• Food Resilience Alliance

Food Resilience Alliance

The Food Resilience Alliance (FRA) is a collective group working on food and agriculture projects across the Southern Gulf Islands. The FRA was successful in securing a Community Works Fund grant in Spring 2021 and currently funds a wide range of projects developed by organizations spanning all four islands. The FRA strives to come together to address food-related gaps and opportunities on a regional level. We have official meetings and also monthly “Roundtable” meetings – themed discussions designed to dig into a specific theme, project, or challenge.

Roundtable Meetings

Interested in Food Resilience on the Southern Gulf Islands? Join us for upcoming roundtable meetings:
Next Session: TBA
Past Sessions:
  •  An introduction to the Mayne Island Food Bank and their new food distribution project.
  • A discussion about the SGI Hay Dilemma with Kristine of Mayne Island.
  • A discussion about the South Island Farm Hub’s pilot project with Emma of Galiano Island.

Current Projects

Gulf Islands Food Co-op Projects

Inter-Island Seed Libraries
Native Food Plants Project
Info Hub Tables at Farmers Markets: Together the GIFC and the SGI CRC have established a series of surveys for market-goers, aimed to gauge the current moment and what’s at top of mind for consumers. This method of surveying is called “Rapid Market Analysis,” and the findings will be published in the Local Area Food and Agriculture Plan that is currently being written. GIFC is taking the lead on using the Info Hubs as a place to educate the public about their island’s food system, while also hosting the co-op sales table.

Seed Programs

Pender Island Seed Donation Program – We have approved starting a seed program on Pender Island in partnership with the Gulf Islands Food Co-Op. This project has purchased a small variety of easily grown vegetable seeds before there is a big ‘rush’ of seed demand in early spring (as was seen in Spring 2020). Seeds will be donated to interested growers in early spring. We also paid for coordination hours for the Gulf Islands Food Co-op.

Mayne Island Seed Library – We supported the growth of the seed library by purchasing a stock of seeds and other supplies in partnership with the Mayne Island Agricultural Society and Fall Fair. The seed library will continue from year to year, and will involve up to 50 islanders of all ages. When people ‘borrow’ seeds at the beginning of the year, they ‘return’ them at the end of the season thus ensuring the continuation of the seed stock. There is an online tool to see what seeds are available.

Seed Library of Galiano – This was launched in 2016 and now has a membership that currently comprises 10% of Galiano’s full-time population. In 2021 the CRC supported SLOG by providing marketing materials for the spring seed lending days.

Galiano Community Food Program Projects

Gleaning Club
Garlic Co-op
Microgreens Workshop

SGI CRC Projects

Kitchen Countertop Gardens

Connect with us!

Email foodwork@sgicommunityresources.ca with any questions or comments about the Food Resilience Alliance.

In Partnership With

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia