"But many Calgary council members thought agricultural policy was best left to federal or provincial levels of government"
An absolute refusal to take on a noble cause that can lead to a healthier population.
"-- and larger-scale food growing to warmer climates."
It is incredible to see how out of touch some people are. Certainly, we aren't going to attempt to grow products that do not grow in northern climates. Yet, to see northern climates us unproductive is utterly foolish. There are very real reasons why people settled at the confluence of the Bow and the Elbow, and it wasn't to debate over pedestrian bridges.
Furthermore, cities provide excellent growing micro-climates (they are warmer than rural areas), effectively extending the growing season on both ends (earlier spring start, later fall finish).
Fortunately, many people in Calgary have not waited for some of the laggards on council to pass progressive policy
Numerous community gardens exist around the city (though, the number should be higher than it is). When I first got involved in community gardening, I was amazed at how much a small piece of land can produce (I am talking about a couple of hundred square feet producing hundreds of pounds of produce).
Also, people are ethically raising small numbers of hens (for eggs) in a far more sustainable fashion than industrial farms (this is not allowed under current city bylaws).
Urban, and peri-urban, agriculture are fantastic avenues to explore, and community gardens are just the first step. Paul Hughes (Chair, Calgary Food Policy Council) and others introduced me to the idea of urban farming using Transit and Utility Corridors (TUC). Imagine the effective use of space, and the development of a sense of community if people were able to buy into Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) located right by their homes. Imagine receiving a box of fresh produce weekly in the summer months, and knowing that the food hasn't been shipped across the planet. Imagine having true diversity again (not the pseudo-diversity that is offered to many people), dozens of beans growing, dozens of potatoes, dozens of whatever you want to grow!
The more people that get behind initiatives that create a better city, the more likely the council will listen. And when council listens, they need to go big and build a framework that enables more people to become involved. They need to avoid a bureaucratic nightmare that perpetuates more of the same.
For me, the future is bright green, and people like Connelly will be the individuals struggling to keep up with the rest of us.
Just a couple of thoughts,
Dak
Here are some links:
http://calgaryfoodpolicy.blogspot.com/
http://www.2011calgary.ca/
http://site.btcalgary.ca/video/?bcpi...id=33698053001
http://www.spinfarming.com/
http://www.growingpower.org/
http://www.newseedadvisors.com/
http://www.urbanhens.com/
https://www.greenpeople.org/csa.htm