February 2018 Newsletter
February 2018 Newsletter
Food News and Events in the Ottawa Region
Just Food News and Events
1. March 12, 19, 28 | 10 Metre Diet – Backyard Food Production
2. March 13 | Permaculture Workshop
3. April 29 | Celebrate 15 years with Just Food!
4. Food Distribution Options enhanced at Ottawa Food Hub
5. Ottawa Seed library – Gearing up for the 2018 Season!
7. Just food has a new office at the Just Food Farm Barn- Here’s how to reach us.
Other Community News and Events
9. À la carte Food Literacy Project wins Award for Innovation
10. Feb 10, March 3, March 17 | Seedy Saturdays in Almonte, Ottawa and Cornwall
11. Feb 11 | Earth Roots Apprenticeship Program
12. Feb 12 | Organic Gardening for the absentee gardener
13. Feb 13 | Canada’s Agriculture Day in Ottawa
14. Feb 15 | Edibles in the Garden
16. Feb 24 – 25 | ECO FARM DAY 2018
17. Feb 24 | Stanley’s Maple Farm Easter Egg Hunt
18. Feb – November | Ottawa Horticulture Society Workshops
19. March 13, 14 & 15 | Ottawa Farm Show
20. March 21 | The Day Of Forests
21. March – May | Urban Organic Gardening Seminars with COG
22. April 9 | Organic Seed Production Course with COG
23. July 14 – 15 | Eco Sphere Ottawa Expo/ Foire écosphère à Ottawa-Gatineau
If you received this monthly newsletter from someone else and would like to receive it directly, sign up here. If you have a food or farm-related event or issue that you would like posted on this newsletter, send a request to info@justfood.ca.
Although all volunteers and community partners of Just Food want to ensure Ottawa has a vibrant, accessible, sustainable food system, we have many diverse perspectives on how to get there. Just Food welcomes this diversity and believes that it is through working collaboratively with different opinions that we will arrive at a healthy food system for all. Any information that Just Food sends can include information from different community members and community partners and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Just Food. If you ever have a question about any information listed here, please do not hesitate to e-mail info@justfood.ca or call 613-824-7771.
Just Food News and Events
1. March 12, 19, 28 | 10 Metre Diet – Backyard Food Production
2. March 13 | Permaculture Workshop
Where: Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation, 464 Metcalfe St
3. April 29 | Celebrate Just Food’s 15th Anniversary!
4. Food Distribution Options enhanced at Ottawa Food Hub
Food Distribution options enhanced at Ottawa Food Hub
Mountain Path and Just Food are pleased to announce the completion of a critical project. Between January and October, 2017, we worked hard to accomplish two major achievements:
Designed traceability systems and required protocols to integrate new, full product traceability features into the existing HACCP compliant systems already in place at the shared hub facility and with certification to GFSI standard. A mock recall test at completion of this project was achieved within 45 minutes.
Designed and implemented training across all Hub facility users, including businesses within the Ottawa Incubator Kitchen, focusing on topics of recall, communications, new traceability equipment, Food Safety and Quality Control, and Process Control.
This project was critical to ensure continued and enhanced retail options for Eastern Ontario regional product including grains, fruit and vegetables and processed items. Of particular focus were new businesses incubating within the Ottawa Kitchen component and the growing Ottawa Food Hub, which is focused on increasing regional producers’ access to retail stores and institutional purchasers.
This project was made possible through financial supports from the McConnell Foundation Regional Value Chain program, which strengthens the ability of regional supply chains to make healthy, sustainably produced food accessible to all people. This project was also funded in part through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of GF2 in Ontario.
For more information, please contact moe@justfood.ca
For more information on the Ottawa Kitchen, click here.
5. Ottawa Seed library – Gearing up for the 2018 Season!
The Ottawa Seed Library is gearing up for another great growing season! Seed saving takes time and energy all year, and we are always looking for individuals to help grow the library in a multitude of ways. From seed packing to saving, event organization and workshop delivery, we rely on volunteers, members and generous donations to make sure seeds are received, grown and distributed all over the Ottawa area.
6. Community Garden Development Fund 2018 – Taking Applications Now!
7. Just Food has a new address and phone number!
We’ve moved into permanent office space in the newly renovated Just Food Farm Barn and our contact information has changed a bit. We want to make sure everyone knows!
New Address: 2391 Pépin Court, Ottawa, ON, K1B 4Z3
New Phone Number: 613-824-7771
Like us on Facebook here.
Follow us on Twitter here.
Other Community News and Events
9. À la carte Food Literacy Project wins Award for Innovation
The Ottawa Public Library’s (OPL) ‘à la carte’ Food Literacy Project won the Minister’s Award for Innovation in the Large Library Category at the Ontario Public Library Service Awards at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in Toronto, last week.
