Only One More Food Market Left
 

Throughout the summer, SPEC and Kits House have partnered to bring local and sustainably grown food to the community. If you haven't visited our summer market yet, you have one chance left, Sept 15. Don't miss out!

For the fall, plans are underway for the Autumn Fair, as well as for off season market days. More details to come!

▪ Q & A with  Karly Pinch of Shady Acre Farm

Volunteer

School Garden Work Party: Get your hands dirty and have fun with fellow earthkeepers! Help us clean up a school garden! 

The SPEC School Gardens program brings food gardens and food education to school children. Today, we’ll focus on the orchard.
 
Date: Sat, Sept 24, 10:30 – noon
Location: Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, 4102 West 16th Avenue, Vancouver
▪ Rain or Shine.
 
Tools and other support will be provided by SPEC. Please RSVP!
Call 604-736-7732 or email elders@spec.bc.ca

Everyone is welcome. QE school parents, Elder Circle folks, and SPEC members.

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Elders Circle Salon: Thurs, Sept 22 event. Would you like to meet fun people and help deliver an interesting event?

Join us at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, Main Hall, for a SPEC’s Elder Circle event, “Bringing Forth Elder Wisdom”. Through the Elders Circle, participants will discover engaged eldership in a time of great challenge and hope.

We need 4-6 volunteers (adult; all ages) to help us deliver this evening community event. You will learn more about how elders in our community can connect, contribute, and grow as creative and wise mentors to younger generations. A light supper is provided.

Volunteer opportunities include the following.
Event set up (5-5:30 pm):
- Set up meeting space
- Set up food and beverage service
- Carry miscellaneous meeting materials
During the event (5:30-8:30 pm):
- Greet and register participants
- Tend food and beverage tables; clean up service area and dishes
After the event:
- Put away tables and chairs
- Clean up food and beverage area and dishes
- Tidy the meeting area

Before the event:
- Assist with event promotions by distributing flyers/posters in Vancouver.

Contact: For more information and to volunteer, please call Barbara at 604-757-6307 or email elders@spec.bc.ca

SPEC Elders Circle, September 22
 

Join us and other engaged elders as we explore the many qualities of Elder Wisdom. Why is this important? Our planet faces numerous crises. Seniors are a living reservoir of experience, knowledge and skills. However, that role has been minimized in society and relinquished by seniors. This is a huge loss for all.

Why should you come? The SPEC Elders Circle is offering a space and process that encourages deep reflection, personal connection and intimate discussion to foster the emergence of this wisdom.

Please join us at our September 22 event “Bringing Forth Elder Wisdom” at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2305 West 7th Ave, Vancouver, between 5.30-8.30pm. Everyone is welcome. Light Supper provided.

Please register at spec.bc.ca/events. For more information please contact Project Coordinator Richard Drake at 604-499-5045, or elders@spec.bc.ca
 

Our Thank-Yous 
 

▪ A big thank you to Shona, who made an in-kind donation of a new tote bag with wheels and a new trolley. The tote bag is being used to store and carry the Plastic Bag Monster costume, which is used at table events and workshops, and the trolley will help volunteers load the bigger items used at these outreach events.

▪ Another big thank you to Kitsilano Neighbourhood House for partnering with us on the summer food market and kindly supporting SPEC's Elders Circle project.

▪ Last but not least, a big thank you to Vancouver Renewable Energy for partnering with us on our Go Solar! Tours.

Shupa and Jessica setting up the Market. 
Thank you to our Summer Interns

Thank you to our summer interns who took on some of our big projects this summer.

Shupa, did a fantastic job coordinating all aspects of our summer market: "Working with and meeting people so passionate about supporting local food was very inspirational. It's awesome to know an organization like SPEC exists!"

Jessica greatly enhanced SPEC's outreach. She coordinated 4 workshops and was part of the SPEC team at our market and at Car Free Day: "It was interesting to learn how SPEC operates and amazing to see how people come together to tackle so many different initiatives to better our city." 

Paris, did a great job of maintaining our school gardens during the summer until the kids came back to school:"This is a wonderful experience. It is an absolute joy to watch the plants grow taller and taller in the garden over summer as if they were my own children. I also got the chance to interact with the school children and used the opportunity to develop my leadership skills"  

To the three of you, THANK YOU on behalf of SPEC, and we wish you all the best going back to school.

The SPEC Food & Environment Committee is hosting a table at this year's event, which is organized by Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust. We will be having a conversation about the valuable ecosystem services provided by local farmers in the area, and more! The fair provides visitors with the opportunity to connect with real farms, real farmers, and real food. 

Event Details: Time: 10am to 4pm, rain or shine. 
Location: Westham Island Herb Farm, 4690 Kirkland Road. Westham Island (across the bridge, first road on right).