Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter Toolkit

Toolkit for Eaters !page 3

Toolkit for Growers !page 5

Toolkit for Business and Institutions !page 7

Toolkit for Policy Makers !page 8

Toolkit for Community Food Projects !page 9

Have you signed the Guelph-Wellington Food Charter?

It’s now time to take action!

This toolkit can help you get started.

IntroductionThe UN Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights acknowledges the right for all to have access to adequate food.

In accordance with that principle, the Guelph-Wellington Food Round Table (GWFRT) created a Food Charter to encourage the development of a vibrant, sustainable, food secure community. The Charter was developed over the course of 2010 and 2011 by the Food Round Table’s Policy Working Group, in consultation with community members.

In December 2011, the City of Guelph and the Guelph Community Health Centre endorsed the Food Charter. By 2012, more than 150 stakeholders had also signed the Food Charter.

This Food Charter Toolkit aims to help facilitate action by providing information and resources that can help us realize our Charter goals and objectives.

The resources and information provided in this Charter Toolkit were gathered through a combination of Internet research and consultations with representatives of the GWFRT working groups. This document was developed as an online resource. Some URLs have been shortened using Google URL Shortener. The focus is on items with particular relevance to the Guelph-Wellington community. The list is not exhaustive; rather it is intended to o!er a selection of simple and practical suggestions and resources that individuals and organizations can apply after endorsing the Food Charter.

This toolkit was funded by Wellington-Du!erin-Guelph Public Health, as part of their Healthy Communities initiative. It was prepared by Ryan Hayhurst and Kelly Janz, graduate student interns at the University of Guelph’s Research Shop, in collaboration with the Guelph-Wellington Food Round Table’s Food Policy and Charter working groups.

Can you connect the dots?

When we start considering how our food-related actions shape the food system, we realize that our food and lifestyle choices impact all aspects of our lives.

Action Items What you eat

Where you eat

Where you shop

How you celebrate

What you learn

Whom you engage with

Food Charter Priority Areas Health

Education

Sustainable Economic Development

Environment

Culture

Social Justice

W e a r e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d

Funded by

2 Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter Toolkit Spread the Word!

Toolkit for Eaters

Take Action! ! Use the Food Charter’s six priority areas

to see how you can make a di"erence.

Health Education Sustainable Economic Development

Environment Culture Social Justice

Take healthy cooking classes*

Contact your local public health unit for information on healthy eating

Cook meals at home

When grocery shopping, try to stick to the outside perimeter, where there are fewer processed foods

Try new fruits and vegetables

Learn how to read nutrition and ingredient labels

Incorporate more vegetables and fruit into your weekly meals

Start a healthy snack or lunch program at your child’s school or your workplace

Teach children how to cook healthy foods

Go to your local library and take out some free cookbooks on healthy and seasonal cooking

When shopping, choose local stores and products when possible

Join a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative**

Visit your local farmers’ market

Learn to grow a few of your favourite vegetables and fruit

Support local farmers and ecological food production

Eat seasonally when possible

Join or start a community garden

Eat dinner with your family more frequently

Attend local food festivals and events

Attend a food swap***

Buy fair trade when possible

Learn about food issues in Canada’s North

Learn more about rural communities

Advocate for healthy food allowance for those on social assistance

“ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

* Free workshops are available in the community. Check out the resources under “What you Learn,” page 4.

** Community Supported Agriculture is a system that directly links consumers to farmers through the upfront purchase of a share in the harvest. Most CSAs collect the full cost of the share and distribute seasonal harvest once a week throughout the growing season to consumers at local drop-o! point.