This initiative makes food literacy a part of OPL’s diverse programming, and positions the public library as a key community resource and partner for accessible food-related information and programming that can lead to health, economic, and social benefits.
Tim Tierney, Chair of the OPL Board and Councillor for Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward, said, “This high level of innovation came to fruition through OPL’s leadership. The Library brought strong local and community partners together to deliver fresh and novel programs to raise food literacy in our city.”
Partners of this project range from city-wide organisations such as Ottawa Public Health, MarketMobile, and the Ottawa International Writer’s Festival, to community organizations such as Parkdale Food Centre and Just Food Ottawa. Local and Ontario-based chefs, authors, bloggers, gardeners, and entrepreneurs have joined OPL at the table to feed the conversation on healthy, affordable, sustainable eating and help promote a better understanding of how we are connected to the food we eat and grow.
Click here for more information on the program.
10. Feb 10, March 3, March 17 | Seedy Saturdays in Almonte, Ottawa, Perth and Cornwall
Sat Feb 10, 9 a.m – 3 p.m: Almonte Seedy Saturday, Almonte Civitan Hall, 500 Almonte Rd. Featuring the opportunity for people to come together to exchange information and to buy, sell or trade interesting and unusual heritage varieties. Seed exchange for seeds and extra plants, cuttings, books, magazines, pots, trellising, tools and/or gardening supplies. In the exchange, for each item donated another can be taken home. Larger items equate to a few extra goodies per item. If you forget to bring exchange items and still want to partake, a small donation (ie. $1 ea.) would be appreciated.
Sat. March 3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m: Ottawa Seedy Saturday, Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre (Britannia Beach). Featuring talks, an organic market and lots of cool seeds!
Sun. March 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m: Perth Seedy Sunday, Civitan Club, 6787 Highway 43). Free admission, free workshops on a variety of garden topics. Lunch available! For full details and more information visit www.perthfarmersmarket.ca or www.facebook.ca/perthfarmersmarket
Sat. March 17 10 a.m. to 3 p.m: Seedy Saturday Cornwall, Benson Centre, 800 Seventh St. West, Cornwall, ON K6J 0A3. Featuring exhibits from seed, seedling, and sapling vendors, community and home gardening groups, and local farmers’ markets. There will also be a “Seed and Garden Tool Swap” table and several hands-on garden activities throughout the space.
11. Feb 11| Earth Roots Apprenticeship Program
Friendly reminder that Earth Path and Rivers and Roots are hosting an Open House this Sunday, February 11 from 2-3 pm at Just Food Farm (at the barn, 2391 Pépin Court, east Ottawa), for those interested in taking our Earth Roots Apprenticeship program, a course for educators, parents, and nature enthusiasts (including teens 15+), keen to deepen their nature knowledge, wilderness skills, and creative mentoring skills. RSVP (Isabel@EarthPath.ca) if planning to attend.
https://www.earthpath.ca/earth-roots-apprenticeship.html
12. Feb 12 | Organic Gardening for the absentee gardener
Away at the cottage or travelling during the summer—no point in planting an organic garden! Think again: Rachelle Gendron of Our Little Farm (www.ourlittlefarm.ca) will let you in on tips and tricks for the absentee gardener—from watering to the timing of plantings.
Click here for more information.
13. Feb 13 | Canada’s Agriculture Day in Ottawa
Join Agriculture More than Ever for an all-day event for Canada’s Agriculture Day in Ottawa on February 13, 2018!
Click here for more information.
14. Feb 15 | Edibles in the Garden
Join the Nepean Horticultural Society with guest speaker Mary Reid (Green Thumb Garden Centre) for ‘Edibles in the Garden’ – incorporating edible plants into your flower garden.
Click here for more information.
USC Canada is hiring for work in their head office and overseas. Click here for more information.
16. Feb 24 – 25 |ECO FARM DAY 2018
Please note, Just Food will be at the trade show.
“ADAPTATION”
Keynote: Mary Howell and Klaas Martens, organic mixed farmers, owners of Lakeview Organic Grains in New York, and regular contributors to ACRES USA
Feb 24: Keynote address, 40 exhibitor trade show, organic lunch and a dozen workshops relating to plants, livestock, and soils.
Also a reception dinner and screening of the new documentary Modified, by Aube Giroux, in partnership with Transition Cornwall+ and All Things Food.
Feb 25: ALSO JOIN Canadian Organic Growers for one of two full day, intensive and participatory workshops:
- Polyculture Livestock: Synergizing multiple livestock species into a single pasturing system, with veterinarian Dr Hubert and Suzanne Karreman, of Reverence Farms and Café.
