Looking Back: The Friends of the Farm Lecture Series

The Friends of the Farm lecture series was initiated in 2002 with the intention of informing the Friends and the community in order to promote wise decision making concerning the future use of the Experimental Farm lands.

2002: Brian Mackay-Lyons, architect and urban planner, "Public Spaces and Spirit of Place".
2003:Julie Harris, historian and heritage consultant,"From Experimental Farm to Town Farm".
2004:Bernard Jackson,Memorial University Botanical Garden, "Development of a Botanical Garden".
2005:Andreas Haun, Kingsbrae Gardens, St. Andrews, New Brunswick.
Karen Achenbach, Annapolis Historical Gardens, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Presented jointly with the PEI Garden Club.

Daniel Glenn, landscape architect and park planner,"Ravenwood Experimental Farm Concept Plan".
2006:Doug Shouldice, President, Friends of the Central Experimental Farm, " Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm, Preserved and Flourishing".
2007:Diana Beresford- Kroeger, botanist and medical biochemist," Island Trees , Island Treasures".
2008: Warwick Harris, Island Studies, " The Plants and People of the Chatham Islands".
Laura Lee Howard and Bert Christie, Island studies and Agriculture, The Future of the Experimental Farm, Conflicting Views".

2009:Larry Beasley, urban planner, "Buildings, Spaces and People: Making a Great City by Design".

Guardian letter by Errol Nicholson

Editor:
We should keep the experimental farm land public. All cities around the world have set aside large tracts of land as public spaces — our capital Ottawa is no exception.
A study and proposal has already been published. It is very comprehensive and well thought out by land use experts. The bottom line is we need some open space for future generations to live in harmony with nature as our city continues to grow.
My parents’ home and the school I attended were close to this land. Our teachers took us on walking (no school buses then) nature trips to the Lily Pond and if we were lucky we got a glimpse of milking time. This was a wonderful experience for city children. Also our families used this property for weekend picnics.
It would seem that in this busy world we need space ‘to just enjoy being’ and not always ‘doing’. I realize times have changed and we can’t always look back, but we must be prudent in the planning for this land jewel for the future. In addition to the completed study and the several speakers brought in to discuss its future use, I have some suggestions to consider.
First the P.E.I. Department of Education and UPEI should see this land as a natural area for teaching our youth environmental skills. Many of our schools are very close.
With increased tour boat traffic to our city the many visitors may want a place within walking distance to enjoy nature and a break from organized tours.
Music and the performing arts are an important part of our cultural heritage so some of this land could be used for outdoor concerts and necessary parking.
The experimental farm was an important part in the evolution of the agriculture industry so some thought and planning should go into preserving its history.

06/11/09

2009 Board of Directors

Honorary Chair: Lloyd MacLeod
Chair: Janice Simmonds
Vice Chair: Lane MacLaren
Secretary Treasurer: Nora Jenkins
Membership: Gertie Purdy
Bert Christie
Catherine Hennessey
Paul Hickey
Douglas Macdonald
Kenneth Macdonald
Connie MacKay-Carr
Elizabeth Martin


The Friends would like to thank our outgoing Chair Dr. Lloyd MacLeod for his years of dedicated service to our cause. Lloyd will continue working with us as Honorary Chair. We would also like to thank retiring members Laura lee Howard and Errol Nicholson for the many contributions each of them has made on the Board. Fortunately for the Friends, Laura Lee has agreed to continue to look after our publicity and Errol has agreed to work with Gertie on membership.

Annual Meeting 2009

The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Farm will take place on Monday, November 9 ,2009, 7:00 p.m., at the Carriage House , Beaconsfield. The topic of the evening will be the proposal that the Friends and the City of Charlottetown presented to the federal government to acquire the Experimental Farm property.

Green spaces 'improve health'

There is more evidence that living near a 'green space' has health benefits.

Research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health says the impact is particularly noticeable in reducing rates of mental ill health.

The annual rates of 15 out of 24 major physical diseases were also significantly lower among those living closer to green spaces.

One environmental expert said the study confirmed that green spaces create 'oases' of improved health around them.

The researchers from the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam looked at the health records of 350,000 people registered with 195 family doctors across the Netherlands.

Only people who had been registered with their GP for longer than 12 months were included because the study assumed this was the minimum amount of time people would have to live in an environment before any effect of it would be noticeable.

Health impact

The percentages of green space within a one and three kilometre (0.62 and 1.86 miles) radius of their home were calculated using their postcode.

