Local food systems

Food assets are tangible or intangible food and cultural resources including:

• Land-based amenities, such as food, medicine, fiber, pollinator, and culture gardens
• Built amenities, such as community kitchens, fieldhouse activations, markets, and concessions
• Public programs and events that connect people with food and cultural plants or help address food insecurity
• Community partnership support and funding for food and culture programs and amenities

Food and culture gardens are community supported growing spaces that connect people with land stewardship and cultural programming designed around food-growing, plant medicine, pollination, and art materials. They provide animated public spaces where the community can come together to learn about growing cycles, share food and culture, and build community. 

Food and culture gardens include:

• Community gardens with individual plots (less than 50% collective growing area)
• Collective community gardens (50% + collective growing area)
• Learning, pollinator, and culture gardens (100% collective growing area)
• Indigenous-run gardens (100% collective growing area)
• Orchards and food landscapes (100% collective growing area)

In VanPlay and the Local Food System Action Plan PDF file (39 MB) the Park Board commits to supporting all new food and culture gardens on Park managed land having at least 50% of total area dedicated to collective growing.

Find a garden near you

• Food Markets - Farmers markets and community food markets sell a selection of local foods.
• Concession strategy - We are serving up a fresh strategy to improve and diversify food and beverage options at our concessions.
• Park food vending permits - Permit, application, and general information for park food vendors and food cart operators.
• Sidewalk activities - There are a number of opportunities for kiosks, carts, and other retail businesses on City sidewalks.

• Food, cooking, gardening lessons and classes - Use the “food, cooking and gardening” search filter to find food-related programming near you.
• Community kitchens - There are many community kitchens across the city in neighbourhood houses, community centres, churches, and social agencies.
• Food assets in fieldhouses - Check out the Fieldhouse Activation Program for fieldhouses dedicated to local food and culture.

• Green grants - The Greenest City Fund supports your projects that help achieve our Greenest City goals for Vancouver.
• Neighbourhood Matching Fund - Vancouver's Neighbourhood Matching Fund supports community efforts to make creative improvements to public land.
• Sustainable food systems grants - These grants provide funding to non-profit organizations building sustainable food systems at the neighbourhood scale.
• Indigenous healing and wellness grants - These grants provide funding to support Elder Services Programs providing traditional, spiritual, and cultural healing and wellness activities.