Near North Locavores

Read "Locavore" by Sarah Elton Online or Watch Food Inc Online

2010-04-14T20:04:00.001-04:00

"Locavore: From Farmers' Fields to Rooftop Gardens - How Canadians are Changing the Way We Eat" by Sarah Elton is available to read online ( follow hyperlink)

And Food Inc is now available on CBC's Website

Looking for New Board Members for Key Positions

2010-04-07T14:12:00.000-04:00

If you are passionate about the local food movement, then consider joining our board.
If you are interested please make application to Shelly Rahme, Chair of the Near North Locavores by sending an e-mail to nearnorthlocavores@hotmail.com

Michael Pollan's new book: Food Rules: An Eaters Manual

2010-03-26T20:34:00.000-04:00

Watch this video from ForaTv: Michael Pollan, one of the best-known names in food-related issues, offers a guide about health and food. Food Rules: An Eater's Manual is a set of memorable ideas for eating wisely. Many of them are drawn from a variety of ethnic or cultural traditions. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this handy, pocket-size resource is for people who would like to become more mindful of what they are eating.Pollan is the author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, The Omnivore's Dilemma and The Botany of Desire. The event took place in San Fransico on January 23, 2010

http://fora.tv/2010/01/23/Michael_Pollan_on_Food_Rules_An_Eaters_Manual#fullprogram

Near North Locavore's Annual General Meeting, Tuesday March 16, 2010 at the North Bay Public Library, 5-8pm

2010-03-04T08:28:00.000-05:00

Please, Join us at our Annual General Meeting, Tuesday March 16, 2010 at the North Bay Public Library (downstairs in the auditorium) from 5-8pm.

E-mail us at nearnorthlocavores@hotmail.com for a copy of the agenda

A few photos from the seed exchange

2010-02-27T19:43:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone:
We have added a few photos to our blog from the seed exchange which took place earlier today (Saturday Feb. 27, 2010) at Discovery North Bay Museum 100 Ferguson St.
Check out the article on the North Bay Nugget at:http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2470558

Thanks to all who volunteered and who participated in the event: Near North Locavores, Heritage Gardeners, Master Gardeners, The North Bay Horticultural Society, City of North Bay Waste Managemnt Department, Phelps School Community Garden, Vested Interest, Greening Nipissing, Pie Bird Bed & Breakfast, Hibou Boutique and Golden Beef.

Photos are copyright of Michael Puccini, thanks Michael for letting us use them for the blog.

We look forward to a bigger and better event next year!

Door Prizes and Winners:

Thanks to all the donors of door prizes for this event.

The Cottage Gardener's Container Garden Heirloom Seed Collection donated by the Near North Locavores was won by Elspeth A.
A second Cottage Gardener's Container Garden Heirloom Seed Collection deonted by the Near North Locavores was won by Kevin B.
The Jiffy Heated Greenhouse donated by the North Bay Heritage Gardeners was won by Maryanna N.
The Seed Keeper binder donated by Pam H to the Heritage Gardeners for the event was won by Maureen R.
The Spring bulb container garden donated by the North Bay Horticultural Society was won by Kim M.
The Haworthia faciata houseplant donated by the North Bay Hortcultural Society was won by Muriel A.
The Cactus houseplant donated by the North Bay Horticutural Society was won by Charles D.
The large Kleeen Kanteen donated by Hibou Boutique was won by Nicole D.
The Green ball cap donated by Greening Nipissing was won by Andrea D.
The T-Shirt Donated by Greening Nipissing was wn by Vicki A.
The Cook Book donated by the Phelps School Community Garden w won by Charles G.
The Turtle and Hannah's story donated by Vested Interest was won by Liz L.
The Concert Tickets and Soggy Creek Seeds donated by PieBird Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay was won by Marg G.

Congratulations to all the winners and we hope you to see you all next year!

Near North Locavores and Heritage Gardeners Host a seed Exchange Saturday February 27, 2010 from 2-4pm

2010-02-11T16:21:00.000-05:00

On Saturday February 27, 2010 from 2-4 pm, The Heritage Gardeners and the Near North Locavores are hosting a “Seedy Saturday” at the Discovery North Bay Museum in the upper gallery. Admission to this event is free.

Come and trade seeds with others or purchase them from our seed exchange table for a nominal fee if you have none to trade. You may also purchase seeds from local independent growers or commercial seed booths. Learn how to start seeds and how to save seeds for next year. Ask questions of a Master Gardener; learn more about local gardening and environmental groups. Learn about the local food movement or purchase some local food. There will also be some environmentally friendly products available for purchase from local vendors.

Food, Inc. is Screening in North Bay!

2009-10-05T08:07:00.000-04:00

If you are a person in Northern Ontario that is concerned about food and farming, you definitely won't want to miss this!

Food, Inc. is going to be screening in North Bay's Galaxy Cinema on Wednesday October 21st, 2009 at 7:30 pm. The show is being hosted by North Bay Film {go check out their webby for other awesome movies coming to town!}.

This blurb is from North Bay Films info page about Food, Inc.

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

And here is a trailer:

Conference about Local Food & the History of Subsistence Comes to North Bay

2009-09-27T11:03:00.000-04:00

This week from October 2nd to the 4th, there is a Conference about local food and the history of subsistence coming to North Bay. It is being hosted by Department of History and the Canada Research Chair in Environmental History at Nipissing University and Network in Canadian History of the Environment.

The Conference is being kicked off with a panel discussion with some Near North Locavores members, as well as a local producer. The info about this even was forwarded by one of the organizers, James Murton:

Contemplating Local Food: An Evening at the Kennedy Gallery

Where does your food come from? Does it matter? How do you "eat locally" in northern Ontario?

