Dear Editor:
The Problem: Too many people in our beautiful city don't have enough to eat.
The Solution: I propose that the City of New Westminster be the first in North America to designate just five per cent of every park as garden space for growing food. There are passionate gardeners in every neighbourhood who don't have access to land, there are hungry people and there are lots of parks. Half the bounty would go to food banks, gardeners could share the rest.
Volunteers could run the entire program under guidelines drawn up by the city. The cost would be insignificant and the benefit to the city enormous.
Recent news releases predict that food costs will rise 34 per cent this winter because of the drought in California.
This idea couldn't come at a better time. Is there a city official or citizens' group willing to explore this further?
Bill Burd, New Westminster