*** Food Swaps are a place to exchange home grown or made foods for other delectable items. Check out Guelph Ontario Food Swap at gofoodswap.tumblr.com

What you eatEating HealthyDietitians of Canada dietitians.ca

Wellington-Du"erin-Guelph Public Health wdgpublichealth.ca

Wellington-Du"erin-Guelph Public Health’s LiveWell online learning program wdglivewell.ca

Eating seasonallyCanadian Organic Growers Perth-Waterloo-Wellington (PWW)’s Local Organic Food Directory goo.gl/F39H3

Foodland Ontario’s Availability Guide foodland.gov.on.ca

Savour Ontario savourontario.ca

Eating locallyGuelph Wellington Local Food Finder guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca/ find-local-food

Transition Guelph’s Community Supported Agriculture Directory transitionguelph.org/guelph-csa.php

R e s o u r c e s

3Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter ToolkitSpread the Word!

Cooking as a communityGuelph-Wellington Food Round Table’s Community Kitchen Guide goo.gl/OKl7F

Accessing foodGuelph-Wellington Food Round Table’s Food Access Guide goo.gl/StHtr

Where you eatEating outGuelph Wellington Local Food’s Restaurant Guide guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca/ find-local-food

Eating at homeDietitians of Canada goo.gl/EZVVb

Where you shopDowntownGuelph’s downtown business listings downtownguelph.com

Retail and Distributors in Guelph & Wellington County guelphwellington localfood.ca/ find-local-food

Towns & Townships of Wellington County goo.gl/sqpaa

Farmers’ MarketFarmers Markets in Wellington County goo.gl/ti3dc

Guelph’s Farmers’ Market every Saturday 7am to 12 pm guelphfarmersmarket.com

Co-operativesConestogo River Local Food Co-op 1-519- 638-7762

Elmira Produce Auction Co-operative 1-519- 669-3884 or 519-638-3602

Gay Lea Foods – Guelph Branch gaylea.com

Ontario Lamb Producers 1-519-836-5292

Organic Meadow organicmeadow.com

The Ontario Natural Food Co-op onfc.ca

How you celebrateEarth Hour Vigil Last Saturday in March as part of the Resilience Community Festival

Everdale Farm Carrot Festival everdale.org/events/ everdale-carrot-fest

Farmalicious Weekly, from July-September Across the County of Wellington and Guelph

Fergus Fall Fair fergusfallfair.ca

Guelph Wellington Local Food Fest Last Sunday in June. Ignatius Jesuit Centre

Guelph Wellington Local Food “Taste Real” Events goo.gl/Q6q7P

Resilience Community Festival transitionguelph.org/events.php

Savour Stratford visitstratford.ca/savour-stratford.php

Slow Food Guelph slowfoodguelph.ca/C1.htm

Wellington Fall Rural Romp Last Saturday in September Centre Wellington, Erin, Guelph-Eramosa, Puslinch and!Guelph

Wellington Festivals (full list) wellingtonfestivals.ca

Wellington Spring Rural Romp Last Saturday in May. Minto, Wellington North, Mapleton

What you learnThe media, documentary filmmakers and educators of all stripes are embracing healthy food and sustainable food systems and the message is starting to spread.

Here are some other local sources that can help you to re-connect with your food and figure out how to incorporate more local, sustainably grown food into your life:

Everdale Environmental Learning Centre everdale.org

Green Table Foods greentablefoods.com

Guelph Organic Conference guelphorganicconf.ca

Ignatius Farm ignatiusguelph.ca/csa

The Food School, Fergus foodschool.ca

The Julien Project thejulienproject.com

The Living Centre thelivingcentre.com

Wayne Roberts wayneroberts.ca

Who you engage withIndividual actions involving more sustainable food choices are meaningful, yet collective action through community groups and civil society organizations can be transformative and empowering. Here are a few organizations that do work on food-related issues and are active in the Guelph-Wellington community.

