P.E.I could soon become one of the first producers of genetically engineered animals for human consumption. The plant would be producing GE fish eggs which would be sent to fish farms in Panama to grow, and then sent back to the U.S. and eventually to Canada for consumption. The fish is engineered to grow 30% faster than wild fish, and could trigger an increase in allergies to seafood. It is also said to have lower nutritional value than its wild counterpart. (http://www.rodale.com/genetically-modified-salmon-0?page=0,1  )

Serious problems could arise if the GE salmon were to escape the Panamanian farm and to eventually invade international waters, and to potentially interbreeding with wild Atlantic salmon and outcompete them. There is much more involved in the engineering of salmon, such as the pollution from fish farm waste and the energy involved in providing food to feed the fish itself.

Is it worth the risk? What are you thoughts on the issue?

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at info@sfulocalfood.ca

For more information:

http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/GE-Fish

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2011-10-24/article-2785363/Public-needs-more-information-on-GM-salmon,-says-advocates–/1

For updates about Canadian fisheries check out the following videos:

http://www.cbc.ca/fisheriesbroadcast/

Long before Europeans arrived in North America, aboriginal peoples of the northeast regions collected the sap from maple tree for its sweet taste and boiled it down to make syrup or sugar. The syrup was generally made by collecting the xylem sap of sugar maple, black maple or red maple trees, however in Western Canada it could also be made from the sap from other trees such as the Bigleaf maple. The western tree giant produces sap having a slightly lower sugar content, and so significantly more sap is needed to make syrup than with other maples. Still, a few farms in British Columbia have been successfully producing and selling their big-leaf maple syrup to enthusiastic consumers.
Where can you buy Big-leaf maple syrup?
There are several small producers across the province including Glenora farms in Duncan and Inniss Maplery in Bradner.
Also check out the Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festivel held in February at the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan, B.C. For more information about where to buy syrup or to learn more about the festival visit their website at: http://www.bcforestmuseum.com/

Feast of Fields is FFCF’s annual fundraising event that has taken place in the autumn each year since 1995, moving from farm to farm, now with 3 Feasts each year: the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. Our Feast is a gourmet wandering picnic where guests stroll the fields with a wine glass and linen napkin in hand, tasting the best of BC from chefs, vintners, brewers, farmers, fishers, ranchers and food artisans while highlighting the relationships between farmers and chefs.

Full posting available at: http://www.ffcf.bc.ca/about_us/get_involved.html

FarmFolkCityFolk is actively recruiting a volunteer treasurer for their Stewardship team.

The FarmFolk/CityFolk Society is seeking a treasurer to join our Stewardship Team (board of directors) to guide the society’s vision and financial direction in order to help take this not-for-profit society to the next stage in the organization’s development.

Since October 1993, FarmFolkCityFolk has been supporting community-based sustainable food systems. The society works with farm and city to cultivate a local, sustainable food system. We develop and operate projects that provide access to and protection of foodlands; that support local growers and producers; and that educate, celebrate and communicate with local food communities.

In these 17 years, public awareness surrounding sustainable food systems has grown immensely, thanks in great part to the work of FarmFolkCityFolk and its supporters. If you are collaborative, creative, resilient, and up for a challenge – this volunteer position is for you. You will help build the Stewardship team, the organization and BC’s sustainable food system.

Responsibilities:
* Participation on the Board is the primary volunteer commitment
* Regularly attends monthly Board meetings and important related meetings
* Oversees the financial direction and health of the society
* Receives financial information from the Executive Director and presents it to the Board
* Assists in the preparation of annual and quarterly statements and reports
* Assist the Executive Director in preparing and tracking the annual budget
* Assists in any required audits and review of the society financial matters (i.e. staff salary review)
* Is an active participant in the Board’s annual evaluation and planning efforts
* Participates in fundraising for the organization
* Time commitment is approximately 3 to 6 hours per month

Qualifications:
* Applicants must have sufficient accounting, senior financial management or other relevant business experience to understand the issues not-for-profit organizations face.
* Related experience in the not-for-profit, charitable, or similar field, with a strong background in auditing, accounting, financial planning and analysis, and budget creation
* Familiarity with financial accounting systems and preparation of annual reports and audit materials
* Experience with MYOB accounting software is considered an asset
* Familiarity with or understanding of charitable law and federal, provincial and local not-for profit policies
* Experience with fundraising and grant writing is an asset
* Strong interest in or desire to gain knowledge about building a sustainable food system.
* Volunteer experience with FarmFolkCityFolk or related organizations is an asset

If you are interested in volunteering for the FarmFolkCityFolk Stewardship team, please tell us a bit about yourself. Submit your expression of interest and resume to ffcf.board@gmail.com by February 28th, 2011.

