I am on the task force charged with developing the Sustainability Plan for King Township and am looking forward to the Celebration on March 7.  Perhaps because of the amount of personal time spent on thinking out 10+ years and considering what action is required to be sustainable I was particularly “tuned” to participate in two special meetings this past week.  On Thursday I attended Food For Change Action Day.    And on Saturday I attended an information meeting for farmers to discuss the potential of growing industrial hemp in York Region/Simcoe.  At both of these meetings the mood was about looking at new ideas to be sustainable.

The Food For Change Action Day was the 2^nd meeting of this group seeking to “cultivate a healthier food system in York Region.”  The York Region Food Network is leading the effort to create a food charter and advance local food policies, programs and initiatives for communities across York Region.  Inspiration for the task was provided by Wayne Roberts (Canadian Food Policy Analyst, former Manager of Toronto Food Policy Council).  My big learning was that a food policy, one which really delivers, is not just about food security.  It profoundly affects how a community functions.  How so?  Think about how much public health and social services are essentially a reaction to a lack of healthy food.  Think about how the ambiance of a street and a community is affected by the presence or lack thereof of food sources, both stores and restaurants.  And of course there is the economic multiplier:  the tools for producing food, the process of growing, harvesting and distribution all creating jobs etc.

The industrial hemp seminar was hosted by York Region Environmental Alliance with the objective of finding some farmers to grow this crop.  Despite being an ancient crop, having a very positive environmental profile, providing relatively good financial return, and its seed delivering excellent health benefits  it seems that hemp needs an advocate.  It is tainted by its genetics:   it is a variety of cannibas, but,  unlike its more infamous cousin, it has <.3% THC.  To grow it in Canada a license is required; there is some in Ontario but most Canadian production is in western provinces, particularly Manitoba.

This is the kind of innovation we need to be sustainable.  Sustainability includes the little things which an individual can do such as using a water saver shower head.  But, it also includes assessing a crop for its ability to thrive in hotter temperatures than the current norm.   It includes identifying a potential market for upstream value add processes.  It includes enabling the connection of people to their food.

My intent here is not to review the hemp program; for more information as either a potential grower or for interest I will put some contacts on my resources page.  I am happy to report that there were several famers from York Region (including King Township) and Simcoe at the meeting who were showing interest.

I will also put contacts related to the Food initiative meeting on the Resource page.