SFU Local Food Project Urban Agricultural Skills Training Program

The SFU Local Food Project is excited to launch our Urban Agricultural Skills Training Program and hope you will join us this summer in building skills and awareness around local food and food systems!

We’re anticipating these workshops will fill up fast – so be sure to register early!

Community Gardens Tour with the Environmental Youth Alliance

Hosted by the Environmental Youth Alliance and the SFU Local Food Project
Saturday, July 10 2010, 10am – 12pm
Meet in the Youth Garden at the corner of Raymur and Malkin (Southeast corner of Strathcona Park)
Vancouver, BC | Click here for map
Cost: Free! Donations accepted at event.

Have you thought of joining a Community Garden? Interested in exploring and learning more about Community Gardens in your own neighborhood? Join us for this interactive workshop that will introduce folks to a wide range of urban agricultural activities!

Come tour Vancouver’s largest Community Gardens. Wander through extensive community orchards and learn about all the fruit and berries that grow in Vancouver; explore varying methods of annual vegetable production; learn about permaculture food forests; check out working honey bee hives, innovative building designs, greenhouse management techniques, large scale compost facilities and more! Tour will include hands on work in the Cottonwood and/or Strathcona Community Garden. Bring a willingness to get your hands dirty. Meet in the Youth Garden at the corner of Raymur and Malkin. Easily transit/bike accessible.

For more information and to register: http://community-garden-tour.eventbrite.com/

___________

Composting Demonstration at the SFU Pocket Farmers Market

Wednesday July 21st, 12:00-2:00pm
SFU Pocket Farmers Market, Cornerstone Town Square, SFU Burnaby Campus

Email info@sfulocalfood.ca to register.

___________

Container Gardening Workshop – back by popular demand!

Wednesday July 21st, 3:00-5:00pm
MBC 2290, SFU Burnaby Campus

Email info@sfulocalfood.ca to register.

________________________________

Building Neighbourhood Food Networks

Tuesday, July 20, 1-4 pm
Langara College, 100 West 49 Ave, Vancouver

Building Neighbourhood Food Networks brings together groups that provide neighbourhood and city-wide food security/food system activities, and describes networking opportunities in and in between different Vancouver neighbourhoods, We invite individuals and groups that work on food security and food system issues to meet colleagues, share ideas, and explore ways to work together toward common food security goals. FREE. To register: Please RSVP before July 13th by calling Langara College Continuing Studies at 604.323.5322. (CRN 60916, and please be sure to give your email address when registering.) For more information: Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

________________________________

Summer Workshops with Richmond Fruit Tree Project

Richmond Fruit Tree Project is hosting the following summer/fall workshops:

JULY
Wednesday july 21 – Building a Herbal First Aid Kit – Kimi and Kareno

AUGUST
Wednesday Aug 4 – Building a Worm Composter – Ian
Wednesday Aug 11 – Herbal Tinctures – Kimi and Kareno
Friday/Saturday Aug 13/14 – Building a Cob Oven – Jen Gobby (mudgirls) and Kimi
Saturday Aug 28th – Winter Gardening and Plant Sale – Kareno and Arzeena

SEPTEMBER
Wednesday Sept 1 – Dry and Wet Cures – Ian
Wednesday Sept 8 – Wines and Vinegars – Ian
Saturday Sept 18 – Building Cold Frames – Season Extension – Kimi
Wednesday Sept 22 – Urban Agriculture and Youth Activism Speaks
Saturday Sept 25 – Growing Great Garlic – Kareno (same weekend as garlic fest)

OCTOBER
Wednesday Oct 3 – Fermentation with Ian
Wednesday Oct 6 – Seed Saving with Kareno
Saturday Oct 27 – Basics of Pruning with Kent

All workshops $5 except Cob Oven Building – $20 for one day $50 for two
All workshops at Terra Nova Sharing Farm except Winter Gardening Aug 28 at the Richmond Cultural Centre
Contact Arzeena to register Arzeenahamir(at)shaw(dot)ca or (604) 727-9728

________________________________

Collingwood Multicultural Summer Market

Adjacent to the Joyce-Collingwood Skytrain Station
on Vanness Avenue, between McGeer and McHardy Street
Vancouver, BC
Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm:
July 26, Aug 2, Aug 9, Aug 16, Aug 23

Celebrate the diversity in your neighbourhood with family and friends at the Collingwood Multicultural Summer Market. Enjoy your Sundays shopping for fresh produce, spices at an international spice market and learn how to use them with the recipe exchange program, taste unique foods from local businesses, support local artists, purchase crafts, take in the diverse entertainment and let the bike tune-up station help you stay environmentally friendly.