On Friday evening, October 2, join a panel of local food providers and activists for a lively discussion of why local food matters, and what they are trying to do about it.

Brought to you by the Department of History and the Canada Research Chair in Environmental History at Nipissing University, and the Network in Canadian History of the Environment.

Panelists

Jeremy St. Onge, wild foods enthusiast, aminita to zinania
Dave Lewington, Dalew Farms, Lavigne, ON
Lucy Emmott, gardener

Where and When

Friday, Oct 2, 6:30 pm (panel begins at 7:30)
W.K.P. Kennedy Gallery
150 Main St E
North Bay, ON

For more information contact James Murton at jamesm at nipissingu dot ca (replace "at" and "dot" with appropriate symbols) or 705 474-3450 x4402.

The actual Conference will be held at Nipissing University's Monastery Hall from October 3rd to the 4th. You can find more info about it here.

Harvest Festival at the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market!

2009-09-16T08:42:00.000-04:00

Woman Harvester by Kanuty Rusiecki, 1844.

This is a press release from the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market:

Well folks, we are drawing close to the end of another North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market season...

WAIT! IT’S NOT OVER YET!!

This coming Saturday September 19, the Downtown Farmers’ Market will be hosting

their Annual Harvest Festival. Friends & family are welcome to visit the

same great location – the parking lot on McIntyre St. East – across from City Hall.

This Saturday only from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, kids can stay & play awhile at the FREE

Activity Centre. There will even be pumpkins to decorate!! There are a limited number of FREE

giveaways, so get there early to claim yours! Kids are also welcome to enter the

Harvest Festival Colouring Contest and prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

Participation at the Activity Centre including the colouring contest is FREE!

All kids will receive a Certificate and goodies for joining in the fun.

There is lots of free parking, and the Market is OPEN until Thanksgiving weekend (October 10th) “rain or shine”, every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

See what your North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market, has to offer you!

For more upcoming Special Event dates & information, or to learn more about the Market’s vendors please visit the NEW Market website at: http://www.northbayfarmersmarket.com/

Buy Local, Share Local

2009-09-06T09:28:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market Buy Local, Share Local had a booth for the day.

By Local, Share Local is a food security campaign sponsored by the Ontario Association of Food Banks and the RBC Foundation, along with partners Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Turkey Farmers of Ontario, Homegrown Ontario, and Ontario Farm Animal Council.

The project has been touring farmers markets across Ontario, where they are encouraging folks to buy local produce and to donate some to food banks, along with accepting food donations on the spot.

When they stopped by North Bay yesterday, they were collecting food for the North Bay Food Bank, and we had many generous folks stopping by the Locavore booth to purchase food to donate!

I am not quite sure how much food donations were collected, but the information should be on the Buy Local, Share Local blog. To see the rest of the farmers markets they will be stopping at
(and where they have already been) click here.

An Inspiring Story from Cache Bay

2009-08-27T18:29:00.000-04:00

Cache Bay woman experimenting with exotic crops
source

Greenery from around the world is sprouting in Cache Bay.

Jeanne Labonte's garden on Anderson Road features purple corn from Peru and a Russian sunflower that towers at three metres -- and it's still a baby," she says.

I look for different exotic things that normally don't grow here," says the 45-year-old, who bought seeds online from around the world.

Her purple corn from Peru surprised her.

I didn't think it would grow here," she says, pointing out a corn stalk that has grown to the roof of her garage.

And with Mother Nature being less than giving this summer, it leaves Labonte to wonder what would happen in a better growing season.

I am sure everything would be a lot bigger."

Monica McLaren, a master gardener with the North Bay's Heritage Gardeners, says it is not uncommon for different seeds to take in this climate.

It depends on the length of the season and how many days are required for the plants full length of maturity," she says.

Seeds can also be started indoors giving those who would like to experiment a leg up on growing.

In Labonte's numerous garden boxes, she has corn of all colours including ruby red, red stalker, strawberry, blue, baby ear and peaches and cream.

And her bean collection -- featuring European Helda, Big Mama lima beans from New Jersey and French purple pole beans -- would put some markets to shame.

Adding to the rainbow are chocolate cherry tomatoes and purple tomatoes.

Her scores of gourds include a batwing pumpkin which is orange on top and black on the bottom.

This year it is kind of like a test garden," she says. Next year, I will actually plant rows of purple corn and stuff I have experimented with this year because I know it will grow in our climate."

And that is the best part. What excites me the most is

seeing what I can produce from a seed and to see if it will grow."

Another Photo Update of the Locavore Community Garden

2009-08-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Just another quick update of how things around the garden are looking. We have some more ripe nightshade toms (yay!), we had surprise chamomile show up in our poppy pot, the bush nasturtiums are blooming, and so are the peas, pole beans and bush beans. Enjoy!

Sage & Timely Advice About Canning Tomatoes

2009-08-19T15:31:00.000-04:00

Thinking about canning tomatoes this year? Go over and read Late blight warning: Don’t can those tomatoes! over at Poor Richard's Almanac (and have a look at the rest of their blog while your at it!).

Corn Festival at the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market!

2009-08-18T08:17:00.001-04:00

Photo from Vassia Atanassova

Here is info about the upcoming Corn Festival at the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market from the Market's website:

On Saturday August 22nd the North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market will be hosting it’s Annual Corn Festival. Bring the whole family to experience a wide variety of quality locally gown and handmade products. Get to the market early on this day to get your cobs for corn-roast season!! Bags and bags of super-sweet corn will be available from select vendors!

