During 2021 we witnessed floods and fire of biblical proportions and a world plagued by Covid.
One of many issued it exposed, yet again, is how fragile our food and power supply is.
The most current figures I could find regarding how much of the food we consume is actually produced here on the Island can be found on the Food ECO District Victoria on their web site - https://www.get-fed.ca
They stated (March 3rd 2019) “Up until the 1950s, 85 percent of our food supply was grown locally here on the island (1). Today in 2019, our local food supply has dwindled to roughly 10 percent”
I contacted the ministry of agriculture in Victoria to see if they had ant current figures and although they did not have any they were incredibly approachable. They were polite, prompt in returning phone calls and supplied me with a list of the current programs in place to assist and promote food growing and processing here on the Island.
This will be the subject of a later article. Stay tuned.
In the meantime there is a lot we can do to encourage and support Island farmers and processors and it is very easy to do.
First and foremost Buy local and support Island farmers.
To further support and assist Island farmers, processors and venders there is an ”Island Farmers and Farmers Markets’ page on Seniors 101 - https://seniors101.ca/markets
All Island farmers are invited to send their location, products they have and their contact information to seniors101@shaw.ca
Lets all do what we can to support Island farmers and in doing so strengthen our food supply security.
Roy Summerhayes
Publisher Seniors 101.
