If you or your garden has an item to post in upcoming TCGN E News, please send it to ravenna@foodshare.net at least 10 days before the date needed.
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The Toronto Community Garden Network is gathering information about all of the community gardens in Toronto. Please complete the TCGN survey for a chance to win a free compost delivery to your garden!
The TCGN Advocacy Committee wants to let you know that we are up and running, This group has two functions: doing broad scale political advocacy on issues that affect community gardeners and urban agriculture in Toronto; and acting as advocates when crisis or difficulties arise in specific gardens
We are interested in hearing ideas from you all in the network – if there is a systemic issue that you feel should be worked on, or if you are experiencing a particular difficulty in your garden, contact Ian at ian@foodshare.net.
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San Lorenzo Community Garden Seeking Volunteers
San Lorenzo Community Garden is looking for more volunteers every Tuesday from 4 – 8 pm and Sundays from 5 – 8 pm. We can give community hours to high school students.
Seeking Medicinal Plants
We are looking for medicinal plants, if anyone has some extra ones. We have a volunteer who is doctor in natural medicine and he would like to dedicate a section of the garden to growing medicinal plants. Does anyone have an aloe plant or others they would like to donate to San Lorenzo Community Garden?
Jduque@sanlorenzo.ca
Dufferin and Wenderly Drive (near Lawrence)
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Workshops Around Town
Toronto Community Food Animators Community Garden Trainings
Mark your calendars! Register now for the free upcoming community garden workshops in North York, part of a series put on by the Toronto Community Food Animators (FoodShare Toronto, The Stop Community Food Centre and the Afri-Can Food Basket).
Garden Leadership Training and Gardener Gathering
Date: August 30th
Time: 2:30-5:30
Location: The Peanut Garden, 2800 Don Mills Drive (north of Sheppard on Don Mills)
Community gardeners and garden leaders are invited to join us for a fun afternoon of exchanging ideas, challenges, and lessons learned. Lively discussion and activities will be followed by a free, delicious afternoon meal.
Finding Resources for Community Gardens
Date: September 6th
Time: 11am-3 pm
Location: Lawrence Heights Community Centre, 5 Replin Rd (Allen Rd & Lawrence Ave)
Learn how to get what you need to make your community garden successful and flourishing
Season Extension and Fall Garden Care
Date: October 18
Location: Elmbank Community Centre, 10 Rampart Rd. (off Martin Grove Rd., between Finch Ave. W. and John Garland Blvd)
Engaging People in Your Garden
Date: November 22
Location: Driftwood Community Centre 4401 Jane Street (near Jane and Finch)
To register or for more information, please contact Sari at 416 652-7867 x244 or email sari@thestop.org.
Please let us know if you need transportation or childcare.
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Seed Saving Workshops
Oriole Peanut Community Garden.
August 20th 6pm - 8pm
2800 Don Mills Drive, North York (north of Sheppard on Don Mills)
Bell Manor Community Garden
Sept. 10th 6:30pm - 8:30pm
150 Berry Road, Etobicoke
Both workshops will be hands-on and concentrate on touring the gardens, and teaching the gardeners how they can collect and store their seeds for upcoming seasons.
Please contact Jillian Bishop at urbantomato@gmail.com for more information.
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Upcoming Workshops in the HOPE Garden
Garden Workshops
World on a Plate: An evening of sharing cooking and eating with our Parkdale gardeners
August 26
Harvest Festival
September 28
Sprouting at Home
Toronto Sprouts
September 30
All of our workshops are free and open to everyone. We do not ask for RSVP's, but it would help us prepare better if we get an idea of how many participants we are having.
The HOPE garden is located on Cowan just south of Queen St. Please contact gelek@greenestcity.ca with any questions.
Volunteer at the Hope garden
Every Sunday MILKY WAY "Yes" SPACE, from 12pm-4pm
Sundays are days for relaxing in the HOPE community’s outdoor living space.
Please come out to make the space yours!
For more information or questions be in touch with Maria.
telephone: 647.831.3377
email:maria@guerrilla-gourmet.com
Volunteers Needed:
community work nights are Wednesdays from 5:00pm-8:00pm. You don't need a garden plot to come out!
Community Garden Tasks
Here are some community tasks that need to happen soon!
1. The finished compost needs to be sifted and stored in a container or applied to beds so that compost bins can be turned. Bin #1 is full.
2. The Jerusalem Artichokes in the bed along the fence need to be cut down and some artichokes can be dug up.
3. The outside beds need to be weeded and cut. Some spot need to be thinned and some need filling in with flowers.
4. The berry bushes need some support and weeding.
Rainwater Tank Construction
1. The TANK has arrived!! If you’re wondering what that large green plastic tank sitting at the back of the park is… it’s the rainwater storage tank!! If anyone has some ideas on how to decorate our beautiful tank, please let us know.
2. Tank Platform: ATTENTION ALL HEAVY LIFTERS!!
We need to build a 4-foot-high platform for the tank to sit on. It will be an environmentally friendly construction made of tamped earth and recycled tires. Chris and Gordie from Greening Homes will be leading the project. Anybody interested?
