Bush Order Provision Ltd presentation on GROW: Yellowknife Food and Agriculture Strategy Implementation Plan.

1. Presentation on the the proposed Implementation
Plan for recommendations in GROW: Yellowknife
Food & Agriculture Strategy.
Bush Order Provisions Ltd.

2. Who We Are
u Two Long-time Yellowknifers
u A new start-up in Yellowknife’s agriculture sector selling fresh produce
u A micro—bakery start-up focusing on wholegrain, slow fermented breads
u Commercial Property Owners in Kam Lake, zoned for Agriculture
u Working towards making soil-based, regenerative agriculture a viable business
model in Yellowknife and the NWT.

3. Why Are We Here Today?
u In 2018 the City of Yellowknife commissioned the development of GROW:
Yellowknife Food & Agriculture Strategy.
u We participated as stakeholders individually, but Bush Order Provisions did not yet
exists.
u In 2020 Bush Order Provisions Ltd. was formed and a commercial property was
purchased to be converted to outdoor growing space, a commercial kitchen
for baking and produce processing, and for an eventual commercial passive
solar greenhouse.
u Why are we here today? Because we have have made a significant financial
investment into the growth and development of Agriculture in Yellowknife and
want to see it continue to develop in the right direction.

4. Comments on the GROW Strategy
Implementation Plan

5. Action 1.1.2: Update Zoning Bylaw #4404 (or
future bylaw) to permit urban agriculture;
and Action 1.2.1: Permit small livestock in
Yellowknife
u Recommend permitting small livestock in residential and commercial
agriculture zone, given appropriate limitation.
u Look into a communal abattoir as an economic driver and job creator to
encourage commercial processing for livestock.

6. Action 1.1.4: Incentivize new food and
agriculture businesses.
u We support this action item.
u Further to that we would support “Update Tax Administration Bylaw (#4207) to
reduce taxes/fees for commercial agriculture businesses.” as outlined to the
GROW: Yellowknife Food and Agriculture Strategy.

7. Action 1.3.1: Expand areas where
commercial greenhouses and enclosed
growing systems are permitted.
u Bush Order is working on plans to construct a commercial passive solar
greenhouse, utilizing natural and environmentally friendly resources.
u We encourage City Administration and City Planners to seek input from
existing agriculture businesses and stakeholder while developing any
Greenhouse Design Guidelines to ensure reasonable and feasible guidelines
are implemented.

8. Action 1.3.2: Update Business Licensing
Bylaw (#3451) and licensing process to
include commercial food and agriculture
including commercial greenhouse and
enclosed growing system businesses.
u We support this recommendation.

9. Objective 2.1: Optimize water access
u We support this objective but would like to see it moved to from Medium
Priority to High Priority.
u Water accesses is one of the largest barriers for commercial agriculture
operations currently.

10. Action 2.1.2: Encourage rainwater collection
for home use, especially in areas outside of
the piped water service area.
u We support this action item
u GNWT Environmental Health Officers should be consulted reading watering
and water source requirements for any food grown and sold, whether on a
residential or commercial property.

11. Action 2.1.3: Consider the establishment of a
water subsidy that will support commercial
and community agricultural viability in
Yellowknife, especially in areas outside of the
piped water service area.
u As a Kam Lake property owner and agriculture business we would absolutely
support this action item.
u We believe this action item start date should be moved up and be of higher
priority.

12. Objective 2.2: Support access to soil and
compost for food and agriculture.
Action 2.2.1: Provide soil and compost for
community gardens.
u Large need for soil and compost for any agriculture business or organization
u This action item should be for broader soil and compost development.
u Soil and compost are renewable resources and should and can be developed
locally, unlike other growing methods that require materials from outside the
NWT.

13. Action 2.2.2: Promote city composting
program and how to access compost.
u Discouraged when City Composting sale program shut down.
u Established as an action item in GROW Strategy, but removed from
implementation plan.
u Compost being key to any successful garden or farm, now requires increased
internal capacity to develop compost program on already limited land.
u City should consider how the Land Administration Bylaw #4596 can encourage
a large scale composting program through land disposal and concessions for
land tenue decisions.

14. Objective 3.2: Integrate information on food
and agriculture-related events and activities
to existing communications streams.
Action 3.2.1: Encourage planting on streets,
boulevards, and rights-of-way.
u We support this action item, especially when it comes to promoting food
sources for local and honey bees.
u Further internal education needed to ensure these plants live out their
purpose instead of being mowed down before they properly flower.
Example being the clover planted on the median of Franklin Avenue was mowed before blooming.

15. Objective 4.1: Encourage food and agriculture business
development, food processing, and distribution
capacity.
Action 4.1.1: Support and participate in exploring the
viability of a Yellowknife commercial food incubator and
community food hub.
u We support this action item.
u As an agriculture business, invested with not only property for growing fresh
food, but also a commercial kitchen, we hope to be consulted, as to avoid any
conflicting outcomes and initiatives that private sector businesses may
already be working towards.

16. Action 4.1.2: Allow farm gate sales from
private properties.
u We support this action item.
u Allow for easy access to consumer base.
u City should also consult GNWT Environmental Health Officers to ensure Farm
Gate Sales are done within the NWT Food Safety Act.

17. Objective 4.3: Support farmer’s markets in public
spaces
Action 4.3.1: Assess strategies to reduce fees and
charges for farmers markets.
u We support an action such as this where the City of Yellowknife reduces rental
fees for Farmers Markets use of public spaces, whether it be the Sombe K’e
Civic Plaza or a city facility parking lot.

18. Objective 5.1: Encourage multi-stakeholder
coordination on implementing GROW, linking to other
initiatives, and monitoring progress over time
Action 5.1.1: Work with local, regional, and territorial
organizations to share information and updates on food
and agriculture activities.
u We support an action and hope private sector is also included.
u We encourage the City to continue to be advised by current and relevant
agriculture stakeholders, not those just outlined in the GROW strategy from
2018.
u We support and would participate in quarterly meetings regarding the
implementation of this plan.

19. Thank You
Kyle Thomas
867.444.0901
kyle@bushorder.ca