Support the Market by visiting the Market Booth (located in or about the centre of the Market) to get your drinks and snacks. And on August 22nd only you can enjoy hot, buttered corn served fresh on the cob and piping hot. Seasoned with salt and pepper and slathered with butter, corn on the cob is a taste treat that is enjoyed by people universally. You can buy a sweet, juicy, delicious cob of corn for $1.00 each. All proceeds from the Corn Festival go towards the dream of a permanent home.

There is lots of FREE parking and the Market is open “rain or shine” every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Bring your friends & family to the same great location --parking lot #11 on McIntyre St. across from City Hall {behind the TD Canada Trust on Main St.}

Hope to see you there!

Phelps Community Gardens in Redbridge

2009-08-10T13:03:00.000-04:00

Volunteers working in the garden {photo by Keri Edmunds Mulka}

In the Spring 2008 community members of Redbridge got together to create Phelps Community Gardens on the property of Phelps Central School on Glenvale Drive. Here is a little blurb about the group from their Facebook page:

We are a group of community members committed to strengthening our local school, the community we live in, and most importantly educating & inspiring through gardening. The schools gardens is a fun way to expand curriculums, conservation efforts, to develop a healthy understanding of nutrition, and to further the academic achievement through hands-on learning.

Phelps Central School students getting ready to work {photo by Keri Edmunds Mulka}

The group is a grassroots organization that runs largely on material and financial donations from community members and the work of dedicated volunteers. The group did receive a small grant from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unity through the Take Heart Ontario program (the same funding source that the Locavores got this year for our Community Garden) for material start up costs.

Phelps Community Gardens does sell some produce from time to time and also have a neat little cookbook that was created by SOFA Communications, a company which donated its designing services for the cookbook project.

The Community Gardens is in its second year, and the group is very excited to have the children come back to school so they can enjoy the garden!

On a suitable day in late September or early October, students will get to enjoy a harvest festival where they will harvest the veggies, collect seeds, and enjoy a feast made from food in the garden.

Each class is responsible for its own part of the garden {photo by Keri Edmunds Mulka}

This is a fantastic project and the Near North region needs more like it. If you would like more information you can check out the group's Facebook page, and if you are interested in making a donation, volunteering, or purchasing a cookbook, please call Keri Edmunds Mulka at (705) 663-2885.

Calling All Local Producers: Great Opportunity with Vested Interest!

2009-08-08T19:18:00.000-04:00

We are please to announce our support for a new and exciting venture that is being undertaken by Vested Interest that is both sure to benefit local food producers, as well as local eaters!

A little while back, Brent and Jenn Bywater, the owners of Vested Interest has approach the Near North Locavores with their idea. They are looking to carry products grown and made by local producers in their store, which is centrally located in downtown North Bay.

To start with they are looking to carry products with a longer shelf life, and may expand further to other products, dependent on the success of this initial trial run.

If you are a producer who might be interested in getting involved (or know of another Near North food producer who might be, for more information and application please contact Jenn and Brent Bywater at (705) 474-5055 or email them at jen@vestedinterest.ca.

More Locavore Community Garden Photos

2009-08-06T15:10:00.000-04:00

This is just a quick photo update of the Near North Locavore community garden. These have been taken over the last couple of weeks, including a few yesterday. Enjoy!

Lemon balm

Nasturtiums

Cilantro

Peas

The last poppy in bloom

Bush beans

Sweet marjoram ready to be harvested!

Peas

More peas

Rainbow Swiss chard

Finally! Some ripe tomatoes!

The shade garden got a bit of a makeover {stones that we dug up when creating the garden beds}

Pretty purple flowers that I have no idea what they are called {does anyone know?}

Sweet basil {looking a little sad due to all the rain and attention from the ear wigs!}

Nasturtiums

Herbs packaged and ready for the Amelia Rising food bank! {pictured: peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, sweet basil, oregano, sweet marjoram, parsley, garden sage, tri coloured sage, pineapple sage, English thyme, rosemary, and cilantro.}

2009 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo in Temiskaming

2009-08-05T08:59:00.000-04:00

From September 22nd to 26th, Earlton Municipality (in Temiskaming) will host the first ever International Plowing Match & Rural Expo in Northern Ontario. Here is a blurb about the event from the website:

...the IPM 2009 will be geared to all ages and all interests, providing a perfect venue for education, awareness and entertainment. Its sheer size and diversification will provide areas of interest for everyone. There will be displays of antique equipment from the mining, forestry and agricultural sectors, local food sampling, forest harvesting demonstrations, fashion shows, a quilt tent, musical entertainment, dance troupes, traditional French Canadian singers and native wind singers and dancers. We will showcase the culture and heritage of Northern Ontario and focus on the growth of our natural resources in mining, forestry and agriculture.

The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo will also feature over 100 acres of Tented City showcasing 600 exhibitors. From a fantastic educational program, including little sprouts tent to interactive exhibits, a Show Ring Corral, Queen of the Furrow competition, Theatre Tent, and of course plowing competitions. There literally is something for everyone. These are just a few of things to discover at the IPM!

Go check out the website for more details. Hope to see you there!

Workshop Topic Survey

2009-07-28T16:17:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow folks in the Near North!

The Locavores are looking for your input on what type of topics you would be interested in seeing us host in the next upcoming year. Please take a moment to fill out our survey.

Thanks!

Click here to take our Online Survey

A Great Video on Local Food from Northern Edge Algonquin

2009-07-23T09:45:00.000-04:00

Near North Locavore member and kitchen and garden manager at Northern Edge Algonquin Greg Waters talks with Todd Lucier (also of Northern Edge) about local and organic food, and
gives a tour of the garden at Northern Edge and local farmers' markets. This video was shot last summer.