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Food Security Films playing at the CoDev Film Festival

Screening of Fresh, Saturday February 12th 2:30pm, Langara College

Fresh is a fresh look at the problems and consequences of our current industrialized food system, something that affects us all. But more than just a critique of the ills that accompany mass production on the farm and mass marketing in the food chain, the film focuses on the farmers, thinkers and business people who are re-inventing food production. Visionaries such as Will Allen and Joel Salatin are creating new approaches that address environmental, health, and economic challenges throughout the food chain. Fresh illustrates how farmers are eschewing artificial inputs like chemical fertilizers, antibiotics and pesticides to grow healthier livestock and produce for consumers while also creating a better way of life for everyone. (Followed by sustainable agriculture panel)

Details at: http://www.codev.org/filmfest/filmdetail.cfm?movieID=16

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Upcoming Workshops/Courses

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Working Together To Strengthen Our Local Food System

March 12-13 – Join The Richmond Food Security Society at the Steveston Community Centre for this incredible workshop series!

Food Security Workshops SPIN Farming 9:30 am-4pm Saturday March 12th & Sunday March 13th, Speaker: Curtis Stone

Finding Affordable and Accessible Food in Richmond Saturday March 12th 9:30-10:30, speaker: Lise Batcheller

Food For All – Making Food Security more Inclusive: Saturday, March 12th 9:30-10:30, Kareno Hawbolt, Winnie Hwo & Cease Wysse

Food Charters – Embedding Food Security in Community Plans: Saturday, March 12th, 11:00-12:00, Katie Pease, Squamish CAN

Farm 2 School & Food Gardens: How to advocate for healthy food in our schools: March 12, 11:00-12:00, Joanne Bays & Michael Wolfe

Registration is open at: http://www.bcfarmersmarket.org/conference/reg.htm

Coffee, snacks & Lunch are included in registration cost, $20.

CALL OUT FOR FARM APPRENTICES, SOIL PROGRAM
Learn, Grow, Experience

SOIL, a national organization dedicated to farmer education, is looking for apprentices who want to learn more about organic agriculture first hand by living and working on organic farms across Canada.

If you are over 18 yrs of age, self-motivated and eager to learn about organic and sustainable agriculture, contact SOIL to find out more!

www.soilapprenticeships.org or email info@soilapprenticeships.org

UBC Continuing Studies:  Sustainable Food Systems: Issues and Implications

If you’re interested in exploring topics related to food and ecosystems, consider signing up for a new UBC Continuing Studies course in Sustainable Food, which will run February 10-March 10, for five consecutive Thursday evenings downtown at Robson Square.

An opportunity to explore some of the most pressing issues of our time, the course will offer a range of compelling topics. We’ll read and discuss popular and scholarly writings on food policy and food choices and their impact on environment, health, and community. We’ll take a global overview of the paradox of world hunger alongside widespread obesity, of controversial biotechnologies such as genetically modified foods, and of the challenges for ecology and health of large-scale livestock production. We will examine some of the many local food initiatives in our city and elsewhere. Called Sustainable Food Systems: Issues and Implications, the course is part of the Sustainability Management program at UBC Continuing Studies, but is open to anyone and everyone.

Eleanor Boyle will be teaching the course, drawing from her background in food policy and behavioural sciences, as outlined at www.eleanorboyle.com. To see course details on the UBC site, or to register, go to: https://reg2.cstudies.ubc.ca/course.jsp?courseId=IS648

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SFU Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue – Wilding Vancouver, Summer 2011

Are you an undergraduate at SFU looking for an exciting and innovative way to learn? Are you interested in learning with students in departments outside your own? Apply now for the summer and fall 2011 semesters: Wilding Vancouver (May 9 – June 24; 10 credits – DIAL 390W, 391W).

Be prepared to explore Vancouver by foot, bike and bus to investigate systems, connections and places as well as explore the boundaries of urban spaces. We are planning indoor and outdoor adventures and overnight opportunities in nearby wilderness during this innovative and experiential Summer Semester in Dialogue.

For more information: http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/undergrad/ or contact: Janet Moore (jlmoore@sfu.ca, phone 778-782-7884)

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Job Postings

PART-TIME JOB POSTING: UMBRELLA MOBILE CLINIC PROJECT COORDINATOR

The BC Multicultural Health Services Society and Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op are seeking a coordinator for the Umbrella Mobile Clinic.  The Umbrella Multicultural Health Coop strives to provide adequate and quality health services for people without access to medical services.
The Umbrella Mobile Clinic: The Mobile Clinic is a service targeted to the unique needs of temporary foreign farm workers. It will offer primary care and health promotion initiatives to farm workers across the Lower Mainland. A physician, technical/office assistant and a Cross Cultural Health Broker will staff the clinic. The Coordinator will be responsible for the overall implementation of the project in the Lower Mainland .

