Locavore events by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: January 22, 2010
Categories: Events / News from Sustain Ontario
Perspectives on good food and farming
January 22, 2010
How to Grow Winter-Harvest Vegetables, January 23 (in BC)
“The Full Circle Workshop” with Carol McIntyre. Four 2010 dates: Jan 23, Mar 6, May 30 and Oct 3. Starts with seeds, ends with winter prep. $50. Details
Crop Planning for Vegetable Growers, January 23
How much, when and what do you plant for those farm gate, market or subscription customers? This full day workshop offered by FarmStart is based on the recent publication from Canadian Organic Growers (COG), Crop Planning for Diversified Vegetable Growers, by Frédéric Thériault and Daniel Brisebois. Details on FarmStart website.
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.
***NEW***Creative Economy Seminars, starts January 26
The Monieson Centre facilitates research on the knowledge economy. Our winter 2010 seminars focus on economic transformation, as businesses rely less on physical labour and routinized tasks, and compete increasingly using talent and technology. The series focuses on Ontario in the Creative Age, exploring how rural businesses and communities need not get left behind. Lectures run from 12-12:55pm. Optional discussion periods follow. A light lunch will be served at 11:45am in 304 Goodes Hall, 143 Union Street, Kingston. Queen’s School of Business Seminar Series
Creative Economy Seminar Series, Starting January 26
The Creative Economy has emerged as the number one research issue for rural Eastern Ontario. With support from the Prince Edward/Lennox & Addington CFDC, The Monieson Centre is hosting a five-part public lecture series on how rural businesses and communities can thrive in this new economy. Seminar topics include Defining the Creative Economy; Issues and Challenges for Rural Communities; and Rural Policy Implications. Details on the Monieson Centre website.
***NEW***Talking Turkey: Marketing Boards and the Freedom to Farm Progressively, January 28
Our panel will explore the role of marketing boards in setting production policy, how these policies impact organic production, and what steps the organic sector may want to explore in the future as we seek to have understanding within the broad farm community about the differences in production paradigms. We will also explore the role of management practices in preventing disease. Presented by the Organic council of Ontario and Guelph Organic Conference Present. Details OCOwebsite.
Dirt! The Movie, January 28
FoodCycles is hosting a screening of DIRT! The Movie at Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor St W Toronto, (6:30-8:30 PM). In addition, FoodCycles is fundraising for its education work. Tickets will be available online (http://bit.ly/5mvEPT) and at the door on a sliding scale of $10-20. There will be a reception at 6:30 PM and the movie will start at 7 PM and end at 8:30 PM. You can buy sprouts, vegetable earrings or memberships during the reception. Trailer. Details.
***NEW***Organic values and ethics vs. the goals of a competitive marketplace, January 29
Are there actually any ‘inherent organic values’ or is it just an early-stage business structure, ripe for the picking? When companies go public, are they vulnerable in terms of keeping their prime values vs. just satisfying the shareholders’ need for a profitable quarter? Has ‘organic’ gone off the rails as it got bigger and more corporate? At 7pm on January 29th, a riveting panel of discerning experts will take the stage and argue these issues. For years, the Forum has helped develop actions that people in every part of the organic sector can use, to build pragmatic goals into the future. The Public Forum is a free-wheeling, lively discussion, taking place on the Friday evening of the 2010 Guelph Organic Conference at the University of Guelph.
Ignite! Guelph Entrepreneurship Course, February 1 to 5
Invest five half-days and learn what it takes to start and grow a business. This intensive course will immerse you in the language, culture, tools and tactics of entrepreneurial business. Designed for researchers, graduate students, entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial. Course content will be delivered mainly by business leaders who have “been there, done that, got the stained and torn t-shirtâ€. Keynote speaker EVERY DAY and Business “War Stories†throughout. Includes attendance at the January 28 GPI Breakfast. Funding assistance available. For details, click here. Details on website of Guelph Partnership for Innovation.
Direct Marketing Workshop with the Ottawa Valley Food Co-op, February 6
A one-day workshop for farmers and producers on marketing your products directly to consumers, facilitated by an experienced direct marketing farmer from the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. This workshop will review all aspects of selling your product; from promotion, packaging and displays to pricing. Farmers’ Markets, CSA’s, road side stands, pick your own farms and food co-ops will be reviewed as will marketing to stores and restaurants. Details on Ottawa Valley Food Cooperative website.