On average, green space accounted for 42% of the residential area within one kilometre (0.62 miles) radius and almost 61% within a three kilometre (1.86 miles) radius of people's homes.

DISEASES THAT BENEFIT MOST FROM GREEN SPACES

Coronary heart disease

Neck, shoulder, back, wrist and hand complaints

Depression and anxiety

Diabetes

Respiratory infections and asthma

Migraine and vertigo

Stomach bugs and urinary tract infections

Unexplained physical symptoms

And the annual rates for 24 diseases in 7 different categories were calculated.

The health benefits for most of the diseases were only seen when the greenery was within a one kilometre ( 0.62 miles ) radius of the home.

The exceptions to this were anxiety disorders, infectious diseases of the digestive system and medically unexplained physical symptoms which were seen to benefit even when the green spaces were within three kilometres of the home.

The biggest impact was on anxiety disorders and depression.

Anxiety disorders

The annual prevalence of anxiety disorders for those living in a residential area containing 10% of green space within a one kilometre (0.62 miles) radius of their home was 26 per 1000 whereas for those living in an area containing 90% of green space it was 18 per 1000.

For depression the rates were 32 per 1000 for the people in the more built up areas and 24 per 1000 for those in the greener areas.

“ At least part of this 'oasis' effect probably reflects changes in air quality ”
Professor Barbara Maher, Lancaster Environment Centre

The researchers also showed that this relation was strongest for children younger than 12.

They were 21% less likely to suffer from depression in the greener areas.

Two unexpected findings were that the greener spaces did not show benefits for high blood pressure and that the relation appeared stronger for people aged 46 to 65 than for the elderly.

The researchers think the green spaces help recovery from stress and offer greater opportunities for social contacts.

They say the free physical exercise and better air quality could also contribute.

Dr Jolanda Maas of the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, said: "It clearly shows that green spaces are not just a luxury but they relate directly to diseases and the way people feel in their living environments."

"Most of the diseases which are related to green spaces are diseases which are highly prevalent and costly to treat so policy makers need to realise that this is something they may be able to diminish with green spaces."

Professor Barbara Maher of the Lancaster Environment Centre said the study confirmed that green spaces create oases of improved health around them especially for children.

She said: "At least part of this 'oasis' effect probably reflects changes in air quality.

"Anything that reduces our exposure to the modern-day 'cocktail' of atmospheric pollutants has got to be a good thing."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8307024.stm

Published: 2009/10/15 14:19:33 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Gerry Ritz says the Farm is not for sale- CBC

The federal agriculture minister is throwing cold water on the City of Charlottetown's plans to redevelop a plot of land owned by Agriculture Canada and currently used for a federal experimental farm.

Gerry Ritz said Friday the 35-hectare green space in the middle of Charlottetown is not for sale.

The land was declared surplus in 2002, but that designation was withdrawn. That has not, however, stopped rival groups from submitting competing proposals for how to develop it.

Last month, the Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee said the land could be in the city's hands as early as March of next year. The city backed a development plan by Friends of the Farm that would leave 32 hectares as park and include a new fire hall.

But Ritz said the research that's done at the farm is still important, and there are no plans in the works to let the land go.

Lane MacLaren speaks at press conference

Good morning everyone, I would like to thank you for attending and I would also like to take this opportunity on behalf of Friends of the Farm to thank Mayor Lee and Council for their support on this very important project. The Friends of the Farm look forward to working with the city as a partner in our shared goal of developing the Experimental Farm as the next jewel in the city’s park system.
Our proposal today is consistent with the Friends of the Farm 2004 Ravenwood plan. The fundamental principle of this plan is respect for spirit of place. Every element of the plan relates in some way to the cultural, agricultural, and horticultural heritage of the Farm and to the characteristics, needs, and wishes of the community which surrounds it. This plan allows for the sale of two parcels totaling approximately 7 acres. The revenue generated from this sale would ensure the vast majority of the farm be retained as public space in perpetuity. The remaining approximately 81 acres will be protected from future development – translating into 92% of the existing 88 acres preserved for public space.
The Friends of the Farm consider this day to be symbolic. With 2009 marking the 100th anniversary of the Experimental Farm, we feel a symbolic seed has been planted for the future of the farm. Like the many seeds that were planted over the past 100 years providing knowledge to our agriculture community as well as natural beauty for the general public to enjoy. Our hope today is the seed we have planted with this proposal will "grow" and provide beauty and enjoyment for future generations.
In closing, on behalf of Friends of the Farm, I would like to express gratitude to the general public for their overwhelming support and encouragement as we move forward in this process.
Thank-you