Fish Are Food ~ Food Connections Gathering

Early bird registration closes tomorrow (Oct. 31) for the Fish Are Food Conference. 

Register Here

Some additional notes of interest about the gathering…

In addition to Jon Crofts of Slow Fish and Codfathers Seafood Market as our keynote, we currently have presentations confirmed for:

–          Kelp aquaculture

–          Small-scale Indigenous gooseneck barnacle fishery

–          Ocean Wise sustainability certification program

–          Processing, receiving and vending fish (Province of BC)

–          Fish-friendly farming and land management practices

–          Exploring a community-supported fishery in Campbell River

We are working to confirm several other exciting workshops, along with a dock tour of fishing boats, a networking dinner on Nov. 28, and a tour of the Walcan processing facility on Quadra Island on Nov. 29.  We will be posting details on the conference website (http://www.islandfoodhubs.ca/food-connections-2019.html) and Facebook events page (https://www.facebook.com/events/366580104273540/) as soon as we can.

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Exploring Potential Opportunities for a Regional Food Innovation and Processing Hub ~ meeting

Please see the meeting invitation from North Island College below. 

Feel free to share this invitation with others as we are interested in gathering as many people as possible who are connected to agriculture, aquaculture and non-timber forest products in the region.

**********************

*Please join us* to explore potential opportunities for the advancement of
a regional food innovation and processing hub: NIC is developing a
feasibility study to be presented to the Ministry of Agriculture within a
month.

We have arranged a virtual meeting between the Port Hardy and Campbell
River campuses for you to participate in the discussion.

Join us at North Island College (Mixalakwila Campus), Room MWC 101:
*Wednesday, October 30 from 10am to 11:20am*

We would appreciate your *RSVP by Friday, October 25* to Ashley.Russo@nic.bc.ca.
We look forward to connecting with you or a representative on October 30th!

Food Connections Conference 2019

Registration to our Bi-Annual Food Connections Conference is open now.  The theme for this years gathering is “Fish Are Food”.

The conference is being held in Campbell River this year on November 28th.

As always we have 5 seats being held for people our region.  Please let me know if you plan on attending the conference and if you would like assistance with organizing carpooling.   My email is leslie.dyck11@gmail.com

Follow this link to register for your tickets.  You can find more information about this years gathering and past gatherings on our Island Food Hubs website

 

Neighbourhood Small Grants Program, Mount Waddington

I want to tell you about a new program that has been launched in our area.  It is called the Mount Waddington Neighbourhood Small Grant program, and I (Leslie Dyck) am our local Coordinator. Our region has been welcomed as part of a newly formed Island Wide network, but the NSG program is in its 20th year.

This program is built on the principals of asset based community building, and the belief that everyone has something to share.

The main goals and objectives of the NSG program are:

• Connecting and Engaging Neighbours
• Sharing Skills and Knowledge
• Respecting and Celebrating Diversity
• Strengthening Belonging and Responsibility

We are currently accepting applications for our local grant program.

Applications close on March 15. Apply now and make a difference in your community! 

Below is some quick information about our local NSG program.

• This year our theme is “Making Connections over Food and Sharing Food Knowledge”.
• Anyone can apply for the grants, and youth led projects are encouraged.  If you (or a youth you know or work with) happen to be working on a project that with a little funding could bring it to life, please apply.
• The money does not have to be paid back.
• “Community” and “Neighbourhoods” can mean different things and they don’t necessarily need to be defined only by the physical sense of the word.  A community could mean a school community, a community of gardeners, or a group of people who have a shared passion (i.e wanting to discuss and share about fermented foods). In your application you will have the opportunity to define the community you are planning/hoping to bring together.
• Applications are due March 15 and funding will be awarded in early April.
• The proposed project needs to be completed by September.
•  Here is a link to the eligibility requirements for our area.

Here is a link to some videos of what other have done in previous years.  There are a lot of stories and inspiring examples to explore on the website.

 

Please connect with me if you have questions about the program.  Here is a link to the application.  I am hoping to see an abundance of applications for projects come in from our around our region including  youth led/co-lead ones.

Bye for now,

Leslie

 

 

 

Strengthening your Immune System through Cold and Flu season.

Below are a few tips for strengthening your immune system through the cold and flu season.