Exploring Your New Farm Dream Courses, Starts February 10
Thinking about starting your own farm business? Want to learn more about the opportunities and realities of farming? This is the course for you! Exploring Your New Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business Right for You? is a course designed to help aspiring farmers learn what it takes to start and manage a commercial agricultural business, and decide whether this is the right path. FarmStart is offering the course in both Kitchener and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Both courses include 4 evening sessions and 1 day of farm tours. Details on FarmStart website.
The Chicken & Egg Dance Rehatched! February 13 (in BC)
Good old-fashioned family fun! This time around, the dance will support the work of Farm Folk City Folk, Vancouver Farmers Markets and BC Association of Regenerative Agriculture. To see a video of last year’s dance, visithttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeEoqvz9Kl0. Details on Vancouver Farmers Market website.
Seedy Saturday, February 21
Seedy Saturday – on a Sunday! Seedy Saturdays and Sundays are Toronto’s most exciting eco-fairs. We have a Seed exchange, and Heirloom seeds for sale. There will be gardening workshops, and kids activities. Find out about Seedy Saturdays and Sundays across Canada at Seeds of Diversity. Details on Toronto Community Garden Network website.
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.
Cultural Mapping and Cultural Planning: Making the Connection, March 2 &3
The Ontario Workshop is scheduled to take place March 2-3, 2010 at the MaRS Centre, Toronto. The workshop is presented by the CCNC in partnership with the City of Toronto, Municipal Cultural Planning Incorporated and the Martin Prosperity Institute. Cultural Mapping and Cultural Planning: Making the Connection will include presentations on Creative City Network of Canada’s cultural planning and mapping toolkits, panel discussions from those in the field and a facilitated discussion on what’s next will give you the knowledge and connections to move the cultural planning agenda forward in your community. Join cultural planning practitioners from across Ontario for an inspiring and informative workshop on cultural planning and mapping. Visit creativecity.ca to register.
â€Bring Food Home†Conference, March 4 to 6
This conference will feature a daily plenary, workshop choice in five programming streams, networking space and special events. Each day of the conference is organized to present a different aspect of food security and local sustainable food systems. Day one is devoted to technical training and tours, day two examines projects and policy and day three draws the participants together to develop a plan for future collaboration and action. Joel Salatin, an alternative farmer from Virginia that was featured in Michael Pollan’s “Omnivore’s Dilemmaâ€, has been invited to give the opening keynote. The balance of the speakers is food and farming experts from across the province. Registration on the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition website.
Value Chain Management Workshop, March 5
The best lessons tend to come from those who have done it themselves, and the Canadian Farm Business Management Council’s latest workshop will bring the innovators and trend setters to you. Kitchener, partner FoodNet Ontario. Details.
Sustainable Living Symposium 2010, March 20 & 21 Loyalist College, Belleville
Local, affordable, and do-able lifestyle solutions for right now will be demonstrated and discussed at the 5th Annual Sustainable Living Symposium. Living within our environmental and economic means has become even more important during this time of climate change and economic turmoil. Local experts will show you how to implement earth-friendly and cost-effective solutions such as urban food gardens, environmentally friendly cleaning products, renewable energy and more. The focus is on local solutions, local services, and local businesses. You’ll work with your neighbours and local experts to find out how to make a difference today, for a sustainable tomorrow. Details on Quinte Sustainability website.
***NEW***Taking Root: 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, May 17 to 19
Farm to Cafeteria programs are taking root in schools, hospitals, colleges, daycares, and other institutions. Come to Detroit for the 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference to learn how you can start and scale up a program in your community. Join us for trips to local farms, school lunchrooms and processing facilities; workshops on issues such as federal and state policy, experiential education, sustainability and economic development and sessions geared towards youth, producers and food service providers. Conference website.
AND in case you have time
Supermarket for Seniors
We all know by now that millions of time and cash rich consumers (read: baby boomers) equal a lot of opportunities. So why not just DO something for these consumers, instead of studying worn-out trend reports on boomer markets? Get inspired by Austrian supermarket chain Adeg, which launched Adeg Aktiv Markt 50+ in Salzburg 1.5 years ago, and added new stores in Salzburg and Vienna last year. To please and accommodate senior citizens, Adeg incorporated everything from reduced-glare lighting and slip-proof flooring to wider aisles and easier-to-navigate parking spaces. And the list goes on….. Springwisestory.