A Systems Thinking Approach to Community-Based Urban Agriculture | Kalen Pilkington | TEDxMacEwanU

we are all part of interrelated systems

we are all part of interrelated systems and this connection has fascinated me

and this connection has fascinated me

and this connection has fascinated me from a very early age I remember growing

from a very early age I remember growing

from a very early age I remember growing up helping my grandma tend to the garden

up helping my grandma tend to the garden

up helping my grandma tend to the garden and come harvest time strawberries were

and come harvest time strawberries were

and come harvest time strawberries were always my favorite and it was probably

always my favorite and it was probably

always my favorite and it was probably because of this rule for every

because of this rule for every

because of this rule for every strawberry we picked we ate one too now

strawberry we picked we ate one too now

strawberry we picked we ate one too now I know what you’re thinking this did

I know what you’re thinking this did

I know what you’re thinking this did make our harvest go considerably slower

make our harvest go considerably slower

make our harvest go considerably slower but it also gave me the opportunity to

but it also gave me the opportunity to

but it also gave me the opportunity to observe the many aspects that made our

observe the many aspects that made our

observe the many aspects that made our garden healthy much to my grandma’s

garden healthy much to my grandma’s

garden healthy much to my grandma’s dismay soon I was equally as interested

dismay soon I was equally as interested

dismay soon I was equally as interested in the birds and bugs and bees and worms

in the birds and bugs and bees and worms

in the birds and bugs and bees and worms as I was the food we were growing now I

as I was the food we were growing now I

as I was the food we were growing now I carried this fascination with me and

carried this fascination with me and

carried this fascination with me and fast forward 15 years I was a wide-eyed

fast forward 15 years I was a wide-eyed

fast forward 15 years I was a wide-eyed first-year undergraduate student looking

first-year undergraduate student looking

first-year undergraduate student looking to make my mark on the world

to make my mark on the world

to make my mark on the world I’ve learned a lot in those 15 years but

I’ve learned a lot in those 15 years but

I’ve learned a lot in those 15 years but my eyes were about to be opened you know

my eyes were about to be opened you know

my eyes were about to be opened you know when you have one of those aha moments I

when you have one of those aha moments I

when you have one of those aha moments I had two of them during that first year

had two of them during that first year

had two of them during that first year of university the first happened during

of university the first happened during

of university the first happened during an Environmental Studies course on

an Environmental Studies course on

an Environmental Studies course on systems thinking everything just seemed

systems thinking everything just seemed

systems thinking everything just seemed to click in essence systems thinking is

to click in essence systems thinking is

to click in essence systems thinking is looking at the whole as opposed to

looking at the whole as opposed to

looking at the whole as opposed to individual parts and pieces we’re really

individual parts and pieces we’re really

individual parts and pieces we’re really looking at the cause and effect of

looking at the cause and effect of

looking at the cause and effect of relationships here let me use an example

relationships here let me use an example

relationships here let me use an example to demonstrate on the left-hand side you

to demonstrate on the left-hand side you

to demonstrate on the left-hand side you will see a number of independent objects

will see a number of independent objects

will see a number of independent objects if I added something or if I took it

if I added something or if I took it

if I added something or if I took it away it probably wouldn’t make that much

away it probably wouldn’t make that much

away it probably wouldn’t make that much of a difference however on the right

of a difference however on the right

of a difference however on the right hand side you’ll see these same objects

hand side you’ll see these same objects

hand side you’ll see these same objects assembled into a system together they’re

assembled into a system together they’re

assembled into a system together they’re able to accomplish something greater

able to accomplish something greater

able to accomplish something greater than what they can do independently this

than what they can do independently this

than what they can do independently this time if I added something or took

time if I added something or took

time if I added something or took something

something

something away it would fundamentally change how

away it would fundamentally change how

away it would fundamentally change how that system works but this is not our

that system works but this is not our

that system works but this is not our first experience with systems the

first experience with systems the

first experience with systems the hydrologic system is one of the first

hydrologic system is one of the first

hydrologic system is one of the first that we learn about in school but every

that we learn about in school but every

that we learn about in school but every day we navigate social cultural and

day we navigate social cultural and

day we navigate social cultural and economic systems as well and the

economic systems as well and the

economic systems as well and the decisions that we make impact and

decisions that we make impact and

decisions that we make impact and influence how those systems change and

influence how those systems change and

influence how those systems change and evolve so after I was learning about all

evolve so after I was learning about all

evolve so after I was learning about all of these systems I was pretty sure I was

