OASIS COMMUNITY FARM FOOD HUB PROGRAM Program Brief

OASIS COMMUNITY FARM & FOOD HUB PROGRAM Program Brief May 11, 2016 Josephine Grey - OASIS Project Lead Jo@lift. to

Agenda • Introductions • About LIFT & St. James Town Co-op • About Aquaponic Green Houses • OASIS Program Objectives • OASIS St. James Town Site Overview • Community/Stakeholder Engagement • Design Charette Scope • Next Steps

About LIFT & St. James Town Co-op Low Income Families Together (LIFT) has over 30 years of community development experience. Since the 90’s, LIFT has worked in St James Town with and for youth, immigrants, single mothers, and seniors; developing and delivering programs up to $3, 500, 000 with partners such as: Ryerson University, George Brown College, the Wellesley Institute, World Vision, The Trillium Foundation, Provincial and City governments, Yonge Street Mission, the Cabbage Town Youth Centre (CYC) City Hope, TCHC, the St. James Town Youth Council, Community Corner (both initiated by LIFT), City of Toronto (Tower Renewal Project), Foodshare, the Wellesley Community Centre, Neighborhood Information Post, Toronto Public Health, Rose Avenue PS, Green Thumbs Growing Kids, Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre, the St James Town Safety Committee, Heritage Canada and Citizenship and Immigration (Federal). LIFT’s Good Food Project incubated the St James Town Community Café, and is a founding member of the St James Town Community Co-operative, incorporated August 2015. The co-op will be the organization responsible for managing the St. James Town OASIS project. The Uplift time credit exchange is in development to serve as a volunteer management and food subsidizing system. LIFT and St James Town Community Co-op have invested $120, 000 over the last 4 years in community engagement events, workshops, a preliminary needs assessment, a food hub feasibility study that recommended the community social enterprise co-op model, establishing the co-op, built partnerships, conducting time-bank community research and managing pre-feasibility analysis for the OASIS project. The OASIS Advisory team includes subject matter experts in urban agriculture, aquaponics, renewable energy technology, community development, social enterprises. Community Engagement/Collaboration to date includes: St James Town tenants from 200 Wellesley and other buildings, Community Corner, Yonge Street Mission, the Wellesley Community Centre, Green Thumbs Growing Kids, City Hope, Seeds of Hope, St. James Town Residents Association

About Aquaponic Greenhouses Aquaponics is a method of cultivating both crops and fish in a controlled environment. The fish are kept in tanks, and the plants are grown hydroponically - meaning without soil. They sit in beds, but their roots hang down into a tub of water. When fish live in tanks, their waste builds up in the water, and it eventually becomes noxious to them. But what is toxic for fish is nourishing for plants. The plants absorb the nutrients they need from the water, cleanse it of toxins for the fish and that cleansed water is then recycled. Aquaponics generates several benefits. First, it reduces the GHG footprint for local communities. Second, it saves water because the water is recycled within the tanks. Thirdly, it removes fertilizer and chemicals from the agricultural process. All of this while creating jobs and improving energy security.

OASIS Project Overview Top 10 Advantages of Aquaponic Farming Over Conventional Farming practices: 1. Aquaponics (unlike hydroponic & aquaculture practices) requires no fertilizer or chemicals, and there is no need to dispose of the toxic fish waste. Instead, fish waste becomes a rich fertilizer resource. Chemical fertilizer production contributes to 33% of green-house gases, consumes 2% of the world’s energy production, and Fish waste from aquaculture also contributes to carbon emissions. 2. Aquaponics uses 90% less water for the same amount of produce than is required for conventional crops. Agriculture is responsible for 80 -90% of total fresh water used globally. 3. Aquaponics reduces fish species depletion and grows healthy fish that are free of mercury and radiation contamination. 75% of the world’s fisheries are currently depleted! 50% of fish is farmed-raised. 4. Aquaponic systems can also grow “natural’ plant food for fish, making them healthier than corn- or soy-fed farm-raised fish. Growing fish on plant-based natural “fish” feed will increase their Omega-3 fatty acid content, an essential nutrient that is lacking in most American diets. Not only will growing plant-based fish feed improve consumer’s health, it is environmentally friendly, since most commercial fish feed is made from wild-caught fish, with corn- or soy-based filler. 5. Aquaponics can be performed in a relatively small place (indoors or outdoors) and requires no land (soil) and therefore is insensitive to flooding, drought, soil nutrient problems, or soil-borne diseases. There are more than 240 “friendly” microorganisms in an aquaponic ecosystem that act as microscopic defenders, protecting the plants and fish from invading pathogenic organisms. 6. Aquaponics is ideal for local food production, urban farming, and food desert sites, since no farm land is required. It eliminates the need to add preservatives required for long distance transportation, and decreases the dependency of fossil fuels for food delivery. Conventional agriculture is the single largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, contributed by the petroleum used in production and transportation, and by the nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane released from over-fertilization. 7. Aquaponics allows growth of ‘safe, ’ chemical-free, genetically-unmodified, organic food, while lessening it’s carbon footprint, 8. Aquaponics is weed-free, has low pest management, and requires no bending over to garden – so it’s physicallychallenged friendly! 9. Aquaponics is the perfect hands-on, project-based learning tool to teach students, at risk youth, and immigrants basic biology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and business skills, while also offering students a practical side of learning, by teaching them how to become self-reliant and environmental responsible as they grow their own food in a sustainable way. 10. Aquaponics is an excellent green and sustainable job creator for the design, constructions, operation of the Greenhouses and processing/distribution of the fish and produce for local markets.

OASIS Project Objectives 1. ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY FOR LOW-INCOME TENANTS AND NEW CANADIANS 2. USE ACCESSIBLE CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS 3. CREATE SUSTAINABLE JOBS FOR NEW CANADIANS AND YOUTH 4. CREATE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND UNDEREMPLOYED 5. SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (GHG) OF FOOD PRODUCTION The OASIS Food Hub supports TCHC’s community engagement goals and all four vision areas presented for Ontario’s future in the Ontario’s Climate Change 2015 Discussion Paper.

OASIS Project Overview OASIS Aquaponic Greenhouse & Food Hub – St. James Town Site Details Imagine an OASIS greenhouse where staff & volunteers handle seedlings, feed the fish, monitoring water quality, fish and produce. A group of students walks through on a tour through the learning area on the former pool deck. Nearby, in the Food Hub, harvested produce is processed, packaged and stored in industrial refrigerators and freezers. A community kitchen produces healthy meals, sauces, preserves and desserts. The café upstairs welcomes residents to socialize, sign up for workshops and learn about healthy eating. Members and staff work there to administrate and manage the greenhouse, the café, a food buying club and home-grown healthy food market. Currently, this is an under-utilized aboveground pool, adjacent to 200 Wellesley (TCHC). Approximate site area measures 6, 656 square feet, 12 ft. high with change rooms and lighting posts. Pool measures 84 ft. long x 34 ft. wide x 3 to 6 ft. deep with 10 ft wide side decks and 15 ft. wide end decks. Aquaponic Green House A 6, 000+ square foot solar greenhouse farm 20, 150 plants in at least 2, 130 square feet of raft area 384 square feet of sprouting table area. 5 -7 fish tanks for growing fish-food, fingerlings, Tilapia Plant yields of 375 - 450 kg of vegetables/week projected Fish production yields of up to 10, 000 kg per year. • Green Building Features include: • High performance low-energy building greenhouse envelope • Compost berm enclosure around the base of the pool • Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) • PV Solar panels with energy storage • Vane-axial wind turbines • • • Community Food Hub & Offices • • Commercial Kitchen & Food Processing Community Café/Marketplace Youth/New Canadian Training Centre Admin Offices

