There’s a lot of talk these days about creating a viable and sustainable food economy.
With political instability around the world, weather variability, a slowly fracturing food system and global water issues, Alberta could be facing an interruption of food supplies in coming years, says St. Albert’s Debbie Hubbard.
Hubbard, a speech language pathologist, is also the co-chair for the Greater Edmonton Alliance, a non-partisan, multi-issue organization dedicated to furthering social issues. One of its ventures is assisting in the creation of a long-term food strategy.
“In the area of water, it’s not the Saskatchewan River we should be worried about. It’s the Colorado River,” Hubbard says.
She explains that most of our winter vegetables come from Arizona and California. The farms are fed by the Colorado River, but it is in serious trouble. Since the 20th century, exhaustive water consumption has lowered the course of the river to the point it no longer reaches the sea except in years of heavy runoff. Many believe that the declines and heavy water usage could lead to serious shortages by the mid-21st century.
In 2010, recognizing potential future catastrophes, the City of Edmonton starting developing a food and agriculture strategy. Last year the municipal development plan struck the Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy.
Part of it was to look at the strengths of the local food economy. One aspect of the strategy was recognizing there is rich agrarian soil in Edmonton’s northeast corner with producers who are keen to continue harvesting their crops.
While there is a strong argument to pave land for development, the concept of cultivating a sustainable food system is gaining traction. There are numerous advantages to designating Edmonton’s northeast corner as farmland.
“The northeast has an excellent microclimate with six to eight more frost free days,” says Hubbard. “It’s close to the city with easy access to markets and it’s easy for workers to reach the farms. And they’re on the Henday, which is a good transportation route.”
Rather than just wait for things to happen, the alliance is presenting the Farming in the City guided bus tour on Sunday, Aug. 26.
The three-hour guided tours will make stops at Horsehill Berry Farms, Norbest Farmers and the farms of two St. Albert Farmer’s Market producers, Kuhlmann’s Market Gardens and Riverbend Gardens.
“Part of our tour is to help people make the connection that food bought at the farmers’ market is produced in Edmonton.”
The departure and drop-off point is Northlands, 11331 73 St. The tours run every 45 minutes starting at 8:30 a.m. with the last tour departing at 2:15 p.m. Single tickets are $10 or $25 per family. To buy a ticket visit www.live-local.ca.
“I grew up on a farm. But in the 20 years since I left, I became very disconnected,” says Hubbard. “I forgot how important good food is. I just want people to go out and meet the producers, stand on the land and get feel for what a gift the land is and how each of us can make the food movement more secure.”
