Seedling Distribution for community gardens
Seedling distribution to Community Garden Coordinators, intended for Thursday June 16, has been cancelled and rescheduled for Friday June 17th from 1:00 – 7:00 pm — or until seedlings run out!! Tomorrow will happen rain or shine. We are expecting rain tomorrow as well as sun, so please come prepared with that in mind.
This event is not for the general public or all community gardeners. We ask that Garden Coordinators please coordinate 1-2 representatives max to pick up seedlings on behalf of their community garden. This is so that we can mitigate traffic in our parking lot.
Please keep your eyes on this blog post as we will update tomorrow with new info. DO NOT leave home without checking here first, in case seedlings have run out.
Similarly, if there are any seedlings left tomorrow evening, check here for alternative arrangements for pick-up.
Finally, please email communitygardening@justfood.ca with any questions. Happy gardening, and see you tomorrow!
2022 Provincial Election
What are your candidates saying?
Get informed before casting your ballot!
Provincial Election – Thursday, June 2nd, 2022
The Ottawa Food Policy Council has sent a survey to candidates running for provincial office in the City of Ottawa. Initial responses are now on their website, take a look at what your candidates are saying—and if you don’t see a response, send the survey to your candidates and tell them that food and farming are critical components of our most pressing issues, including income security, community health and wellness, and inter-generational responsibilities, as well as resilience in the face of socio-economic and ecological and climatic changes.
Where do the questions come from?
Like Just Food, OFPC is a member of Sustain Ontario, and has partnered on this campaign for Good Food and Farming Ideas for Ontario so everyone can Vote ON Food & Farming. The questions asked of candidates comes from this campaign.
Organic Seedling Sales at the Just Food Community Farm
The greenhouse at the Just Food Community Farm is in full swing! Drop by and take a look at the huge selection of organic vegetable, herb and perennial seedlings this Thursday-Sunday, 10-3. You can also order online and pick-up, from Urban Fresh Produce and Capital Greens Urban Farm.
In Town and Out at the Just Food Community Farm
Saturday morning In Town and Out will feature an interview with Seed Change ED Leticia Ama Deawuo recorded at the Just Food Community Farm, with guest appearances from Just Food ED Moe Garahan, Mat Levinson from Capital Greens Urban Farm, and Chadwick Lewis of Urban Fresh Produce. The interview covers Seed Change’s new initiative to launch a dozen local seed demonstration sites across the country this summer, as well as important seed-related projects like the Ottawa Seed Library, the Seed and Soil program that distributes seedlings and soil to households and schools that need them, and an incubator program for new farmers growing food and seeds.
*SPECIAL OFFER* Spring Training Series for New Canadian Farmers: Vegetable Production
from the Just Food Community Farm Team
*DELAYED*
Given the widespread damage from Saturday’s storm, many Ottawa region residents are still without internet service. To ensure equal access to the sessions, we are postponing the Training Series for New/Canadian Farmers to Tuesday May 31 from 6-9pm. More time to register!
Starting Tuesday, May 31 we are offering a 12-session series of workshops for new and New Canadian farmers, focused on vegetable production and covering a diverse set of topics to prepare you for a role in food production—whether as a paid worker, or starting or enhancing your own farm business.
The first three sessions will target New Canadians who are looking for on-farm experience in agriculture in the Ottawa region 2022. You must sign up and attend all three first classes in order to receive free work boots, technical language supports and business support in either English, French, Arabic and Mandarin.
These three courses will be delivered in English on May 31 (online) June 2 and 5 (at Just Food Community Farm – 2391 Pepin Court, Blackburn Hamlet). Starting this summer, the same training series will also be offered in French, Arabic and Mandarin.
To sign up for the New Canadian farmer offer, or to get more information on any of these training sessions, please email: phil@justfood.ca
1. Tuesday, May 31 (6-9 PM) – Online
Farm worker rights and responsibilities in Ontario
2. Thursday, June 2 (6-9 PM) – Online
Farm Safety
3. Sunday, June 5 (10AM-3:30PM) – In-person – Just Food Community Farm
Small-scale farm irrigation and equipment use
For more information on the full 12-week course, please follow the link below:
*FREE* Spring Training Series for New Farmers including New Canadian Farmers: Vegetable Production
from the Just Food Community Farm Team
With widespread damage from the May 22 derecho, many Ottawa region residents were still without internet service on May 24, 2022. To ensure equal access to the sessions, we postponed the start of the Training Series for New/Canadian Farmers to Tuesday May 31 from 6-9pm and delayed the May 24, 26 and 29 sessions.
FULL CALENDAR OF SESSIONS (with new dates) BELOW!
Starting Tuesday, May 31 we are offering a 12-session series of workshops for new and New Canadian farmers, focused on vegetable production and covering a diverse set of topics to prepare you for a role in food production—whether as a paid worker, or starting or enhancing your own farm business.
This 5-week series is offered in English, with 3-hour sessions mostly online Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Some sessions will be in-person at the Just Food Community Farm.
Educational content is geared toward new farmers as well as New Canadian farmers, and is open to all aspiring new farmers who want to update or grow their farming knowledge, or apply their knowledge in a new climate.
