ProgramBrief
OASISStJamesTownFoodHubPilotProject
Sincethe90’s,LIFThasworkedinStJamesTownwithandforyouth,immigrants,singlemothers,andseniors;developinganddeliveringprogramsupto$3,500,000withpartnerssuchas:
RyersonUniversity,GeorgeBrownCollege,theWellesleyIns7tute,WorldVision,TheTrilliumFounda7on,ProvincialandCitygovernments,YongeStreetMission,theCabbageTownYouthCentre(CYC)CityHope,TCHC,theSt.JamesTownYouthCouncil,CommunityCorner(bothini7atedbyLIFT),CityofToronto(TowerRenewalProject),Foodshare,theWellesleyCommunityCentre,NeighborhoodInforma7onPost,TorontoPublicHealth,RoseAvenuePS,GreenThumbsGrowingKids,CabbagetownCommunityArtsCentre,theStJamesTownSafetyCommiQee,HeritageCanadaandCi7zenshipandImmigra7on(Federal).
1986
AgroupofsinglemomsgettogethertomakerecommendaPonstotheThomsonSocialAssistanceReview.Thisgroupbecomes‘LowIncomeFamiliesTogether’
1986-2000 Advocacyfor&
programstosupportlowincomecommuniPes,includingfood,CED,policydevelopment,reportstoUnitedNaPons&SocialSecurityReview.
2000-2005 Youth
EmpowermentProjectandEconomicHumanRightsAssessmentofSt.JamesTown
2006UNreport
2005-2015 SecuredUforChange
GoodFoodProjectformedtheSt.JamesTownCaféandincubatedtheSt.JamesTownCommunityCoop
DevelopedUPLIFTTimeBank
2016
DevelopeddetailedconceptforOASIS
JosephineGrey-OASISProjectLeadJo@li`.to
416-827-7119
OASISProjectObjecPves1)Enhancehealthandfoodsecurityoflow-incomeresidentsbyprovidingyearround
accesstoaffordablenutriPouslocalfood,usinginnovaPvestrategiesandappropriatetechnology
2)SignificantlyreducethecarbonfootprintandgreenhousegasemissionsoffoodproducPonanddistribuPonthroughtheuseoflow-carbon,climateresilient,symbioPcgrowingandprocessingmethodsandtechnologies
3)CreatesustainableapprenPceship,trainingandjobopportuniPesforresidents,includingimmigrantsandyouth,intheareasofsymbioPcfoodproducPonandcommunitydevelopment,managementandeducaPon
4)DevelopandprovideaccreditedcommunityeducaPonandinternshipprogramstoculPvatecommunity-based,climateresilientsymbioPcfood,energy,andwatersecuritystrategies
TheOASISFoodHubsupportsallfourvisionareaspresentedforOntario’sfutureintheOntario’sClimateChange2015DiscussionPaper.
OASISAquaponicsOverviewTop10AdvantagesofAquaponicFarmingOverConven7onalFarmingprac7ces:
1. Aquaponics(unlikehydroponic&aquaculturepracPces)issymbio7c;requiresnofer7lizerorchemicals,andthereisnoneedtodisposeofthetoxicfishwaste.Instead,fishwastebecomesarichferPlizerresource.ChemicalferPlizerproducPoncontributesto33%ofgreen-housegases,consumes2%oftheworld’senergyproducPon,andFishwastefromaquaculturealsocontributestocarbonemissions.
2. Aquaponicsuses90%lesswaterforthesameamountofproducethanisrequiredforconvenPonalcrops.Agricultureisresponsiblefor80-90%oftotalfreshwaterusedglobally.
3. Aquaponicsreducesfishspeciesdeple7onandgrowshealthyfishthatarefreeofmercuryandradiaPoncontaminaPon.75%oftheworld’sfisheriesarecurrentlydepleted!50%offishisfarmed-raised.
4. Aquaponicsystemscanalsogrow“natural’plantfoodforfish,makingthemhealthierthancorn-orsoy-fedfarm-raisedfish.Growingfishonplant-basednatural“fish”feedwillincreasetheirOmega-3famyacidcontent,anessenPalnutrientthatislackinginmostAmericandiets.Notonlywillgrowingplant-basedfishfeedimproveconsumer’shealth,itisenvironmentallyfriendly,sincemostcommercialfishfeedismadefromwild-caughtfish,withcorn-orsoy-basedfiller.