Enjoy the video!

Photos from the Locavore Community Garden

2009-07-22T07:10:00.000-04:00

Finally here are a few photos of the Locavore garden!

It is a mish-mash of photos from different times, and we will get more taken once there is more to see. ;)

First, the overall layout of the garden:

We started this from scratch...lifting the sod, and then digging about 1.5 feet down and adding compost. No easy task, even with such a small garden! It is a grid of 20 deep beds, that vary in size, but none more than 4 feet across (for easy access).

This is a view facing West, showing the whole garden, including the containers (there are newly planted peas in the recycle bins, and other veggies and herbs in the containers).

Facing South, there are tomatoes in the first bed, then nasturtiums, dill, carrots, and cilantro in the beds behind.

Again facing South, there are nasturtiums, pole beans, bush beans, carrots, onions, chard, and chives in this row of beds.

Again bush beans, pole beans, nasturtiums, chard, lettuce, carrots, and beets.

This is the last row of beds. Pole beans, beets, nasturtiums, lettuce, and spinach.

And now here are some random shots of the garden:

Mint in the shade garden

Double chamomile

Daisy fleabane

Pansies

Chives

Lemon balm

More mint

Thyme

Tomatoes

Sweet woodruff in the shade garden

Lady's mantle in the partial shade garden

More sweet woodruff

Oregano

Ryerson University Offers Free Online Course About Urban Agriculture!

2009-07-12T08:09:00.000-04:00

Thank you to City Farmer for originally posting about this on their blog!

Ryerson University and the RUAF are offering free distance course online about urban agriculture. Here is an outline of the programming:

Distance Learning on Urban Agriculture (UA)

Course 1 - Understanding UA

Module 1 - The Concept of Urban Agriculture

Module 2 - Building Blocks of Urban Agriculture

Module 3 - Types of urban agriculture

Module 4 - Direct and indirect stakeholders in UA

Module 5 - Dimensions of UA: Benefits and functions

Module 6 - Dimensions of UA: Problems and risks

Module 7 - Constraints and opportunities facing UA

Module 8 - History and trends I

Module 9 - History and trends II

Module 10 - Analyzing urban agriculture I

Module 11 - Analyzing urban agriculture II

Module 12 - Supporting urban agriculture I

Module 13 - Supporting urban agriculture II

Module 14 - Exam

Course 2 - Dimensions of UA

Module 1 - The Multiple Dimensions of UA

Module 2 - Food Security and Nutrition Dimensions

Module 3 - Management of Health Risks

Module 4 - Environmental Dimensions of UA - Part A

Module 5 - Environmental Dimensions of UA - Part B

Module 6 - Gender Dimensions of Urban Agriculture

Module 7 - Social inclusion, community building &..

Module 8 - Economic Dimensions of Urban Agriculture

Module 9 - Financing Urban Agriculture

Module 10 - Urban Agriculture for Resilient Cities

Module 11 - UA, (multifunctional) land use planning

Module 12 - Assessing the Multiple Dimensions of UA

Module 13 - Bringing all of the Dimensions together

Module 14 - Final Exam

This course is also available with a tutor for a fee. Info about this can be found here.

Strawberry Festival!

2009-07-01T07:15:00.000-04:00

Strawberries by Adriaen Coorte {1696}

Due to the crops not being ready, the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market Strawberry Festival has been postponed again this year until Saturday July 11th.

Here is a blurb from the Market website:

Be sure to get to the Market early that day to buy your strawberries – all vendors were sold out before 11:00am last year. The Market Booth will have a limited number of flats of strawberries available for sale this year, but they go fast!

Everyone can look forward to many delicious strawberry treats made by the vendors – including Strawberry Shortcakes being sold at the Market Booth the day of the Strawberry Festival. Help support the North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market as all proceeds go towards making the dream of a permanent home for North Bay’s Downtown Farmers’ Market come true.

Hope to see you all there!

Two Documentaries to Look Out For

2009-06-20T08:23:00.000-04:00

For folks who are interested in the politics of food and agri-business, as well as homesteading, you will definitely want to check out these two documentaries!

First up is Food, Inc. (if you are familiar with the title, then you may have already read the book). Here is a small blurb about the movie from the website:

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

You can view the trailer below.

Next is Homegrown Revolution, which is a documentary made by the folks at Path to Freedom. And here is a small blurb about the movie and an introductory disclaimer from the website:

In the midst of densely urban downtown Pasadena, radical change is taking root. For over twenty years, the Dervaes family has been transforming their home into an urban homestead. They harvest three tons of organic food annually from their 1/10 acre garden, while incorporating back-to-basics practices, solar energy and biodiesel.

The original version of Homegrown Revolution was made in three days for a lecture Jules Dervaes gave at the University of California Los Angeles in October 2007 on the topic of Slow Food. It received a wildly enthusiastic response from the students and, subsequently, attracted an avid following on YouTube, with over 135,000 views to date.
This is a simple film short that introduces the Dervaes Family Urban Homestead. Please note this is NOT feature-length. This short film might be best grouped with other films or part of a community event / gardening club / meetings, etc. RUNTIME: 15:44.

Below is the trailer:

Homegrown Revolution (Trailer) from Path to Freedom on Vimeo.

The Locavores Need Volunteers for the Farmers' Market!

2009-06-12T12:34:00.000-04:00

Right now the Near North Locavores are looking for members in the community who would be interested in volunteering at our booth for the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market.

