In a word, 2022 for Land to Table felt like “settling-in” (technically two words)… for us this has meant gaining clarity about the value of a Network organization, including growing in our capacity building role; being creative about how we partner to access funding, and house our growing L2T team; and focussing in on two clear streams of work (value chain development and community food security).
We continue to be guided by a vision to build a thriving, healthy, just and resilient regional food system… And believe that a well connected and coordinated network, with a shared purpose and vision can create meaningful systems change in the North Okanagan.
Here is how we think about the roles that we play as a Network:
- The first is to build a connected and coordinated network, to reduce duplication of efforts, and provide opportunity for relationship building and knowledge sharing, to connect ideas and projects, and provide consistent and effective communications.
- We also work to strengthen our food system through action. This means that we are undertaking time-bound projects that have support in terms of network energy, partnership collaboration, and funding.
- New to us is capacity building. Through UWBC Hub funding, which allows us to distribute funds to food security programs regionally and connect program providers to local food sources, we have been able to support grant writing, offer coordination time that supports organizational capacity for others, and facilitate resource sharing – to help match existing funds with immediate community need.
Here is some of what we accomplished
2022 Project Impact:
- Engaged a working group and 34 survey participants in the Village of Lumby Community Food Connections Project – developing ideas, values and opportunities for use of the Village owned ALR land
- In partnership with the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce, engaged with approximately 45 people through the Food and Buyers Webinar and Experts on Tap webinar and co-created a new Food and Buyers Event in conjunction with the Armstrong Cheese Festival
- Partnered with UBCO to support connections to local farmers to supply local food to the new Pritchard Dining Hall at the Okanagan campus, resulting in procurement to date of approximately:
- 23,500 lbs of local vegetables
- 18,000 lbs of local apples
- 2800 litres of local apple juice
- 275 pounds of local sockeye salmon
- In partnership with the Good Food Box, increased 60+ Food Box delivery (going to 60 vulnerable seniors each month) from 500 boxes in 2021 to 720 boxes in 2022. Increased local food purchases from $5000 last year to $6500 in 2022 (of local local bread, eggs and farm fresh items) through the program.
- Engaged 70 participants in a three part Learning Circle Series (view here) – Exploring ideas and opportunities for Institutional local food procurement in our region.
- In partnership with the RDNO and Institute for Sustainable Food systems, engaged with 80 people through BX Ranchlands Development Plan, community outreach process.
- As a United Way, Regional Community Food Hub Steward organization, L2T supported three local organizations through funding and coordination time to increase their capacity to achieve the following:
- Whitevalley Resource Centre (Lumby) delivered more than 1750 meals through an innovative teen meal program and family meal program. Meal kits include about 70% local food ingredients and are accompanied with tutorial videos so families can prepare the meals at home.
- Okanagan Indian Band continues to build their community garden infrastructure and programming. This year, OKIB provided financial support for their garden staff; harvested approximately 900 lbs of food for community members and OKIB food programs; preserved 200 lbs of garden produce; ran community garden workshops with OKIB school students and elders; and hosted a successful community garden open house event with 100 attendees.
- Good Food Box – with the demand for monthly affordable produce boxes increasing dramatically over the past 2 years, GFB is updating their systems to allow for online ordering and a more functional website. This upgrade will help support the 900+ boxes GFB is preparing every month for communities across the North Okanagan.
L2T Network Growth and Impact in 2022:
- Increased our revenue by 30 percent from 2021-2022 to the 2022-23 fiscal year
- Invested $40,000 of revenue into region based food program providers and project partners
- Leveraged funding to raise an additional $70,000 for regional community food initiatives (including funding for the 60+ Food Box and OKIB food security work)
- Developed relationships with two provincial organizations to house our L2T “staff” roles, opening the door for further project and funding partnerships
- Facilitated new connections across the food security sector to improve access to monetary, infrastructural, intellectual, and food resources.
- For example, L2T connected a senior-focussed organization with extra funding to support needed for additional good food boxes for 10 seniors in Lumby. Also, L2T delivered 30 chickens and nearly 100 pounds of produce, donated by Hoisington Farms to the Whitevalley Resource Centre’s for the holiday meal kit program; connected with the Lumby Food Bank who graciously stored the food for WVRC until meal prep day.
- Continued to grow our online presence: e.g. increased: Facebook followers by 37%; ; Instagram followers by 42%; website views by 16%; and maintained an above average level of newsletter engagement.
Observations
Over the course of the last year, and with the extreme climate events of the previous year still very fresh in our minds, we are noticing the excitement, optimism and interest to collaborate to build a more resilient and connected food system in the North Okanagan. In turn we are excited and optimistic about the number of organizations and stakeholders reaching out to learn more about what we do; to ask for our help to facilitate connections to local food supply; to ask that we share our system and food security knowledge; to connect funding to need; and collaborate on projects to support planning and building food system resilience. Land to Table is nearly 5 years old, and we are so grateful to be settling into a Network role that has real value, and is providing a tangible impact across the North Okanagan food system.
Where do we go from here – our overarching focus for the year ahead includes:
- Continue to build connections and alignment for food systems change – through projects and network engagement.
- Find secure, core funding (ideally multi-year funds for operations0
- Oversee key projects to increase local food procurement (through value chain development) and community food security (through increased access to local food)
- Undertake an organizational Review and Strategic Planning – spring 2023 to guide our direction, structure and function – to fill the need that has emerged in the past two years.
- Grow into our role as an advocate for food system change that includes addressing policy change and engaging more directly with local government officials.
Stay tuned for project specific updates from us in the new year!