$15 well spent

Chak tells all about his current internship through the Skills Link Program and EYA. When not at the office he can be found siring large pots of food to share with friends.

Hello again from the offices of FarmFolkCityFolk, on beautiful Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C! With less than a month left at my placement, the time has come to set the final deadlines, dig in, and accomplish everything that I have set out to do. The challenge now is staying focused, using my time effectively, and prioritization. In light of that, I may not get a chance to submit another entry for the EYA blog during the remainder of my placement, so let me take the present moment to promote the wonderful organization I am doing my work placement at, and tell you a bit about the work that we do.

FarmFolkCityFolk's mandate, loud and clear on the front page of their website and on almost every page of promotional material they distribute, is to "work to cultivate a local, sustainable food system." In my own words, that means that FFCF creates connections: between local farmers and BC chefs, between consumers and wholesome nutritious food, between motivated people and fresh initiatives for them to pursue, and between all of us and the process of how our food is grown, processed, and prepared for our tables. If you love yourself, your family, and the people in your community, then it's hard to think of many things that are more important than making sure that everyone gets fed enough, and in a fantastic, sustainable, and dignified way.

Last week, I brought fifteen dollars into work and became a bona-fide member of FarmFolkCityFolk. The decision to become a part of FFCF's membership had nothing to do with feeling pressured to do so, or because of how nice everyone was, or how fun my job here is, it was because I have been convinced that there is a strong future for food security initiatives, and I want to have a say in the decisions that are being made and give myself the opportunity to participate and learn as a supporter of this movement.

I am looking forward to getting into many of the wonderful things that need to be done in our Vancouver community, through organizations like FarmFolkCityFolk, the Environmental Youth Alliance, and the Purple Thistle. From people like Dan Jason, Michael Pollan, Will Allen, the other Skills Link participants and our facilitators at the EYA, a tremendous amount of inspiration and information has taken up permanent residence in my mind and spirit.

Anyway, because we're at risk of getting too evangelistic here, allow me to speak frankly: I have a heck of a long way to go before the way that I live, and eat to continue living, lines up with the ideals and values that I want to embody. The reassuring aspect of this is that so does my city. Not far under the surface, Vancouver has the soul of an activist. As a community we want to be an example of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and the joyful celebration of progressive social values and a vibrant local culture.

Like me, Vancouver has the best intentions, but for both of us, the path of least resistance can win out. Change isn't easy, but it is rewarding, and every time we make an informed and proactive choice we get one small step closer to those rewards. With so many great non-profit groups and passionate people around to share knowledge with us and teach how to take the steps toward secure and sustainable means of living, I feel supported every step of the way.