Follow-Up: Burnaby Food Security Pilot – Adding Hotels with Expansive Lawns

I didn't end up sending this out but after the Food Security Pilot proposal had been emailed, it occurred to me who else also had big lawns of grass drinking water especially when hot summers demand more prudent use of water.

Subject: Follow-Up: Burnaby Food Security Pilot – Adding Hotels with Expansive Lawns

Dear Mayor Hurley,

Thank you for receiving my proposal for a food security pilot converting 1,000 Burnaby lawns into micro-farms, producing 69,750 meals and a $533,238 profit. I’d like to suggest an enhancement: including hotels with expansive lawns (e.g., Delta Hotels, Executive Suites) to diversify land sources and strengthen the program.

Hotels like Delta Hotels by Marriott Burnaby Conference Centre and Executive Suites Hotel near Deer Lake Park have lawns (500–1,500 m²), hosting 10–30 gardens each. If 15 hotels join, they provide 150 gardens, reducing residential needs to 800. Hotels save on lawn care ($1,000–$5,000/year), gain free produce (~75 kg/hotel), and enhance sustainability branding, aligning with Burnaby’s tourism.

Updated Summary:

• How It Works: Volunteers (~950–2,000 from BARAGA, UBC, SFU) farm 950 gardens (150 hotel, 800 residential), producing 95,000 kg. 80% is sold ($168,300), 20% donated (69,750 meals). Hotels/homeowners allow access; insurance ($47,500) protects properties.
• Volunteer Management: Centralized hotel sites and $10,000 for incentives (workshops, shares) ensure 90% retention and limit volunteer pinching to 1% (950 kg).
• Net Profit: $533,238 (costs: $1,102,950; offsets: $1,636,188).

The appendix details financials, including $75,000 for hotel fencing to curb pinching. This enhances the original proposal, leveraging Burnaby’s 12.6% food insecurity and 234-hectare ALR. Please consider forwarding to the listed contacts for their expertise, particularly Councillor Dhaliwal (grants) and Minister Malcolmson ($1,232,875 grants).

Thank you for your leadership.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information, if desired, or leave blank]
Burnaby Resident and Community Advocate

Suggested Contacts for Forwarding:

• Councillor Sav Dhaliwal: Leads food security grants.
• Councillor Maita Santiago: Focuses on equity.
• MLA Rohini Arora: Advocates resilience.
• MLA Anne Kang: Prioritizes well-being.
• MLA Raj Chouhan: Supports safety.
• MLA Janet Routledge: Backs resilience.
• Minister Sheila Malcolmson: Oversees $200 million funds.
• Parliamentary Secretary Megan Dykeman: Manages non-profit funding.

Appendix: Financial and Program Details

• Yield: 95,000 kg (950 gardens × 50 m² × 2 kg/m²).
  • Homeowner/hotel pinching: 7,125 kg (7.5%, $17,813).
  • Volunteer pinching: 950 kg (1%, $2,375, with $75,000 fencing).
  • External theft: 2,850 kg (3%, $9,500 fencing).
  • Sales: 67,320 kg (80%, $168,300).
  • Donations: 16,830 kg (20%, $42,075, 69,750 meals).
• Costs: $1,102,950
  • Setup: $221,750 (planning: $160,000; outreach: $38,000; assessments: $23,750).
  • Operations: $707,800 (labor: $420,000; materials: $212,800; hotel fencing: $75,000).
  • Distribution: $6,900 (transport: $5,000; packaging: $1,900).
  • Miscellaneous: $166,500 (insurance: $47,500; training: $9,500; evaluation: $80,000; permits: $20,000; retention: $10,000).
• Offsets: $1,636,188
  • Sales: $168,300.
  • Savings: $59,888 ($42,075 donations, $17,813 pinching).
  • Grants: $1,232,875 (90% of $1,369,875, BC funds, Food Banks BC).
  • Partnerships: $50,000 (Food Banks BC, United Way BC).
  • Sponsorships: $125,125 (Choices Markets, Donald’s Market, West Coast Seeds, Marriott).
• Profit: $533,238 ($1,636,188 − $1,102,950).
• Labor Sources:
  • Community Gardeners: ~900–1,800 from BARAGA, Sharing Backyards, replacing $1,200,000.
  • Students: ~50–100 from UBC, SFU, Kwantlen, replacing $50,000.
• Benefits:
  • Environmental: $462,500 (9,250 kg CO₂ reduction).
  • Economic: $60,000 (jobs, spending).
  • Social: $20,000–$40,000 (healthcare savings).

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Notes

• Hotels: Identified Delta, Executive Suites, and Accent Inns as candidates, contributing 150 gardens, reducing homeowner reliance.
• Volunteer Pinching/Retention: Addressed with $75,000 fencing and $10,000 incentives, limiting pinching to 1% (950 kg) and ensuring 90% retention.
• Financials: Adjusted costs ($1,102,950), offsets ($1,636,188), and profit ($533,238), reflecting hotel integration and pinching mitigation.
• Proposal Impact: Hotels enhance land access, profit, and volunteer management, strengthening the pitch to Hurley.
• Sources: Used hotel data from Booking.com, Tripadvisor, and Kayak, plus Burnaby’s ALR and zoning context.