Above: The grounds of Brescia University College’s future community garden
It is currently estimated that over 4.4 million people suffer from food insecurity
in Canada, and that women are more likely to experience food insecurity than men.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, women across the nation have become
increasingly challenged to not only provide for themselves, but for their families
– with many flooding to their local food banks and driving a need for products. The
London Food Bank alone has seen a 27 per cent rise in attendance this year.
In response to these alarming statistics, and in a commitment to the London community,
Brescia University College is planting an on-campus community garden effective spring
2021. Made possible by a $38,000 “seed” grant through the Fund for Gender Equality
and the London Community Foundation, the Community Garden will help serve those facing
food insecurity within the Brescia and London community – with a particular focus
on women in-need.
“Over the past year, Brescia has observed with great concern the state of food security
for our community, city and world,” says Brescia’s Vice-Principal, Academic Dean and
garden founder, Dr. Lauretta Frederking. She affirms, “With more and more people in
our community unsure of where their next meal will come from, and as proud members
of the London community, we knew that we had a responsibility to step up and work
collaboratively to help serve our local community and to help get many women through
this difficult time.”
As an educational leader in the areas of Food and Nutritional Sciences and the stream
of leadership, management and non-profit education, Brescia’s community garden is
designed to bring Brescia students, faculty and staff together to both provide new
experiential learning and research opportunities, while also providing fresh produce
to the London community – distributing predominantly to women through a partnership
with the London Food Bank.
Honouring Brescia’s Ursuline history and integrating Indigenous practices and initiatives,
the garden will be complete in phases, with the first phase producing a garden that
measures 1,700 square feet. The garden will grow produce, such as potatoes, onions,
carrots, beets, kale and Swiss chard. Initial planting will be completed May 30, 2021
and the first shipment to the Food Bank is expected to occur September 2021.
Development for the Community Garden will be co-led by the University’s executive
in-house Red Seal Chef, Tim D’Souza, Learning & Development Specialist, Experiential
Education, Tamara Thompson and Foods and Nutrition Professor, Dr. Danielle Battram.
The team expects that the garden will result in fresh produce by 2021 and aspires
to serve 100 women each year in the years following through sustainable farming practices.
In addition to providing healthy food for women in need, produce from the garden will
also be used in Brescia’s on-campus dining hall, The Mercato.
In response to this new green initiative at Brescia, which has deep ties to Brescia’s
past, D’Souza reflects, “The Ursuline Sisters, who founded Brescia in 1919, used our
natural land to grow produce, which fed its students and community until 1962. The
Ursulines always understood the importance of respecting our natural space, and using
fresh ingredients to maintain the health of the community. This community garden not
only allows us to honour our heritage, while having easy access to fresh produce and
herbs, but it also gives us a unique opportunity to make a difference in our community
– just as the Ursulines have always done.”
The Fund for Gender Equality and Communities for Gender Equality is supported by a
collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with
support from the Government of Canada.
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About Brescia University College
Brescia University College, Canada’s women’s university college, is affiliated with Western University. The 1,600 women registered as either full- or part-time students at Brescia study a wide variety of subjects in the Schools of Behavioural & Social Sciences, Food & Nutritional Sciences, Humanities, and Leadership & Social Change in an empowering, compassionate, student-centred and invigorating environment. Degrees are granted by Western. As a Catholic University College, Brescia welcomes students from all backgrounds and values diversity. For more current and archived news, a listing of faculty experts, and photos please visit our Online Media Room, at brescia.uwo.ca/communications/media_relations.
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