Locavore News – Events by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: March 19, 2010
Categories: News from Sustain Ontario
- Calling all students with an interest in food issues! March 19, Toronto
- Sustainable Living Symposium 2010, March 20 & 21 Loyalist College, Belleville
- NFU in Ontario Convention Slated for March 20, Stratford
- Perth County Regional Food Summit. March 22
- Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee Annual General Meeting 2010, March 24
- Edible Cities: Can Urban Agriculture Feed Us All? March 29, Kitchener
- Nutrition Month Campaign, March 29, Woodstock
- Local Food Connection: Farmer Food Buyer Networking Event, March 29, London
Perspectives on good food and farming
March 19, 2010
Calling all students with an interest in food issues! March 19, Toronto
Here is your chance to participate in the consultation process for the Toronto Food Strategy’s consultation report – Food Connections: Towards a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto – (www.toronto.ca/foodconnections). Members of Toronto Public Health’s Food Strategy team will facilitate a consultation session on March 19, 2010 from 9AM-11AM. Light refreshments will be provided. Location to be confirmed (later this week). Charles Z Levkoe, Canadian Association for Food Studies, c/o Centre for Studies in Food Security, Ryerson University.Email. Website.
The above event is planned for the Oakham House, 63 Gould Street.
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. Event includes a talk by Elbert van Donkersgoed on A Few big Ideas for Food and Farming in Ontario
NFU in Ontario Convention Slated for March 20, Stratford
The National Farmers Union in Ontario will hold its annual regional convention on Saturday, March 20 in Stratford, Ontario. The meeting will be held at the Army Navy and Air Force Veterans Banquet Hall, 151 Lorne Avenue East in Stratford. Among the highlights of the meeting will be two panel discussions. The first is on the financial crisis confronting pork producers, and will feature John Nyenhuis and Rein Minnema. The second panel discussion will focus on alternative energy and the effects of facilities such as wind power turbines on neighbouring farms and rural communities. Farms.com story.
“Communitecture 101” March 20, Cowichan BC
Join Mark Lakeman, community activist and co-founder of City Repair, in a conversation about creatively reclaiming urban spaces. Through creative and ecological-oriented place-making, City Repair honours and improves the connection between human communities and the natural world. Past examples of City Repair projects include: slowing neighborhood traffic, installing public art, building mini cafes and setting up community bulletin boards. Details Cowichan (BC) Green Community.
Perth County Regional Food Summit. March 22
The second Perth County Regional Food Summit will be focusing on developing local partnership, local food opportunities, culinary and agri-tourism while providing the necessary tools to be successful. Details on the Savour Stratford website.
Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee Annual General Meeting 2010, March 24
Speakers: Peter Dorfman, Toronto Board of Health, Margaret Walton, Planscape, Gord Surgeoner, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies. Details
Vitality in Agriculture, March 24, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Since 1999, the PEI ADAPT Council has been a pathfinder for new ideas and sustainability. This conference an opportunity to capture the inspiration of the moment, network with progressive leaders and focus on the emerging issues that will define the future of agriculture and agri-food on Prince Edward Island. PEI ADAPT Council Agri-Newsletter.
Youth Food Systems Fair, March 25, Toronto
The Toronto Youth Food Policy Council and University of Toronto Present the ‘Youth Food Systems Fair’ on March 25th from 5:00-9:00 at Wilson Hall, New College, St. George Campus. From 5:00-6:30 we will be asking your questions to an Expert Panel, including Debbie Fields of Food Share, and Career Services Representatives from the OntarioTrillium Foundation and University of Toronto. At 6:30 Live Entertainment from ‘No Man’s Land’ and a FREE sustainable and nutritious meal from the infamous Hott Yams! From 7:00-9:00 you will have the opportunity to mingle and network with several notable Food Organizations including Local Food Plus, West End Food Coop, Not Far from the Tree, Young Urban Growers and many many more! For more information emailTYFPCapplications@gmail.com.
Seedy Saturday, March 27, Cowichan (BC)
Come for a great selection of seeds from local seed vendors, as well as a chance to “seed swap”, meet local farmers and other “foodies”. We will also be hosting a workshop “Starting with Seeds”. Find out what crops are suitable for our island coastal climate and how and when to plant. Learn several methods of seed starting techniques and recipes for making different soil mixes. DetailsCowichan (BC) Green Community.
***NEW***Edible Cities: Can Urban Agriculture Feed Us All? March 29, Kitchener
The next event in the Roundtable’s Healthy Food System series at Kitchener Public Library is Monday, March 29, 2010, 7-9pm, at KPL Main Branch (85 Queen St N, Kitchener). Join us for an informative session on urban agriculture, including green roofs, community gardens, SPIN (small-plot, intensive) farming, urban homesteading, urban forests and wild harvesting, as we explore how urban agriculture can be a solution for creating sustainable cities and feeding us all. Healthy Food System Series.
Nutrition Month Campaign, March 29, Woodstock
A series of awareness events are being held over the next month in a push to encourage local residents to include fruits and vegetables in their diets. This year’s national Nutrition Month campaign focuses on educating people about the benefits of healthy eating, and how to plan and prepare healthy meals. On March 29 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., a free education session will be held upstairs at Hurley’s Independent Grocers in Ingersoll, featuring guest speaker Ann Slater of Ann Slater’s Organic Vegetable Farm. Slater said local produce doesn’t disappear when the weather turns cold. Woodstock Sentinel Review story
Local Food Connection: Farmer Food Buyer Networking Event, March 29, London
This event connects farmers and food buyers into the local food market place. It is for farmers interested in finding out more about selling into local food marketing opportunities. It will be of interest to chefs, caterers, food retailers, processors, distributors, food-service and institutional food providers looking to offer more local food. Details on the website of London Economic Development Corporation.
Community Food Hubs Seminar, April 7, Toronto
Towards Sustainable Food: An Introduction to the BRASS Research Centre and the work of the BRASS Food Group with Alex Franklin and Julie Newton (Cardiff University). Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 10AM-11:30AM, Oakham House, 63 Gould Street in the Oakham Lounge (2nd Floor) (http://www.ryerson.ca/maps/) Community food hubs are increasingly being employed by sustainability advocates as a model for coordinating the supply of food from groups of local producers to consumers. As well as reducing food miles and providing new economic opportunities, food hubs can also be used to promote connections between consumers and proximate rural productive spaces.
***NEW***Food Inc. Coming To Huron County, April 15, Goderich
A film coming into Goderich next month has drawn some attention from the president of the Huron Federation of Agriculture. Food Inc. is an Oscar-nominated film on the food industry in the U-S. Wayne Black hasn’t seen it yet – but reviews suggest it’s taking a pretty negative look at the industry. He thinks it may not be a bad idea for farmers to have a look at the film. Black says as long as consumers and farmers watch the film with an open mind – realising it has a specific slant on the industry – it could generate some good discussion.The screening of Food Inc. in Goderich on April 15th is sponsored by the Huron-Bruce NDP. CKNX Radio 920AM Wingham story
***NEW***Walkable Local Foods: Local food buying clubs, April 27, Kitchener
Want to be able to walk to pick up local foods? It is possible! Uptown Waterloo has a food buying club that makes eating local convenient and fun for its 500 members. Your neighbourhood can have one too. Come find out how to set up a local food buying club in your neighbourhood. Tuesday, April 27, 2010 ,7-9pm, KPL Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener. Healthy Food System Series.
Taking Root: 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, May 17 to 19, Detroit
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.
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.
Growing Power’s National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference, September 10 to 12, Milwaukee
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.
Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival, September 25-26, Stratford
Renowned Canadian chefs, award-winning food writers, local farmers and artisans, exclusive Ontario VQA wines, craft brews and Stratford’s musical artists invite you to come join them to celebrate glorious food. Wander farmers markets in search of edible treasures, hands-on culinary demonstrations for adults and kids, outdoor musical concerts, street carnivals, theatre and an authentic Perth County BBQ. Continue with more concerts, street carnivals, culinary demonstrations and York Street Tasting with over 30 chefs paired with 30 local producers and VQA wines for an afternoon of sampling and imbibing in tents. It all happens in Stratford’s historic downtown shopping and garden district. Details on the Savour Stratford website.
Faith and the Future of the Countryside 2010, November 3 to 5, Swanwick, Derbyshire, UK
A major ecumenical conference exploring the sustainability of rural communities and their churches, and making recommendations for their future. This event will also mark 20 years from the publication of Faith in the Countryside and the completion of the Archbishop’s Commission on Rural Areas. Four conference themes of rural communities, economy, environment and rural church reflect the breadth of issues covered in the original report. Church of England website
AND in case you have time
Recipe kits bring the world to your dinner table
Global warming and the recession may have delivered a one-two punch to many consumers’ travel plans, but that doesn’t mean people can’t still enjoy an exotic escape of a different kind. Enter Destination Dinners, a San Francisco company that offers a wide variety of dinner kits replicating dining experiences from around the world. Destination Dinners’ recipe kits come with premeasured spices and sauces, a shopping list for fresh ingredients, cooking instructions and fun facts about the featured ‘destination’. Springwise story.