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Published by City Farmer, Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture


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City Dwellers are Growing Food in Surprising Numbers!


©November, 2002

Polls conducted by Ipsos-Reid on behalf of City Farmer - Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture, found that 40% of people in Greater Toronto and 44% of people in Greater Vancouver live in households that produce some of their own food.

"This is the first time in Canadian history a question of this sort has been asked by a professional pollster and the result is significant," says Michael Levenston, Executive Director of the 25-year-old non-profit society based in Vancouver.

"These figures represent more than two and one half million people in Greater Toronto and Vancouver who live in households growing vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts or herbs in their yard, balcony or community garden."

"People have grown food in urban centres from the earliest times and they continue to do so despite the fact that our cities are becoming more populated every year", says Levenston. "This is a positive sign showing us that our cities are still liveable despite recent concerns about the urban environment."

City Farmer teaches food gardening at its Demonstration Garden in Kitsilano. "Urban Agriculture is more than just food production; we teach people about urban issues such as waste disposal (composting), and water conservation (rain barrels and drip irrigation).

Four out of five people live in an urban centre in Canada. "Planners must set aside more of our green space for growing food", says Levenston. "Three possible models include, community gardens which have small plots, European-style allotment gardens with larger plots and small cabins for overnight stays, and thirdly mini-market gardens for city dwellers who want to try their hand at commercial growing."

Media Contact: Michael Levenston 604 685 5832
Email: cityfarmer@gmail.com

Greater Toronto:

Q. Do you, or does anyone in your household grow food, that is vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts, herbs in your yard, on your balcony or in a community garden?

   

AGE

EDUCATION

GENDER

INCOME

 

Total

18 to 34 years

35 to 54 years

55 or older

<=HS

Post. Sec.

Univ.

Male

Female

<$30K

$30K to $60K

$60K +

                         

Base: GTA respondents

400

141

169

80

110

131

156

200

200

65

110

182

Weighted

400

156

135

101

115

132

151

193

207

68

112

175

                         

Yes

158

50

57

48

40

60

58

78

80

20

41

72

 

40%

32%

43%

48%

35%

46%

39%

41%

38%

29%

37%

41%

No

241

106

78

52

75

72

93

114

127

48

71

103

 

60%

68%

57%

52%

65%

54%

61%

59%

61%

71%

63%

59%

(DK/NS)

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

 

0

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0

-

-

-


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Revised Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Published by City Farmer
Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture

cityfarmer@gmail.com