Where:
Partly online via Zoom
Partly at Just Food Community Farm
2391 Pepin Court, Blackburn Hamlet
(On bus route #25)
Pre-requisites: None
Language: English
Thanks to funds from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Rural Affairs Office at the City of Ottawa, and Just Food, all courses in this 2022 Spring Training Series are free of charge. (Regularly $500).
To register, please send an email with your contact information to phil@justfood.ca
(Starting this summer, the same training series will also be offered in French, Arabic and Mandarin. You can email Phil above to get more information on these courses.)
Trainers:
Mat Levinson – Capital Greens
Brett Weddle – Cadence Ecological Farm
David Thompson – Farm Labour and Skills Development Project Manager,
National Farmers Union – Ontario
Simon Neufeld, MSc, CCA – Chief Agronomist, Earth Alive Clean Technologies Inc.
Phil Mount – Flat Earth Farm
Moe Garahan – Just Food Community Farm
+ Guest trainers
Full Calendar
Spring Training Series for New Canadian Farmers:
Vegetable Production
1. Tuesday, May 31 (6-9 PM) – Online
Farm worker rights in Ontario
2. Thursday, June 2 (6-9 PM) – Online
Farm Safety
3. Sunday, June 5 (10AM-3:30PM) – In-person – Just Food Community Farm
Small-scale farm irrigation and equipment use
4. Tuesday, June 7 (6-9 PM) – Online
Organic certification and record-keeping
5. Thursday, June 9 (6-9 PM) – Online
Farm Business Planning (including CSA model)
6. Tuesday, June 14 (6-9 PM) – Online
Farm Planning (Financial, Ecological and Social), Investment Strategies and Funding
7. Thursday, June 16 (6-9 PM) – Online
Soil fertility through organic production practices
8. Monday, June 20 (6-9PM) – Online
Best practices for Starts and Transplanting, sourcing supplies (e.g. irrigation)
9. Thursday, June 23 (6-9 PM) – Online
Crop planning and production (includes organic record-keeping, planning for pest
control)
10. Thursday, June 30 (6-9 PM) – Online
Marketing, pricing and sales
11. Tuesday, July 5 (6-9 PM) – Online
Accessing Land; Land tenure agreements
12. Sunday, July 10 (9AM – 12PM) – In-person – Just Food Community Farm
Intensive vegetable production techniques (including pest control) and post-harvest
handling
Youth Coordinator
Type: Part-Time Contract
Anticipated Start Date: Immediate
Time Commitment: 25 hours per month
Compensation: $26/hour
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Just Food, in partnership with the Ottawa Food Policy Council, is looking for an experienced Youth Coordinator to support the development and activities of a new Ottawa Youth Food Policy Council (OYFPC). The purpose of the OYFPC is to create a forum for youth in Ottawa to advance the food justice issues that are of greatest importance, identified by them.
The Ottawa Youth Food Policy Council will be a volunteer space for youth (aged 30 and under) to add their voices and solutions to the dialogue around food security and food justice issues affecting residents in Ottawa, and to advocate in governance and institutional spaces for more just and sustainable food and farming systems. We know that the work of strengthening our food system cannot be done alone and that we are undoubtedly stronger together. The work of the OYFPC will be supported by the Ottawa Food Policy Council, and will seek to work collaboratively with and support those engaged in similar and/or complementary work across Ottawa and coast-to-coast-to-coast.
Just Food welcomes the wide range of lived and academic experiences, viewpoints, and backgrounds that youth in Ottawa have to offer.
What will you be doing?
Working with Just Food and OFPC teams:
- Establish a social media presence for the Ottawa Youth Food Policy Council (e.g. Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, email newsletter) to augment interest in the Council, and regularly update platforms with Council-related news and relevant content.
- Develop and implement strategies and processes for the recruitment of Council members.
- Facilitate events (virtual or in-person TBC) related to youth-involvement in the food justice movement, focusing on issues that are important and relevant for youth.
- Develop and disseminate advocacy materials and resources on identified issues in the upcoming Ontario provincial election and Ottawa municipal election.
- Research upcoming events, workshops, seminars, and conferences accessible to youth on food systems and related topics, and share via social media platforms.
- Facilitate timely translation of material into English and French (as needed with translator), as well as monitor the accessibility and usage of inclusive language in all outgoing communications.
- Facilitate development of OYFPC governance systems and mechanisms.
Who are we looking for?
- An individual 30 or under with a strong interest, curiosity and knowledge about food justice and sustainable food systems in Ottawa.
- Demonstrated ability to positively work across diverse communities using community development approaches, with a focus on partnership/ and relationship building.
- Demonstrated experience in organizational social media communications; virtual and in-person event planning.
- Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
- A creative thinker who takes initiative to do the work, has an eye for detail and works as part of a team.
- Previous experience working (paid or unpaid) in advocacy spaces is an asset.
- Fluent or working level ability in languages outside of English is an asset.
- Must be already based in Ottawa.
If you are interested, please email info@justfood.ca ASAP with the Subject line: OYFPC Candidate, attaching one combined document with your resume and a cover letter expressing your interests in joining our team!
We are interviewing on a rolling basis as resumes come in, starting on May 11 , 2022.
