Maximum Yield Canada July/August 2017
While hydroponics is unlikely to overtake traditional agriculture economically anytime soon—current US annual crop production is estimated at $143 billion while hydroponics is valued at a mere $600 million—it’s not so much as how much is being grown but where. Today, nobody knows what society will be like in 2100. We hope it will be a peaceful, healthy, and happy place.
While hydroponics is unlikely to overtake traditional agriculture economically anytime soon—current US annual crop production is estimated at $143 billion while hydroponics is valued at a mere $600 million—it’s not so much as how much is being grown but where. Today, nobody knows what society will be like in 2100. We hope it will be a peaceful, healthy, and happy place.
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growing news, tips, & trivia<br />
Parkdale Food Centre Expands Community Social Enterprise<br />
Ottawa’s Parkdale Food Centre (PFC) launched its social enterprise, Growing<br />
Futures, earlier this year. The food centre is working with Ottawa businesses,<br />
community partners, and school children to plant, grow, and harvest fresh<br />
produce using indoor growing systems. The produce is then sold to the local foodservice<br />
industry. Thirty per cent of the revenue is donated back to the food centre to support<br />
its programming. Another 30 per cent goes to the harvesters or is invested back into<br />
Growing Futures. Twenty-five per cent is given to an agreed upon charity and 15 per cent<br />
is set aside to cover costs. Now, in honour of <strong>Canada</strong>’s 150th anniversary, the PFC wants<br />
to install 150 of its garden towers and garden walls around the city. It’s put out a call for<br />
more sponsors, business<br />
partners, harvesters,<br />
mentors, and spaces.<br />
- obj.ca<br />
Bridging the Gap Between Housing and Agriculture<br />
Toronto’s Queen Street West neighbourhood will soon be home to The Plant, a mixed-use community revolving<br />
around sustainable residential urban farming and social responsibility. Developed by Curated Properties and Windmill<br />
Developments, the 10-storey project will feature retail outlets at street level, offices on the<br />
second floor, and single- and two-storey residences on the upper floors. Each apartment<br />
comes with its own custom micro-garden beds. There will also be communal food-focused<br />
programs, including an internal greenhouse and an industrial kitchen for shared food<br />
production and hosting events. “It might seem extreme, but we orientated this entire<br />
project around our connection to food,” says Curated Properties partner Gary Eisen.<br />
“It’s our guiding principle and the result is a building that lives and breathes and offers a<br />
better quality of life to the people who will live and work here. The Plant is a community<br />
that fits with the foodie culture that has come to define Queen West.”<br />
- archdaily.com<br />
Part-time Vegetarian Diet Could Reduce Obesity Risk<br />
A new study, which looked at 16,000 people, found that cutting back<br />
on meat and eating a part-time vegetarian diet could cut the risk of<br />
obesity by 43 per cent. According to the study’s authors, the parttime<br />
vegetarians were also less likely to gain weight, even after<br />
factors like age, beginning weight, and lifestyle were taken in<br />
to account. Despite the major health differences, the partially<br />
vegetarian and more carnivorous diets were not drastically<br />
different. Those in the more vegetarian group ate only a<br />
couple fewer meat-free meals a week (around 60 g less a day),<br />
but also ate more fruit, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil instead.<br />
- freshplaza.com<br />
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