Locavore News – Events by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: January 29, 2010
Categories: News from Sustain Ontario
Perspectives on good food and farming
January 29, 2010
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.
***NEW***Annual Farming for the Future Conference, Pennsylvania, February 4 to 6
The annual Farming for the Future conference is widely regarded as the best of its kind in the East, this diverse event brings together an audience of over 2,000 farmers, processors, consumers, students, environmentalists, and business and community leaders annually. The sheer numbers and diversity of business and organizations that are associated with the conference are notable, through sponsoring, exhibiting and presenting. Typical conference workshops focus on such practical topics as poultry production, cheese making, riparian buffers, organic certification and raw milk marketing. The very popular day-long “Pre-Conference” tracks offer in-depth exploration of special topic areas. Details on Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture website.
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.
***NEW***Wineries team up for Haiti benefit, February 9
Niagara wineries are offering an outpouring of support for Haiti by participating in a big wine and food event for the earthquake-ravaged country. Eat, Drink and Give will bring together 11 Niagara wineries with several Toronto restaurants and other Ontario and international wine producers. The Feb. 9 event at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto will raise money for Doctors Without Borders, which has been a mainstay in the Caribbean country since 1991 and a medical-relief leader since the earthquake hit Jan. 12. St. Catharines Standard story.
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, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeEoqvz9Kl0. Details on Vancouver Farmers Market website.
***NEW***One of wine’s biggest weekends coming up, February 19
If the annual Cuvee gala in Niagara is the Oscars of the Ontario wine world, preparing food for the glitzy event is like the Olympics for chefs. It takes endurance, drive and a quest to be the best to serve hundreds of bite-sized delights to a ravenous well-heeled crowd of up to 900. The 22nd annual Cuvee gala on Feb. 19 at the Niagara Fallsview Casino will be bigger than ever with culinary delights of 14 chefs and 160 wines poured by 54 wineries. Niagara Falls Review story.
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.
***NEW***Recipe for Change, February 25
Join FoodShare and our community of supporters for a delicious celebration of food with a purpose. A full meal composed of over a dozen tasting plates from many of Toronto’s most progressive culinary lights will delight and satisfy, accompanied by fine local beer and wine. Experience a creative feast designed to inspire, presented by some of Toronto’s very best chefs. Details.
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.
***NEW***Meeting the Demand: Growing Markets for Sustainable Meat and Dairy, March 3
“Meeting the Demand†will bring together producers, investors and institutional consumers (hospitals, schools, religious communities and congregations, hotels and restaurants) with scientists and experts in food safety, worker health and safety, and agricultural sustainability for a day-long conversation about the costs, benefits, challenges and opportunities for growing local and regional markets for sustainable, ethical meat and dairy products. Sponsored by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. The Pew Center, Washington, DC. Details.
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.
***NEW***Financing Farm to Fork Conference, March 11 to 13
The FamilyFarmed.org Financing Farm to Fork Conference supports the local food movement by encouraging investment in farm and food production, processing, and distribution businesses. The event is being produced by FamilyFarmed.org and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business is a primary sponsor. A primary objective of the Financing Farm to Fork Conference is to educate regional farmers and food processors about various financing strategies and then link them with individuals who represent a variety of financing options that may help them grow their businesses. Business education and training will be essential to the success of the conference and breakout sessions will help inform food producers and financiers about the opportunities and needs in this sector. The conference will conclude with a Financing Fair and Reception where farmers and food producers can meet one-on-one with different types of investors and economic development specialists. University of Illinois at Chicago details.
***NEW***Online Certificate in Food Security: Assessment and Action, start date March 17
A certificate program in food security is offered online (in English) by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) in Barcelona, Spain. The Target Audience of this course include anyone interested in food security and/or working on community-level food security projects. The Overall Objective is to provide students with the tools and knowledge to support food security initiatives in their community. This specialisation is offered as part of the Masters programme but students will also receive a Joint Certificate from the UOC and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The specialisation is an extension of the FAO’s Distance Learning course in Food Security Information for Action. Specialization 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.
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.
***NEW***Workshop on Economics of Local Food Markets, New Jersey, June 15 & 16
Local Food Markets is a high-visibility issue area distinguished by a number of economic and marketing questions that demand research-based answers. The goal of the workshop is to highlight current research and bring together researchers, extension educators, private sector participants, and policy makers to exchange ideas and develop a common set of priority research and education needs for local food systems. The synthesis of ideas that result from this workshop will be disseminated in a variety of relevant outlets to encourage collaboration on local foods research and extension. The format will include two thematic sessions emphasizing rural and urban local food issues. Each session will begin with a presentation by an invited speaker selected for expertise in practical or theoretical aspects of local food markets. About the workshop.
***NEW***Growing Power’s National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference, September 10 to 12
Come to Milwaukee and help grow the good food revolution. Hosted by Growing Power—a national organization headed by the sustainable urban farmer and MacArthur Fellow Will Allen—this international conference will teach the participant how to plan, develop and grow small farms in urban and rural areas. Learn how you can grow food year-round, no matter what the climate, and how you can build markets for small farms. See how you can play a part in creating a new food system that fosters better health and more closely-knit communities. Conference website.
AND in case you have time
The Goldman Sachs Coffee Conspiracy
Workers at Goldman Sachs’ buildings across New York and New Jersey are grumbling about a conspiracy. A conspiracy by the company to squeeze profit even from its own staff. According to a mole, Goldman apparently stocks the cheapest, worst generic coffee imaginable in its staff kitchens – despite protests from the caffeine-deficient. “It’s beyond horrible,” explained our source. “You work a lot of hours so you have to go down to the cafeteria and spend money on Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts.” There is talk within the ranks that this is a ploy to boost cafeteria takings, as any imprecations to improve the standard of free coffee fall on deaf ears. Gawker story.