Food security in Saanich

Saanich Council recently turned down two rezoning applications that would have meant building residences on lots that are zoned for, but not used as, agricultural land. These decisions send a clear message that farmland is too important to our future and our children’s future to allow it to be carved up into parcels for urbanization.

I voted to reject the applications and protect the land for four reasons:

First, these lands serve as natural buffers between urban densification and farmland.

Second, food security: protecting and enhancing local food production begins with protecting and enhancing our agricultural land. As our population grows, there will always be pressure to break through our urban containment boundaries and build out into the farmland. But developing agricultural land to accommodate growth is killing the goose for its golden egg. It compromises our food security and quality of life while contributing to automobile dependent sprawl.

Third, locally grown food is fresher and healthier, and it has a much smaller carbon footprint than food that has been shipped from farther away. Since it arrives fresh, it requires fewer (or no) preservatives. Yet, we produce less than ten percent of what we consume in the Capital region. More startling is that we have approximately three days’ worth of fresh food, if supplies from the mainland were cut off. That’s not a sustainable practice. By protecting farmland, we’re ensuring that space is available for food production today and in the future.

Fourth, I hope that council’s decision helps build momentum to do more to foster local food production and build a more sustainable Saanich. In addition to protecting our farmland, we can support local food production by encouraging community gardens on public and private open space. We can require green roofs on new and newly-renovated projects with large square-footage, and encourage their use as community gardens. And we can support the expansion of "pocket markets" to provide easier access to local produce.

Please send me your ideas about what we can do to protect farmland and enhance local food production in Saanich and the Capital Region.

Council is on the right track by preserving farmlands for food production. We must continue to look for ways to support our farmers and the food they produce. It’s not just smart land use, it means that Saanich will remain a great place to live for this and future generations.