The Market runs every Saturday until October 10th, and the booth is opened from 8 am to 1 pm. If you would be interested in helping, please email us at nearnorthlocavores(at)hotmail.com along with the date(s) you would like to volunteer. If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line as well.

Plant a Row/Grow a Row

2009-05-31T05:57:00.000-04:00

Clipart from Garden Services.com

Plant a Row/Grow a Row is a Canada-wide campaign to encourage people to grow a bit of vegetables in their own gardens for their community food banks and soup kitchens.

There are organizations in the Near North Ontario region who have already put a call out for donated food from people's gardens, such as The Gathering Place in North Bay. If you are unsure if your local food bank or soup kitchen would like food, just approach them, and if possible, find out what type of vegetables they can really use.

Many folks are feeling the pinch right now with the economy the way it is, so by simply planting and growing one row of veggies in your garden can really make a difference!

Seed Preview!

2009-05-26T07:39:00.000-04:00

A little preview of some of our seeds!

So the seeds have been gathered, as well as some plants. This is the list of what we will be growing in the Locavore Garden (food being donated to Amelia Rising):

Veggies

Laxton's Progress Peas
Norli Peas
Uchiki Kuri Squash
Buttercup Squash
Scarlet Runner Pole Beans
Tender Green Pole Beans
Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans
Contender Bush Beans
Provider Bush Beans
Coreless Nantes Carrots
Denvers Half-Long Carrots
Early Wonder Beets
French Breakfast Radishes
Cherry Belle Radishes
German Giant Radishes
Bright Lights (Rainbow) Swiss Chard
Bloomsdale Long-standing Spinach
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce
Red Oak Leaf Lettuce
Bunching Evergreen Onions

Herbs

Sweet Woodruff
Dill
Tall Climbing Nasturtiums
Dwarf Jewel Nasturtiums
Chives
Cilantro
Garden Sage
Catmint
Spearmint
Lemon Balm
Peppermint

Thanks to all who have either made donations of items and/or your time so far!

Online Resources

2009-05-24T16:57:00.000-04:00

Find a Farmer's Market in Ontario

Foodland Ontario Availability Guide

Guerrilla Gardening

Hobby Farms

Mother Earth News

Northern Ontario Plant Database

Northern Ontario Wildflowers

Old Farmer's Almanac

Organic Gardening

Peak Moment

Permaculture Activist

Permaculture Canada

Prepared Society Forum

Small Farm, Permaculture & Sustainable Living

Susun Weed Wisewoman Forum

The Progressive Farmer

The Ram's Horn

Trails North

Urban Agriculture Magazine

Organizations

2009-05-24T16:46:00.000-04:00

Beyond Factory Farming Coalition

Canadian Biotechnology Awareness Network

Canadian Organic Growers

Canadian Registered and Rare Breed Farm Directory

C.R.A.F.T Ontario

Eat Local Sudbury

Ecological Farmer's Association of Ontario

FarmStart

FoodShare

Greening Nipissing

Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council

Nipissing Environmental Watch

Northern Lights Regional Foods

North Bay Heritage Gardeners

Northern Ontario Agri-Food Education & Marketing

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

Rare Breeds Canada

Seeds of Diversity

Sweetman's Garden

The Foodshed Project

Blogs

2009-05-24T16:42:00.000-04:00

Blogs of interest...

Chapman's Landing Blog

City Farmer

Cold Climate Gardening

Garden Rant

Local Eating

Seasonal Ontario Food

The Ethicurean

The Urban Garden Project

You Grow Girl

Near North Ontario Businesses that Support Local

2009-05-24T16:35:00.000-04:00

Do you know of a Near North Ontario business that supports local? Let us know about it and we will add them to the list!

Chapman's Landing Cooking Studio

Heal Thy Health

Hibou Boutique

Natural Goddess

Nature's Harmony

Northern Edge

Piebird B & B

Soul Sister Creations

Near North Ontario Farmers' Markets

2009-05-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

Argyle Farmers' Market (Port Loring)

North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market

Powassan Farmers' Market

Riverside Farmers' Market (New Liskeard)

West Nipissing Farmers' Market (Sturgeon Falls)

Farmers Market Season Starts!

2009-05-13T07:22:00.000-04:00

This is a photo of our booth last year at the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market. We will be there again this year!

Here is an article from the North Bay Nugget giving details about various farmers' markets in the Near North region. Many open this Victoria Day weekend, including the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market on Saturday and we will be there!

Farmers' market outgrows its home
By MARIA CALABRESE
Source found here.

The buzz around buying local is taking the sting out of trying to find a place for producers to market their goods.

Board’s Honey Farm has been selling its golden nectar at the North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market since the venue opened eight years ago when there was less noise about leaving a carbon footprint.

“It’s about food value, quality and taste,” says Ann Board after tapping some honey at the farm nestled in Restoule, about 65 kilometres southwest of North Bay.

The market gives the public a chance to buy direct from the producers and build a trust that the food is safe, Board says.
“It’s bringing the country into the city.”

The busy beekeepers have a dozen hive locations and a menu of honey flavours depending on what flowers are in bloom, like wildflowers, meadow blend, basswood and buckwheat.

There’s scores of value-added goods like skin products, candles, creamed honey, and there’s relish and salsa made with their sweet yield instead of sugar.

The North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market opens for the season Saturday with small business owners, crafters, artists and producers selling locally grown and handmade products.

While market manager Ron Warman is pleased to see the explosion of interest from vendors and buyers, he’s frustrated to cap the number of vendors at 30 and turn away 17 others who are interested in joining this year because there isn’t enough space for them at the current location on McIntyre Street across from city hall.

