Liberal's new green thumb

Foodshare out of Toronto has become an interest of mine because it is taking old ideas, going back to our agricultural roots and reworking them.  It appeals to my liberal point of view, but how does it get recognition within our Canadian liberal system?  Does it meet the needs of women who are living in poverty with their families? Struggling to make ends meet?  In my understanding of Mullaly (2007), Canadian social workers generally work within the liberal system, a system that is about responding to social issues and creating a “ social minimum” of what is considered acceptable within our society, with the goal being to help individuals create healthy systems for themselves and become self-sufficient in the long run.  In this paradigm, social workers are not likely to be activists working for social change and I understand this because it is easer to work from within the system than to rip it down and rebuild a new one. The system is not considered broken but rather it is acknowledged that it has flaws and that from time to time it needs to be repaired or adjusted.  Accordingly, the overriding dynamic of the system is one of reaction rather then proaction.  Thus the welfare state is seen as a corrective tool to offset the negative outcomes of capitalism. 

In my opinion the liberal value system recognizes certain inherent values of equality such as gender equality within a male dominated system (patriarchy). It does not go so far as to recognize the connection women have with the environment and the survival of their families, nor is there value with women who are living in poverty, particularly those who are visible minorities, that are struggling to pay their bills, put a roof and food on the table (Berman) and (Mullaly (2007)). 

With the globalization of agribusiness and the need to feed more people globally, Summer (Fall 2003/ Winter 2004) argues that the role of women in agriculture has been marginalized as agriculture has grown into an industry that has increased the price of food and eliminated the small mixed farms of yesterday.  Now it is about the mass production of certain cash crops that can be sold globally and local markets are being forgotten.  Agribusiness has changed and taken control of local food systems away from women and their communities.  Gone in most communities are the local garden markets where eggs, vegetables and fruit are sold.  More and more women are no longer able to preserve fruits and vegetables to offset their family budget.  

Having read the Foodshare Toronto program website, I was struck by the fact that it tackles an issue of hunger, poverty and food redistribution among children and women within the liberal system in Canada. It seems fitting to me that a competitive operating business model can exist at a local/regional level and challenge larger agribusiness to fill a gap and thereby repair a flaw within the liberal system of globalization and capitalism.  I think it is arguable that Foodshare appeals to women because it is very much rooted in the connectedness of women to the environment and it is a reaction to agribusiness and its marginalization of women, supported by Summer (Fall 2003/ Winter 2004). Foodshare seems to be on the right track because it has made urban agriculture an inexpensive, viable means of food production by using unused city land/building(s), alternative growing methods, training people how to grow their own food and prepare it in a small community based market.  It has also helped create urban gardens and local garden markets, thereby helping women and families become self sufficient in ways that support their budget.

The end result is certainly that liberal values are in play.  Foodshare helps people become self sufficient.  Moreover, it helps meet the needs of women and their families while operating comfortably within the capitalist system. I am however concerned that even though it fits in to the liberal paradigm that it’s moving towards more left leaning values.

references

Berman, Tzeporah. Towards an Integrative Ecofeminist Praxis. Canadian Woman Studies. Vol. 13, no. 3
Mullaly, B (2007). The New Structural Social Work. Canada: Oxford University Press

Summer, Jennifer (Fall 2003/Winter 2004 ).  Visions of sustainability: women organic farmers and rural development.  Canadian Woman Studies 23.1.

Lisa