- The Permaculture Market Garden: Apply Permaculture principles without jeopardizing production, with Zach Loeks, author and farmer at Kula Permaculture Farm.
Check www.ecofarmday.ca and www.facebook.com/cogosochapter and www.twitter.com/ecofarmday for details and updates
17. Feb 24 | Stanley’s Maple Farm Easter Egg Hunt
Children and adults alike delight in meeting the Easter Bunny and helping him find his eggs. Join in the fun and pile aboard the wagon for a ride out to the Sugarbush. Hunt through the bush in search of the Easter bunny’s lost eggs, and add them to your basket. Family fun for all – and each child leaves with something special!
Click here for more information: http://stanleysfarm.com/family-fun/easter-egg-hunt/
18. Feb – November | Ottawa Horticulture Society Workshops
From drystone walls to container gardening – check out some of these great gardening workshops offered throughout the year!
Click here for more information: http://ottawahort.org/events/
19. March 13, 14 & 15 | Ottawa Farm Show
The Ottawa Valley Farm Show (OVFS) is Ontario’s longest running agricultural trade show. From the beginning, it has been organized by farmers for farmers on a non-profit basis. Join them this year to check out their exhibitors and seed show!
Click here for more information: http://ottawafarmshow.com/history/
20. March 21 | The Day Of Forests
March 21 is the International Day of Forests – will you celebrate? Let’s make our cities greener, healthier, happier places to live!
Click here for more information: http://www.fao.org/international-day-of-forests/en/
21. March – May | Urban Organic Gardening Seminars with COG (local chapter)
Where: The Hintonburg Community Centre, 1064 Wellington St W, Ottawa
When: Saturday mornings – March 10th, April 14th, May 12th 9:30am-1:30pm. Seed Sale to follow at 1:30pm.
22. April 9 | Organic Seed Production Course with COG
Want to learn more about producing organic seeds? Want to learn about their commercial production, harvesting, quality, marketing, breeding and more? Want to build your own business following your own unique seed-farm business plan?
Click here for more information: http://www.cog.ca/our-services/seedproductioncourse/
23. July 14 – 15 | Eco Sphere Ottawa Expo/ Foire écosphère à Ottawa-Gatineau
Foire écosphère: environment et écohabitation: la première année à Ottawa-Gatineau
En collaboration avec la Ville de Gatineau et le Festival du Chanvre cherchent des exposants et conférenciers pour leur foire le 14-15 Juillet à Gatineau.
Pour plus d’information, visitez https://foireecosphere.org/
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Ecosphere Canada: environment and green housing, is having their first Ottawa-Gatineau expo.
They are looking for speakers and facilitators for their event on July 14-15.
For more information, visit https://foireecosphere.org/en/
If you received this monthly newsletter from someone else and would like to receive it directly, sign up here. If you have a food or farm-related event or issue that you would like posted on this newsletter, send a request to info@justfood.ca.
Although all volunteers and community partners of Just Food want to ensure Ottawa has a vibrant, accessible, sustainable food system, we have many diverse perspectives on how to get there. Just Food welcomes this diversity and believes that it is through working collaboratively with different opinions that we will arrive at a healthy food system for all. Any information that Just Food sends can include information from different community members and community partners and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Just Food. If you ever have a question about any information listed here, please do not hesitate to e-mail info@justfood.ca or call 613-699-6850 x10.
CGN blog: Norman Johnston Secondary Alternate Program
This is the fifth piece in an ongoing CGN’s blog. This blog will be filled with snapshots of the network, garden activities, garden profiles, coordinator profiles & more!
This post is about Norman Johnston Secondary Alternate Program, where indoor and outdoor gardens and even a greenhouse are used to teach students more than just gardening techniques. The post is written by Nancy Moir at her blog Grown In My BackYard.
Norman JohnstonCGN blog: Growing Up Organic
This is the fourth piece in an ongoing CGN’s blog. This blog will be filled with snapshots of the network, garden activities, garden profiles, coordinator profiles & more!
This post is about Growing Up Organic, a garden and farm-based educational program for children and youth. The post is written by Nancy Moir at her blog Grown In My BackYard.
Parents and teachers, are you looking for a unique way to engage school-aged children in learning, teach them food skills and nutrition, and connect them with the environment? Growing Up Organic (GUO) may have a solution for you!
GUO is a garden- and farm-based educational program for children and youth provided by the Ottawa, St. Lawrence, and Outaouais Chapter of Canadian Organic Growers. Since its inception in 2007, GUO has enabled many schools across the region to build their own school garden programs. These gardens do more than produce delicious, healthy food; educators use them to foster experiential learning to meet their teaching goals. They enliven the curriculum for students who feel disengaged or who could benefit from hands-on experience to help with their comprehension.