10 Carden 10carden.ca

Canadian Organic Growers PWW cogwaterloo.ca/eatOrganic.php

Council of Canadians coc-guelph.ca

Guelph & Wellington Taskforce for Poverty Elimination gwpoverty.ca/get_involved/food

Guelph Wellington Food Round Table gwfrt.com

Transition Guelph transitionguelph.org

Wellington Water Watchers wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca

Healthy, Seasonal CookbooksBeach, M. & Kau"man, J. (2006). Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook: A World Community Cookbook. Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press

Bradshaw, B. (2008). The Good Food Book for Families: With Over 150 Recipes to Please Kids of All Ages, Inspired by the New Canada’s Food Guide. Toronto: Random House Canada

Ogryzlo, L. (2011). The Ontario Table: Featuring the Best Food from Across the Province. Toronto: Epulum Books.

Snow, K. (2009). The Harvest Eating Cookbook: More than 200 Recipes for Cooking with Seasonal Local Ingredients. Philadelphia: Running Press.

All cookbooks listed can be found at the Guelph Public Library.

Toolkit for Eaters – Resources (continued)

4 Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter Toolkit Spread the Word!

Toolkit for Growers

Take Action! ! Use the Food Charter’s six priority areas

to see how you can make a di"erence.

Health Education Sustainable Economic Development

Environment Culture Social Justice

Use natural garden inputs, such as compost or living mulch

Take time to stretch before putting in long hours in the garden or on the tractor

Help create a garden at your local school or community

Add your farm to the Guelph Wellington Local Food Map*

Participate in a farm mentorship program**

Join WWOOF International***

Connect with the University of Guelph for a variety of agricultural resources****

Buy local and heritage seeds when possible

Buy from local greenhouses when possible

Choose local processors and distributors

Sell your produce to local institutions or schools

Work with the GWFRT or other grassroots organizations to help build momentum for policy development around sustainable food systems

Start a compost in your backyard or community garden

Try new gardening techniques, such as permaculture or companion planting

Pick heirloom varieties or species native to your region

Set aside a section of uncultivated land to increase biodiversity

Create an Environmental Farm Plan^

Donate your unharvested fruit to a fruit tree harvesting project

Have a potluck with other gardeners using veggies you have grown

Organize a garden tour

Participate in a food swap†

Participate in a permablitz††

Participate in food events & celebrations

Join a farmers’ market

Donate a row of vegetables from your garden to your local food bank

Help new farmers access land

Advocate for fair farm wages

* Contact Guelph Wellington Local Food guelphwellington localfood.ca

** For more information check out FarmStart farmstart.ca or CRAFT Ontario craftontario.ca or Farm Link Ontario farmlinkontario.ca

*** World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms wwoof.org or Willing Workers on Organic Farms wwoof.ca

**** Information can be found at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agriculture College oac.uoguelph.ca/about/departments-units

^ For more information go to the Ontario Environmental Farm Plan omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment/efp/efp.htm

† Food Swaps are a place to exchange home grown or made foods for other delectable items. Check out Guelph Ontario Food Swap at gofoodswap.tumblr.com

†† A permablitz is a day in which people get together to create an edible garden where someone lives, share growing skills, build community and have a good time. Check out Permablitz Guelph at transitionguelph.org/permablitz.php

5Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter ToolkitSpread the Word!

Gardening Workshops &!Learning ResourcesCanadian Organic Growers PWW cogwaterloo.ca/gardeners.php

Canadian Organic Growers PWW’s The Organic Backyard goo.gl/6fC6h

Everdale Farm Workshops everdale.org

Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming uoguelph.ca/gcuof/

Guelph Community Gardens guelph.ca/communitygardens#

GWFRT Community Garden Best Practices Toolkit goo.gl/C8bIx

GWFRT Community Gardens Resources gwfrt.com/ working-groups/community-gardens

Guelph-Wellington Master#Gardeners gwmastergardeners.mgoi.ca

Healthy Landscapes for Home Owners goo.gl/nZqVT

Gardening for Teachers and StudentsGWFRT Community Gardens Working Group gwfrt.com/working-groups/community-gardens

