarded a nobel peace prize for his scientific work what we didn’t expect
scientific work what we didn’t expect
scientific work what we didn’t expect though is how this green revolution
though is how this green revolution
though is how this green revolution would change our outlook on food food
would change our outlook on food food
would change our outlook on food food plays a really powerful role in our
plays a really powerful role in our
plays a really powerful role in our lives it’s a part of key memories that
lives it’s a part of key memories that
lives it’s a part of key memories that we hold
we hold
we hold our hearts it can even make us feel
our hearts it can even make us feel
our hearts it can even make us feel loved and secure the very thing that
loved and secure the very thing that
loved and secure the very thing that nourishes us and is critical to our
nourishes us and is critical to our
nourishes us and is critical to our health and well-being we’ve actually
health and well-being we’ve actually
health and well-being we’ve actually turned into big business today’s
turned into big business today’s
turned into big business today’s agri-food industry relies on big farms
agri-food industry relies on big farms
agri-food industry relies on big farms and big inputs and big production to be
and big inputs and big production to be
and big inputs and big production to be economical because the goal of food has
economical because the goal of food has
economical because the goal of food has become the profit margin so along the
become the profit margin so along the
become the profit margin so along the way is our farms have gotten bigger and
way is our farms have gotten bigger and
way is our farms have gotten bigger and bigger we’ve had to rely on heavy-duty
bigger we’ve had to rely on heavy-duty
bigger we’ve had to rely on heavy-duty high-tech equipment in order to manage
high-tech equipment in order to manage
high-tech equipment in order to manage the size of these farms well this kind
the size of these farms well this kind
the size of these farms well this kind of conventional agriculture is eroding
of conventional agriculture is eroding
of conventional agriculture is eroding soil let me use your thumb as an
soil let me use your thumb as an
soil let me use your thumb as an illustration from the top of your thumb
illustration from the top of your thumb
illustration from the top of your thumb to the first joint represents almost 500
to the first joint represents almost 500
to the first joint represents almost 500 years of biological soil building
years of biological soil building
years of biological soil building activity in the last century most
activity in the last century most
activity in the last century most farmland in North America has lost about
farmland in North America has lost about
farmland in North America has lost about eight of these because of soil erosion
eight of these because of soil erosion
eight of these because of soil erosion the system we constructed to feed us is
the system we constructed to feed us is
the system we constructed to feed us is showing its weaknesses big inputs to get
showing its weaknesses big inputs to get
showing its weaknesses big inputs to get big production means we’ve been using
big production means we’ve been using
big production means we’ve been using chemicals to try and feed the world even
chemicals to try and feed the world even
chemicals to try and feed the world even though we’re applying chemicals to a
though we’re applying chemicals to a
though we’re applying chemicals to a biology system of plants and organisms
biology system of plants and organisms
biology system of plants and organisms so since 2001 scientists have been
so since 2001 scientists have been
so since 2001 scientists have been monitoring a dead zone in the Gulf of
monitoring a dead zone in the Gulf of
monitoring a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico and this dead zone is roughly
Mexico and this dead zone is roughly
Mexico and this dead zone is roughly half the size of Vancouver Island and
half the size of Vancouver Island and
half the size of Vancouver Island and it’s mostly due to fertilizer runoff
it’s mostly due to fertilizer runoff
it’s mostly due to fertilizer runoff that concentrates in outlet areas where
that concentrates in outlet areas where
that concentrates in outlet areas where the streams and rivers meet the oceans
the streams and rivers meet the oceans
the streams and rivers meet the oceans it’s only one of 450 known dead zones in
it’s only one of 450 known dead zones in
it’s only one of 450 known dead zones in the oceans around the world so we can
the oceans around the world so we can
the oceans around the world so we can keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing
keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing
keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing or we can make a change how would you
or we can make a change how would you
or we can make a change how would you feel if tomorrow you could walk over to
feel if tomorrow you could walk over to
feel if tomorrow you could walk over to your local urban farm and get your fresh
your local urban farm and get your fresh
your local urban farm and get your fresh local food really simply urban
local food really simply urban
local food really simply urban agriculture is the art of using small
agriculture is the art of using small
agriculture is the art of using small spaces in the hardest cities for growing
spaces in the hardest cities for growing
spaces in the hardest cities for growing food in some cases like mine the farmer
food in some cases like mine the farmer
food in some cases like mine the farmer uses a vacant lot in other setups a
uses a vacant lot in other setups a
uses a vacant lot in other setups a farmer will convert lawns from people’s
farmer will convert lawns from people’s
farmer will convert lawns from people’s yards and in Montreal one group is
yards and in Montreal one group is
yards and in Montreal one group is building greenhouses on top of warehouse
building greenhouses on top of warehouse
building greenhouses on top of warehouse spaces in order to cultivate produce in
spaces in order to cultivate produce in
spaces in order to cultivate produce in the heart of the city all of us urban
the heart of the city all of us urban
the heart of the city all of us urban farmers are trying to bring the country
farmers are trying to bring the country
farmers are trying to bring the country into the city so we can grow food closer
into the city so we can grow food closer
