Locavore Events from Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: September 11, 2009
Categories: Events / News from Sustain Ontario
Caledon’s Eat Local Month! September 12 – Whole Village Farm Tour
September is Eat Local Month in Caledon, a month-long initiative dedicated to celebrating, supporting and strengthening Caledon’s local food and farming system. Events are taking place across Caledon that promotes eating, cooking and savouring the local harvest. Eat Local Month events include cooking classes; wine tastings; restaurant dinner events; farm tours, special demonstrations at the Inglewood and Caledon Farmers’ Markets; a special film screening; a canning bee, and more! Challenge yourself this month and sign up for the seven-day Eat Local Challenge and year round the Take the Bite Out of Climate Change Food Pledge. Caledon Countryside Alliance website.
Guelph Wellington Local Food Tent at Guelph Jazz Festival, September 12
The Guelph Jazz Festival and Guelph Wellington Local Food have paired up again this year to bring patrons the best of the region’s food experiences. The Guelph Wellington Local Food Tent on Saturday, September 12 from 11 am to 11pm on Upper Wyndham Street in downtown Guelph will feature farm fresh local food that has been crafted by local businesses that support regional farmers. Guelph Jazz Festival website.
8th Annual Everdale Carrot FEST, September 12
Join us for the 8th Annual Everdale Carrot FEST! on Saturday September 12th. A celebration of local food and healthy living! It’s a day of farm crafts, harvest games, educational activities and more. We’ll be baking in the earth oven, making ice cream, playing with sheep’s wool, and visiting with the farm animals. For adults we are offering a seed saving workshop and tours of the farm and Home Alive!TM, the straw bale demonstration home. Everdale Organic Farm and Learning Centrewebsite.
Meet the Neighbours: FoodCycles Open House, September 12
Learn about all the wonderful chances to gain new skills, grow vegetables, create compost and make a difference in the community. You will get a site tour, fresh food and snacks, see the vegetable garden, the greenhouse and worm composting. It’ll all happen Saturday, Sep 12, 2009 from 10:00 am to 1 pm. The FoodCycles greenhouse and one acre market garden is located at Downsview Park. Poster.
Eastern Ontario’s Agri-Tours, September 12-13
Agri-Tour invites you and your family to visit some of the unique farms of Eastern Ontario (The Lower Ottawa Valley). Rain or shine Agri-Tour will take place on September 12-13 and 19-20 2009. Farmers welcome you to open house visits on two successive weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Renew your acquaintance with the rural roads of our region while enjoying speciality foods and products. Road signs will help you find your way to each farm. A modest entrance fee is charged at each farm. Agri-Tour website. A project of L’Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens.
Take a Ride – 2009 Tour de Greenbelt, September 12 – St. Catharines/Niagara, September 13 – Burlington/Halton
Looking for a way to spend a late summer Saturday? Perhaps a leisurely bike ride through some of the most beautiful countryside in Ontario is the answer. Or maybe a freshly prepared meal using all locally grown food or how about spending a day with family and friends. Maybe paying a visit to a local farm or farmers’ market, or exploring some scenic attractions you may have never noticed before. Experience all of this and more at the 2009 Tour de Greenbelt! Details in Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation August Newsletter
Chatham-Kent ag tour to feature value-added enterprises, September 13
The Kent Federation of Agriculture’s 12th annual “Round the County Ag Tour†will take place on Sunday, September 13th. This year the free self-guided driving tour will highlight 4 local agriculture operations in the Chatham to Blenheim area. This is a great opportunity for the public to tour local agriculture operations that may normally not be open to the public:
- Buis Beef Ranch, 7186 Ninth Line, Raleigh
- Steve & Alice Uher Farm / Uher Feeds, 20970 Harwich Rd., Blenheim
- Gladstone’s Sweet Potatoes, 428 Chatham St. S., Blenheim
- Smith & Wilson Wines, 8368 Water St., Blenheim
Maps describing the tour are available as placemats at many local restaurants, at a variety of local ag businesses, at local Libraries, Municipal service centers or you can call the Kent Federation of Agriculture office at 519-674-1595.
