Uploaded on 2016-05-02 by AlessandraWeiss

**1-PROVISIONING SERVICES** **a) FOOD -Rural and Urban Agriculture** **RURAL** " With more of the population paying more attention to where food comes from, the agriculture sector is strengthening, including vineyards, food crops, livestock, markets, farm sales, and food manufacturing." Greater Victoria Development Agency | Agriculture. (2014). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://www.gvda.ca/business-sectors/agriculture/ **URBAN** **The City Harvest Cooperative** https://www.facebook.com/CityHarvestCooperative/?v=wall: "City Harvest is currently operating 14 farm plots, using organic methods, in backyards throughout Victoria. We sell our produce through our CSA box program, local farmers markets and to restaurants and small grocers." "City Harvest primarily uses SPIN-Farming methodology, a farming technique that incorporates sustainable and intensive farming practices on sub-acre land masses and can be used in rural or urban centers." Lifecycles Urban Agriculture Hub. (n.d.). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://urbanagriculturehub.ca/ "Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an economic system in which community members pledge their support to a local farm and share the risks and benefits of food production with the growers. Becoming a member of a CSA secures you a share of the farm’s harvest each week throughout the season and connects you to to the real value and cost of producing food–to the people who grow it and to the land on which it is grown." Green Wagon Farm. (n.d.). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://www.greenwagonfarm.com/10-ways-your-csa-will-change-your-life/ Topsoil Urban Rooftop Agriculture http://liveyoungandfree.ca/food-drink/topsoil-urban-rooftop-agriculture-begins-harvest-victoria/ ![Topsoil Urban Rooftop Agriculture][1] Photo taken dowtown Victoria, Fort Commons Building, June 2015. Topsoil Urban Rooftop Agriculture is growing vegetables on rooftops for nearby restaurants and taking special orders from chefs. Boulevard Garden Design Guidelines: http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/parks/boulevards-program/Boulevard-gardening-guidelines.html ![Vic West Boulevard Garden][2] A boulevard garden has been planted in Vic West. Photo taken -Fall 2016. ![Bench-Vic West Garden][3] ![Community Garden][4] Photos of Vic West community garden, taken fall 2015. b) RAW MATERIALS http://www.ancientforestalliance.org/ The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) B.C. is a non-profit working to protect the endangered old-growth forests of BC and to ensure sustainable forestry jobs in the province. c) FRESH WATER "Here in the Capital Region, we are fortunate in having a reliable and safe source of drinking water. The drinking water for most of the region comes from the Sooke Lake Reservoir, and much of the watershed surrounding this reservoir is protected. However, many of our local streams, lakes and wetlands are subject to water pollution and altered flows, which can affect the health of aquatic and riparian ecosystems and result in shellfish harvesting bans. " Fresh Water Quality & Flows. (2013). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from https://www.crd.bc.ca/education/our-environment/concerns/fresh-water-quality-flows d) MEDICINAL ON BC'S COASTAL BIODIVERSITY: "As a result of a species richness mapping exercise done by North American scientists that worked for various academic and conservation agencies, it was identified that coastal BC’s marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats supported an extraordinarily high number of vertebrates and vascular plant species. In an effort to confirm or challenge the statement that coastal BC has a greater species diversity than anywhere else in North America, we have begun to compile statistics. This site is a work in progress. We welcome input and feedback." BC’s coastal biodiversity: The highest in North America. (2011). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://www.raincoast.org/2011/05/bc-coastal-biodiversity/ 2-REGULATING SERVICES a) Local Climate and Air Quality Victoria's vast and expanding urban forest contributes on a large scale to local climate and air quality. ![High Point Park Tree Canopy][5] Photo taken at High Point Park, Esquimalt, summer 2015. b) Carbon Sequestration and Storage The urban forest and diversity of species also contributes to carbon sequestration and the richness of the soil. c) Moderation of Extreme Events We're doing it on a smaller scale, structural requirements for seismic were updated fairly recently. However, I believe there is potential for Victoria to expand and think about the city on a larger scale, in order to build vibrant and flexible spaces that are designed with resilience in mind (particularly for Tsunami and Earthquake protection). New York's re-design by BIG Architecture for Manhattan is quite an inspiring project that encompasses many of those concepts: ![BIG U][6] Render for The BIG U, "The Harbor Berm," an elevated path through the park. Image Courtesy of rebuildbydesign.org The BIG U: BIG's New York City Vision for "Rebuild by Design" (2014). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://www.archdaily.com/493406/the-big-u-big-s-new-york-city-vision-for-rebuild-by-design d) Waste Water Treatment This is a very shameful topic in Victoria. This city still dumps its raw sewage in the Pacific Ocean and it settles in Seattle. A mascot was even created years ago, called "Mr. Floatie." ![MR FLOATIE][7] (Photo by Bruce Stotesbury/ Victoria Times Colonist) Victoria Sewage: Big response from B.C. residents taking issue with Seattle Times editorial. (June 12th, 2014). