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!!