*NEW* Fast Food Nation, September 16
Fast Food Nation traces the birth of a burger through a chain of riveting, interlocked human stories. This film exposes some of the ethical dilemmas present in an everyday meal. Wednesday, September 16, 8-10pm, Hagey Hall Courtyard, University of Waterloo. Presented by the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group. Contact info@wpirg.org or 519-888-4882.
How to Spark Life in Your Garden Soil, September 16
Learn how to keep your soil healthy so it can grow lots of fresh food! In this FREE workshop, you’ll see a soil test demonstration to find out how good or bad your soil is. There will be a potluck, an open discussion of gardening techniques and a chance to ask John questions. It’ll take place Wed, Sep 16, 2009 5-6:30 pm at FoodCycles city farm at Downsview Park. Website.
The Future of Food: Sustainable Supply Chain Strategies, September 18
The production and distribution of food are becoming increasingly important to policy makers. How do we balance imports and exports to create a truly sustainable food supply chain? How do we develop a sustainable Canadian model for the growth of food-based industries? Friday, September 18, 7:30-11:30am, Innes Town Hall, 2 Sussex A, Toronto. Organized by theCanadian Urban Institute. Information and registration on the CUI website.
*NEW* Make Your Community Garden Work Better for You, September 19
Get the necessary tools to community gardeners to help make their gardens work better.  The workshop features John Jackson, an environmental activist who is known for his work helping people influence government for positive change. Three local garden stories; Paula Johnstone, Christopher Champlain Cultivating Community Garden, Clarence Louter, The Giving Garden, Andrea Bazler, The City of Kitchener Allotment Garden Plots, will tell how ordinary people were able to access city land, get city funds, and rally to save a garden. Saturday, September 19th, 9:30am-2:30pm, Cambridge Centre for the Arts, 60 Dickson St, Cambridge. Register with Candace at candace@owr.ca or 519-883-2353 ext. 5984.
*NEW* Seed Saving Workshop, September 19
Learn how to save your own seeds – from flowers, to tomatoes, to other vegetables – with Bob Wildfong, President of Seeds of Diversity Canada (www.seeds.ca). Cost: Suggested $5/person – proceeds go to Seeds of Diversity. Saturday, September 19th, 1-3pm, Little City Farm, 508 Duke St W, Kitchener. Contact Karin at info@littlecityfarm.ca or 519-575-9174.
Rediscovering Canadian Tomatoes, September 19
Did you know that there are no longer any garden tomato breeding programs in Canada? All new varieties on the market are bred for American gardens and growing conditions. Most seed companies are importing seeds from other countries and tomatoes that were bred in Canada in decades past are being lost. But – you can save them!! Come learn to grow heritage tomatoes and save their seed. You’ll get a chance to taste true Canadian tomatoes and take some of their seeds home with you for next year. Saturday, September 19, 10am – 12pm. Reregister by email cogpww@sympatico.ca. Location: Diversity Gardens, 1528 Notre Dame Drive, St. Agatha.
Foodlink’s 6th Annual Taste Local! Taste Fresh! in St. Jacobs, September 20
Foodlink Waterloo Region’s local food showcase and fundraiser has moved to a brand new location. The 6th Annual Taste Local! Taste Fresh! event will take place Sunday, September 20, 2009, 2-5 pm in Riverside Meadow’s Park in St. Jacobs. Once again guests will be able to spend a relaxing afternoon tasting a tantalizing array of appetizers prepared by teams of the area’s finest chefs and farmers. This year’s event will feature 20 chef/farmer pairings offering participants an opportunity to sample exquisite new recipes featuring local foods and farm-fresh products. Hosted by St. Jacobs Country and the Township of Woolwich. Website.
