3rd Annual Farmers' Forum AND Food 'n' Farm Day @ Mac

Time	Begins at February 29th 9:30 AM EST ending on February 29th 5:30 PM EST
Location	MUSC 318 and MUSC 220
Organizers	February is Farm Month, with support from Hamilton Eat Local and OPIRG McMaster

3rd Annual Farmers' Forum - MUSC 220; 11:30AM - 1:00PM

"So you want to be a farmer: How to become a 'farmionairre' in 90 minutes or less" will be a panel and discussion on starting your own small farm business. 

Hear three proven new farmers talk about their experiences starting their farms: More details on the panelists TBA

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Food 'n' Farm Day @ Mac: MUSC 318, 9:30AM - 4:30PM (again, will change to 5:30 if possible)

Info and discussion sessions start at 1:00PM and 3:00PM (will change to 3:30 if we can get 318 until later)
Public display throughout the day (before and between info sessions)

Come out to learn about and share your experience on these food 'n' farming themes:
1. Opportunites to get involved in food system issus at McMaster and in the community
2. Community Supported Agriculture and Good Food Box programs (what are they and where are they available)
3. Learning to farm: opportunities close to home and abroad
4. Ways to incorporate food and farming into your studies


Because of space limitations, an RSVP is suggested but not required for both the Farmers' Forum and info & discussion sessions. For more info or to reserve your space, contact Lynnette: nyakio@ymail.com 


Details on other February is Farm Month 2012 events can be found at http://www.environmenthamilton.org/

The Community Food Festival at the Hamilton Farmers' Market, part of FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH!

"COOKING WITH THE COUNCILLORS" & More!

This food and fun-filled event took place on Saturday February 25th, and was sponsored by Hamilton Eat Local, the Hamilton Farmers' Market, and the Community Food Security Stakeholder Committee (CFSSC). Participating community groups included the North Hamilton Community Health Centre (NHCHC), the Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN), and Hamilton Partners In Nutrition (HPIN). This event was part of FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH, and inlcuded a Rural Routes bus tour to Old 99 Farm in Copetown.

Councillor Brenda Johnson, Karen Burson and Katie Stiel

At the market, special guests included:

• Lynn Ogryzlo, author of The Ontario Table
• Councillor Robert Pasuta
• Councillor Brenda Johnson
• Councillor Brian McHattie
• Councillor Jason Farr

Special thanks to Wendy, our tireless kitchen volunteer and Sapphire Singh, the Community Kitchen Coordinator!

Today's recipes: Apple, Cheddar & Bacon Savoury Muffins and Apple-Cranberry Muffins

Community Food Festival at the Hamilton Farmers' Market - Saturday February 25th

FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH CONTINUES!!

FEBRUARY 25 COMMUNITY FOOD FESTIVAL (noon to 6pm) & FARM FAIR (sorry, cancelled) sponsored by the Community Food Security Stakeholder Committee (CFSSC) and the Hamilton Farmers' Market

Spend some time with special guest, food writer Lynn Orgryzlo who will be selling and signing copies of her amazing new book, The Ontario Table, a fine resource that covers regions right across the province, including ours!! Community groups interested in food will have displays up to introduce their programs at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Community Kitchen.

11:00 - 11:30 am - Karen Burson answers the question "What Is Food Security?"

• The Ontario Table book signing with Lynn Ogryzlo: noon - 4pm
• 30-minute cooking demos: "Cooking with the Councillors" with Katie Stiel of Environment Hamilton & Cable 14 and Karen Burson of Hamilton Eat Local

Noon Councillor Robert Pasuta

1pm Councillor Brenda Johnson

2pm Councillor Brian McHattie

3pm Councillor Jason Farr

• Meet some of your community food organizations and learn about their activities
• Free admission to all events!

Drop in before or after your Rural Routes Farm Bus Tour, if you will be on the trip Juby has organized, visiting Ian Graham's Old 99 Farm!

FEBRUARY 25 RURAL ROUTES: Permaculture at Old 99 Farm – the newest in a series of our award-winning Farm Tours, led by Juby Lee of Hamilton Eat Local, a project of Environment Hamilton.

Farmer Ian Graham will lead a tour of his farm and answer questions about his sustainable farming methods. Tickets are: $7 for adults and $5 for seniors/children 12 and under, and will be sold at Homegrown Hamilton - 27 King William Street (former Bread & Roses Cafe).
Rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.
Cash only, please!

FEB IS FARM MONTH - is going strong!

What a great launch! Thanks to everyone who came out to Karen's "Know Your Roots" cooking demo at the Hamilton Farmers' Market Community Kitchen and supported our FEB IS FARM MONTH launch.

Special thanks to our volunteers, Sarah and Chris. They helped us hand out cupcakes made by Cupcake Diner using Carluke Orchard apples.

Shout out to Sapphire and volunteer Wendy for all their help!