Nutrients for Life nutrientsforlife.ca

BeesBee Keeping ontariobee.com

Pollination Guelph pollinator.ca/guelph

Farming ResourcesAlternative Land Use Services norfolkalus.com

Canadian Organic Growers cog.ca

Centre for Land and Water Stewardship uoguelph.ca/~claws/Home.html

Climate Change and Agriculture omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/climatechange.htm

Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training craftontario.ca

Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario efao.ca

FarmStart farmstart.ca

Holistic Management International holisticmanagement.org

Local Food Plus localfoodplus.ca

National Farmers Union nfu.ca

Ontario Environmental Farm Plan omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment/efp/efp.htm

Society for Biodynamic Farming and Gardening in Ontario biodynamics.on.ca

WWOOFing International wwoof.org

Food Preservation Wellington-Du"erin-Guelph Public Health: Community Food Advisors 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4647

SeedsSeeds of Diversity seeds.ca

Sprouting Evergreen evergreen.ca/docs/res/Green-City-Toolkit-Sprouts.pdf

Urban ChickensGuelph Chicken Keepers Association Find on Facebook

VolunteerApple Seed Collective appleseedcollective.org

Backyard Bounty backyardbounty.ca

Guelph Community Orchard guelphcommunityorchard.wordpress.com

In December of 2011 the City of Guelph approved a two-year community garden pilot program, making it a permanent program of the City. Beginning in 2013, a number of new community gardens will be established on city-owned land each year. So get your community together and take an application to City Hall today!

Applications can be found on the City of Guelph website goo.gl/BA377

Toolkit for Growers

R e s o u r c e s

6 Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter Toolkit Spread the Word!

Take Action! ! Use the Food Charter’s six priority areas

to see how you can make a di"erence.

Health Education Sustainable Economic Development

Environment Culture Social Justice

Provide healthy, a!ordable choices to customers

Speak to a dietitian at your local health unit about healthy food resources

Make healthy and local food information available to customers

Support local farmers through local procurement

Stock organic products when possible

Reduce food miles by sourcing local products

Institute a composting program at your workplace

Participate in or sponsor local events and celebrations around food

O!er a diversity of food products and flavours

Make fair trade products available when possible

Guelph Wellington Local Food guelphwellington localfood.ca has developed an excellent resource to help small and medium institutional and commercial purchasers access local food in Guelph-Wellington.

The Local Food Procurement Guide, The Road to Food: Increasing Local Food in Broader Public Sector Organizations, can be obtained by contacting Guelph Wellington Local Food at guelphwellington localfood.ca/broader-public-sector-investment-fund

Wholesale Food Map guelphwellington localfood.ca/ find-local-food

R e s o u r c e s

Toolkit for Business and Institutions

Guelph Wellington Local Food presents Taste Real Local Food Champion Awards to six businesses annually. Businesses can be nominated in six di!erent categories: broad public sector, restaurant, caterer, farmer, retail, and distributor. These awards acknowledge the “innovation, excellence, and commitment to the local food economy of Guelph and Wellington County.” Check out the Guelph Wellington Local Food website to learn more about past winners and find out how you can nominate your favourite local food business.

guelphwellington localfood.ca/local-food-champion-awards

7Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter ToolkitSpread the Word!

Aligning municipal policy with sustainable food systems research is a complex challenge, requiring information from diverse stakeholders. Tapping into existing networks and resources can help us collaborate on policy development at a local and regional level.

Agricultural Workers Alliance awa-ata.ca/en

City of Guelph’s O$cial Plan guelph.ca/plans-and-strategies/o!cial-plan/

County of Wellington wellington.ca

Fair Trade fairtrade.ca

Food Secure Canada foodsecurecanada.org

Food Service Industry restaurantsustainability. wordpress.com

Guelph-Wellington Food Round Table gwfrt.com

Metcalf Foundation metcal"oundation.com

Ontario Farmland Trust ontariofarmlandtrust.ca

Ontario Professional Planners Institute – Healthy Communities & Planning for Food goo.gl/9Ub5T

Organic Council of Ontario organiccouncil.ca

Sustain Ontario sustainontario.com

Sustainable Food Systems londontraining.on.ca/sustainable_food_systems.htm

The Ram’s Horn ramshorn.ca

R e s o u r c e s

Toolkit for Policy Makers

Take Action! ! Use the Food Charter’s six priority areas

to see how you can make a di"erence.