5. Aquaponicscanbeperformedinarela7velysmallplace(indoorsoroutdoors)andrequiresnoland(soil)andthereforeisinsensiPvetoflooding,drought,soilnutrientproblems,orsoil-bornediseases.Therearemorethan240“friendly”micro-organismsinanaquaponicecosystemthatactasmicroscopicdefenders,protecPngtheplantsandfishfrominvadingpathogenicorganisms.
6. Aquaponicsisidealforlocalfoodproduc7on,urbanfarming,andfooddesertsites,sincenofarmlandisrequired.IteliminatestheneedtoaddpreservaPvesrequiredforlongdistancetransportaPon,anddecreasesthedependencyoffossilfuelsforfooddelivery.ConvenPonalagricultureisthesinglelargestcontributorofgreenhousegasemissions,contributedbythepetroleumusedinproducPonandtransportaPon,andbythenitrousoxide,carbondioxideandmethanereleasedfromover-ferPlizaPon.
7. Aquaponicsallowsgrowthof‘safe,’chemical-free,gene7cally-unmodified,organicfood,whilelesseningit’scarbonfootprint,
8. Aquaponicsisweed-free,haslowpestmanagement,andrequiresnobendingovertogarden–soit’sphysically-challengedfriendly!
9. Aquaponicsistheperfecthands-on,project-basedlearningtooltoteachstudents,atriskyouth,andimmigrantsbasicbiology,chemistry,mathemaPcs,engineeringandbusinessskills,whilealsoofferingstudentsapracPcalsideoflearning,byteachingthemhowtobeself-reliantandenvironmentallyresponsibleastheygrowtheirownfoodinasustainableway.
10. Aquaponicsisanexcellentgreenandsustainablejobcreatorforthedesign,construcPon,operaPonoftheGreenhousesandprocessing/distribuPonofthefishandproduceforlocalmarkets.
AquaponicGreenhouses
HowOASISmeasuresuptothe2030SustainableDevelopmentGoals
• 1.Endingpoverty-willreducepovertybycreaPngjobsandprovidingaccesstoaffordablehealthyfood
• 2.Zerohunger-willreducehungerbyprovidingaccesstohealthyfoodandenhancingincomes.
• 3.Goodhealthandwellbeing–thehealthyfoodandmicro–environment,andthehopeprovidedbythemodel,willenhancehealthandwellbeing
• 4.Qualityeduca7on-thetrainingandeducaPonprogramwillprovidemeaningfulhighqualityeducaPontowardssustainableemployment
• 5.Genderequity:theco-opandOASISarecommimedtogenderequityandtherespectofallhumanrights
• 6.Cleanwater–theprojectwillcollect,treatandpurifywaterforthegreenhouseandthecommunity
• 7.Affordablecleanenergy-theprojectwillgenerateaffordableandsustainablecleanenergy
• 8.Decentworkandeconomicgrowth-theprojectwillprovidegoodjobsandsustainableeconomicdevelopmentforStJamesTownandothercommuniPeswherereplicated
• 9.IndustryInnova7onandInfrastructure–theprojectisaninnovaPvepilotforgreeninfrastructureandfoodindustryinnovaPon.
• 10.Reducedinequali7es-theco-opPmebankmodelandaccesstohealthyfoodwillreduceinequaliPesformembers
• 11.Sustainableci7esandcommuni7es–OASISwilladdtothesustainabilityofStJamesTownandothercommuniPeswhereitisreplicated
• 12.Responsibleproduc7onandconsump7on–OASISisamodelforresponsiblefoodproducPonandconsumpPonbecauseitisclean,localandorganic,andfoodwasteusedforcomposPngwillfurtherimproveresponsibleconsumpPon
• 13.ClimateAc7on:OASISisdesignedforclimateacPononfoodandwatersecurity
• 14.Lifebelowwater:byprovidinganalternaPvesourceoffishsoastoreducetheimpactoffishingandinsomecasesusingOASEStoraisefishtorestocklocalrivers
• 15.LifeonLand–OASISproducesmorefoodonlesslandandisthemostwaterefficientformofagriculture,thecompostandorganicfishferPlizerproducedwillimprovelocalsoilcondiPonsaswell.