Eat well: A healthy diet is essential to keep your immune system working its best

• Eat 7-12 vegetables and fruits every day.
• Brightly coloured vegetables are especially high in antioxidants. You need about 200 mg of Vitamin C per day to help fight colds. 200 mg of vitamin C equals 4-6 servings of fruits and vegetables such as peppers, broccoli, strawberries, oranges, grapefruit and berries.
• Choose protein foods at all meals and snacks: fish, beans, peanut butter, eggs, nuts/seeds, lean chicken, turkey and meats.
• Eat foods high in healthy omega-3 fats often (i.e. salmon, trout, eulachons, sardines, walnuts, ground flax, hemp hearts)
• Processed foods are full of preservatives, sugar, additives, and fats and are low in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
• Drink enough water: Water helps flush waste products from your body. Keeping the mucosal lining in your lungs and sinuses hydrated boosts immunity.

For more evidence-based info, visit the newly updated Canada’s Food Guide:

This post was written by Kimberley Toonders (formerly Kim Black). Kim is an RD who works as a  Public Health Dietitian with North Island Public Health, Island Health.  Her role includes working with communities throughout the North Island to promote food security, and act as a healthy eating resource for early years programs and other community based health programs.  She also works with the 4 North Island School Districts to support healthy schools initiatives.  You can reach Kimberley at Kimberley.Toonders@viha.ca or 250-850-2115.

If you would like to write a guest post or have information to share about your work within our local food system, please connect with Leslie at leslie.dyck11@gmail.com.  

 

Save the Date! April 13, 10-2 Seedy Saturday Port Hardy

This information is so new that we haven’t even made the poster yet! With so many events happening across the region I thought I had better share this date so you can write it into your calendar.  This event is not to be missed!

This event is being held in Port Hardy again this year, and it is in partnership with the North Island Farmers and Artisans Market.  This is a good place to renew your market membership and learn more about becoming part of our vendor team.

Save the Date! Sointula’s Seedy Saturday

A Seedy Saturday Night in Sointula –

Community Awareness and Sointula Resource Centre Fundraiser

** plant starts and seeds for sale/free local seed exchange/growing information and initiatives/ items for raffle such as potted plants, composter/ documentary at 7 pm. (87 minutes)

Date: Saturday March 2, 2019

Time: 4:30 to 8:30 pm

Place: FO Hall (Finnish Organizational Hall)

Refreshments:  coffee, tea, pop and snacks for purchase (savoury and sweet)

Film starts at 7 pm – $10 adults/ all kids by donation or free)

7: 00 pm to 8:30 pm – MODIFIED – full length documentary.

Questions?  contact Stephanie at the Sointula Resource Centre:  sointulainfo@gmail.com

North Island Farmers & Artisans Market Annual General Meeting

Mount Waddington Literacy Fairs ~ opportunity to share, represent & attend

In early 2019 the Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society is hosting two Literacy Fairs in the North Island.

The Mount Waddington Community Food Initiative has been invited to attend both fairs, and to participate in Literacy Activities. There is also an opportunity to share information and resources to help connect attendees to food literacy and food security activity in our region.

Leslie will be attending both Fairs and would like to invite you to volunteer some time to help host our activity (activity ideas welcome)  and table.  We will be promoting the new Neighbourhood Small Grants program, the Local Seasonal Food Challenge, the Food Atlas. and continuing to increase membership on our email list MTWADFOODS and there is plenty of room left on the table!

If you cannot attend the event but have information, resources, business cards, info about upcoming events, etc. that you would like shared, please let Leslie know and she would be happy to do that.

~ Leslie Dyck, Coordinator Mount Waddington Community Food Initiative

Growing the Home Garden: increasing production for market (or home sales or ‘farm gate’ sales)…

Join us for a workshop on increasing production in your garden. Tammas Grogan, a local Urban Farmer, will show us how she plans her garden and offer advice on how we can increase production in our own. Please join your local gardeners and growers for this event which will include an opportunity for discussion.

There is an opportunity to join this workshop by skype, if this is your plan, please rsvp to Leslie Dyck (leslie.dyck11@gmail.com) with your Skype Name.

This workshop is being offered through the Mount Waddington Community Food Initiative in partnership with HardyLocalFoods Foodshare. It is free and open to anyone growing (or planning to grow) for production in the North Island. Please share widely, and bring a friend or neighbour!

Join us at the new NIC campus which is located within the Thunderbird Mall. Thankyou NIC for your continued support and the use of your wonderful space.

Who: This workshop is open to anyone growing (or planning to grow) for production in the North Island. Please share widely, and bring a friend or neighbour!

Where:  NIC (in new location within Thunderbird Mall next to Sacred Wolf)

When:  January 23, 630pm – 730pm

Cost: Free

**If you plan to attend by skype, please RSVP to leslie.dyck11a@gmail.com with your skype name so you can be added into the call.