OASIS Project Alignment with Provincial & Municipal Policy The OASIS Program holistically addresses problems of food security, poverty, deprivation and the price increase effects of climate change prevalent for the working poor in St. James Town (see graphic). PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES OASIS can cultivate a successful and resilient local food system as set out in the Local Food Act (2013). Through the increased access to food, employment, and community space, OASIS will build up St. James Town into a more complete, compact, and vibrant community (Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan, 2006). At the municipal level, OASIS fits within Toronto Public Health (2010) recommendation for health-focused food systems, in which resilience, equity, and sustainability are prominent. It is also in line with the C 2 C Policy Paper (2015) that calls on the municipality to work to “enable community food projects and business to provide access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food, animate public spaces, improve neighbourhoods, and engage residents. ” USING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE OASIS will revitalize, regenerate and optimize public infrastructure (Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Pan, 2006, Provincial Policy Statement, 2014, Official Toronto Plan, 2010). Through the efficient use of existing infrastructure, as well as the high rate of water efficiency and low energy requirements of the project, it embodies the Culture of Conservation set out in Places To Grow (2005). ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD OASIS proposes community organization-government-private partnerships to increase access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally acceptable local food in a way that further enables community food projects and businesses, provides food opportunities in Toronto Community Housing, and uniquely reduces the need for high quality agricultural land that can be preserved for future generations (Local Food Act, 2013; C 2 C Policy Paper, 2015; Toronto Public Health, 2010; Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan, 2006; Toronto Official Plan, 2010). INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING OASIS furthers the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) goals in that it contributes to “healthy and liveable communities” through development that conserves diversity, and considers the impact of climate change. The OASIS project works to maximize energy efficiency, promote renewable energy, and maximize vegetation within settlement areas (Provincial Policy Statement 2014). OASIS furthers St. James Town as a mixed-use neighbourhood by adding employment, green space, and community infrastructure in a compact and efficient way (Places To Grow, 2005). EMPLOYMENT On employment, OASIS is further inline with the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) and the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity (2015). It does so by increasing local employment and economic prosperity in a way that also cultivates a sense of place, enhances the vitality of downtown, promotes community benefit, and is designed to be resilient to the effects of climate change. It is compact infrastructure that supports the current and projected needs of the community.

Project Phases and Impacts Phase 1 Phase 2 • Complete Design Charette, Community Engagement • Secure Project Funding & Establish Program Office. Complete Pilot/ Program Modeling • Impacts: Community Engagement, Research data, Design Specs • Construct First OASIS Solar Greenhouse & Processing Pilot. Program Design & Pilot Delivery • Design Youth Training Program and New Canadians program; OASIS Technical Standards & Deployment Procedures. • Impacts: Community Development, Food Security (Fish and Vegetables), Green job Training , reduced GHG Phase 3 • Construct Commercial Kitchens and Community Cafés • Extend Youth Training Program, New Canadian Program and Incubate Social Enterprise • Impacts: Community Social Enterprise Development, Food Security (Fish and Vegetables), Reduced GHG, Youth Employment Phase 4 • Develop OASIS Solar Greenhouse/Food Hub Replication Program • Scale Community Social Enterprise Development • Impacts: Community Economic Development, Food Security (Fish and Vegetables), Reduced GHG, Youth Employment, Social Enterprise

Community & Stakeholder Engagement Tower Renewal OMAFRA St. James Town Residents Assoc. C. Pam Mc. Connell MOECC St. James Town MPP Bill Morneau Co-op TCHC LIFT City Planning MP Glen Murray St. James Town Service Network

Design Charette Scope The scope for the $85, 000 OASIS Charette & Feasibility Study would include the following elements: • • • Community Consultation and Food Assessment Green House Site Architectural/Structural Review and Scoping Food Preparation Hub/Community Café Architectural/Structural Review & Scoping Green House/Aquaponics Design and Scoping Solar Survey and Renewable Energy Analysis Mechanical/Electrical Systems Review & Scoping Recommendations for OASIS Project, Replication Potential and Alternate Scenarios Project Budget & Implementation Plan Stakeholder Engagement & Youth Training 1 -2 PAIE employment contracts (New Canadian Professionals) 10% Contingency Allowance 10% Overhead Allowance LIFT/St. James Town Community Co-op have committed $12, 000 towards the Community Consultation and Food Assessment component of the Design Charette

Next Steps • Design Charette (Technical/Financial Scoping and Cost/Benefit Analysis) • Stakeholder Discussions (TCHC, Residents & Community) • Government Funding Support & Coordination (Private, Municipal, Provincial, Federal) TCHC Items • Confirmation and Cooperation in proceeding with Feasibility Study • Access to Buildings and Plans for the design team • Participation in Design Charette • Letter of Support to help secure program funding

Thank You!