Networks

Introduction

The North American Legacy Foundation was incorporated in Victoria, BC in 2006 with the vision of helping communities to live sustainabely by incorporating farming practices: produce horticulture, edible fruit-tree planting and nursing in urban life.

How and/or where did you first hear out about this Meetup group?

Meetup is a great social network, I think I first started receiving news from one or more of the members because I was interested in meeting with Canadian workers and their work improving sustainability, urban farming, and other green technologies in western Canada. I have made excellent relationships so far, in farms, schools, social networks, and companies. We are moving forward to launch the first building that falls under the designation of ecotecture, and that can produce energy in the form of calories. There are examples of the contribution that modern "green" architects are doing, with some of these drafts being posted at our Indiegogo's campaign "Ecotecture Awards 2013". Check it out at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ecotecture-awards-2013/x/1803583

What was it that got you interested in sustainability?

Consuming resources without replenishing them can lead to the destruction of the planet. At a community level, we need to support actions and ideas that make life sustainable if you know what the term means. In other words, we employ natural resources in a way that they can be renewable and productive so that there is a contribution to ease the pressure on the markets and ourselves everywhere. The process of sustainable living begins with education, from seed recolection and recycling to management and development of plant nurseries and planting beds, in almost every space available. Why not? managing seeds, learning about germination, nursing, growing edible plants and knowing how to use soil is a vital part of every culture! Since it is such a primary task in our lives, why not growing edible plants in balconies, gardens, community gardens, public streets or parks?

How are you engaging in sustainable living at work and at home?

The NALF is not just another platform to create and promote sustainability, we want to tackle the problem of how can people contribute with little effort and lots of fun. I've designed three projects, one is named ecotecture, which is very similar to what BCIT calls "Architectural Ecology" but our concept focuses on educating people to farm a little bit or a lot in their property either if it is an appartment or a house. We want to make ecotecture a new curriculum or standard in residential design. Then, we actively promote the idea of recycling seed, RECYCLE SEEDS means that people shouldn't have to put seed in the garbage when they process their own vegetables. Some seeds can be kept and some replanted, like pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, or plums, you can teach your kids how to germinate seeds. finally, there could be a seed bank for certain crops in BC, grains like wheat, sorgum, amaranth and even rice if we are really pushy. Our goal is to have plantations producing seed for each crop.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our community with regard to creating a sustainable future?

We need to build a teams that can extend to every city of the world, in every neighborhood especially in areas were resources are being subutilized. We need groups that produce a change from urban chaos to urban farming, we need to get to build at least one greenhouse and plant nursery for every block, we need to go back to urban ranching and fish hatching whereever possible. I think this vision will help create more sustainability. It would create job opportunities, education in basic farming skills, and would create links among the members of the community, hopefully the type of connections that enhance the productivity, like tips, or advise on how to get better results with one plant or another.

Link

North American Legacy Foundation

Additional Information

"Join us in the quest for inventions in urban sustainability. Send us your idea and a financial contribution through Indigogo and enter the competition for the best contributions. The winners will be awarded in cash and featured in the printed report."