credit valley conservation stewardship forum carolyn bailey and … · 2012. 10. 25. · sprouting...
TRANSCRIPT
Sprouting Sustainable Living!Sprouting Sustainable Living!
Credit Valley Conservation Stewardship ForumCredit Valley Conservation Stewardship ForumCarolyn Bailey and Rahul MehtaCarolyn Bailey and Rahul Mehta
Saturday, October 13Saturday, October 13thth, 2012, 2012
Ecosource
is an Ontario‐based organization that empowers the
community to become more environmentally responsible through
creative public education. Our vision is to move public attitudes and
perceptions about environmental issues toward responsible personal
action. EcoSource provides innovative education programs in Peel
and
throughout the province to more than 25,000 youth and their families
each year.
Ecosource
Programs & Projects
• Waste Reduction– Waste Reduction Workshops– Green Schools– WasteWatchers
• Local Food– Sustainable Urban Agriculture– Community Gardens– School Food Action Coalition
• Youth Action– Peel Environmental Youth Alliance(PEYA)
PEYA
PEYA
is a network of action‐oriented students in the Peel Region
concerned about environmental issues and determined to make positive
change! PEYA provides a forum to share student ideas, support to
other
students and teachers looking to create environmental projects, and fun
and effective educational events. PEYA is a project of EcoSource.
PEYA’s 4 campaigns:
• Our focus for this year is “Sustainability in our homes and
communities”:
1) Stewardship in our natural areas
2) Urban agriculture in the city
3) Waste management beyond the classroom
4) Sustainable transportation as a way of living!
Get involved!
Gardens & Agriculture• Community Gardens:
– Garden of the Valley– Hillside Park Community Garden
– Parkway Green Generation Garden– Malton Community Garden
• Sustainable Urban Agriculture:– The Iceland Teaching Garden 15,000 square‐foot peri‐urban food growing space
modeled after a small‐scale market garden, providing a
growing environment for food donations to the Eden
Community Food Bank and serving as a base for our
educational programming!
Why Grow Food?
Improved local ecology and sustainability (Hancick, 2001; Scghmelzkopf, 2002)
Improved mental health and stress relief (Armstrong, 2000; VandenBerg, 2011; Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008)
Increased access to healthy food and better nutrition (Patel, 1991; Irvine et al., 1999; Dickinson et al., 2003)
Increased physical activity (Armstrong, 2000; Dickinson et al., 2003; Public HealthAgency of
Canada, 2008)
Improved academic performance and health for participating students (Hermann, J.R et. Al., Morris et. Al., 2002)
Improved neighbourhood security, reduction of crime in public spaces (Schmelzkopf, 1995; Ferris et. Al., 2001; McKay, 1998, Kuo et. Al., 2001)
Increased access to culturally appropriate foods at low cost (Wakefield et al, 2007)
Community development and social capital (Hancock, 2001; Doyle and Krasny, 2003)
“The fresh foods collected taste fantastic and I felt I am doingmy part in the environment and being green. Thank you!”
‐
Nancy Velez, Community Gardener, Parkway Green Generation Garden
“Students learn about the environment and about social responsibility when we visit EcoSource
Community Garden Projects.”
‐Scott Neil, DPCDSB Teacher, Archbishop Romero H.E.L.P Leadership
Program
Mississauga’s Community Garden Projects have been noted across the province:•In 2011, the Malton Community Garden Project won a Heritage Community Recognition Award
for Natural Heritage from the Ontario Heritage Trust, an Agency of the Government of Ontario•The Community Gardens Program at EcoSource overall was nominated
for a 2012 Ontario
Trillium Foundation “Great Grants”
Award
What about growing food during the winter months?
All about sprouts!
• All kinds of sprouts, greens, and grasses can provide you with an abundance of nourishment, energy, and whole‐food goodness.
• They can help you augment your diet and vastly improve your health when eaten regularly. Sprouts are
raw, living foods with an exceptionally high concentration of antioxidants and other nutrients that
have a regenerating (i.e. anti‐ageing) effect on the body.
• They contain loads of vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes, fibre, and many other rejuvenating elements.
Sprouts cont’d
Sprouts are simply germinated seeds, each of which contains all the elements needed for the life and
growth of a plant. Many nutrients in the seed increase several‐fold when sprouting.
You can eat raw sprouted nuts, seeds, grains, and beans from a huge variety of sources, such as
alfalfa, broccoli, red cabbage, radish, clover, mustard, garlic, onion, peas, lentils, chickpeas,
quinoa, buckwheat, barley, oats, wheatgrass, sunflower greens, and many many others!
Sprouts cont’d
• Always be sure to buy organic seeds sold specifically for sprouting that haven’t been
treated with chemicals or pesticides. You can find them at natural health food stores, or
even online.
Sprouts Cont’d
• Fresh sprouts are easy to grow year‐round and lots of fun to eat. You can add them to sandwiches or salads, toss them in a stir‐fry, add them to a trail mix for a snack, or even
juice them.
• The best part is, you can grow sprouts at home! You don’t need any soil or fertilizers,
and they don’t take up much space either.
Here’s what you need:
•Glass jar with ring lid (or rubber band)•Mesh screen or cheesecloth
•Organic sprouting seeds•Fresh, clean water•Assemble your take home kit with everything
that you need!
How – To (What to do when you get home…)
• There are essentially three steps to sprouting:
1.
Soaking (day 1)
2.
Rinsing/draining (days 3 ‐6)
3.
And harvesting (day 6!)
• Sprouts are tasty and easy…
enjoy a sprout snack sample and good luck with your
sprouting kits at home!
For more information, visit:
www.ecosource.ca and www.peyalliance.com
Contacts:Carolyn Bailey, Urban Agriculture Program ManagerOffice:
905‐274‐6222 Email:
[email protected] Mehta,
PEYA Sustain Action Campaigns FacilitatorOffice: 905‐274‐6222
Email: [email protected]
Thank you! Thank you! Any questions?Any questions?