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by Kathie Wallace and Ross Moster
 WE ARE a collaborative of community-minded people and neighbours in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland who delight in imagining the possibilities for a just, ecologically sustainable and resilient Vancouver and beyond. Every month, we explore initiatives for sustainable community that are simple, free or low cost, time saving and easily replicable. Get to know us at www.villagevancouver.ca If you are interested in joining or creating a village in your neighbourhood, contact Ross Moster at rmoster@flash.net.
Neighbourhood villages
We call what we do “village building.” When neighbours start talking to one another, the simple act of connecting leads to all sorts of good things. Artificial barriers break down and trust and support build. It can start with something as simple as one neighbour hosting a potluck or sharing tools. If you are interested in exploring villages in your neighbourhood, contact Village Vancouver.
Car Free Day block parties
June 14 is Car Free Day. Interested in holding a block party this year? It’s easier than you think: just obtain permission from the city using its “sign off” form and secure two to four city-approved barricades. In Kits, see www.carfreevancouver.org/locations/kitsilano/ or contact kitsilano@carfreevancouver.org For other areas in Vancouver, the Kits site has excellent “how to” information for block parties anywhere or contact Ross Moster. Also visit http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/filmandevents/events/blockparty/
Drop-in spaghetti nights
Imagine announcing to your neighbours that you’re going to cook a big pot of spaghetti, provide some salad and garlic bread and they are welcome to join you. Then imagine your neighbours appreciated your gesture so much they decide to do the same thing on another night. Soon, you have a number of places to eat all over the neighbourhood and you’re saving time and sharing good food and conversation with interesting people. 
Garden in our own backyards
Village Vancouver hosts neighbourhood-based gardening workshops with Roberts Creek’s Sustainable Living Arts School founder Robin Wheeler (www.ediblelandscapes.ca). Also see the Sustainable Living Arts School in Vancouver: www.slas.ca Visit www.villagevancouver.ca for upcoming learning parties in East Hastings, Main St., Riley Park, Fraser, Kits, Downtown, Dunbar, North Van and Coquitlam. New hosts are always welcome.
Neighbourhood food networking
There are hundreds of things we can do in our neighbourhoods around food that promote community based food systems, including canning parties, co-op kitchens, tea stations, sharing compost, pocket farmers/gardeners markets, seed/plant swaps, community kitchens, backyard chickens, honouring elder gardeners, permaculture, urban micro-farming, community gardens/fruit orchards, sidewalk meals, beekeeping, berry picking, neighbourhood co-op freezers, and more. We look forward to hearing about what your neighbourhood is doing.
Broccoli promenades
Community develops around food. A “Broccoli Promenade” transforms streets into a food garden, by using road closures to reconnect food growing to our home kitchens. The garden promenades bring neighbours together, feeding both the gardeners and their neighbours. For more information on creating a Broccoli Promenade, contact d.lafontaine@shaw.ca in Kitsilano.
The Vancouver gardening challenge
By the end of 2009, let’s have harvest celebrations in every neighbourhood in Vancouver. These could be the result of creating neighbourhood villages. The first goal is to plant a garden now. Here’s a simple way to start a garden: 1) Compost, trench, mound, seed and mulch. 2) Someone knocks on doors until he finds people to share their yard. Someone volunteers to collect compost. 3) Each neighbourhood could dedicate one quarter of its garden to a mono crop for sharing with the larger community. 4) Harvest celebration this fall! From Kathie Wallace, Marpole.
Fork in the Road: cultivating food and community
Last October, the Fork gathering helped participants take concrete steps around the topic: “What would happen if we made a conscious effort to create local food economies in our neighbourhoods and communities?” Fork participants continue to get together for monthly potlucks. The next Fork in the Road takes place at Langara’s Summer School on Building Community, June 15-16. For details, contact Leslie Kemp or Village Vancouver.
Langara’s Summer School on Building Community
Langara’s Summer School on Building Community runs June 15-25. Enjoy workshops, films, community tours, storytelling and more at this festival of learning. Village Vancouver also hosts a number of programs. For information about VV programming, visit our website or contact Ross. For information about the Langara Summer School, contact Leslie Kemp at 604-323-5981, lkemp@langara.bc.ca or visit www.langara.bc.ca/cs
Details on future topics:
www.villagevancouver.ca |
