YORKTON - Much has been written in recent years about the need to ensure food security.
The idea has led to far more rules and regulations for producers and processors in terms of being able to trace food virtually from the kitchen table back to the producer should a problem arise in regards to food safety. That’s generally a good thing although some will question who ultimately pays for the systems put in place.
Still when food is being delivered from countries half way around the world, and hauled in trucks across the continent to fill local store shelves, a level of trust has to exist for consumers, and traceability plays a big part in building that trust.
But there is another way to address food security, and that is by taking a greater level of self control over the food we source and eat.
Somehow over the years we have largely abandoned growing our own food.
Go back even a couple of decades and backyard gardens were rather common in a city like Yorkton.
Today, they are an ever-rarer occurrence.
We have largely given up on hoeing the weeds in a vegetable garden in favour of mowing some grass, or sitting in the sun over a patch of crushed rock.
Instead of spending time preserving what we might grow in our yards we opt to head to the grocery store – a trip that recently has seemed to be an ever more expensive outing.
There are signs we might be edging back toward growing some of our food.
For example, one needs to applaud local efforts to get the city on side with allowing backyard honey bees.
Of course one might not applaud the city too loudly in that one since backyard laying hens – safe in multiple major cities – was deemed unsafe for our rural-based community.
But, back to a positive, with Parkland College hosting a grand opening of their recently planted Campus Food Forest June 14.
The concept of ‘Food Forest’ – established at College Trades and Technology Centre in Yorkton -- is a step toward food security for college students and the community, offered Kami DePape, Vice President, Academics with the college.
“Food insecurity is a growing concern across Canada and around the world,” she said.
The trees in the small ‘forest’ is a way to help, with the fruit once the trees become productive, being available for anyone to harvest.
It’s a small step, but one which could ripple through our city in a positive way.
Imagine Food Forests at each school yard in the city – providing not just food, but educational opportunities regarding healthy food.
Or, how about at the Scout Hall, churches, or for example at Patrick Park where some have suggested a few more trees would add to the disc golf course – why not apple or pear trees?
And, there are city boulevards. In Saskatoon there is a program where boulevard gardens can be established, so why not here?
Collectively, we could inch back to greater self-control of our food. Let’s hope the college effort starts the ball rolling.