POSITION  DETAILS:   This is a part time contract (15 hours/week) based in Vancouver with a pay rate of $25/hour. The position starts as soon as possible and runs until December 15, 2011 with a possibility of extension.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY: Please see the job posting at http://communitykitchens.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/feb2011umbrellamobileclinicposting.pdf

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Monday February 7, 2011

PART-TIME COORDINATOR:  FARM TO SCHOOL COORDINATOR, GREATER VANCOUVER AREA

The Public Health Association of British Columbia in conjunction with their partners at Vancouver Coastal Health, the Vancouver School Board, the Richmond School Board and the University of British Columbia’s Eat&Think Green@School Initiative are pleased to announce that they have received a grant from Vancity enviroFund to increase the amount of local food served in five schools in the Richmond, Vancouver and West Vancouver area.

The  Group, the Greater Vancouver Farm to School Committee, seek the services of a Farm to School Coordinator The one year part-time coordinator will be responsible for sourcing local foods and farms for schools and developing agreements with farmers to grow foods for 5 schools. Details are outlined in job description at http://communitykitchens.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/feb14-farm_to_school_coordinator_jd_vancouverregion.pdf.

Interested applicants must email their resume and cover letter to Sarah Carten, sarah.carten@vch.ca by noon on Monday, February 14th, 2011.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sarah Carten, (604) 675-3988 x 20340, sarah.carten@vch.ca
APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Monday, February 14th, 2011.

2011 FARM INTERN JOB POSTING – RICHMOND SHARING FARM

The Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project (RFTSP) is a non-profit community organization that grows vegetables on donated lands for the Richmond Food Bank and other agencies.  We are looking for enthusiastic, hard-working farm interns for May – Aug 2011.

Interns will have access to many different workshops, permaculture, farming, fermentation,
chickens in the city (see website for more) and will gain valuable skills in organic farming, machine operation, and running a community-supported agriculture program.

Salary: $12 per hour + benefits, 35 hour work week, Tuesday — Saturday. Mid May-August 28th, 2011
See full job posting here: http://www.goodworkcanada.ca/greenjobs.php?id=13337
Please submit resume and a cover letter to: info@richmondfruittree.com<

Farm Folk City Folk: Feast of Fields Coordinator

JOB POSTING: Lower Mainland Feast of Fields Coordinator
CONTRACT DATES: April 1, 2011 to October 31, 2011
LOCATION: Vancouver, British Columbia
EMPLOYER: FarmFolkCityFolk (www.farmfolkcityfolk.ca)
CLOSING DATE: February 15, 2011 at 5:00pm

Feast of Fields is FFCF’s annual fundraising event that has taken place in the autumn each year since 1995, moving from farm to farm, now with 3 Feasts each year: the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. Our Feast is a gourmet wandering picnic where guests stroll the fields with a wine glass and linen napkin in hand, tasting the best of BC from chefs, vintners, brewers, farmers, fishers, ranchers and food artisans while highlighting the relationships between farmers and chefs.

Full posting available at: http://www.ffcf.bc.ca/about_us/get_involved.html

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Volunteer Opportunities

SFU Harvest Box

We are looking for volunteers on the 2nd and last Thursday of the month for Harvest Box distributions. For more information and how to apply, download the Volunteer Application Form.

Please send applications to info@sfulocalfood.ca.

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World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

Volunteer on an organic farm in Canada or abroad in return for food, accommodation and education on organic farming!
Canada: http://www.wwoof.ca/
International: http://www.wwoof.org/natorgs.asp

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For a full list of organizations working on local food and food security initiatives in the Lower Mainland, click here!

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Funding Opportunities

SFPIRG Donations Fund

SFPIRG, SFU’s social and environmental justice resource centre has funding opportunities to support student organizing both on campus and in the community. Funding is available for projects, campaigns, organizations, workshops, conferences and through in-kind support.

http://sfpirg.ca/index.cgi?d=&g=/pirg/donations.html

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Previous Events and Postings

For archived events, click on the link below!

Fall 2010 Archive: http://sfulocalfood.ca/previous-events-fall-2010

Summer 2010 Archive: http://sfulocalfood.ca/previous-events-summer-2010

April 2010 Archive:  http://sfulocalfood.ca/previous-events-april-2010

March 2010 Archive:  http://sfulocalfood.ca/previous-events-march-2010

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Have a posting to share with us? Email us at info@sfulocalfood.ca and we’ll post it on our site!