For more info and how to become a vendor: http://www.cnh.bc.ca/summerspaces09/

________________________________

B.C. Food Systems Network Gathering – Call for Proposals

September 23, 24 & 25, 2010
http://fooddemocracy.org/new.php

At this time the gathering committee is putting a call out for:

• proposals, workshops, roundtables and discussion topics
• potential sources for funding
• general input to the gathering this year

Please send your ideas to foodaction(at)youthpartners(dot)ca.

This year we will be gathering in the small community of Ymir in the traditional territory of the Sinixt people. Ymir is located between Nelson and Salmo in the Kootenays.

The 2010 Gathering theme is Water. Water is the foundation of life. Every living species relies on it each day for sustenance; we swim in it, eat food from living organisms that must have water to exist, and many of the materials used in our everyday lives would not be available to us without water – from the shoes on our feet to the fuel in our vehicles, the book in our hands and the fabric that clothes us. Yet for such an essential component of life, it is often taken for granted by the 60% of the world’s population that can turn on a tap to acquire all that they might want or need. By choosing water as our 2010 Gathering theme, the BC Food Systems Network seeks to foster an environment where water resources are not only acknowledged but cherished as an essential element of life and a sustainable food system.

The Gathering is about connecting the people and utilizing the expertise within the Network, we really want to encourage you to share your knowledge and ideas on how to make this Gathering a valuable experience for everyone interested in establishing healthy community based food systems.

If anyone would like to become more involved in the planning of the Gathering please let me know. There are many areas that need your expertise! As usual we are looking to utilize the vast knowledge within our Network. So at this point I’d like to put out a call for proposals on workshops, roundtable discussions, and practical activities related to the theme of water. Please let me know if you have any ideas.

For more information: http://fooddemocracy.org/new.php

__________________________________________________________________

Job Postings

Check back soon for postings.

__________________________________________________________________

Volunteer Opportunities

NOWBC Co-op Looking for volunteer to help source local organic foods

NOWBC Co-op is a small organic food co-op offering an on-line farmers market with grocery delivery service in the Greater Vancouver area using a unique cooperative model. Our mission is to help build a sustainable local food system by connecting local organic farmers with consumers and building community around sustainable food choices.

We are looking for an individual to help us source more organic local foods. Researching farms and processors, contacting these producers, placing orders with them, writing biographies for producers to include in the on-line market, and sometimes organizing deliveries/pick-ups of food between the producer and the co-op. Some farm visits, farmers market visits and trips to the co-op’s food warehouse in East Van to connect with a producer will be needed occasionally too. This volunteer will report to our co-op manager, feeding her information on a weekly basis recommending new foods and producers to add to the on-line market based on what is available/in season, and what sounds most delicious! A minimum commitment of 6 hours a week for 4 months will be needed. Hours are flexible and can be worked from home for the most part. Tuesday and Thursday mornings is our suggested schedule, though an equally workable schedule can also be worked out depending on volunteer’s availability.

This volunteer position is a great way to get to know your organic local farmers, bakers and cookie makers! If you enjoy food, are good with logistics, and are passionate about local organics, this is sure to be a fulfilling role. Help us connect our local organic producers with our local eaters here in Greater Vancouver.

Contact our volunteer coordinator, Joanna Michal, at joannam@nowbc.ca or 604-222-0262.

__________________________________

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

__________________________________

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

__________________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________________________

Previous Events and Postings

For archived events, click on the link below!

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

__________________________________________________________________

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