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2014/06/12/victoria-sewage-big-response-from-b-c-residents-taking-issue-with-seattle-times-editorial/ There are plans for a waste-water treatment plant here but it seems we are still a bit of a distance away from realization. What if this plant could an amenity instead of a hindrance on communities? Could it become a vibrant and educational public space? e) Erosion Prevention & Maintenance of Soil Fertility There is a large interest and discussion about permaculture in Victoria. With groups ranging from larger-scale organizations like Permaculture BC http://www.permaculturebc.com/, to smaller-scale groups that do community workshops as seen in the image below: ![PERMACULTURE WORKSHOP][8] Photo taken of a small flyer for a permaculture workshop, provided by some students from the meditation club @ U-Vic that are passionate about spreading the seed of permaculture, spring 2016. f) Pollination: There is a pollinator garden located on the rooftop of the Victoria's City Hall that was built in 2012. From the City's website: "Did you know: • 90% of all flowers, 1/3 of all vegetables and nearly all fruit trees rely on pollination by insects, especially native pollinators. • Enhancing biodiversity and planting pollinator friendly plants creates new habitat in urban areas where most pollinator habitats have been lost." Pollinator Gardens. (n.d.). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/community/sustainability/residential-programs/pollinator-gardens.html There is useful information about the importance of creating pollinator gardens and a link to a document for choosing the right flowers for bees. g) Biological Control: As part of the strategies across the Greater Victoria region to reduce pesticide use, using The Integrated Pest Management Policy as a baseline, biological control is encouraged. City of Victoria guidelines for pesticide reduction: http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/parks/natural-areas/pesticide-reduction.html Methods such as planting to attract beneficial insects, to information about planting with Native plants can be found linked on the City of Saanich's website (one of Greater Victoria's 13 municipalities) website, along with various resources relating to aspects of pesticide reduction: http://www.saanich.ca/living/natural/health/pestlinks.html 3-HABITAT OR SUPPORTING SERVICES a) Habitats for Species: "Garry oak meadows were once common throughout southeastern Vancouver Island. They take the form of open stands of stately gnarled oak trees, often carpeted with billowing drifts of wildflowers that bloom in the spring. This "natural parkland" enthralled European colonists, and in part led Sir James Douglas to choose Victoria Harbour as the location of the Hudson’s Bay Co. fort in 1843. What the Europeans may not have understood is that many of these meadows were not altogether "natural." Rather, the Vancouver Island Coast Salish people deliberately managed the land and periodically used prescribed burning to keep the meadows clear of underbrush, to cultivate camas. This beautiful blue wildflower grows from bulbs that provided an important food staple rich in carbohydrates. Bulbs were dug in the late summer, and dried for trade or storage. Camas bulbs were typically cooked in large steam pits with a variety of other foods (e.g. shoots, bulbs, shellfish). Local First Nations communities still collect and cook camas for community feasts and celebrations." Garry Oak Meadows. (2013). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from https://www.crd.bc.ca/education/our-environment/ecosystems/terrestrial/garry-oak-meadows ![GARRY OAKS][9] Photo taken at Garry Oak Meadow, near the Governer General's house, August 2014. ![HIGH POINT PARK][10] Photo taken at High Point Park, June 2014. ![COMMON CAMAS][11] Common Camas - Camassia quamash, wildflower that grows near Garry Oak Meadows that grows from bulbs that used to provide an important food staple rich in carbohydrates. This flower is still collected for First Nations community feasts and celebrations. Photo taken at High Point Park, June 2014. b)-Maintenance of Genetic Diversity ![MATSON LANDS][12] Photo taken along the Songhees Walkway that traverses Vic West/Esquimalt, April 2016. ![MORE THAN MEADOWS][13] Photo taken along the Songhees Walkway that traverses Vic West/Esquimalt, April 2016. ![A PERFECT EDEN][14] Photo taken along the Songhees Walkway that traverses Vic West/Esquimalt, April 2016. ![SONGHEES WALKWAY][15] Photo taken @ Matson Lands, of the Songhees Walkway that traverses Vic West/Esquimalt, April 2016. ![WALKWAY][16] Photo taken @ Matson Lands near Songhees Walkway that traverses Vic West/Esquimalt, April 2016. ![3 ON A LEAF][17] A slightly closer look, we see 3 amigos on a leaf. Photo taken @ Matson Lands near Songhees Walkway that traverses Vic West/Esquimalt, April 2016. ![HERON][18] Heron, seen from the Songhees walkway, photo taken April 2016. 4-CULTURAL SERVICES a) Recreation & mental and physical health There are plenty of parks and walkways for hiking and exploring, located around numerous neighborhoods around Victoria. "The City cares for ornamental gardens, natural ecosystems, sport and entertainment venues and playgrounds for recreational and cultural enjoyment, and preserves and enhances green spaces on public lands, including 72 parks." Parks. (n.d.). Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/parks.html b) Tourism Victoria's second largest industry is tourism. However, when many of the tourists leave they still merely identify the city only as a garden city with a historic waterfront because they have only seen a fraction of what our region encompasses. Our #1 industry is actually technology and it would be interesting to somehow utilize data collection and information about the plant and animal species nearby in order to educate people about biodiversity in the region. Some fun and interesting wayfinding could be provided to funnel our many thousands of visitors out of the downtown and send them on opportunities for urban exploration and education. Perhaps locals and tourists alike could re-discover some of the hidden gems located within our boundaries. c) Aesthetic Appreciation & Inspiration for Culture, Art, & Design ![PRAIRIE LUPINE][19] Photo taken in Yates St. Parkade Stairwell, May 2016. ![SLENDER WOOLY HEADS][20] Photo taken in Yates St. Parkade Stairwell, May 2016. d) Spiritual Experience & Sense of Place ![CHINESE CEMETERY][21] Photo taken at the gateway of the Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point (designated National Historic Site), June 2014. ![SELKIRK TRESTLE][22] Photo taken from a distance of the Selkirk Trestle, a wooden pedestrian and bike only bridge that goes across the Gorge Waterway and is part of the Galloping Goose recreational trail), April 2014. 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