MappingUrban

Agriculture on Vancouver

Island

An Urban Food System is one in which food production, processing,

distribution, consumption and disposal of end products are integrated to enhance the

environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of a particular

community and place. Garret, S. and G. Feenstra, 1999.

Importance of Urban Agriculture

The city of Victoria is supportive of “the concept of urban agriculture as a valuable community resource and

will work to collaborate the community, neighboring

municipalities and Capital Region District to support and encourage

Urban Agriculture where possible” (Urban Agriculture Resolution)

Victoria and Vancouver Island

Mapping local areas to Determine Agricultural Potential

Used GIS to map the city of PortlandDetermined the available public land Found 24 suitable sites, and highlighted 11 of

these sites, 5 of which matched the criteria for community gardens, large scale urban agriculture farms, and market gardens

Diggable Cities

Used GIS to create an inventory of publicly owned lands

These lands were then categorized into the various ownerships (from municipal level to Federal level)

They mapped over 10,000 acres of available public land (1/3 of Oakland’s total land)

After this, they used satellite imagery to see which open space could be used for agriculture

Cultivating the Commons: Oakland Mapping Case

They excluded developed areas, where buildings, roads, and playing fields existed

Each site was classified by size ranging from 1/4 acre up to 5 acres

Classified each parcel by ground cover (soil, grass, hard surface, dense vegetation)

Oakland Cont.

Out of the 1,201 acres of available land:More than 1/3 were small parcels (less than

¼ acre), another 1/3 were from ¼-1 acre. These are recommended to be used as

community gardens and market gardensThe final 1/3 of land (between 1-5 acres) would

be suitable for larger scale urban farms or large scale markets

Site profiles were created for 9 potential sites ranging in size and location

Results

A citizen science project in NYC that is mapping how much food is already being grown within the city

“We at ___ Community Garden grew ___ pounds of food in ____ square feet, which is worth $___, served approximately ___ people, and prevented approximately __ pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.”

Farming Concrete

Build regional support to create an official mandate for urban agriculture practices on Vancouver Island

Overall mapping of potential agricultural lands (public and private)

Interactive mapping of existing and future urban agricultural practices

Create an Island wide initiative that connects the existing practices to encourage the expansion and utilization of UA within the island communities

Attribute a dollar value to the food being produced within UA farms and Community gardens

Recommendations for Vancouver Island