FEB IS FARM MONTH is chock full of events.
Upcoming include:

FEBRUARY 10 - Art Crawl Information Night and EH Open House - We’re inviting local organic CSA farms to set up displays and get people signed up for 2012 shares. Not sure what a CSA is? Want more information about FIFM? Come on down! This event runs 7-9 pm. Check out Art Crawl afterwards! Free event.

FEBRUARY 18 - The HOMEGROWN HOEDOWN @ HAMILTON HOMEGROWN, 27 King William With local organic food and drink on their menu, this is the place where good food, live music and great friends collide! Headliner Laura Repo will bring her smart country pop style to the café along with some hometown favourites. Visit her website and you’ll be able to stream her new album, “Get Yourself Home”: http://laurarepo.ca/ Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm, with tickets $8 at the door. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales goes towards supporting Hamilton Eat Local's Operation Smoothie program.

PLUS! FEBRUARY 18 - Hamilton Community Garden Network is hosting their "Seedy Saturday" at Ryerson United Church. (842 Main Street East, Hamilton) from 11am - 4pm.

There will be workshops, seed swaps, refreshments, vendors and door prizes. It's a great time to stock up for this season, find some unique seeds and swap some heritage seeds you may already have. Also a great time to learn about community gardening in Hamilton, meet local environmental organizations and network.

"Nourishing Hamilton" - good food, great crowd, and a wonderful FIFM "kick-off"!

Thanks to the team of organizers and panelists, our poster artist Miranda Kett, Matt Thompson and the great folks at the FRWY Coffee house, but most of all thanks to YOU for coming out to our event!

Panelists: Bill Wilcox, Pastor Loretta Jaunzarins, Crystle Numan, Clare Wagner and Mark & Tania Veenstra; Moderator Karen Burson

This night could not have come together as a free gathering without the generous support of our Sponsors: Faith & The Common Good and Canadian Organic Growers (COG).

Special extra super-thanks to Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko of Environment Hamilton for coming forward with this idea, getting the ball rolling, helping to finance the event and keeping us all inspired! And let's not forget the awesome efforts of the indomitable Juby Lee, also of Environment Hamilton!!

"Nourishing Hamilton: Food, Faith and Our City"

Click Here to see the Youtube trailer for Nourish Peterborough

FEBRUARY 2 "NOURISHING HAMILTON: Food, Faith and Our City", sponsored by Environment Hamilton’s Faith and the Common Good project and Canadian Organic Growers and hosted by theFRWY Coffee House

We will screen Nourish Peterborough, a homey documentary about some of the forward-thinking community food initiatives led by Peterborough people who care, as well as groups such as community gardens and non-profit projects such as Come Cook with Us and activist group Food Not Bombs. Also profiled in the film is the YMCA Peterborough’s “JustFood” program which strives to make high quality local organic produce available to all, regardless of a person’s level of income. Nourish Peterborough presents some heartwarming stories and some heartbreaking ones, too, but overall it is definitely inspiring!The film will be followed by a panel discussion of local organic heroes and as much community engagement as we can muster!

Panelists: Bill Wilcox - Community Gardening Expert, Pastor Loretta Jaunzarins - Grace Lutheran Church, Crystle Numan - Environment Hamilton, Mark and Tania Veenstra - Boar & Chick Farm

Moderator: Karen Burson - Environment Hamilton

• FRWY coffee house (333 King Street East)
• Free admission
• A special organic vegan chili on the menu
• Doors open at 6:30, film starts at 7pm, organic panel and q&a, 10pm close

"Nourishing Hamilton: Food, Faith and Our City" is a FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH event!

February Is Farm Month 2012

EVENT LISTINGS

FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH 2012

FEBRUARY 2 "NOURISHING HAMILTON: Food, Faith and Our City", sponsored by Environment Hamilton’s Faith and the Common Good project and Canadian Organic Growers and hosted by the FRWY Coffee House

We will screen Nourish Peterborough, a homey documentary about some of the forward-thinking community food initiatives led by Peterborough people who care, as well as groups such as community gardens and non-profit projects such as Come Cook with Us and activist group Food Not Bombs. Also profiled in the film is the YMCA Peterborough’s “JustFood” program which strives to make high quality local organic produce available to all, regardless of a person’s level of income. Nourish Peterborough presents some heartwarming stories and some heartbreaking ones, too, but overall it is definitely inspiring! The film will be followed by a panel discussion of local organic heroes and as much community engagement as we can muster!

• FRWY coffee house (333 King Street East)
• Free admission
• A special organic vegan chili on the menu
• Doors open at 6:30, film starts at 7pm, 10pm close

FEBRUARY 4 February Is Farm Month LAUNCH HOUR (noon - 1pm) with Hamilton Eat Local at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Kitchen. Fun, light refreshments and FIFM information will be served!!

