A Victoria bike tour company has cooked up a new idea, with a little help from local non-profit the Food Eco District, to take riders on an urban sustainable food tour through the city.
Part culinary exploration, part urban agriculture experience, the three-hour sightseeing adventure weaves its way from downtown through Cook Street Village and along the Galloping Goose in Vic West, to showcase the cityB次元官网网址檚 growing food and agriculture movement.
B次元官网网址淓verybody has a different definition of local,B次元官网网址� says Heidi Grantner, executive director of , whose vision is to work with local eateries to plant food, eat local and grow a movement.
B次元官网网址淲e want to see food that is made in our bio-region [the Pacific Northwest], sourcing as close as possible, what grows naturally here, and in season,B次元官网网址� she explains.
In partnership with , FED is taking riders on a tour that makes stops at Topsoil at Dockside Green, and the upcoming Urban Learning Garden at the Central Branch of the GVPL B次元官网网址� two of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 most innovative urban agriculture projects.
Grantner says the goal is to raise the awareness of growing in an urban setting, both to locals with an interest in good, sustainable food, and to tourists looking to explore the uniqueness of Greater Victoria.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e already very progressive as a region,B次元官网网址� she says.
B次元官网网址淰ictoria has a reputation for being tea and roses and this is to highlight thatB次元官网网址檚 changing, to showcase that we have a growing, green economy.B次元官网网址�
She credits local government for taking a good look at food growing policies in the city, and maintaining B次元官网网址渁 lack of barriers,B次元官网网址� to provide a supportive approach.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e been open, receptive and adaptable to encourage this new model.B次元官网网址�
found that more than 60 per cent of British Columbians are buying food locally B次元官网网址� from farmers markets or specialty stores. The study also found that residents across the province would be more inclined to buy B.C. products if they were clearly labelled B次元官网网址淔rom B.C.B次元官网网址�
Small-scale farming is really hard work and good food costs money, because you need to be able to demonstrate that increase in value to the consumer, Grantner says.
Part of FEDB次元官网网址檚 work includes partnering with restaurants like Big Wheel Burger on Cook Street to grow their herbs on site.
B次元官网网址淲hen you buy from these local businesses that are working so hard to provide this amazing food, youB次元官网网址檙e supporting a whole shift in the economy to get away from things like processed food.B次元官网网址�
Tours are slated for May 30, June 27, July 11 and July 25 B次元官网网址� they include the cost of a bike rental, snacks and samples. You can register online at .