of these systems I was pretty sure I was

of these systems I was pretty sure I was suffering an existential crisis you know

suffering an existential crisis you know

suffering an existential crisis you know I was learning about these complex

I was learning about these complex

I was learning about these complex issues and I wanted to make a difference

issues and I wanted to make a difference

issues and I wanted to make a difference I wanted to take action but I had no

I wanted to take action but I had no

I wanted to take action but I had no idea where to start I was utterly

idea where to start I was utterly

idea where to start I was utterly overwhelmed and through speaking with my

overwhelmed and through speaking with my

overwhelmed and through speaking with my other classmates I realized that I was

other classmates I realized that I was

other classmates I realized that I was not alone in feeling this way the

not alone in feeling this way the

not alone in feeling this way the further along we got in the course the

further along we got in the course the

further along we got in the course the more I learned about feedback loops and

more I learned about feedback loops and

more I learned about feedback loops and linkages and connections and I realized

linkages and connections and I realized

linkages and connections and I realized we’ve made some big wicked problems and

we’ve made some big wicked problems and

we’ve made some big wicked problems and that’s because there’s a gap that exists

that’s because there’s a gap that exists

that’s because there’s a gap that exists between how systems function in reality

between how systems function in reality

between how systems function in reality and how we think they function our food

and how we think they function our food

and how we think they function our food system is a good example of this it’s a

system is a good example of this it’s a

system is a good example of this it’s a system that has a high degree of human

system that has a high degree of human

system that has a high degree of human interference and that can be either a

interference and that can be either a

interference and that can be either a good thing or a bad thing but in our

good thing or a bad thing but in our

good thing or a bad thing but in our case because of the decisions that we’ve

case because of the decisions that we’ve

case because of the decisions that we’ve made we’ve created an unhealthy and

made we’ve created an unhealthy and

made we’ve created an unhealthy and unbalanced system one that we are so far

unbalanced system one that we are so far

unbalanced system one that we are so far disconnected from where our food is

disconnected from where our food is

disconnected from where our food is grown raised and produced it’s

grown raised and produced it’s

grown raised and produced it’s staggering so this was my passion this

staggering so this was my passion this

staggering so this was my passion this is where I wanted to make a difference

is where I wanted to make a difference

is where I wanted to make a difference so I thought okay through decision

so I thought okay through decision

so I thought okay through decision making maybe I can move this system a

making maybe I can move this system a

making maybe I can move this system a little bit so I became a vegetarian now

little bit so I became a vegetarian now

little bit so I became a vegetarian now this was a good first step I was

this was a good first step I was

this was a good first step I was definitely reducing my ecological

definitely reducing my ecological

definitely reducing my ecological footprint but I didn’t feel any more

footprint but I didn’t feel any more

footprint but I didn’t feel any more connected with my food systems than I

connected with my food systems than I

connected with my food systems than I had before so I got together with a

had before so I got together with a

had before so I got together with a group of my

group of my

group of my friends and we decided we were gonna

friends and we decided we were gonna

friends and we decided we were gonna grow food ourselves then we started

grow food ourselves then we started

grow food ourselves then we started running into challenges challenge number

running into challenges challenge number

running into challenges challenge number one we lived in a high-rise dormitory

one we lived in a high-rise dormitory

one we lived in a high-rise dormitory with no balconies no green space and

with no balconies no green space and

with no balconies no green space and windows that were barely large enough to

windows that were barely large enough to

windows that were barely large enough to grow spider plants let alone food okay

grow spider plants let alone food okay

grow spider plants let alone food okay problem number two it happened to be the

problem number two it happened to be the

problem number two it happened to be the middle of winter in Canada all right so

middle of winter in Canada all right so

middle of winter in Canada all right so we put our dream on hold temporarily a

we put our dream on hold temporarily a

