TCGN E-News June 2009
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Workshops and Events
Preserving and Canning - the Organic Way
Canadian Organic Growers Events
Whole Foods Demo Kitchen, 87 Avenue Road, Toronto
Wednesday, June 3
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: COG members free, public $5
RSVP required as seating is limited torontochapter@cog.ca
COG Toronto member, Kera Pesall will be demonstrating how we can eat local all year
round through preserving and canning the summer and fall harvest.
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Farm Visit - Heartwood Farm
Saturday, June 20
mid-morning to mid-afternoon
Farm Visit - Heartwood Farm
1 hour northwest of Toronto near Acton, ON
Cost: suggested donation $15 per adult, kids free
Car pooling can be arranged. Bring a picnic lunch.
RSVP required as space is limited torontochapter@cog.ca
Val Steinmann will be welcoming us to her farm. In addition to a CSA providing fresh,
local produce in the Guelph area, her farm has a sugar bush and mixed livestock. She is
looking forward to sharing the story of her farm with us and the challenges and delights
of running a small family farm in Ontario.
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Springboard into Summer Retreat
184 Morrison Point Road, Milford, ON K0K 2P0
Info and cost: www.powerofraw.com or 416-428-1039
A three day retreat and one day fast. Going from Spring into Summer is a great time to
dive into the Living Foods Lifestyle, and what better way is there than with
experiential learning. There will be a great emphasis on the emotional aspects of
embracing a new lifestyle and plenty of time will be given to this, especially to
fasting. The one day fast can be a powerful catalyst to change your eating habits, if
only to add more sprouts and raw vegetables to your diet. Contrary to popular beliefs,
fasting won’t weaken or deplete you. In fact, the opposite is true, particularly if you
fast on green sprouts and vegetable juices as you will at this fasting retreat weekend.
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Green City Workshops: Go Organic!
Saturday, June 13
11 am - 1 pm
Evergreen Brick Works (located on the Bayview Extension (550 Bayview Ave), between the
Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor/Danforth) and Pottery Road)
Cost: $5 donation or Pay What You Can
RSVP and more info: claire@evergreen.ca
Join Evergreen and Garden Jane (Hayes) for a primer on permaculture and the principles
of organic gardening. Learn how to go healthy and holistic in your own garden, and pick
some fresh herbal teas for inspiration. This is a family-friendly event
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Natural Pest and Disease Management Workshop
Thursday, June 11, 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm
HOPE garden, Masaryk Park.
Ever wondered how to control pests and diseases naturally in your garden? Come join
Robert Weeks (a long term gardener at HOPE) to learn more about how to keep your harvest free from pests and diseases. We’ll start in HOPE garden and move to the kitchen at
Masaryk-Cowan CRC to brew up some remedies on the stove.
SPACE IS LIMITED! PLEASE REGISTER by calling or emailing Marina, marina@greenestcity.ca
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Composting Workshop
Thursday, June 18, 6:15pm - 8:15pm
HOPE garden, Masaryk Park
We all know that compost is good for our gardens, but how do we make it ourselves? Our very own Abbey Huggan will lead a composting workshop that will teach you the basic do’s and don’ts about organic composting, plus some tricks about how to turn those nasty greens into black gold for the garden. Don’t miss it!
We’d like to know how many will be attending this workshop, so please be sure to RSVP.
Call or email Marina: marina@greenestcity.ca
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Beyond the garden:
Bookmaking and Storytelling Workshops
Workshop Two: Tuesday, June 16, 7 - 9pm
Books and Bread Festival: Sunday, June 21, 5pm
Parkdale Neighbourhood Church and Drop-In
201 Cowan Ave (in the basement of Epiphany and St. Marks Church)
Join us for a Collaborative Book-Making and Storytelling Process that includes two workshops and culminates at our Books and Bread Festival.
During these workshops you will:
Make a journal or notebook you will take home with you - learn traditional Japanese
stab bound style of bookbinding
Help make a collective book with other organizations in Parkdale
Make images that reflect your answers to these three questions: How do you contribute to
Greenest City and HOPE garden? How does HOPE garden and Greenest City contribute to
Parkdale? And what is a memory of bread that you have?
