Summer often feels like a time to reflect, especially when much of our work revolves around the school year. And so, the following is a joint reflection, shared between the past executive director (ED) of Shuswap Food Action, Serena Caner, and our current ED, Liz Blakeway. The reflection was via a phone call, that went a little something like this…
Serena: I’ve had some time to do some thinking, reading, and reflecting about the food system, and where things are at, and how this impacts our work.
Liz: That sounds nice. What are you thinking about or reflecting on?
Serena: Well, sometimes I feel my old lady genes coming out when I lament on things like, “remember when a pound of butter cost $3?” No really, do you?
Liz: I actually don’t think I do…
Serena: That thought has me thinking, it seems that the conditions required for our global industrial food system to thrive (and serve us cheap food) like predictable weather, geopolitical stability, cheap or limitless inputs are no longer there. And while this system has been great at producing food and freeing up time to pursue other interests, it has also come with costs.
Liz: What kind of costs are you talking about?
Serena: In Canada, almost half of our food is wasted[1], half our adults have at least one chronic disease[2], and agriculture is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gasses[3]. The way we have come to produce and access food is a pretty negative driver in the story of colonization and a result of the distancing of our relationship to land, water, animals, and each other. It has turned us into “consumers”, and farmers into “producers”, with little understanding of, agency or participation in, the systems we depend on for life.
Liz: Ooof! Well said. Even just reflecting on the language we use to describe those who eat and those who… produce our food is a telling reflection of the state of things. And here we are watching it all come to a head. But a lot has happened in the last 5 years that has made us pay more attention. The system is changing. Don’t you think? ‘Local food’ is on the minds of many and in the collective spotlight, again, because of trade wars.
Serena: Yes! True. It is also a time to have hope.
Liz: Shuswap Food Action, the school district, and others, are working to change how we think about and interact with food. We are building a food system that supports community, and that has community support. We’ve had incredible mission impact over the last 3 years across all of our programs, and especially with the school food program – we really are building community around local food.
Serena: Yes. Definitely! So, I am also thinking about where we go from here? If our systems are really starting to shift, then this is a transformation that everyone, regardless of power and privilege, can participate in. Whether it be trying to produce some of your own food, supporting a local farmer, cooking together with a friend, and sharing a meal across many places in the community (not just our homes), we need to to widen our circles, learn to collaborate with others who may be different from us, and respect our environment.
Liz: Yeah! I think local change is the most empowering kind of change we can participate in! The ‘shift’ that you’re reflecting on challenges us to stay open to the possibility that we can create a future that is better than the present; that we can take satisfaction that this work we are doing is really important, find meaning in a lifestyle that consumes less, and that if we ‘shift’ well, we will continue to have and be able to share the joy of good (local) food.
Serena: Ok, so we just continue to do what we are already doing?
Liz: Yes!
Serena: But isn’t there more we can do?
Liz: Always!
We’d love to hear from YOU! Our supporters and community members. What ACTIONS do you take in your day to day that is transforming your own food journey and what ACTIONS can Shuswap Food Action take to support our community in this transformation where everyone, regardless of power and privilege can participate in? Leave a comment below or share something via social media or to our email: info@shuswapfood.ca.
[1] https://www.secondharvest.ca/post/new-report-from-second-harvest-reveals-canadas-58-billion-food-waste-problem
[2]https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/about/smr09/smr09_142
[3] https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_202404_05_e_44472.html
For a long time I have admired and respected the mission the Shuswap society has for supporting the members of their community. What commitment it has taken to be in this place where you can say- ‘just keep doing what we’re doing’. I am encouraged to keep doing what I’m doing after ready this newsletter with all the wonderful food stories and reading this dialogue. Your efforts most definitely have a ripple effect.
Thanks for the article, and all the work put into your newsletter and content. Recently an ACTION of mine is chatting with my kids about the food we eat and where it comes from, and have them participate in our gardening and grocery shopping. Like Dawn below, I have admired the mission of Shuswap Food Action so much and been inspired. Thank you for all you do!