FEBRUARY 10 FIFM Art Crawl Information Night and EH Open House We’re inviting local organic CSA farms to set up displays and get people signed up for 2012 shares. Not sure what a CSA is? Want more information about FIFM? Come on down! This event runs 7-9 pm.

FEBRUARY 18 The HOMEGROWN HOEDOWN @HOMEGROWN HAMILTON, 27 King William With local organic food and drink on their menu, this is the place where good food, live music and great friends collide! Headliner Laura Repo will bring her smart country pop style to the café along with some hometown favourites performing as well. Visit her website and you’ll be able to stream her new album, “Get Yourself Home”: http://laurarepo.ca/ Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm, with tickets $8 at the door. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales goes towards supporting Hamilton Eat Local's Operation Smoothie program.

FEBRUARY 25 COMMUNITY FOOD FESTIVAL (noon to 6pm) & FARM FAIR (10am to 4pm) sponsored by the Community Food Security Stakeholder Committee (CFSSC) and the Hamilton Farmers' Market

Spend some time with special guest, food writer Lynn Orgryzlo who will be selling and signing copies of her amazing new book, The Ontario Table, a fine resource that covers regions right across the province, including ours!! Community groups interested in food will have displays up to introduce their programs at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Community Kitchen. Nearby at Homegrown Hamilton, farm organizations will be there to meet you, so come on down and meet the farmers!

• NOTE: Noon to 6pm for the Community Food Festival -- 10am to 6pm for the Farm Fair
• Ontario Table book signing with Lynn Ogryzlo: time TBA
• Free admission to both!

Drop in before or after your Rural Routes Farm Bus Tour, if you will be on the trip Juby has organized, visiting Ian Graham's Old 99 Farm.

FEBRUARY 25 RURAL ROUTES: Permaculture at Old 99 Farm – the newest in a series of our award-winning Farm Tours, led by Juby Lee of Hamilton Eat Local, a project of Environment Hamilton.

Farmer Ian Graham will lead a tour of his farm and answer questions about his sustainable farming methods. Tickets are: $7 for adults and $5 for seniors/children 12 and under, and will be sold at Homegrown Hamilton - 27 King William Street (former Bread & Roses Cafe).
Rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.
Cash only, please!

FEBRUARY 29 FOOD ‘N’ FARM DAY at MAC and our Third Annual Farmers' Forum An information and opportunities forum for students, faculty, staff and community members with a passion for food systems issues. Events will run from 10:30-4:00, exact sessions and locations on campus TBA. Watch for more details! Admission will be free!! Thanks to recent Mac grad Lynnette Hornung and Chris Krucker of Manorun Farm for organizing this informative day.

MARCH 1 FOOD & YOUTH DAY @ Parkview Seconday, for Parkview students, parents, teachers and guests only! Let us know if you’d like us to visit your school next year!

Other Great Community Food Events in February

FEBRUARY 4 - KNOW YOUR ROOTS Free Cooking Demo by The Eklectic Kitchen at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Community Kitchen, 11am

How do you eat local all-year round? It’s easy when you KNOW YOUR ROOTS! Let’s face it, imported strawberries, asparagus and other seasonal treasures are NOT “just as good” in the middle of winter. They can’t possibly match the freshness, variety, versatility and taste of locally grown underground goodness. How do you store root veggies, how can you cook them… and how do you enjoy them raw? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Join Karen for another fun cooking demonstration complete with quips, tips and delicious samples. Followed by the February Is Farm Month Launch Hour at noon.

FEBRUARY 18 - Seedy Saturday by Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN), 11- 4 pm at Ryerson United Church, 842 Main St. E.

Learn about local community gardens and organizations, get seeds through exchanges and vendors, attend workshops, meet other gardening enthusiasts, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes. Entrance by donation. Site fully accessible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT KAREN BURSON: kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org

FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH is back!

Hamilton Eat Local is pleased to announce that FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH is coming soon!
Stay tuned for a month chock full of eat local events.

Locke Street Holdiay Market - THIS Saturday is their last day!

Locke Street is having their LAST Holiday Market THIS Saturday Dec 17th.

10am-5pm 211 Locke Street S (Fenian Films)

FEATURING: local arts and crafts, holiday music, food and beverages PLUS! vendors from the Locke Street Farmers' Market.

Jerry's Berries will be selling frozen raspberries - while supplies last!

Richardsons Farm will be there selling their preserves, baked goodies, honey, maple syrup, sweet potatoes and apples!

Tool Drive at Parkview School

The Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN) is holding a tool drive!

Wednesday, December 14^th from 6:00-9:00pm
Parkview Secondary School, located at 60 Balsam Avenue North in Hamilton.

The Network will be collecting new or gently used tools for community garden projects throughout Hamilton, including Oliver’s Garden Project and a Community Garden Tool Trailer.

The evening also will include a student talent show (starting at 6:30pm), light refreshments for sale and the sale of herbs and house plants to support the Growing Parkview Project. This project will be growing vegetable seedlings in the spring for distribution to community gardens.