Take a snapshot of life in Parkdale and those who live here by building a collaborative book
Enjoy conversations with other Parkdalians around a fresh homemade loaf of bread
For more information, please contact Michael:
416-876-5951
diggerburtt@gmail.com
Sponsored by Parkdale Neighbourhood Church and Drop-In and the Making Room Community
Arts Project.
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Calling all friends and supporters of Green Thumbs Growing Kids!
For a decade Green Thumbs has been promoting hands-on learning about food and the environment, for children in Toronto's east downtown. We now operate and support a number of school gardens. We offer after-school and summer programming in school and park sites. Thousands of youth have been touched by our programs, which foster healthy and culturally-appropriate eating choices while developing their skills and self-esteem. Our goal is to develop curriculum, practical experience and networks so that every school in Ontario has a garden, and every child a chance to grow their own fresh food.
We're proud winners of the 2009 Green Toronto Award for Environmental Awareness, for making ecological food production a part of children's school day in the inner city.
Now, Green Thumbs has taken the next step as an organization. We have become an incorporated non-profit organization on the road to charitable status.
Come celebrate at our first Annual General Meeting! Become a member!
Thursday June 25, 2009
5:30 - 9 pm
603-1/2 Parliament St., south of Wellesley
Children welcome. Unfortunately this location is not wheelchair accessible.
Please reply to Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. by June 15 to confirm your attendance.
Membership fee for 2009-1010 is $25 (includes dinner). If this amount is a barrier for your participation, please let us know. Some subsidized memberships are available. If you're already a member, please RSVP.
Cheques may be mailed to:
Green Thumbs Growing Kids
603-1/2 Parliament St., Toronto, ON M4X 1P9
Please include your name, address, telephone number and email address
with your payment.
Note: Nominations for our board of directors are open. If you are
interested in running for a seat, please
contact Joe Durand, President, for more information about our needs
and expectations.
Our founding Board of Directors:
Joe Durand, President, Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Susan Butler, Vice President, Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Elise Houghton, Secretary, Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Kristin Schwartz, Treasurer, Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Green Thumbs Growing Kids
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-876-1480
www.kidsgrowing.ca
kidsgrowing@gmail.com
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Garden Jane Events for families and children
www.gardenjane.com
Sat June 6th, 2 - 7 pm (2 hour workshop, followed by a workbee)
Growing for Success
This informal hands-on workshop is open to home gardeners &
community gardeners wanting to learn more about organic gardening.
Drop in for a part or the whole day if you like. Bring your
questions. Phyllis Rawlinson Park Community Garden, Richmond Hill. Free.
Sorauren Farmers Market food and garden activities. Sorauren Park,
Toronto west end. Free.
Mon June 8th, 3 - 6 pm
Sustainable Food: Food, Body and Soil
Wed June 10th, 6 - 8 pm
An exploration of sustainable food. Topics: What�s in a name? Words to watch for and what they actually mean: organic, local, transitional, GMO, GE, sustainable, fair trade, food miles; Nutrients, from soil to body; How green do we eat?; Food that grows within 100 miles (161 km) and where to get it. Register through
Rebekka Hutton at 416-596-1495 x 244 or rhutton@evergreen.ca
Green City Workshops: Go organic at Evergreen Brick Works
Sat June 13th, 11 am - 1 pm
Join us for a primer on permaculture and the principles of organic gardening. Learn how to go healthy and holistic in your own garden, and pick some fresh herbal teas for inspiration. his is a family-friendly event! To RSVP and for more information, please contact claire@evergreen.ca. $5 donation or Pay What You Can.
Sorauren Farmers Market food and garden activities. Sorauren Park, Toronto west end. Free.
Mon June 15th, 3 - 6 pm
Designing Container Gardens That Work for Young Children�
$30, includes training booklet and materials.