• 16.PeaceJus7ceandStrongIns7tu7ons-OASISisbeingdevelopedwithacommunitymodelthatwillprovideagoodexampleofhumanrightsbaseddevelopmentandstrongpublicaccountability
• 17.PartnershipfortheGoals.-therewillbemanyusefulpartnershipswithco-ops,educaPonalinsPtuPons,localandseniorgovernments,housingproviders,engineeringfirms,suppliers,localfoodsystemsetc…
OASISProjectAlignmentwithProvincial&MuncipalPolicyTheOASISProgramholis7callyaddressesproblemsoffoodsecurity,poverty,depriva7onandthepriceincreaseeffectsofclimatechange
affec7nglowincomeresidentsinSt.JamesTown(seegraphic).PurposesandPrinciples
OASIScan“culPvateasuccessfulandresilientlocalfoodsystemassetoutintheLocalFoodAct(2013).Throughtheincreasedaccesstofood,employment,andcommunityspace,OASISwillbuildupSt.JamesTown/CrescentTownintoamorecomplete,compact,andvibrantcommunity(GreaterGoldenHorseshoeGrowthPlan,2006).Atthemunicipallevel,OASISfitswithinTorontoPublicHealth(2010)recommendaPonfor“health-focusedfoodsystems,inwhichresilience,equity,andsustainabilityareprominent.ItisalsoinlinewiththeC2CPolicyPaper(2015)thatcallsonthemunicipalitytoworkto“enablecommunityfoodprojectsandbusinesstoprovideaccesstohealthy,affordableandculturallyappropriatefood,animatepublicspaces,improveneighbourhoods,andengageresidents.”UsingExis7ngInfrastructure
OASISwill“revitalize,regenerateandopPmizepublicinfrastructure(GreaterGoldenHorseshoeGrowthPan,2006,ProvincialPolicyStatement,2014,OfficialTorontoPlan,2010).ThroughtheefficientuseofexisPnginfrastructure,aswellasthehighrateofwaterefficiencyandlowenergyrequirementsoftheproject,itembodiestheCultureofConserva7onsetoutinPlacesToGrow(2005).AccesstoLocalFoodOASISproposes“communityorganizaPon-government-privatepartnershipstoincreaseaccesstoaffordable,nutri7ous,andculturallyacceptablelocalfoodinawaythatfurtherenablescommunityfoodprojectsandbusinesses,providesfoodopportuniPesinTorontoCommunityHousing,anduniquelyreducestheneedforhighqualityagriculturallandthatcanbepreservedforfuturegenera7ons(LocalFoodAct,2013;C2CPolicyPaper,2015;TorontoPublicHealth,2010;GreaterGoldenHorseshoeGrowthPlan,2006;TorontoOfficialPlan,2010).
InfrastructureandPlanningOASISfurtherstheProvincialPolicyStatement(2014)goalsinthatitcontributesto“healthyandliveablecommuniPes”throughdevelopmentthatconservesdiversity,andconsiderstheimpactofclimatechange.TheOASISprojectworkstomaximizeenergyefficiency,promoterenewableenergy,andmaximizevegeta7onwithinseQlementareas(ProvincialPolicyStatement2014).OASISfurthersSt.JamesTown/CrescentTownasamixed-useneighbourhoodbyaddingemployment,greenspace,andcommunityinfrastructureinacompactandefficientway(PlacesToGrow,2005).
EmploymentOnemployment,OASISisfurtherinlinewiththeProvincialPolicyStatement(2014)andtheInfrastructureforJobsandProsperity(2015).ItdoessobyincreasinglocalemploymentandeconomicprosperityinawaythatalsoculPvatesasenseofplace,enhancesthevitalityofdowntown,promotescommunitybenefit,andisdesignedtoberesilienttotheeffectsofclimatechange.Itiscompactinfrastructurethatsupportsthecurrentandprojectedneedsofthecommunity.
