CSA’s and Food Security

When: Tuesday, March 30th from 6 – 7 pm + additional 30 minutes for debrief

Where: Online

Cost: Free, registration required. The zoom code will be sent to participants the day before the event.

This webinar is geared toward both farmers and eaters and explores community supported agriculture as an important model for building local food security. CSA Programs involve a model where customers buy ‘shares’ at the beginning of the growing season in exchange for a portion of a local farmer’s harvest. Farmers obtain income early in the season, coinciding with a period of high costs. This model invests in local food and supports farmers upfront for the coming season. Jacob Beaton from Tea Creek Farm and Karen Ageson from Farmers on 57th will be joining us to discuss their experiences building local food security through CSA programs.

Following our guest speaker’s presentations and the question-answer period will be a 30-minute debrief of the webinar. From 7 – 730, participants can stay on the call and engage in discussion with other farmers and eaters, exchange ideas and resources, and continue on the conversations started in the webinar. This is not a continuation of the question and answer period for our guest speakers, it is a chance to connect with other CSA passionate folks in BC.

Tea Creek Farm

Tea Creek catalyzes new agricultural projects and livelihoods—restoring the ability of Indigenous nations to grow fresh, healthy food and medicine for ourselves and our communities. Tea Creek’s Indigenous-led program works in partnership with First Nations proponents to build a sustainable economy and long-term food sovereignty. Their vision is resilient, healthy communities built on land-based programs and abundant local food.

Jacob Beaton is the recipient of the BCAF Indigenous Business Award and was founder & president of Copper Moon Communications and VP communications for The Castlemain Group. He has consulted with over 60 First Nations on strategy, community engagement and economic development. He is Tsimshian and has the name “Dzapł Gygyaawn Sgyiik” (an eagle who gets it done right now) from the Gispaxloats tribe

Farmers on 57th

Karen Ageson is a first-generation Canadian of South African, British and Swedish ancestry, raised & living in the annexed Territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ / sel̓íl̓witulh Nations with her husband and two young children. Since 2019, Karen has been co-creating Farmers on 57th, a not-for-profit organization that grows food & flowers on the former lawns of a Vancouver Coastal Health long-term care facility. Farmers on 57th has grown to feed 70 member-families through a Community Supported Agriculture Harvest Box program while creating opportunities for people to grow their own food through volunteer & horticultural therapy programs, community garden plots and a Grow Your Own Food course. Karen is also the Interim Executive Director of the Vancouver Urban Farming Society where she works to support the growth of farming in the city.

This event will be recorded and posted on our website for future viewing.

This event is part of a 6 part webinar series of our Strengthening CSA’s Program to support CSA farmers and the expansion of CSA programs in BC.

Event photo by Farmers on 57th