Greening the Inner-city

A Building Opportunities with Business Gaining Ground Shoulder Event

When: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, from 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Where: Century House, 432 Richards Street (between Pender and Hastings)

When discussing resilient cities the topic of urban agriculture inevitably emerges. An exciting project in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside aims to convert an asphalt parking lot into an urban agriculture project by the end of the year. Join Building Opportunities with Business, in collaboration with the Vancouver Design Nerds and the Vancouver Public Space Network for an inspiring brainstorming session in a social setting. Learn about innovative urban agriculture projects and contribute your ideas on how this parking lot can be turned into a viable city farm and employment incubator.

Please RSVP via facebook or by email to Andrew McKay

This event is directly related to the SOLEfood project which would take empty lots at 700 East Hastings and turn them into an urban agricultural project. Here is a version of the project vision we drafted:

An urban farm in the Downtown Eastside being tended by residents, producing food for residents, providing employment and training for residents, and contributing to the economic revitalization of the area.
Project Goals & Objectives

1. Transform empty lot in to an urban farm
2. Train inner-city residents for employment in agriculture
3. Produce fresh healthy food for consumption in the inner-city
4. Employ residents in the construction and ongoing operation of the urban farm
5. Contribute to the economic revitalization by bringing in capital from the sales of goods and services
6. Advance urban farming in Vancouver and provide inspiration and insight for others

Desired Outcome

1. Train over a dozen inner-city residents
2. Employ residents seasonally in urban agriculture
3. Plant and tend to a half acre of above ground planters
4. Achieve financial sustainability for the day to day operation of an urban farm
5. Develop value added products and services through leveraging urban agriculture expertise
   • Landscaping & garden setup services
   • Canned value added product such as salsa
6. Replicate success of SOLEfood elsewhere in Vancouver or another urban locale