NEXT FOOD ACTION NETWORK MEETING:
Wednesday, February 23, 1 - 3 pm at 1422 Tanager Rd in Roberts Creek (off Lockyer Rd.)
Bring a snack to share, along with your ideas and passion for empowering our community towards a healthy local food system!
Call Nadi at 604.741.9859 for details or directions.

NEWS

On Tuesday December 1st, our local MLA Nicolas Simons introduced the private members bill M205: Farm Gate Sales Act which seeks to amend the Food Safety Act to allow for farm gate sales of animal products. This bill has gone through it's first reading, and if passed, it will allow us to buy meat direct from our local farmers again!
Scroll down and check out the document: Why support an amendment to the meat inspection regulation?

Then ... join the campaign and send an email to:

Our MLA, Nicolas Simons: nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca
and cc:
Minister of Agriculture, Steve Thomson: steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, Ida Chong:
ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca
and the opposition agriculture critic, Lana Popham
Lana.Popham.MLA@leg.bc.ca

For more information: http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th1st/1st_read/m205-1.htm,
and http://www.nicholassimons.ca/comment.html.

On Thursday, November 12th, the SCRD Planning and Development Committee, consisting of Area Directors, the Mayor of Sechelt and the Mayor of Gibsons, passed the motion to approve the changing of bylaws to remove restrictions to the keeping of backyard poultry. This issue is now passed on to SCRD staff to research and recommend the specific bylaw changes and set up appropriate guidelines.
~ check back for details as these exciting changes take shape!

FOOD ACTION PROJECTS

THE FARM GATE MARKET: A mid-week, mid-coast market in Roberts Creek every Wednesday from 3 - 6 pm, May - October. All local, organic produce and value-added products. Community consignment table run by honour system - drop off your garden excess and sell or trade. Live music, good food, great people.

GROW YOUR OWN DINNER: The aim of the Grow Your Own Dinner project is to empower individuals and families to grow their own food in what ever space they have – big or small. We hope to encourage our local community to reclaim the art of backyard vegetable gardening and to live a happier, ecological lifestyle, with greater food security. Want to grow? Need some help? We live in a gardener’s paradise – take advantage of it! To get started contact Randie at: 604-886-9324 or randie_ridgewell@hotmail.com

THE CREATOR'S TOUCH GARDEN: Elder Barbara Higgins initiated and runs this project to offer ongoing workshops and activities in year-round food harvesting, preparing and processing, as well as teaching other traditional skills in the use of natural resources for sustainable living. Examples of activities include: cedar bark harvesting and weaving; wildcrafting of berries, herbs and medicines; smoking, brining, canning and freezing of fish; and making fruit leathers and fruit preserves. To participate, contact Barb at 604.740.0337 or bhiggins@dccnet.com.

HANDS ON LANDS: This program connects gardeners and farmers with available growing space. If you want to farm and have no land, or if you have land and want it farmed, contact Christine Wild: icwild2007@gmail.com.

TAKE A FARMER TO LUNCH CAMPAIGN: One Straw is working with the Gumboot Restaurant to create awareness and connections between consumers and local organic growers. Certificates for lunch are available for purchase at the Gumboots to be given to your favorite growers for all the hard work they do! Visit either of the Gumboots and see our poster, or call Robin at 885-4505 for more information.

HEART GARDENS: This community permaculture demonstration site is designed to teach people about nature and ecology. The garden resides in the heart of Roberts Creek and is managed by permaculturist Delvin Solkinson. More info can be found at www.heartgardens.com