Tues June 16th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Learn how to grow organic vegetables, herbs and other useful plants in containers, types of containers that work best for your child care program, and gardening activities that work with young children. You'll also learn what plants to avoid, so you can focus on hardy, non-toxic varieties that are easily cared for by even the littlest green thumbs. St. Catharines. Register by contacting the Early Childhood Community Development Centre at 905-646-7311 ext. 304 or eccdc@eccdc.org.
Cirque Dirt performs at TOTstock for Fathers Day at Sorauren Park.
Sun June 21st, 2 pm
See Stinky Gardener (Jerome Godboo) and Garden Jane get garden silly. We are on at 2, but the event goes until 5. Sorauren Park, Toronto west end. Free.
For more info on services, events or workshops:
permagarden@yahoo.com
416-536-9144
www.gardenjane.com.
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Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Opportunity
Markham, Stouffville and Richmond Hill area.
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is an alternative local food funding/marketing model. CSA's create a direct link between consumers and food producers diminishing the risk producer bear while raising consumers' awareness of where their food comes from.
New certified organic, biodynamic vegetable and fruit CSA looking for customers in the Markham, Stouffville and Richmond Hill area.
Please call Pat at 905-640-3637.
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Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Opportunity,
Monforte Dairy
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is an alternative local food funding/marketing model. CSA create a direct link between consumers and food producers diminishing the risk producer bear while raising consumers' awareness of where their food comes from.
Monforte Dairy, a local dairy 99.83 miles from Toronto, makes superb, artisinal cheeses from humanely treated, local Ontario sheep and goat milk. They sell their cheeses in Toronto's farmers markets, restaurants and retail stores.
The dairy has started a campaign called Monforte Renaissance to build and open a new dairy by January 2010 in Stratford, ON. They are raising the money for the project through their grassroots CSA subscription program.
This is a chance to be part of what the new dairy means: a secure home for Monforte and the 20-some smallholder/shepherd-owned farms from which Monforte buys its milk; for the local producers who will supply Monforte with the ingredients for new complementary products such as charcuterie, flatbreads and crackers; and for the artisans yet to be - the next generation of cheesemakers who will learn their craft in Monforte's apprenticeship program. In return, you will get some of the best cheese in Ontario.
For more information and details about the various CSA subscriptions offered, see www.monfortediary.com
Join Flock Ewe in Facebook.
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Resources Available
URBAN HARVEST'S NEW HOME
Urban Harvest Garden Alternatives is now open at their new location in Parkdale: 59 Elm
Grove Ave, 2 blocks west of Dufferin, just south of Queen St. West.
This is Urban Harvest's 12th season selling certified organic heirloom plants for
vegetables (over 40 varieties of tomatoes alone), culinary herbs and flowers (native and
non).
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am until 7pm.
Closing at 5 on Sat, Sun. and Mondays.
Providing gardeners with certified organic heirloom seeds and seedlings since 1998!
Urban Harvest is owned by long time TCGN member, Seedy Saturday stalwart and
gardener-extraordinaire Colette Murphy.
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New Book: Let Them Eat Junk: How Capitalism Creates Hunger and
Obesity by Robert Albritton
Published in Canada by Arbeiter Ring Press: orders@litdistco.ca or
www.arbeiterring.com
Capitalism may promise cheap, nutritious food for all, but it has failed to deliver on that promise. This book explores the economics of our food system, and it explains why a quarter of the world's population go hungry despite the fact that enough food is produced worldwide to feed us all.
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Bringing the new faces of agriculture to your home: Everdale’s New
Farmer Calendar is now available on-line!
Consider purchasing a New Farmer Growing Calendar for this year’s growing season, April to December 2009. This calendar has been published by Everdale’s Farmers Growing Farmers (FGF). All proceeds go towards supporting new farmers directly with our farmer to farmer mentoring program. For ordering information and sneak previews go to http://www.everdale.org/node/254
Here are the faces and farms of the new farmers we work with in establishing socially, environmentally and economically sustainable farms. Young people, in their twenties, primarily women, are the fastest growing demographic taking careers in agriculture. Middle aged, “career switchers†are another major segment that is taking up farming. A recent conference for new farmers in Toronto sold out with one-hundred and thirty-five people attending.
