Past Initiatives

The Beginning:
GEODE incubated the development of The Foodshed Project for the first year. In 2003, the organization incorporated as a not-for-profit, and was the lead organization in the development of a local Food Charter. The Foodshed Project was funded by The Laidlaw Foundation to work with the Sudbury & Area Food Security Network members in the development of the charter. In 2004, The City of Greater Sudbury, the Sudbury & District Board of Health, the Social Planning Council of Sudbury, the City of Greater Sudbury, and the municipalities of Killarney, St. Charles and Township of Tehkummah, adopted The Food Charter. The Food Charter specifically endorses programs that relate to population health and wellness, community development, investment in the regional food system and the development of a sustainable food system.

Climate Friendly Shopping Planner - 2004 Download here
In the summer of 2004 The Foodshed Project was funded by Environment Canada to conduct a social marketing survey to determine how much Sudburians knew about local food, climate change, and sustainable transportation choices. From the information gathered, it was realized that most people do not make the connection between local food and the production of greenhouse gas emissions. The resulting Climate Friendly Shopping Planner (the Planner) provides consumers with information on food miles and the impact of climate change on the local food system. It also includes several ideas to help people grow food organically, plan meals and reduce their transportation impact.

Food Security Indicators Report Card - 2005-6
The Foodshed Project consulted extensively with the member organizations of the Sudbury Food Connections Network assess the most significant indicators of our local food system. The result was the Greater Sudbury Food Security Indicators Report Card - 2005-6 , which established baseline data such as food bank usage, obesity rates, local farming assets, community groups involved in food projects, recycling and waste collection rates, and other characteristics of interest. Updating of the Report Card will help the community determine trends in the food system, such as the placement of grocery stores in outlying areas, food bank usage, and the number of local farming operations.  A Community Food Security Indicators Companion Report was also produced to educate on why specific indicators were chosen for the Report Card.

Climate Change Public Workshops - 2006
The Foodshed Project has led community workshops at Market Square in Sudbury, at the Canada Revenue Agency premises and at a few social housing complexes. The workshops looked at the big picture of food security, covering topics such as the impact of climate change and how by reducing our energy footprint, we can improve environmental sustainability.

Public Events – 2006 - 07
In 2006, The Foodshed Project  was funded by The Laidlaw Foundation to partner with the Sudbury Food Connections Network and organize a community event on World Food Day.  The Food Security Report Card was officially presented at the event, while those in attendance sampled food prepared by a local restaurant that featured locally produced ingredients. In 2007, The Foodshed Project partnered with the Sudbury Food Connections Network to present an event called Food, Film, Forum. The event features local food, as well as a forum lead by several provincial electoral candidates to discuss food issues affecting the Greater Sudbury community.

Energy Audits -2006
The Foodshed Project was funded again by Environment Canada to conduct energy audits in social housing units.  The Foodshed Project recognizes that the aspects of environmental sustainability, from food security, to emissions reduction, to energy conservation, are all interconnected. Progress in one area cannot be sustained without progress in other areas.  The focus of the initiative was to educate the tenants on the environmental benefits of minimizing waste, as well as reducing energy consumption. The tenants were informed about how simple actions such as recycling, turning off the lights, adjusting the refrigerator temperature to between 37 and 42 degrees Celsius and using the bathroom exhaust fans properly, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By decreasing energy consumption tenants can help fight climate change (which has an obvious impact on our food systems). The Foodshed Project audited 340 units and was impressed by the positive response of the tenants. Greater Sudbury Housing Authority also conducted extensive air sealing on one social housing complex as a result of the audits.

Partners for Youth Engagement in Food Security – 2007-9
The Foodshed Project was funded by The Laidlaw Foundation to initiate the Partners for Youth Engagement in Food Security to support youth-led food security initiatives.  The initiative would involve extensive surveying of schools, and other environmental groups to find out what youth-led projects currently exist in Ontario. Using this information to generate ideas for future projects, the initiative would connect youth with community partners to support youth interested in starting their own initiatives such as community gardens, buy local campaigns, recycling program, and other programs that promote food sustainability.

The Food Sustainability Science Fair Grant Program - 2008-09
With funding from The Ontario Trillium Foundation, and in collaboration with the Let's Talk Science Partnership Program, The Foodshed Project ran a pilot program where they offered grants of up to $50 to be used on science fair supplies if their project involved the topic of food sustainability.  Staff from Let's Talk Science and The Foodshed Project developed a promotional video, guidebook and PowerPoint presentation to help explain what food sustainability is and also how to put together a successful science fair project. The workshop also involved hands-on activities where the students ranked their lunch on nutrition, garbage generated and food miles. The program was offered to 5 different grade 7/8 classes in 2 different schools and 5 grants were awarded.  The program will be offered again in the fall of 2009. Please contact us if interested.

Youth Engagement in Food Sustainability: A Review of Programs in Ontario - Report and Video Presentation