The Food We Need Now – A Celebration of Great Ontario Farming, September 26
In support of the Ontario Farmland Trust, join author Margaret Webb in conversation with a number of esteemed guests. Margaret will be reading from her book Apples to Oysters. A Food Lover’s Tour of Canadian Farms and signing copies. Saturday September 26, 2009, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, The Bookshelf E bar, 44 Quebec St., Guelph. (Suggested donation: $10.00) Please RSVP the Ontario Farmland Trust at info@ontariofarmlandtrust.ca. Website.
Wellington Rural Romp, September 26
A one day self guided tour of over 20 farms and markets in Guelph and Wellington. Taste testing, guided farm tours, children’s activities and more. Saturday September 26th, 11am-4pm. Information on the Guelph Wellington Local Food Initiative website.
*NEW* The 100-Mile Challenge: Waterloo Edition, September 29
Come hear from people who are nearing completion of their 100-day commitment to eat only foods from within 100 miles of their home! Challenge organizers from the Healing Path Naturopathic Clinic will describe how and why they started the challenge, and several participants will share their experiences. Also, Gusto Catering chef Dominic Ellis will give tips on the many options available to you in cooking with local foods. Tuesday, September 29, 7-9pm, Kitchener Public Library Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener. Healthy Food system Series, Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable Details.
From the Farm Gate to the Dinner Plate, September 29
Traditional thinking about agriculture and food planning no longer satisfies the planners appetite. Come join in the discussion on emerging issues related to food security and food culture, resource management, climate change and agricultural land use planning. The Planning for Agriculture and Food Network is offering a single day seminar prior to the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)/ Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) conference. The seminar will include participants from across Canada and feature a tour of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. CIP/OPPI conference. Seminarinformation. To become a member of the Planning for Agriculture and Food Network contact Jim Hiley atJim.Hiley@agr.gc.ca.
*NEW* 100-Mile Cooking Class – September Harvest, October 1
Chef and Proprietor Dominic Ellis of Gusto Catering has a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for local foods cuisine. For this class, he will use the foods available in September to create several fantastic dishes. Cooking show quality! $40 per person! Food sampling included! Minimum 8 and maximum 20 participants. So let us know as soon as you can! Thursday, October 1st, 7-9 pm, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 825 King Street West, Kitchener (beside Grand River Hospital). Emailinfo@healingpathcentre.com to reserve.
Savour Simcoe 2009 – Autumn Harvest Celebration, October 4
Simcoe County Farm Fresh along with many community partners will be hosting the 2nd Annual “Savour Simcoe Autumn Harvest Celebration” this fall. A culinary event showcasing the wonderful food grown and produced in Simcoe County prepared by the finest chefs in the County. Local Beer, wine and cider will also be featured. Sunday, October 4th, 2009, 12 – 6 PM at Georgian College Dining Room (Barrie Campus). Cost: $35.00 per person (pre-schoolers free) Simcoe County Farm Fresh Website.
*NEW* Nova Scotia Food Summit 2009, October 18 to 20
We’ve prepared the table and we invite you to spend three great days in the Annapolis valley – all about food! There will be 30 inspiring speakers – great discussions – October flavours with 10 chefs presenting wonderful food – tours of Gaspereau vineyards, Foxhill cheese house, Longspell farm, valley fields and farms – dine at local restaurants – musical entertainment – lots of conversations and connections – presentation of spirit Nova Scotia local food awards. From the summit we’ll look to our shared future. Website.
*NEW* What’s on the Label? What’s on your Plate? October 27
Join the discussion as we learn about misleading labels and signs on our food products. Local food activist John McVicar reveals label shortcomings and advises vigilance when making your purchases at the grocery store. Heather Harding, project coordinator with Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, explains why you may not be pouring much Ontario pinot noir into your glass even though the wine says “product of Canada.” Tuesday, October 27, 7-9pm, Kitchener Public Library Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener