After COVID arrived in the Spring of 2020, someone gave the Quadra ICAN ‘Squash The Curve Project’ the use of 2 acres of land for a year. Local residents were provided with squash starts, or seedlings, and supportive tips from more experienced gardeners. The food they did not use was freely distributed to the wider community.
This year ICAN was offered use of the property again, to be used by its Garden Share Program.
Continue reading Progress on 2 acres given to ICAN’s Growing Together Project
In the two months that ICAN’s food recovery program has been in operation, close to 1,300 people have received benefits.
“Since the beginning of March we’ve distributed 10,408.4 kilos of food, and that has been distributed to 338 individuals, who were feeding 671 people. In addition to that, we have been supplying various agencies like Quadra Circle, the Read Island Aging In Place program, the Read Island Community Kitchen. These agencies have been feeding an additional 600 people. In total, we estimate that this food has provided meals for 1,271 people,” said Ramona Boyle, Coordinator of Quadra ICAN.
Continue reading First 2 months of ICAN’s food recovery program: almost 1,300 people benefit
Quadra ICAN started up two food security initiatives last week.
The Garden Share program is designed to increase the amount of food grown on Quadra Island.
Marc Doll, a local farmer and one of the candidates during the last election, said Vancouver Island grew about half of its food prior to the Second World War. He believes this statistic is currently closer to 4% or 5%.
ICAN Coordinator Ramona Boyle explained that this is the Garden Share program’s second year.
Continue reading The Garden Share and Food Recovery Programs on Quadra Island
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Quadra Islander Ramona Boyle is rummaging through cardboard boxes when her friend lets out a triumphant shout.
“Look at this!” exclaims dood, known by a single moniker similar to Madonna, plucking a package of thick-cut bacon from a box and waving it in the air.
“This normally costs at least 15 bucks.”
Boyle peers into the box filled with various packages of frozen meat.
“There must be hundreds of dollars worth of food in here!” she replies.
The pair, members of the Quadra Island Climate Action Team (I-CAN), are appraising their first haul for a new project to tackle climate change and food insecurity in their rural community.
Continue reading Tiny B.C. island community’s answer to climate change? Feed everyone
The Bird’s Eye, Quadra Island’s only weekly newspaper has a new owner.
“It was an 11th hour saving of the local paper that was about to close the doors. Had been trying to find a new publisher for several months with no luck and Amanda Smith, who has been the publisher editor for several years was posting the final edition when ICAN approached her to ask was it possible to save the paper and could a deal be worked out?” said Ramona Boyle, Coordinator of Quadra ICAN.
Continue reading The Bird’s Eye: under new Ownership