we put our dream on hold temporarily a few months later I was at my local

few months later I was at my local

few months later I was at my local farmers market eating an apple strudel

farmers market eating an apple strudel

farmers market eating an apple strudel minding my own business when I overheard

minding my own business when I overheard

minding my own business when I overheard two women talking they had baskets full

two women talking they had baskets full

two women talking they had baskets full of produce and they were talking about

of produce and they were talking about

of produce and they were talking about how they used to grow a lot of this in

how they used to grow a lot of this in

how they used to grow a lot of this in their garden but as they got older they

their garden but as they got older they

their garden but as they got older they were no longer able to tend to them I

were no longer able to tend to them I

were no longer able to tend to them I quickly interjected myself into the

quickly interjected myself into the

quickly interjected myself into the conversation and within 30 minutes I

conversation and within 30 minutes I

conversation and within 30 minutes I found out that these ladies lived only

found out that these ladies lived only

found out that these ladies lived only three blocks away from the University so

three blocks away from the University so

three blocks away from the University so disregarding the fact that I had just

disregarding the fact that I had just

disregarding the fact that I had just met them I asked if they would be open

met them I asked if they would be open

met them I asked if they would be open to me coming over gardening their yard

to me coming over gardening their yard

to me coming over gardening their yard and in return they would get fresh

and in return they would get fresh

and in return they would get fresh produce they quickly said yes and within

produce they quickly said yes and within

produce they quickly said yes and within a few months by springtime we had eight

a few months by springtime we had eight

a few months by springtime we had eight yards and five gardeners that first year

yards and five gardeners that first year

yards and five gardeners that first year was a huge success it was a lot of work

was a huge success it was a lot of work

was a huge success it was a lot of work but we were able to grow enough food to

but we were able to grow enough food to

but we were able to grow enough food to share amongst the gardener’s and those

share amongst the gardener’s and those

share amongst the gardener’s and those that were taking care of the yards so I

that were taking care of the yards so I

that were taking care of the yards so I thought we’re finally making a

thought we’re finally making a

thought we’re finally making a difference but what I was really

difference but what I was really

difference but what I was really interested in were the users experience

interested in were the users experience

interested in were the users experience so one day I sat down with those two

so one day I sat down with those two

so one day I sat down with those two ladies from the farmers market over a

ladies from the farmers market over a

ladies from the farmers market over a cup of tea and this is when I had my

cup of tea and this is when I had my

cup of tea and this is when I had my second aha moment they said to me Kalyn

second aha moment they said to me Kalyn

second aha moment they said to me Kalyn I love the fresh fruit I love that

I love the fresh fruit I love that

I love the fresh fruit I love that you’re using our land but more than that

you’re using our land but more than that

you’re using our land but more than that I love visiting with the gardener’s and

I love visiting with the gardener’s and

I love visiting with the gardener’s and the sense of community that this has

the sense of community that this has

the sense of community that this has built that’s when I realized in order to

built that’s when I realized in order to

built that’s when I realized in order to have true

have true

have true dunh sustainability not only do we need

dunh sustainability not only do we need

dunh sustainability not only do we need to take care of the garden but we need

to take care of the garden but we need

to take care of the garden but we need to take care of one another my scope was

to take care of one another my scope was

to take care of one another my scope was too narrow and my view of sustainability

too narrow and my view of sustainability

too narrow and my view of sustainability changed from one that was predominantly

changed from one that was predominantly

changed from one that was predominantly environmental to one that included

environmental to one that included

environmental to one that included social cultural and economic components

social cultural and economic components

social cultural and economic components all part of the same complex system that

all part of the same complex system that

all part of the same complex system that next year we grew more food than we ever

next year we grew more food than we ever

next year we grew more food than we ever had before we added more yards we added

had before we added more yards we added

had before we added more yards we added more gardeners and we did things a

more gardeners and we did things a

more gardeners and we did things a little bit differently we started to

little bit differently we started to

little bit differently we started to learn about the culture of the residents

learn about the culture of the residents

learn about the culture of the residents planting crops they remember growing up

planting crops they remember growing up

planting crops they remember growing up with and in turn they gave us knowledge

with and in turn they gave us knowledge

with and in turn they gave us knowledge things that we could never learn on the

things that we could never learn on the

things that we could never learn on the Internet

Internet

Internet we also started knocking on the doors

we also started knocking on the doors

we also started knocking on the doors inviting the residents back to visit

inviting the residents back to visit

inviting the residents back to visit with us rather than worrying about

with us rather than worrying about

with us rather than worrying about disturbing them and because we had extra

disturbing them and because we had extra

disturbing them and because we had extra produce we started partnering with a

produce we started partnering with a

produce we started partnering with a local farmer where he gave us a small

local farmer where he gave us a small

local farmer where he gave us a small corner of his market table where we

corner of his market table where we

corner of his market table where we could sell the extra food and make some

could sell the extra food and make some

could sell the extra food and make some money

money

money reinvest it back into the project we

reinvest it back into the project we

reinvest it back into the project we were all part of a system the natural

were all part of a system the natural

were all part of a system the natural environment gave us countless things

environment gave us countless things

environment gave us countless things including Sun rain and pollinators

including Sun rain and pollinators

including Sun rain and pollinators the gardener’s gave social stimulation

the gardener’s gave social stimulation

the gardener’s gave social stimulation and manual labor

and manual labor

and manual labor the homeowners provided land and

the homeowners provided land and

the homeowners provided land and knowledge the farmer provided us a means

knowledge the farmer provided us a means

knowledge the farmer provided us a means to sell our produce and the community

to sell our produce and the community

to sell our produce and the community benefitted from having access to

benefitted from having access to

benefitted from having access to affordable local organic produce and

affordable local organic produce and

affordable local organic produce and their money was being directly

their money was being directly

their money was being directly reinvested back into food security

reinvested back into food security

reinvested back into food security within their own community this was an

within their own community this was an

within their own community this was an extremely local impact but it was

extremely local impact but it was

extremely local impact but it was connected to the larger global goal of

connected to the larger global goal of

connected to the larger global goal of food security through local action we

food security through local action we

food security through local action we were slightly nudging the system to

were slightly nudging the system to

were slightly nudging the system to Ward’s more system

Ward’s more system

Ward’s more system recently the UN came out with the UN

recently the UN came out with the UN

recently the UN came out with the UN sustainable development goals these

sustainable development goals these

sustainable development goals these provide us a global framework where we

provide us a global framework where we

provide us a global framework where we can align local action with global goals

can align local action with global goals

can align local action with global goals trying to tackle some of these complex

trying to tackle some of these complex

trying to tackle some of these complex problems I want you to think about

problems I want you to think about

problems I want you to think about what’s my piece of the pie you don’t

what’s my piece of the pie you don’t

what’s my piece of the pie you don’t have to take on the full pie yourself

have to take on the full pie yourself

have to take on the full pie yourself there’s other people out there with

there’s other people out there with

there’s other people out there with passions and strengths in different

passions and strengths in different

passions and strengths in different areas that are there to support you and

areas that are there to support you and

areas that are there to support you and help you find what you’re passionate

help you find what you’re passionate

help you find what you’re passionate about and take action systems thinking

about and take action systems thinking

about and take action systems thinking is complex and these issues are

is complex and these issues are

is complex and these issues are interlinked and interrelated and need to

interlinked and interrelated and need to

interlinked and interrelated and need to be looked at holistically we have these

be looked at holistically we have these

be looked at holistically we have these tools where we can break apart the

tools where we can break apart the

tools where we can break apart the solutions and synergistically reassemble

solutions and synergistically reassemble

solutions and synergistically reassemble them so that we’re addressing shared

them so that we’re addressing shared

them so that we’re addressing shared goals and some of these wicked problems

goals and some of these wicked problems

goals and some of these wicked problems that we’ve created we need to bring

that we’ve created we need to bring

that we’ve created we need to bring together people with different

together people with different

together people with different backgrounds all contributing towards

backgrounds all contributing towards

backgrounds all contributing towards shared solutions so that we can get to a

shared solutions so that we can get to a

shared solutions so that we can get to a more sustainable state integrating

more sustainable state integrating

more sustainable state integrating innovation and biomimetic design just

innovation and biomimetic design just

innovation and biomimetic design just imagine the opportunity for system-wide

imagine the opportunity for system-wide

imagine the opportunity for system-wide change we need to shift our thinking

change we need to shift our thinking

change we need to shift our thinking from parts to the whole from objects to

from parts to the whole from objects to

from parts to the whole from objects to relationships and from quantity to

relationships and from quantity to

relationships and from quantity to quality john muir the inaturalist really

quality john muir the inaturalist really

quality john muir the inaturalist really summarized it well he said when we try

summarized it well he said when we try

summarized it well he said when we try to pick out anything by itself we find

to pick out anything by itself we find

to pick out anything by itself we find it hitched to everything else in the

it hitched to everything else in the

it hitched to everything else in the universe for true systems change we have

universe for true systems change we have

universe for true systems change we have to think holistically support one

to think holistically support one

to think holistically support one another and empower everybody to take

another and empower everybody to take

another and empower everybody to take action and find their piece of the pie

action and find their piece of the pie

action and find their piece of the pie together we can solve some of these

together we can solve some of these

together we can solve some of these wicked challenges and remember next time

wicked challenges and remember next time

wicked challenges and remember next time you’re picking strawberries

you’re picking strawberries

you’re picking strawberries it took an entire system to create that

it took an entire system to create that

it took an entire system to create that delicious berry thank you

delicious berry thank you

delicious berry thank you [Music]

[Music]

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