July 2008
welcome
Welcome to our July One Day enews – the food edition. Read on for food-focused action reminders and stories about fellow Vancouverites, climate change news and local events. We hope you like the fresh new look of our enews, which we've updated along with our brand new website. Take some time this month to check it out. It's the same information, but presented in a more user-friendly style.
One Day is a City of Vancouver initiative that encourages residents to take small actions in their daily lives to use less energy at home and on the road, to help protect the climate, and to make Vancouver the cleanest, greenest, healthiest city in the world.
actions of the month
- Visit a local farmers market. Walk or bike to your local farmers market and bring home tasty fodder that's traveled only a few kilometers from the field to your plate. Farmers markets occur weekly from May to October in Kitsilano, West End, East Vancouver and Riley Park.
Take a self-guided farm tour. Take a drive in the beautiful countryside, experience something new, and connect with friendly farmers during a Circle Farm Tour. - Help your favorite restaurant save hot water, energy and hundreds of dollars per year. All they have to do is apply online at the BC Hydro website for a free LiveSmartBC pre-rinse spray valve.
One Day wonders – Phil and Debbra
This past May, Phil, his wife Debbra, and their talented team launched Edible Vancouver, a free, seasonal magazine that celebrates local foods, farmers and food producers. Edible Vancouver is part of Edible Communities, an award-winning family of magazines that are committed to reconnect city people with the food that nourishes them. Each season, 20,000 copies will be distributed to food retailers, cafes, restaurants, and bakeries throughout Metro Vancouver and surrounding districts. Read the latest edition online.
One Day wonders – Ricki and Newton
Identical twins, Ricki and Newton are founders and operators of Twinberry Farms, one of our many local farms working hard to produce delicious produce for residents in the Vancouver area. Recognizing that not everyone who'd like to support local farmers has the time to make the trip out to them, Ricki and Newton deliver their fresh blueberries, straight from the farm to offices and workplaces. To reduce their carbon footprint, they are committed to local sourcing and manufacturing, conduct paperless marketing through online campaigns and use recyclable packaging. These twins also give back to their community by directing 15% of all purchases to the Canuck Place Children's Hospice.
One Day – one barbeque
It's barbeque season. This summer when hosting your annual barbeque for your friends and family reduce your carbon footprint by roasting more veggie skewers and cutting the amount of meat you serve in half. Producing one calorie of animal protein requires 10 times more fuel and produces 10 times more GHG emissions, than one calorie of plant protein.
A recent study found that the production end contributes to the bulk of total food related GHG emissions, mainly through fertilizer manufacture and use. So local and organically grown choices are best. To reduce your exposure to pesticides, the Environmental Working Group suggests that peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes and pears are the top ten fruits and veggies that should be bought organic.
Other hints: ask your friends and family to carpool to your barbeque; use reusable plates, napkins and cups for a greener, classier meal; and serve locally produced wine.
your trip to the market
Vancouver's farmers markets are not only bringing you the best and freshest in local foods, but they are also trying to reduce waste by cutting out plastic. Here's what they're asking of you: bring your own reusable shopping bags, produce bags or containers and/or travel mug; ask vendors what they are doing to help reduce waste and figure out how you can by returning egg cartons, plant pots, or berry containers.