He won’t bump crafters who have supported the market in its lean years in favour of new producers who want to plant their roots now that homegrown, handmade goods are hot commodities.

“That’s our problem right now is trying to accommodate this new interest,” says Warman, adding seniors and young families prefer that central spot with free parking and within walking distance for downtown residents. “We’re hesitant to move, but we can’t grow in that location.”

Friends of the Waterfront offered an area in front of the Discovery North Bay museum, but it’s too small to fit the growing market, Warman says.

It needs an area that’s at least 30-by-60 metres to accommodate 40 vendor spots — some vendors need more than one spot — with access to electricity, parking and washrooms, although Warman would like to see a bigger space so the market can bloom.

Warman would also like some kind of covering, whether it’s a tent or permanent structure, when the weather isn’t on their side. Exposure to biting wind and blowing sand is the main reason the market abandoned its first haunts on Oak Street.

“I’m not going to move unless it’s a step up,” he says.

The cost and global impact of transporting foreign foods to grocery stores and a push to eat local has even spawned a reality TV show with six families from Mission, B.C., volunteering to only eat food that has been produced within 100 miles, named after the book of the same name.

This year’s farmers’ market will offer a new baker and steady favourites, with maple products, perennials, jewelers, crafters, handmade soaps, woodworking, fresh-grown produce and other goods.

There’s also a booth with hot drinks and a new coffee club to reward repeat customers.

Also new this year is a pancake festival May 30 with syrup provided by vendor Matthews Maple Syrup of Powassan.

The market is open every Saturday rain or shine until the Thanksgiving weekend.

On the web: northbayfarmersmarket.ca

mcalabrese@nugget.ca

12 Heirloom Veggies for Container Gardens

2009-05-01T08:15:00.000-04:00

Whether you are a seasoned 'balcony farmer' or are planning to grow vegetables for the first time, these twelve heirloom varieties are perfect for a container garden.

Note: links are to Urban Harvest out of Toronto , but for the most part you can find these seeds on other websites, and many more locally.

Black Valentine Bush Bean

Northeaster Pole Bean

Scarlet Nantes Carrot

Bull's Blood Beet

Lemon Cucumber

Capocijners Blue Podded Pea

Rainbow Chard

Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach

French Breakfast Radish

Evergreen Bunching Onion

Delicata Winter Squash

Brandywine Tomato

Little Iron Horse: Le Cheval Canadien {The Canadian Horse}

2009-04-29T05:08:00.001-04:00

Canadian Horse at the Royal Winter Fair, Toronto 2006

Photo taken by hippo-po

The Canadian Horse, as it's name suggests is uniquely Canadian; and just like the 'average' Canadian person, this horse tends to be very hardy, level-headed, and of course, beautiful ;)

According to Cherry Creek Canadians (which by the way has gone through pain-staking action to record the history and lines of the breed, as well as preserving it), Canadian Horses are descendants from 'the best horses from King Louis IVX stables' and 'they were sent to Canada by the King to reward his best men who had gone to settle the "new world", between 1665 - 1670'.

At one time it was so numerous and popular, that in the 1800's there was more than 150,000 of them, and they were used to improve other breeds such as the Standardbred, Morgan, and Tennessee Walker. Unfortunately with the onslaught of industrialization, the breed numbers fell, and by the 1950's they were almost extinct.

The Canadian Horse Heritage and Preservation Society (CHHAPS) is an organization that is dedicated to raising awareness about the Canadian Horse. On their site they quote a study (DNA Detectives, 1998 Canadian Horse Annual) that states, 'the Canadian, bred in isolation for so long, does still appear to be genetically distinct from the popular racing and riding breeds, reinforcing the need to give high priority to its conservation'.

With the hard work of dedicated lovers of this breed, the numbers are once again climbing; there are now approximately 6,000 around the world, which is an increase from about 400 in the 1970's. And in 2002, the Canadian was made the national horse of Canada by the federal government.

I would just love to see this breed make a real comeback, not only because I adore horses, but because I think that they can be extremely beneficial. They are a multi-discipline breed that is smart, very strong (it is not called the Little Iron Horse for nothing!), with great temperaments. I can see them posing some real solutions when it comes to farming, transportation, as well as pleasure.

For more information on the breed, check out these webbys:

Canadian Horse Breeders Association

Canadian Horse Heritage and Preservation Society

The Canadian Horse

Association Quebecoise du Cheval Canadien (French site)

(Originally from Laurel's blog)

Near North Producers

2009-04-28T07:09:00.000-04:00

This is a list of Near North Ontario Producers. Be sure to check back, as well will be constantly updating this list!{In alphabetical order}. If you know of any Near North Ontario producers, please let us know about them and we will add them to our list!

Algonquin Honey
(honey, preserves, condiments)
(705) 636 1883
34 Whispering Wind Lane
Emsdale, Ontario P0A 1J0

Algonquin Tea Company
(organically grown and ethically wildcrafted tea and workshops)
http://www.algonquintea.com/
spirit@algonquintea.com
(613) 628-6157
RR5 106 Augsburg Road
Eganville, Ontario, K0J 1T0

Alsace Gardens
(vegetables and plants)
(705) 724-3900
RR#2
Powassan, Ontario, P0H 1Z0

Artan Gardens
(organically grown vegetables and herbs)
seed@artangardens.com
North Bay, Ontario

Barb's Jams & Jellies
(preserves)
yellekbobbik@vianet.ca
(705) 472-1509
1933 RR#4, Hwy 17W
North Bay, Ontario, P1B 8G5

