Learning Resources

This section of the LifeCycles website came was developed in response to the dozens of telephone inquires we receive everyday asking questions like, "How should I take care of my apple tree?" and "How can I encourage native bees in my garden?"

These learning resources provide useful information that will help you to follow the principles of sustainable urban agriculture in your own backyard. (Regardless of the size of your backyard)

We have also included curriculum guides for teachers, general information on RoofTop Gardening, and waterwise gardening tips.

The Pocket Market Toolkit

Your guide to establishing Pocket Markets

Resources for teachers

• Semilla a Mesa - A Sustainable Agriculture & Global Food System Learning Resource
• Where in the World Does Your Food Come From? - Our global food system and local food alternatives.
• Teacher Gram - Sustainable Agriculture Guides for Secondary Schools
• Patterns Through the Seasons - (download) Lesson plans and activities that relate to the BC Prescribed Learning Outcomes for grades 4 to 7. Developed in conjunction with Evergreen and the Learning Grounds Program.  
• The Food Security-into-Drama Handbook: Workshops for the Classroom and Community contains a series of four dynamic workshop models for teachers/facilitators to engage with children on the topic of Food Security. The workshops are targeted for children ages 9 through 13, in grades 4 through 6 living on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Though geographically specific, the workshops can be easily modified for other geographic areas (both provincially and nationally).

Program Manuals

Program Manuals were created to fully document the decade of development of community food security and youth programs that have been developed at LifeCycles. They can be used as a "how-to" for other organizations to set up their own programs.

• Mapping Our Common Ground - A community and green mapping resource guide.
• Creating an Outdoor Classroom - A Growing Schools program manual that focuses on education in elementary schools that is linked to outdoor gardens built on the school grounds.
• Youth Hands! Youth Voices! - This manual looks at youth engagement in policy making at the local level.
• Harvesting Abundance: Fruit Tree Project Manual - The Fruit Tree Project works to minimize the waste of tree fruit by harvesting and distributing it through the community.

Research Papers

• Maintaining a Bee Average - A LifeCycles Project dedicated to helping Victoria's Native Bee Population find safe habitat in our communities.
• Greening Rooftops in the Garden City - This paper examines the potential for increased urban agriculture in Victoria, British Columbia, known as the "Garden City." Specifically, it discusses the potential for rooftop gardens as an important part of the solution to food security issues on Vancouver Island.
• IDRC Urban Agriculture and food Security Initiatives in Canada - Provides an overview of existing community based organizing efforts to create more just and sustainable food systems. This survey identifies the many organizations and their networks currently working to achieve this goal and seeks to identify areas where there is still need for further research, work and creativity

Fruit Tree and Bee Tips

• Fruit Tree Care - How to Care For Your Fruit Tree
• Let Me Tell You 'Bout the Bee - General bee information
• Protecting Pollinators - Native bees and pesticides
• Our Pollinators Need a Home! - Inviting bees into your own back yard
• "How To Clean Orchard Mason Bees Using Sand" on Youtube
• " Orchard Mason Bees on Vancouver Island, BC

Good Food Directory

The Local Food Directory is your source to local and organically grown foods. The directory includes everything from fresh produce to delicous sweets and candy. Please note that the directory is still in development phases.

Miscellaneous

• The Victoria Community Green Story Book - People, Projects, and Visions in Victoria
• E-Mission Zine - A youth created zine on climate change