Forbidden fruit: Don't eat the food growing in downtown Ottawa planters, says NCC

[billwanhua]

Forbidden fruit: Don’t eat the food growing in downtown Ottawa planters, says NCC

OTTAWA - On the western side of Major's Hill Park, tall stalks of corn wave in the breeze from planters overlooking the place where the Rideau Canal empties into the

www.thestar.com

The federal Crown corporation responsible for the park wants people to know it's possible to grow a variety of food crops in urban Ottawa as part of its goal to tackle food insecurity.

The National Capital Commission says the fruits and vegetables it's cultivating in the downtown are not meant to be eaten.

"I think that showing food growing in urban spaces is inspiring. It's a nice thing to see," said Erin Beagle, the executive director of Roots Community Food Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont., an organization that advocates for dignified food access.


But to say the food is not for people to eat "absolutely destroys their message."

"To tell people it's for food insecurity and then to even tell people who are food insecure, 'Actually, no, but you can't touch that' is like waving something in front of them that they need."

 

[Teddy]