Becker's Berry Patch
(strawberries)
http://www.beckersberrypatch.com/
mailto:beckers@lincsat.com
(705) 724-2305
Nipissing, Ontario, P0H 1W0

Belle Valley Wool
(sheep's wool and related products)
http://www.bvwools.com/

Board's Honey Farm
(honey, honey related products, beekeeping items and workshops)
http://www.boardshoneyfarm.com/
shop@boardshoneyfarm.com
(705) 729-2939
6866 Hwy. 534, RR#1
Nipissing, Ontario, P0H 1WO

Commanda Country Gardens
(native plants, wild flowers, perennials, and herbs suitable to the Near North)
http://www.countryroadstour.com/commandacountry.html
(705) 729-5714
3507 Alsace Road
Commanda, Ontario

Creative Meats
(Milk, fish, meat)
705-967-2006
7437 Hwy 17
Warren, Ontario P0H 2N0

Creekbend Farm
(honey and related products)
(705) 594-1087
RR #1
Lavigne, Ontario

Dalew Farms
(CSA, pasturized livestock, beef, chicken, turkey, eggs and organically grown vegetables)
(705) 594-1823
10781 Hwy 64
Lavigne, Ontario

Ellery's
(plants, perennials, and herbs)
(705) 724-6192
1581 Maple Rd, RR#1
Powassan, Ontario P0H 1Z0

Golden Beef
(beef, sold at Callander Farmers Market on Sundays)
Shelly Rahme (regional rep)
(705) 663-1181
Redbridge, Ontario

Hidden Valley Farms
(frozen beef, eggs, in season vegetables)
(705) 776-9018
565 Development Rd
Bonfield, Ontario

Highlander Brew Company
(microbrewery)
http://www.highlanderbrewco.com/index.htm
highlanderbrewco@hotmail.com
(705) 386-2337
South River, Ontario

Jackie's Harvest
(vegetables and preserves)
(705) 474-5352
1124 Premiere Rd
North Bay, Ontario, P1A 2J1

Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh & Muskoka Lakes Winery
(cranberries, wine and related products)
http://www.cranberry.ca/
(705) 762-2303
1074 Cranberry Rd
Bala, Ontario

L&D Greenhouse
(plants and vegetables)
kgauthier323@acpol.com
(705) 471-4484
560 Nipissing
Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, P2B 2L1

Leisure Farms
(berries and baked goods)
http://www.leisurefarms.ca/
(705) 753-1876
744 Quesnel Road
Sturgeon Falls, Ontario
P0H 2G0

Matthew's Maple Syrup
(maple syrup and related products)
http://www.matthewsmaple.com/
dave@matthewsmaple.com
(705) 724-3427
R.R. #2, 239 Ski Hill Rd.
Powassan, Ontario, P0H 1Z0

Mary Ann's Homemade Jams and Jellies
(preserves)
maryannecfullerton@yahoo.ca
(705) 472-2959
600 Booth Street, Unit # 2
North Bay, Ontario, P1A 4J7

Misty Haven Alpacas
(alpaca's wool and related products)
http://www.mistyhavenalpacas.com/
norma@mistyhavenalpacas.com
(705)752-4256
245 Derland Rd
Corbeil, Ontario

Muskoka Cottage Brewery
http://www.muskokabrewery.com/
(705)646-1266
13 Taylor Rd
Bracebridge Ontario L 1S6

Nature Balance
(organically grown produce, garlic, seasonal vegetables, herbs, and Christmas trees)
donnasoutar@vianet.ca
(705) 493-3679
900 Tower Dr
North Bay, Ontario

Olde World Bakery
(bread and baked goods)
northstargems@inbox.com
(705) 474-2617
542 Cartier St
North Bay, Ontario P1B 8N5

Phoenician Gourmet
(Middle Eastern delecacies and catering)
phoeniciangourmet@sympatico.ca
http://www.blogger.com/www.phoeniciangourmet.blogspot.com
(705) 497-5956
411 Wickstead Avenue
North Bay, Ontario, P1A 4A8

Schlosser Farm
(maple syrup, strawberries, corn, seasonal vegetables)
schlosserfarm@netspectrum.ca
(705)724-3144
RR#1 63 Schlosser Line
Trout Creek ON P0H 2L0

Silver Rapids Farm
(beef, lamb, potential CSA for 2010…call this year for next year’s beef and lamb, sold out for 2009)
david.dockendorff@gmail.com
(705) 724-9183
Powassan, Ontario

Terza Farms
(flour, grains and pork)
http://www.terzafarms.ca/
(705) 563-8021
RR # 1, Milberta Road
Thornloe, Ontario

The Swiss Pastry Chef
(bread and baked goods)
http://http//swisspastrychef.com/
uriesen@cogeco.ca
(705) 472-2253
126 Main Street East
North Bay, Ontario

Thibeault Marsh Farm
(CSA, fruits and vegetables)
http://www.thibeaultmarshfarm.com/
sylviothibeault@yahoo.ca
(705) 867-0482
225 Pothier Rd
St Charles, Ontario, P0M 2W0

Thornloe Cheese
(cheese)
http://www.thornloecheese.ca/
info@thornloecheese.ca
(705) 647-7441
999697 Hwy 11 N
Thornloe, Ontario, P0J 1S0

Vinegar on the Rocks
(Preserves and condiments)
(705)671-2899
595 Kathleen Street
Sudbury, Ontario P3C 2N4

Willow Farm Poultry
(Free range chicken and duck eggs)
ssmyth@onlink.net
(705)744-2230
Suzanne's Road R.R. # 2
Mattawa, ON P0H 1V0

Wyness Sprouts
(sprout kits, wheatgrass, sprouts, buckwheat)
tildenlake1@ontera.net
(705) 892-2364
7 Bells Road, Box 36
Tilden Lake, Ontario, P0H 2K0

Sam & Ester Yoder
(Hormone and medication free livestock lamb, chicken, turkey, eggs, organically grown vegetables)
(705)724-6771
Chisholm, Ontario

Laura& Sarah Ann Yoder
(Organically grown vegetables and baked goods)
(705)724-9546
Chisholm, Ontaro

Roasted Root Veggies & Maple Syrup

2009-04-25T06:41:00.000-04:00

For the northern locavore, a whole winter of eating root veggies can get boring. The good news is that we are currently at the tail end of maple syrup season, and this was a fantastic year for it in this region.