OASIS–MOECCGHGReducPonAccountSynergies(inbold)SCHEDULE1
GREENHOUSEGASREDUCTIONACCOUNT-Ini7a7ves
(1)Anyofthefollowingtypesofini7a7vesmaybefunded,inwholeorinpart,fromtheGreenhouseGasReduc7onAccountinaccordancewithsec7on68oftheAct,butonly,foranypar7cularini7a7ve,ifthepar7cularini7a7veisreasonablylikelytoreduce,orsupportthereduc7onof,greenhousegas:
1.IniPaPvesrelaPngtothereducPonofgreenhousegasfromenergysourcesandusesthroughtheuseofrenewableandalternaPveenergysourcesandusesincludingthefollowing:
i.Theproduc7onorinstalla7onofrenewable,low-carbon,carbon-freeandnetzeroalterna7veenergy.
ii.Theresearch,developmentordeploymentoftechnologiesthateliminateorreducetheneedtousefuelsthatemitgreenhouse
gasses.
iii.Distributedrenewableenergygenera7onandenergymanagementtechnologiestosupportload-shiring,energystorage,netmeteringandothermeasurestoeliminatetheneedforgrid-based
electricityduringnaturalgaspeaking.
iv.Carboncaptureandstoragetechnologyforgreenhousegasemisngenergysources.
2.IniPaPvesrelaPngtothereducPonofgreenhousegasfromlanduseandbuildingsincludingthefollowing:
i.Geothermalsolu7ons,insula7on,andothertechnologiesthatwillreducegreenhousegasemissionsfrombuildingsand
neighbourhoods.
ii.Supportforincreasingconsumerdemandfornear-net-zeroandnetzerobuildings,structuresandcommuni7es.
iv.Thedesign,construc7onandretrofisngofbuildingsandstructurestoreducegreenhousegasemisngenergysourcesrelatedtospaceandwatercoolingandhea7ng.
3.IniPaPvesrelaPngtothereducPonofgreenhousegasfromtransportaPonincludingthefollowing:
iv.Technologies,infrastructure,vehicles,buildingsandstructuresthatreducegreenhousegasemissionsassociatedwiththemovementofgoods.
4.IniPaPvesrelaPngtothereducPonofgreenhousegasfromindustryincludingthefollowing:
i.Technologiesthatreducegreenhousegasemissions.ii.Switchingfromhighergreenhousegasemisngsourcesofenergy,
carboncapture,sequestra7onandstorageandchangestoprocesses,includingchangestotheinputstothoseprocessesthatreducegreenhousegasemissions.
5.IniPaPvesrelaPngtothereducPonofgreenhousegasfromagriculture,forestryandnaturalsystemsincludingthefollowing:
i.Supportforagriculture,soilandforestryapproachesthatareintendedtoreduceorremovegreenhousegas.
ii.Treatmentordestruc7onofby-productsthatproducegreenhousegas.iii.Carboncapture,sequestra7onandstorage.6.IniPaPvesrelaPngtothereducPonofgreenhousegasfromthewastesystemincludingthefollowing:
i.Reducingthewastethatproducesgreenhousegas.ii.Themanagementanduseofwastetoreducegreenhousegas.
iii.Theuseanddestruc7onofby-productsofwastemanagementthatproducegreenhousegassuchaslandfillgas.
7.IniPaPvesrelaPngtothereducPonofgreenhousegasthroughtheuseoffinancialmodelsandservicesincludingthefollowing:
i.Supportfororganiza7onsthatdevelopanddeliverfinancingtools,projectaggrega7on,andprofessionalservicesforini7a7vesthat
reducegreenhousegasemissions.
(2)Withoutlimi7ngthegeneralityofsubsec7on(1),anyini7a7vedescribedinsubsec7on(1)mayincludeanyofthefollowingac7ons:
1.Researching,developinganddeployingtechnology,equipmentandscien7ficprocesses.2.Developinganddeliveringeduca7onandtraining.3.Providinginforma7ontothepublic.4.Ac7vi7esrelatedtoinnova7on.5.Otherac7ons.