(www.everdale.org/newfarmersconference) FGF is a multi-year program that supports new farmers who are pursuing sustainable, direct to market farm enterprises. The foundation of the program is a farm planning course, guiding participants in the development of a comprehensive farm business plan. Central to the program is the passing on of knowledge from farmer to farmer. “Working through each aspect of a customized farm plan, and having direct access to farmer mentors…this is a great model for getting new farms off the ground!â€, commented Val Steinmann, a recent FGF graduate. Exemplary farmers present in class and mentor participants one-on-one. For assistance in finding land, our LandLINK program works towards solutions for farm succession, connecting new farmers with landowners to find the quality land and facilities necessary for their farms in Erin Township. We keep our alumni connected in an ongoing support and resource network with events and workshops. “Most of all, I have gained the confidence to continue farming.†Brenda Hsueh, Black Sheep Farm.
For more information see www.everdale.org or please contact Harris
Ivens, FGF Program Coordinator at: growingfarmers@everdale.org and
647-367-1816
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Organic Gardening Opportunity in Toronto.
Enough of the lawn! I want to grow organic food!
I live in the Lawrence/Bathurst area and have a huge back and front yard. A large portion of the backyard has been dug up and I have grown organic herbs and veggies. No lawn chemicals have been used for over 10 years. I am offering some garden space to do your own thing or create a wonderful, organic veggie garden to share in return for helping maintain the garden i.e. weeding, planting, digging, soil prep, etc. If you have an interest in organic gardening, but don't have a garden, let's talk and of course, you can pull up a lawn chair and relax in the garden anytime. e-mail
Doreen musing@eol.ca
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Jobs
Organic Council of Ontario www.organiccouncil.ca
Position: Executive Director
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Full-time, with some evenings and weekends, some travel required
Anticipated Start Date: July/August 2009
Application deadline: June 15, 2009
Send applications (MS Word or PDF) by email to: Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. (no phone calls
please)
The Organic Council of Ontario thanks all applicants, however only those selected for an
interview will be contacted.
The Organic Council of Ontario is a membership-based non-profit association representing
the organic sector in Ontario. The Executive Director provides leadership for long and
short-term strategic planning; provides strong communication to members, stakeholders,
partners and funders; serves as an
advocate for the organization with government and stakeholders; plays a key role in
fundraising for the organization; and is responsible for running the day-to-day affairs
of the office including finances.
Primary Responsibilities:
* Participates in the strategic planning process; oversees the creation and
implementation of a related operational plan to support Board approved goals &
objectives;
>* Identifies, assesses & informs the Board of Directors of internal and external issues
that affect the organization;
* In addition to the Chair of the Board, acts as a spokesperson for the organization
* Acts as liaison to government and industry;
* Oversees marketing, media relations, public relations and issues management activities;
* Oversees the overall administration and operations of the Council;
* Responsible for the financial management of the organization;
* Provides reporting and financial management of all board-approved programs;
* Works with the Board to secure adequate funding for the organization;
* Researches funding sources, oversees the development of fund raising strategies and
funding proposals
Qualifications:
* Proven leadership and management skills
* Ability to work independently
* Excellent organizational skills
* Strong relationship builder
* Administration experience
* Excellent written, presentation and verbal communication skills
* Fundraising development experience
* Experience in advocating for and on behalf of not-for-profit organizations
* Experience working with governments
* Excellent budgeting and financial management, experience with Simply Accounting an
asset
* Diplomacy, tact, judgment and integrity are essential
>* Experience in the organic sector an asset
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Not Far From The Tree Hub Coordinator – Ward 21, Toronto
Application deadline: June 5th, 2009 @ 5:00 pm EST
Start date: mid to late June, 2009 Location: Ward 21, Toronto
Pay and hours: $20/hour, 20 hours a week for 23 weeks (June-November)
Not Far From The Tree, a project of The Catalyst Centre, is Toronto’s very own fruit tree project. We ensure that the fruit growing in Toronto is picked, shared, eaten, and enjoyed. The core of our programming is our residential fruit-picking program, where we pick fruit from trees that would otherwise go to waste. When fruit tree owners cannot harvest their trees, we send team of volunteers to do it for them. 1/3 of the fruit goes to the fruit tree owners, 1/3 to the volunteers, and 1/3 is distributed (by bicycle or cart) to community organizations in the neighbourhood who can make good use of the fresh fruit.