Here is a recipe with ingredients that can be found here in this region at this time of year (including the maple syrup!).

Roasted Veggies & Maple Syrup

3 Russet Potatoes
2 Large Carrots
2 Large Parsnips
1/2 a Rutabaga
1 Yellow Onion
1 Tablespoon Butter
3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
Dried Mint (to taste)
Dried Sage (to taste)
Freshly-ground Pepper (to taste)

Roast in the oven at 350 for about one hour.

It's great with a couple of scrambled eggs and mint tea!

A take on a recipe from Laurel's blog.

Foodland Ontario's Availability Guide

2009-04-24T07:08:00.000-04:00

Foodland Ontario has an excellent resource for those who want to know what type of Ontario-grown food is available, and when. You can see their list, as well as find recipes and nutritional information by clicking here.

Sharing Backyards

2009-04-23T06:19:00.000-04:00

(The video might take a minute to load but it will play!)

This video was originally found on the City Farmer Blog.

Sharing Backyards is a fantastic website to connect those with backyards that they are not using with those who need a backyard to plant in. There are listings in cities from all over North America, even in Thunder Bay.

There are no listings in the Near North region from what I can see, so if you have a yard that you are not using, or are looking for a yard, sign up!

An Article About Our Community Garden Partnership

2009-04-22T05:45:00.000-04:00

This is an article written last week in a local paper about our project partnership with Artan Gardens to start a non-profit community garden.

Locavores to grow produce for not-for-profit organization
From the North Bay Nugget

By Jenny Potter on April 15, 2009

Zel Artan has big plans for the 1.2-hectare patch of land her parents have been growing vegetables on for the past 20 years.

The Artans are turning some of the weeding and watering over to the public this summer, opening up 464 square metres of garden to members of the Near North Locavores, who plan to grow produce and donate it to a local not-for-profit organization.

For many years, Artan’s Turkish-Canadian parents have lived off the produce grown from their garden near the Laurier Woods.

Excess produce is sold to the community at the North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market each Saturday in the summer or preserved for the winter.

But as time wears on, maintaining the large garden has become difficult for the couple.

Last summer, Artan, who splits her time between Toronto and North Bay, picked up the shovel and continued in her parents’ footsteps working the garden with the help of friends.

“I got involved with it last year and fell in love. It’s like a vegetable Sweetman’s Garden,” she said of the lot on McIntyre Street West that has offered a floral oasis for visitors for many years.

This summer, some members of the Near North Locavores plan to revitalize an overgrown part of the Artans’ garden, growing fresh organic produce that will be donated to a not-for-profit organization yet to be determined.

The area will also be used to demonstrate how people can grow some of their own food.

Next summer, the group hopes to establish community allotments, allowing people to grow their own vegetables.

Laurel Ronan, a core member of the Locavores, said they are excited to be able to use the land and expand an already beautiful garden.

Opening the garden to the public is just the starting point for Artan. She has many campaigns and challenges planned for the city.

The Seed to Feed Earth Week challenge kicks off Wednesday, with a goal of raising awareness of the importance of collecting and keeping seeds year after year.

“Planting vegetables is one thing,” she said. “It’s about making people aware of protecting the heirloom seed varieties.”

Along with the campaign, her personal goal is to educate herself and her family on being self-sufficient, starting with feeding her family at least one meal a day from food they produced.

She hopes other families in the city will take up the challenge as well.

“My kids understand that organic produce tastes better and is better for you,” she said.

She also hopes to pass on gardening skills to a younger generation through a children’s day camp this summer.

The long-term goal is to make the garden an educational facility, and Artan hopes government grants will allow them to add a horticultural ecology centre.

There is also a documentary planned on the garden, and she hopes the interest will garner them a television show.

In the meantime, volunteers will start turning the earth later this week, preparing the garden for planting and building a water-retention system to collect rain water for the garden.

“I think North Bay needs this,” Artan said.

jpotter@nugget.ca

A Little Bit About the Near North Locavores

2009-04-21T11:42:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our blog!

The Near North Locavores is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization that was started up in Feburary 2008. Our main goal is to promote local food production and consumption of the Near North region of Ontario, Canada.

We are a diverse group comprised of current and aspiring producers, people in business and health care, environmentalists, gardeners, people concerned about food security, and consumers who want access to more locally produced food.

In our first year we had a table at the North Bay Downtown Farmers’ Market, where we helped to sell local producers’ food, and distributed information. We will be back at the Market for the 2009 season starting on May 16th and we will be there every Saturday until the closing of the Market on October 10th.

We are currently have many exciting projects underway, including a community garden (partnered with Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, and the Take Heart Program); a local producer database, and a partnership with Vested Interest to establish a central location to purchase local produce year round!

For more information, you can check out our Facebook group or email us at nearnorthlocavores(at)hotmail.com.