Health Education Sustainable Economic Development

Environment Culture Social Justice

Advocate for healthy food options in schools, hospitals & government cafeterias

Restrict unhealthy foods

Advocate for food education in schools

Help provide food growing opportunities to children

Conduct a Community Food Assessment*

Work with retailers and farmers’ markets to ensure food access

Re-examine by-laws that prohibit farmers and growers from selling local food

Advocate for policies that support on-farm processing

Support the preservation of local farmland

Promote and maintain long-term community garden projects and local neighbourhood markets

Promote regional foods, farmers, and local businesses

Advocate for policies that support and promote agri-tourism

Support fair wages for farmers

Advocate for procurement of fair trade products by the government where possible

Support and advocate for collaborations working to create sustainable food systems

Did you know that Ontario is home to 14"Food Charters?

* A Community Food Assessment is a participatory planning tool that allows community members to identify existing food assets and highlight future concerns and priorities

8 Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter Toolkit Spread the Word!

R e s o u r c e s

Toolkit for Community Food Projects

Start-up ResourcesBuilding on a growing body of local food scholarship centred in Guelph-Wellington and Waterloo, Dr. Alison Blay-Palmer and Dr. Karen Landman and their teams have produced a number of best-practice guides for local food initiatives that are just starting up, including:

Landman, K. et al., 2009. Models and Best Practices for Building E!ective Local Food Systems in Ontario. OMAFRA-SRC Summary Report

Landman, K. et al., 2008. Rural-Urban Linkages for Local Food in the City of Guelph-County of Wellington Landscape. OMAFRA-SRC Final Report

Blay-Palmer, A. (eds.), 2010. Imagining Sustainable Food Systems. Vermont, Ashgate

Blay-Palmer, Landman et al. Community Food Toolkit. (forthcoming)

These resources and more can be found at alisonblaypalmer.com

The Stop Community Food Centre also has great resources learningnetwork.thestop.org

Evaluation ResourcesEvaluating sustainability and food systems initiatives can be challenging due to the complexities involved. However, if metrics and indicators, baselines and accounting systems are not developed to accurately chart progress through these muddy waters, how will we know if we are heading in the right direction? The following are some frameworks for sustainability reporting:

Global Reporting Initiative globalreporting.org

GPI Atlantic gpiatlantic.org

IISD Peg Community Indicators System iisd.org/innovation/news5.aspx

The Natural Step thenaturalstep.org/canada

The Stiglitz Report stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr/documents/rapport_anglais.pdf

The Sustainability Learning Centre sustainabilitylearningcentre.com

Reports on Human Health and Access to Healthy FoodThe Guelph & Wellington Taskforce for Poverty Elimination has a host of reports around food security issues, which can be found on their website gwpoverty.ca

Wellington-Du"erin-Guelph Public Health recently published The Community Picture: Health Status of Wellington-Du!erin-Guelph (goo.gl/zRLoH). Visit their website for local publications and collaborative reports at wdgpublichealth.ca

Spread the Word! 9Your Guelph-Wellington Food Charter ToolkitSpread the Word!

There are a number of ways you can get involved.Sign the Guelph-Wellington Food Charter by visiting gwfrt.com.

Sign up to receive our E-News Bulletin featuring happenings in our local food scene and other important updates.

Join a working group as a volunteer – food access, community gardens, food charter, and food distribution – and work collaboratively towards creating greater food security in Guelph and Wellington.

Visit gwfrt.com regularly for updates.

We are always looking to engage with new people and partner with other organizations. Contact us at info@gwfrt.com

JOIN US!