After a successful first season in 2008, Not Far From The Tree is now preparing to launch its 2009 season. To do so, we are seeking a highly organized and dedicated Hub Coordinator for our original neighbourhood base, Toronto’s Ward 21 (St. Paul’s).
Duties:
• Schedule residential fruit picks for all registered fruit trees in Ward 21
• Coordinate and provide support for volunteers who will lead picks, attend picks, and help otherwise
• Establish and maintain the physical needs of the hub such as equipment and storage
• Liaise with volunteers, fruit tree owners, partner agencies, media and other interested partners
• Assist with planning events for Not Far From The Tree and arrange representation at outreach events
• Report to the Project Coordinator and team of Hub Coordinators regarding progress and outcomes
• Complete, maintain and manage all necessary documentation related to the job (including financial records, narrative reports, statistics, contact lists, etc.)
Qualifications:
• Excellent organizational skills, including program coordination
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, conflict resolution and written communication skills
• A skilled team leader with the ability to work independently
• A thorough understanding of food security and environmental issues, as demonstrated through the achievement of an undergraduate level degree in a related discipline or through equivalent work experience
• Knowledge of environmental, food, and community-based networks and social service agencies
• A demonstrated history of coordinating staff or volunteers
• The ability to communicate in languages which reflect the demographic of the hub (e.g., Spanish, Italian, Tagalog, Portuguese) is an asset
Interested applicants who meet the above criteria are invited to submit a cover letter and résumé to:
Laura Reinsborough, Project Coordinator
laura [at] notfarfromthetree [dot] org.
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Youth Shelter Garden
Second Base Youth Shelter Garden Volunteers are needed at the homeless youth shelter, Second Base, in Scarborough. The chef, who teaches the kids cooking skills and does general cooking for them, wants to organize a vegetable garden in the-full sun back yard of this shelter. If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering for an upcoming gardening initiative at Second Base Youth Shelter we would love to have your support. If you wish to volunteer on the project please attend an information session being hosted at Second Base on May 20th at 7pm in the drop-in space. This orientation session will be kept brief, but we will be discussing plans for the date of planting as well as the direction and vision of the program and how it will impact the youth.
Skills needed for this stage of planning:
--we need people with good gardening skills to help plan the layout of the garden and when and where things should get planted.
--we also need people with experience in working with youth and the challenges they face,
--we will need people with leadership skills, that have experience using general gardening tools and can show the youths and other volunteers how to use them.
--as well we will also appreciate general volunteers, people with a good heart
--we are also looking for a long term volunteer to help teach the staff and youth how to maintain the garden for the season.
If you aren’t currently a staff member or volunteer at Second Base please be sure to bring photo ID for a police check. Volunteers must be twenty-two years of age and older. The shelter is at 702 Kennedy and is in the back of the parking lot for the 'Church of the Epiphany'. It is just south of Kennedy and Eglinton By TTC you can go to Kennedy Subway Station and take the 113 Danforth bus. It is only a few stops, get off at Merrian Rd., in front of Tim Horton's (there is also a Giant Tiger store as a landmark), and walk north along Kennedy. The same bus can also be taken from Main station, but it will take a bit longer.
website: www.secondbase.ca
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Volunteering at the Farm at The Cutting Veg
Join the exciting volunteer team at one of Toronto’s urban farms.
To volunteer contact:
Daniel Hoffmann
The Cutting Veg
(647)388-7444
http://www.thecuttingveg.com
"Cultivating Personal, Social, Environmental, and Economic Health through Organic Agriculture.