Food Systems Lab is leading a citizen-science based community food asset mapping in three cities in partnership with the University of British Columbia. Food asset mapping is an emerging tool in planning and has been used to document available food infrastructures in cities for the purpose of achieving food security. However, food asset mapping typically does not include ecological and cultural assets important to food system resiliency. Also, what are considered “assets” may not reflect the lived experiences of communities. To engage community members on a deeper level, we used a photovoice methodology involving participants representing diverse communities including Indigenous, visible minorities, and women.
Community Charette
In Vancouver, where the Food Systems Lab team is implementing the project, we have completed the first two phases of the project. In the first phase, we hosted a community charette to explore what Vancouverites see as food assets in their city and what food assets mean to them.
Citizen Scientist Photobooks
We recruited citizen scientists in three communities who took photos over a few weeks and shared stories related to these photos with our researchers. These photos and stories are featured in photobooks made for each community.
Story Maps
The photobooks were transformed into interactive story maps that showcase the photos, stories, and places. Map Creator: Dina Sadeghi