into the city so we can grow food closer to home urban agriculture is a type of
to home urban agriculture is a type of
to home urban agriculture is a type of Renaissance which literally means
Renaissance which literally means
Renaissance which literally means rebirth if you google urban farming
rebirth if you google urban farming
rebirth if you google urban farming you’re going to get over 200,000 hits
you’re going to get over 200,000 hits
you’re going to get over 200,000 hits popping up on your computer but long
popping up on your computer but long
popping up on your computer but long before the internet in 1902 a fellow by
before the internet in 1902 a fellow by
before the internet in 1902 a fellow by the name of Ebenezer Howard wrote about
the name of Ebenezer Howard wrote about
the name of Ebenezer Howard wrote about the garden cities of tomorrow I really
the garden cities of tomorrow I really
the garden cities of tomorrow I really like how that sounds so hopeful and
like how that sounds so hopeful and
like how that sounds so hopeful and poetic and he was trying to promote the
poetic and he was trying to promote the
poetic and he was trying to promote the combination of town and country saying
combination of town and country saying
combination of town and country saying that it wasn’t just economic but it was
that it wasn’t just economic but it was
that it wasn’t just economic but it was healthful as well and more recently at
healthful as well and more recently at
healthful as well and more recently at the World Expo in Italy cities from all
the World Expo in Italy cities from all
the World Expo in Italy cities from all over the globe signed a pact pledging to
over the globe signed a pact pledging to
over the globe signed a pact pledging to coordinate urban food strategies urban
coordinate urban food strategies urban
coordinate urban food strategies urban agriculture is a movement that is
agriculture is a movement that is
agriculture is a movement that is literally gaining ground in cities all
literally gaining ground in cities all
literally gaining ground in cities all over the world the main force driving
over the world the main force driving
over the world the main force driving this trend at the government level is
this trend at the government level is
this trend at the government level is that the World Health Organization
that the World Health Organization
that the World Health Organization estimates that we have to increase
estimates that we have to increase
estimates that we have to increase global food supply by seventy percent
global food supply by seventy percent
global food supply by seventy percent over the next 30 years we’re facing some
over the next 30 years we’re facing some
over the next 30 years we’re facing some of the same challenges that Norman
of the same challenges that Norman
of the same challenges that Norman Borlaug did before the green revolution
you live in a city that is the third
you live in a city that is the third fastest growing in this province
fastest growing in this province
fastest growing in this province your community is expected to grow by
your community is expected to grow by
your community is expected to grow by over fifty percent in the same 30 year
over fifty percent in the same 30 year
over fifty percent in the same 30 year time period the good news is you already
time period the good news is you already
time period the good news is you already have your first urban farm when you get
have your first urban farm when you get
have your first urban farm when you get your produce from an urban farm you’re
your produce from an urban farm you’re
your produce from an urban farm you’re bringing home items that were harvested
bringing home items that were harvested
bringing home items that were harvested within hours of your meal you can’t get
within hours of your meal you can’t get
within hours of your meal you can’t get more farm-to-table than that at the
more farm-to-table than that at the
more farm-to-table than that at the beginning of my efforts I took a poll
beginning of my efforts I took a poll
beginning of my efforts I took a poll asking people what’s your favorite
asking people what’s your favorite
asking people what’s your favorite memory of summer fresh produce maybe
memory of summer fresh produce maybe
memory of summer fresh produce maybe some things come to mind for you that
some things come to mind for you that
some things come to mind for you that are here tonight what I found was that
are here tonight what I found was that
are here tonight what I found was that the most popular answer was carrots
the most popular answer was carrots
the most popular answer was carrots fresh out of the ground with the dirt
fresh out of the ground with the dirt
fresh out of the ground with the dirt still on them ultimately we seem to have
still on them ultimately we seem to have
still on them ultimately we seem to have a collective awareness fresh food should
a collective awareness fresh food should
a collective awareness fresh food should taste fresh and it’s no wonder we have
taste fresh and it’s no wonder we have
taste fresh and it’s no wonder we have about 10,000 taste buds in her mouth
about 10,000 taste buds in her mouth
about 10,000 taste buds in her mouth we’re meant to taste and enjoy what we
we’re meant to taste and enjoy what we
we’re meant to taste and enjoy what we eat I have a lot of fun surprising
eat I have a lot of fun surprising
eat I have a lot of fun surprising people what you can grow in an urban
people what you can grow in an urban
people what you can grow in an urban farm last year we grew watermelons and
farm last year we grew watermelons and
farm last year we grew watermelons and cantaloupes and the best one weighed in
cantaloupes and the best one weighed in
cantaloupes and the best one weighed in at over seven and a half pounds as more
at over seven and a half pounds as more
at over seven and a half pounds as more of us consume food grown within our
of us consume food grown within our
of us consume food grown within our cities availability and price is only
cities availability and price is only
cities availability and price is only going to get better growing produce in
going to get better growing produce in
going to get better growing produce in the heart of a city doesn’t just bring
the heart of a city doesn’t just bring
the heart of a city doesn’t just bring fresh food to the consumer it also makes
fresh food to the consumer it also makes
fresh food to the consumer it also makes an environmental impact urban