OASISProjectTeamMembers
JosephineGreyOASISProjectLead,Co-FounderofFoodShare,LIFT,StJamesTownCommunityCo-operaPve
RoxyCohenProjectLead,YouthBuildOASISCo-Founder,ConsciousMindsCo-op
DaveKranenburgExecuPveDirector,RhizomeInsPtute
EvanBellFounder,WaterFarmers
KevinLeeExecuPveDirector,ScaddingCourtCommunityCentre
PeterTurrell&DonnaPascoeDirectors,MilleniumInsPtuPon
StakeholderEngagement
OASIS
FederalGovernment• MPBillMorneau• DepartmentofEnvironmentandClimateChange
• Senators
ProvincialGovernment• MinistryofEnvironment&ClimateChange
• MPPGlenMurray• MinistryofAgriculture,Food&RuralAffairs
• MPPArthurPoQs
MunicipalDepartmentsandagencies• CouncilorPamMcConnell• TorontoCommunityhousingCorporaPon• TowerRenewal• CityPlanning• ScaddingCourtCommunitycentre• WellesleyCommunityCentre
Community• StJamesTownResidentsAssociaPon• StJamesTownServiceNetwork• GreenThumbsGrowingkids• SeedsofHopefoundaPon• CentreforSocialInnovaPon• Ontarioco-opfederaPon• ConsciousMindsCo-op• Localfoodco-opNetwork• RyersonUGeorgeBrown
DesignLab/CharreQePhase1:CommunityCo-Design&Development
• CommunityCo-DesignConsultaPonandFoodAssessment• CommunityCafé/VendorContainersetupPhase2:ChareQewithCommunity,Stakeholders&ProjectTeam• ComposPngFacilityReviewandScoping• GreenHouseSiteStructuralReviewandScoping• Compost/WasteDiversionReviewandscoping• FoodProcessing/BuyingClubHubReviewandScoping• GreenHouse/AquaponicsDesignandSpecificaPons• SolarSurveyandRenewableEnergyAnalysis• Mechanical/ElectricalSystemsReview&Scoping• EsPmatesofFoodProducPon,OperaPngCosts&GHGEmissionsSavings
ProjectPhases,BudgetandImpacts
Phase1
• CompleteDesignChareme,CommunityEngagement• InstallCerPfiedKitchenandCommunityCafé• SecureProjectFunding&EstablishProgramOffice.CompletePilot/ProgramModeling• Impacts:CommunityEngagement,Researchdata,technicalandprogramdesignDesignSpecs,implementaPonplans
Phase2
• ImplementcomposPng/wastediversionprojecttosupportcommunityandbalconygardeningandraiserevenuefromsales• DesignYouthandNewCanadiansTrainingProgram;OASISTechnicalStandards&DeploymentProcedures.• Construct/DevelopofOASISSolarGreenhouse,foodproducPon&ProcessingfaciliPes• Impacts:CommunityDevelopment,FoodSecurity(FishandVegetables),GreenjobTraining,reducedGHG
Phase3
• PilotYouth/NewCanadiantrainingProgram• BeginoperaPonofOASISSolarGreenhouse,foodproducPon&ProcessingfaciliPes.• IncubatemulPpleSocialEnterprisesbasedonfoodandcomposPngproducPon• PilotDeliveryoffoodhubmanagementprogram• Impacts:CommunitySocialEnterpriseDevelopment,FoodSecurity(FishandVegetables),ReducedGHG,YouthEmployment
Phase4
• DevelopOASISSolarGreenhouse/FoodHubReplicaPonProgram• ScaleCommunitySocialEnterpriseDevelopment• AchievefullSelfSustainability• Impacts:CommunityEconomicDevelopment,FoodSecurity(FishandVegetables),ReducedGHG,YouthEmployment,SocialEnterprise
OASISSelectedasa2016CentreofSocialInnova7on(CSI)AgentofChange2016/17
• Workspace:OneyearoffreeworkspaceandmeePngroomspacefortwostaff
• Funding:A$10,000awardtomoveyourinnovaPonforward
• Visibility:OpportunitytoleverageCSIpromoPonalchannels,includingournewslemer,intranet,emaillistservs,socialmediachannels,magazineandwebsites,thathaveacombinedreachofover50ktogetthewordout
• PeerMentorship:ParPcipaPoninanexclusivebimonthlypeercirclewithfellowAgents
• ExpertMentorship:Matchedwithanexpertfromtheadvisorycommimeeformonthlyone-on-onementorshipfor12months
• Consulta7ons:AccesstofreeconsultaPonsthroughCSIHookupwithexpertsinlaw,design,accounPng,fundraisingandfinancing
• Monitoring&Evalua7on:SupporttodevelopimpactmetricsanddesignanevaluaPonofsoluPontoproveimpactoncommunityhealth
• Network:ExpandyourpersonalnetworkbyconnecPngtoToronto’smostdynamicsocialinnovaPoncommunity
OurMembersOnaFarmTour