The Farm to School Salad Bar is a new and innovative initiative in British Columbia (BC) designed to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables amongst students and raise awareness of the health benefits of doing so. Although the concept of farm to school appears simple, it has multiple planning-related objectives including adopting a comprehensive...Read More

Beyond connecting with local farms and farmers, Haida Gwaii schools are incorporating hunting, gathering, foraging, gardening and greenhouses into their schools’ food supply. This idea emerged naturally in a place where wild foods are so plentiful and the culture of feasting and sharing food is central to the island culture. This remote archipelago along the...Read More

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority dietitians and public health nurses are helping students get interested in growing and enjoying healthy food. They are members of the Farm to School Vancouver Area Regional Hub (F2SVA) that oversee Farm to School activities in the Vancouver area. A Vancity credit union grant provided the funds to hire a local...Read More

Kids can be picky eaters and often choose food with high sugar and fat content over suspicious but nutritious greens. This reality is even more prevalent for low income families who cannot always afford fresh vegetables or quality protein. How do we change these patterns and instill healthy food habits in children from an early...Read More

There is a growing movement to buy local food – and Interior Health is working to keep the food it serves patients as local as possible. Aside from environmental benefits and support for the local economy, there is something rewarding about biting into a juicy peach at the peak of the season, purchased from a...Read More

Local farm vegetables supplied directly to college, hospital, and seniors’ homes 1 June, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MR15-033 Comox Valley, B.C.   Last Friday, as Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, joined California in declaring a statewide drought emergency, St Joseph’s General Hospital in Comox, B.C. joined a pilot program to source vegetables locally. “For the...Read More

Photo: Yun Leong Something shifted in 2010.  Two cities that had been overcoming barriers to school gardens and getting local foods in classrooms now found themselves starting farms on school grounds. These farms added one more educational and food production tool to the complicated puzzle of Farm to School. Some wondered if school farms would be...Read More

Photo: Oliver Elementary School is turning some of its students into “young farmers” as part of the Salad Bar Program. In top photo are students getting ready to grow their gardens. In top photo from left are Matthew Hodge, Dustin Cachola, and Justin Vala. In back row are Nicholas Lang, Jasneet Sidhu, Avnit Sidhu, and Eisha...Read More

For the volunteers who came out April 12 to prepare the garden beds at David Thompson secondary school, it was about supporting environmental causes in any way they could. Volunteer Barbara Bradbury said there’s a huge need for individuals to help out. “The Vancouver Park Board doesn’t have enough money,” she said. “They can’t hire...Read More

Therapeutic gardens boost mental and physical health Tucked away on the campus of B.C. Children’s Hospital is an oasis of sorts. It’s a therapeutic food garden frequented by young inpatients and outpatients in programs run by B.C. Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Julia Thiessen, executive director of the Environmental Youth Alliance, gave the Georgia...Read More