Locavore News by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: October 9, 2009
Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario
Perspectives on good food and farming
For love of the farm, October 10 to 12
“For the Love of the Farm,†a juried fine art exhibit and sale organized by the Friends of the Farm, celebrates agriculture and horticulture through art. It is the Friends’ most ambitious art show and sale to date, featuring the work of nine well-established Ottawa artists over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend. “For the Love of the Farm†will open to the public from Oct. 10 to 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.Nepean This Week story.
***NEW***Say Bye to Buy Local, Ottawa, October 13
Find Out What Secret Trade Deals Mean for Your Community With CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan and Council of Canadians Chair Maude Barlow. CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan and Council of Canadians Chair Maude Barlow are embarking on an eight-city speaking tour to discuss the impact of secret inter-provincial and international trade agreements that may impact your communities. Find out what you need to know and what how you can make sure secret, undemocratic trade agreements don’t force you to ‘say bye to buy local’. Tour details. Includes events in Kitchener, Toronto, Sudbury, Windsor, Kingston, London and Hamilton. Poster.
***NEW***2009 Calgary Food Summit, October 16
The 2009 Calgary Food Summit is a free inclusive opportunity for all those actively involved and working towards improving our local & regional food system. The objective of the summit, the first ever event of this type for Calgary, is to discuss progressive policy that will create and build an enhanced food security, food justice, food efficiency, urban ag, community garden & sustainable ag landscape in Calgary. The Calgary Food Summit is sponsored by the Calgary Food Policy Council. Admission is free. Registration.
***NEW***Ottawa’s Hugest Hundred-Mile Potluck, October 17
Riverglen Biodynamic Farm and its Intentional Eaters’ Community will be hosting Ottawa’s Hugest Hundred Mile Potluck on Saturday, October 17. The event will kick off at three o’clock with children’s harvest activities and the potential opening of certain fields to the Intentional Eaters’ Community Shared Agriculture for gleaning, which is an old tradition in which people can gather what remains of some crops after harvest. More information from Riverglen farmer David Burnford at david.burnford@gmail.com.
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.
Broken System in conversation with Matt Galloway, October 20
How do we rethink our food distribution and quota systems along with various other antiquated food policies in order to rebuild our food systems so that we can help support a model that is based around small scale local producers, while we ensure that we can provide nutritious and affordable food for all of our diverse communities? Panellists: a) John Rowe, Farmer, b) Debbie Field, Food Activist, FoodShare Toronto, c) Ruth Klahsen, Artisan Cheese Maker, d) Nick Saul, Food Activist, The Stop Community Food Centre. October 20, Hart House, University of Toronto, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Events on FoodShare website.
Cities Alive Emerging Trends Series: Sustainable Urban Agriculture panel, October 20
FoodShare is excited to participate at CitiesAlive, the World Green Roof Infrastructure Congress taking place in Toronto Canada October 19 – 21 2009. CitiesAlive features an international ‘who’s who’ of participants from the green roof, green wall and green infrastructure sectors. Over sixty acclaimed speakers from diverse markets around the world will present on innovative projects and design, leading edge research and technical performance developments, policies that support green infrastructure development and emerging trends in green infrastructure. October 20th, 3:15 – 5:00 p.m. Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto. Events on FoodShare website.
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.
***NEW***Culinology Workshop, November 4-6
Transform a top-rated recipe into a commercial recipe by navigating the new product development process from idea to production. Guelph Food Technology Centre course.
2009 Canadian Culinary Book Awards, November 6
The Launch of the Canadian Culinary Hall Of Fame Book Award and the presentation of the Edna Award and the Founder’s Award will take place November 6, 2009 12:00 p.m. at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Salon S103, Exhibition Hall A in the Galleria of the Direct Energy Centre Building, Toronto. Hosted by Cuisine Canada and the University of Guelph. Following the Awards Presentation there will be a Gala Reception for our award-winning authors in Café Soleil just down the Galleria Hall. Since the awards are by invitation please R.S.V.P by October 26 to Jennifer Brayshaw by email, cuisinec@uoguelph.ca. List of entries. Shortlist.
Waterloo Region Food Summit, November 16 & 17
On November 16-18, 2009, world leaders will be meeting in Rome for the United Nations Food Summit to address the hunger crisis which affects one-sixth of humanity. At the same time, residents and leaders in Waterloo Region will come together to discuss the challenges to accessing food in our community, share ideas, and decide what to do to address the situation. Keynotes: a) Kathryn Scharf, Program Director, The STOP Community Food Centre, Toronto, b) Elbert van Donkersgoed, Editor, The Locavore News: Perspectives on Good Food and Farming. Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable Announcement.
Urban Agriculture Symposium, November 20
Backyard Bounty and the University of Guelph will be hosting the first symposium on urban agriculture in Guelph. Symposium will bring together the movers and shakers in the Urban Agriculture scene. The Symposium aims to not only inspire action but address key issues and provide connections that enable the Urban Agriculture movement to advance. Symposium details.
Grown Close to Home – Really! January 26, 2010
Tired of food that looks and tastes like it has traveled miles to your plate? Not really sure where the “Grown Close to Home” food in the grocery stores comes from? Concerned about pesticides and chemicals on your food? Want to eat more local, sustainable food? Join us for a panel discussion about where, why, and how to eat local and sustainable foods in Waterloo Region. Get connected to your food and some of the farmers who grow it. January 26, 2010, 7-9pm, Kitchener Public Library Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener.
The Threat of Gravel Pits to Agriculture and Food, February 23, 2010
Over 7,000 acres of the best potato land in Dufferin County has been bought by a company that seeks to mine the land for the mineral aggregates below the surface. Across the province, many more acres of prime agricultural farmland lie on top of valuable aggregates, and existing provincial and municipal policies do little to prevent their conversion to gravel pits. Come hear from a panel of local farmers and activists talk about the threat to our food production and what can be done about it. February 23, 2010, 7-9pm, Kitchener Public Library Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener.