Students in the Bulkley Valley School District will be growing more local food in 2017 as the Groundbreakers Agriculture Association and the Bulkley Valley School District begin their “Learning Gardens” project.

The project is a result of the association’s successful application to the B.C. government’s Grow Local Program for $24,530.

The funding will expand the “Kids Dig Food: Know it, Sow it, Grow it, Eat it” program from 300 to 600 students. The program involves kindergarten to Grade 7 students in local food supply security projects, and introduces and teaches them about growing food in the Bulkley Valley.

Groundbreakers Agriculture Association has been active in the Bulkley Valley benefiting not only individual students, their teachers and families but also the Smithers and Telkwa communities as a whole, with greener, edible schoolyards. Hands-on, experiential learning at schools has resulted in skills around accessing and growing fresh local food, as well as the smart utilization of food to avoid waste through local food cooking workshops.

The $250,000 Grow Local program is funding projects in 10 B.C. communities. The projects are designed to:

• involve residents in growing local fruit and vegetables;
• increase awareness and appreciation for supporting local food production; and
• strengthen local food supply security.

The 10 projects include the developing resources on how to grow local food, group education and awareness activities, such as workshops, mini-courses, and “how-to” demonstrations, and one-on-one consultation and advice. The application process was administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.

The BC Agrifoods and Seafood Strategic Growth Plan identifies the next steps in the B.C. government’s goal to grow the B.C. agrifoods industry to a $15-billion-dollar-a-year sector by 2020. Grow Local BC will assist in maintaining food supply security, a challenge identified in the strategic growth plan.

Quotes:

Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture –

“The Grow Local program will further strengthen the value of the local agricultural sector among British Columbians. This pilot project will create a better understanding of how food crops are produced in our province and assist people in learning how best to grow their own food.”

Helene Fleury. Secretary-Treasurer, Groundbreakers Agriculture Association –

“Thanks to the Grow Local Program, Groundbreakers is pleased to be able to provide our Kids Dig Food: Know it, Sow it, Grow it, Eat it gardening program to an increased number of elementary school students in the Bulkley Valley. The funding will expand our program from 300 to 600 students.”

Kirsten Froese, principal, Telkwa Elementary school –

“The staff and students at Telkwa Elementary school are excited to be able to continue their relationship with Groundbreakers. As our garden grows, Groundbreakers will be instrumental with helping to plan and plant the garden area. In addition, having their expertise will be beneficial to all of us as we learn about growing food and then harvesting it in the fall months.”

Learn More:

Groundbreakers Agriculture Association: https://www.facebook.com/Groundbreakers-Collective-159255567459548/about/?ref=page_internal

News release announcing Grow Local: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016AGRI0058-001860

Program background: http://iafbc.ca/funding-opportunities/grow-local/