an environmental impact urban
an environmental impact urban agriculture reclaimed spaces in cities
agriculture reclaimed spaces in cities
agriculture reclaimed spaces in cities and it creates mini zones where plants
and it creates mini zones where plants
and it creates mini zones where plants take carbon dioxide out of the
take carbon dioxide out of the
take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and it helps reduce
atmosphere and it helps reduce
atmosphere and it helps reduce greenhouse gases in cities bees and
greenhouse gases in cities bees and
greenhouse gases in cities bees and pollinators have trouble getting enough
pollinators have trouble getting enough
pollinators have trouble getting enough food but an urban farm gives them a
food but an urban farm gives them a
food but an urban farm gives them a place to fuel up free from pesticides
place to fuel up free from pesticides
place to fuel up free from pesticides and chemicals one of the best natural
and chemicals one of the best natural
and chemicals one of the best natural resources found near in urban farm is
resources found near in urban farm is
resources found near in urban farm is roof runoff on rainy days one of my
roof runoff on rainy days one of my
roof runoff on rainy days one of my major goals for this season is to
major goals for this season is to
major goals for this season is to establish rainwater harvest and storage
establish rainwater harvest and storage
establish rainwater harvest and storage so that we can irrigate our fruit and
so that we can irrigate our fruit and
so that we can irrigate our fruit and vegetables over the summer using the
vegetables over the summer using the
vegetables over the summer using the collected rainwater instead of municipal
collected rainwater instead of municipal
collected rainwater instead of municipal why I’ve been asked if it’s difficult
why I’ve been asked if it’s difficult
why I’ve been asked if it’s difficult promoting urban agriculture here in the
promoting urban agriculture here in the
promoting urban agriculture here in the Fraser Valley in the heart of one of
Fraser Valley in the heart of one of
Fraser Valley in the heart of one of Canada’s best growing regions and the
Canada’s best growing regions and the
Canada’s best growing regions and the answer really is not at all in fact what
answer really is not at all in fact what
answer really is not at all in fact what I’m finding is that most people are
I’m finding is that most people are
I’m finding is that most people are really excited and really enthusiastic
really excited and really enthusiastic
really excited and really enthusiastic sometimes even more than me and my
sometimes even more than me and my
sometimes even more than me and my biggest problem as an urban farmer is
biggest problem as an urban farmer is
biggest problem as an urban farmer is that I’m so accessible to people passing
that I’m so accessible to people passing
that I’m so accessible to people passing by my site that they always want to stop
by my site that they always want to stop
by my site that they always want to stop and ask questions and talk and sometimes
and ask questions and talk and sometimes
and ask questions and talk and sometimes talk and talk the best conversation I
talk and talk the best conversation I
talk and talk the best conversation I had was with a young woman who lived and
had was with a young woman who lived and
had was with a young woman who lived and worked in the area and she was on her
worked in the area and she was on her
worked in the area and she was on her way home after work and she stopped by
way home after work and she stopped by
way home after work and she stopped by just to tell me how much safer she was
just to tell me how much safer she was
just to tell me how much safer she was feeling in the neighborhood because of
feeling in the neighborhood because of
feeling in the neighborhood because of the changes made to the vacant lot a
the changes made to the vacant lot a
the changes made to the vacant lot a very real side effect of urban
very real side effect of urban
very real side effect of urban agriculture is how it softens the ash
agriculture is how it softens the ash
agriculture is how it softens the ash fold in concrete in our cities I think
fold in concrete in our cities I think
fold in concrete in our cities I think Audrey Hepburn said it really well to
Audrey Hepburn said it really well to
Audrey Hepburn said it really well to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow
plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow
plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow we can keep doing things exactly the way
we can keep doing things exactly the way
we can keep doing things exactly the way we’ve always been doing them or we can
we’ve always been doing them or we can
we’ve always been doing them or we can make a change urban agriculture is like
make a change urban agriculture is like
make a change urban agriculture is like a do-over for the Green Revolution
a do-over for the Green Revolution
a do-over for the Green Revolution because we’re not just trying to supply
because we’re not just trying to supply
because we’re not just trying to supply more food this time we’re trying to grow
more food this time we’re trying to grow
more food this time we’re trying to grow local food security so that you can have
local food security so that you can have
local food security so that you can have access to safe nutritious and affordable
access to safe nutritious and affordable
access to safe nutritious and affordable food and when you choose to take this
food and when you choose to take this
food and when you choose to take this opportunity to change the food system
opportunity to change the food system
opportunity to change the food system you’re joining with people all over the
you’re joining with people all over the
you’re joining with people all over the globe who are excited about urban
globe who are excited about urban
globe who are excited about urban agriculture and this movement urban
agriculture and this movement urban
agriculture and this movement urban agriculture is all of us together taking
agriculture is all of us together taking
agriculture is all of us together taking part to solve the food challenges before
part to solve the food challenges before
part to solve the food challenges before us and along the way the bonus is you’ll
us and along the way the bonus is you’ll
us and along the way the bonus is you’ll get to taste and see that it’s good
”
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