Implementing a school garden does not add to a teacher’s workload; rather it reduces it by providing a simplified, vivid, real-world model that can be used to teach almost any subject. This program requires that students draw plans, calculate many different types of variables, engage in physical activity, and much more. Students of all ages and backgrounds have expressed delight at working within a school garden and their schoolwork reflects this newfound excitement. Through this, they acquire a solid understanding of the life cycles of plants, and an appreciation of the environment.
So, how does it work? GUI hosts gardening workshops in the spring and fall that are free to OCBSB educators, and available to other schools for a fee. In these workshops, GUO provides educators with an overview of the garden-based activities that they can facilitate in their schools. Their website offers a thorough overview of the preparation that should be undertaken before a garden is built. As well, each garden requires a support team of interested parents, teachers, and other community members. GUO provides the information needed to fundraise, build, and maintain a school garden, and most importantly, to use as a tool within the curriculum.
GUO is more than just a repository of information. Behind the website are the friendly faces of its facilitators and volunteer advisory committee (teachers, master gardeners, and stakeholders), who shape the program and provide support. For more information, visit their website.
COG ECO FARM DAY 2018: Feb 24-25, Cornwall, ON
The Canadian Organic Growers are hosting ECO FARM DAY 2018 on Feb 24-25 in Cornwall, ON. This year’s theme is ADAPTATION.
Feb 24: Keynote address, 40 exhibitor trade show, organic lunch and a dozen workshops relating to plants, livestock, and soils.
Also a reception dinner and screening of the new documentary Modified, by Aube Giroux, in partnership with Transition Cornwall+ and All Things Food.
Feb 25: ALSO JOIN COG for one of two full day, intensive and participatory workshops:
? Polyculture Livestock: Managing and optimizing health with multiple livestock species in a single pasturing system, with veterinarian Dr Hubert and Suzanne Karreman, of Reverence Farms and Café.
? The Permaculture Market Garden: Apply Permaculture principles without jeopardizing production, with Zach Loeks, author and farmer at Kula Permaculture Farm.
Check www.ecofarmday.ca and www.facebook.com/cogosochapter and
www.twitter.com/ecofarmday for details and updates
Become a Just Food Board Member!
Just Food seeks volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors!
Just Food seeks dedicated food systems volunteers to serve on our Board of Directors (terms are typically 3 years in duration, and can be renewed once to a 6-year maximum).
We welcome people from diverse backgrounds, and in this call, we are looking for one to three new Board members with some combination of the following:
- Fundraising experience
- Knowledge and expertise regarding food access among low-income communities
- Advocacy experience related to food and/or agricultural policy
Just Food is led by a volunteer Board of Directors (“the Board”). We are a working Board with the mandate to determine Just Food’s mission and policies, provide strategic direction and oversight of its activities, and ensure organizational accountability, to support our staff – who manage and perform the operations of the organization. Please read the Just Food Policies and Procedures for detailed information on the role and responsibilities of Directors, and the Just Food Constitution and our Vision, Mission and Mandate for more information on Just Food and how it is governed.
All Board members must have:
- Commitment to Just Food’s goals and values;
- Ability to commit a minimum of 6 hours per month to Just Food (more for Executive Committee members); and,
- Knowledge of local context (important).
Ideally, the new Board members will also have:
- Experience in community-based non-profit organizational management;
- Food system issues knowledge/analysis (desirable);
- Background in one or another of Just Food areas of work; and,
- Experience with Just Food (e.g., as a member, volunteer, and/or in another capacity).
Interested? Please send us a paragraph (maximum 350 words) introducing yourself and your experience, and telling us why you think you could make a positive contribution as one of Just Food’s Board of Directors, along with a current CV, to: mlbender@alumni.sfu.ca by February 7, 2018. Interviews will occur shortly thereafter.
In your submission, be sure to create the subject line: Just Food Board of Directors – Expression of Interest. All interested parties will be contacted. The selected candidates would be presented as a recommended slate to Just Food members for election at the upcoming Annual General Meeting this March 7, 2018.
We look forward to hearing from you!
CGN Blog: Senior Organic Gardeners
This is the third piece in an ongoing CGN blog. This blog will be filled with snapshots of the network, garden activities, garden profiles, coordinator profiles & more!
This post is about the fantastic Canadian Organic Growers program Senior Organic Gardeners. The post is written by Nancy Moir at her blog Grown In My BackYard.
SOG Article for Just Food