We need 4-5 people who:
are free to work during the day of the week of August 11 (2-3 days)
are willing to attend a workshop to learn how to build the platform (1/2 hour)
are able to do some heavy lifting
are enthusiastic about doing some hard labour for a great cause!
Please contact Alison at alison@greenestcity.ca or call 647.438.0038 as soon as possible!!
If you can’t help out with the construction, we are looking for the following items:
standard-sized used tires
pop cans
steel-toed boots
sledgehammers
shovels
supportive and encouraging cheerleaders!!
Carolyn Young
Garden Programs Coordinator
c/o Masaryk-Cowan
220 Cowan Ave, TO M6K 2N6
647-438-0038
www.greenestcity.ca
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Green Roof Training Courses
Green Roof Infrastructure Waterproofing & Drainage 301
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
This is GRHC’s third course in the Green Roof Accreditation Program. This new course will provide participants with an overview of waterproofing and drainage construction and maintenance for green roof assemblies. It lays out technical vocabulary and materials and presents detailed design solutions and implementation best management practices for waterproofing and drainage in green roofs.
Tuition: $399USD
Green Roof Design 101 Introductory Course 2nd Ed.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
In this newly revised introductory course you will learn about the components and benefits of green roofs, how to design a project for maximum benefits, how to cost estimate for different types of projects and much more. The new course includes the most up-to-date green roof research and design practices as well, as new case studies from this rapidly expanding industry.
Tuition: $399USD
Green Walls Design 101 Introductory Course
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Through a series of case studies, this course familiarizes participants with existing green wall technologies, their environmental benefits and issues related to their design and construction. This course provides information that you can put to work immediately.
Tuition: $399USD
Green Roof Infrastructure: Plants and Growing Medium 401
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
This course will provide participants with an overview of plants and growing medium design considerations and maintenance for green roof assemblies. It establishes design and implementation best management practices for plants and growing medium in green roofs.
Tuition: $499USD
WHERE
Toronto Botanical Garden
777 Lawrence Avenue East
Toronto, ON M3C 1P2
View Event Summary
View Event Agenda
Register for Event
Having trouble with the link? Simply copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,P1,4876B56F-83E8-4915-9325-D7D9C95DE706
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Green Thumbs Growing Kids-Last drop ins for the summer!
Garden Drop-In: All Welcome!
Evenings 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Families are welcome to drop in on garden night to plants, water and pick our summer bounty of growing vegetables and greens. Bring your own vegetables and fruit waste for the compost bins (except at Nelson Mandela) in exchange for some fresh garden produce go take home.
No registration required.
* Winchester School garden: Tuesday 19
* Rose Ave. School garden: Thursday Aug 21
Morning Garden Programs: Camps & Agencies
Camps and agencies are invited to bring groups of children ages 6-12 into one of our garden locations for some outdoor summer fun. Activities include food harvesting, watering, nature inspired crafts, nature and environmental exploration, outdoor games and fresh garden tastings. Hour-long workshops in one or two parts. Call or email to register.
* Rose Ave. School garden: Tuesday Aug 19
* Nelson Mandela Park School garden: Thursday Aug 21
Art taking Root: Camps & Agencies*
Art and nature collide! Green Thumbs in collaboration with Upwards Art will host art and garden-inspired activities for groups of children ages 9-12.
* Winchester School Garden location: Friday’s 9:30 -12 noon Aug 22
*Camp visits are operated in a pay-what-you-can basis with a suggested donation of $2 per child. No group turned away for lack of funds.
To register for morning programs, call 416-876-1480 or email: kidsgrowing@gmail.com
Green Thumbs Growing Kids is a non-profit corporation partnering with the charitable Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs. Volunteers are welcome!
See our website for more details www.kidsgrowing.ca
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Scarborough TCHC Community Garden Bus Tour
The Toronto Community Food Animators are excited to announce the first ever Scarborough TCHC Community Garden Bus Tour! This will be a fabulous opportunity to visit community gardens at TCHC buildings throughout south Scarborough, meet other gardeners and get inspired! Please find a poster attached with more details and promote the tour widely to your gardeners and in your communities!
The tour will be held on Wednesday August 27 from 9:30am to 4:00pm. We will be meeting for breakfast at the first garden on the tour, located at 682 Warden Avenue, and there are potentially 5 community gardens that we will be visiting! Snacks and lunch will also be provided. There will be TTC tokens for TCHC residents and wheelchair accessible transportation will also be provided on the tour.
Pre-registration is required - please specify at that time if wheelchair transportation is needed. For more information or to register, please contact Sari at 416-652-7867 ext. 244 or sari@thestop.org.
The tour is open to community gardeners, primarily gardeners at TCHC buildings and people who are thinking about starting a garden at their building. Priority will be given to TCHC residents and agencies working with TCHC residents, however space may be available, so please register anyway. If there is a lot of interest, we will simply get another bus!
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Happenings
Looking for a farmers market? There are certainly a lot of them this year. Check out the Toronto Farmers' Market Network for the days and hours of ones near you www.tfmn.ca/
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The Sunshine Garden Market Shines On for 6th year
The very freshest food in Toronto comes from the CAMH/ FoodShare Sunshine Garden Market. Vegetables are harvested the same day as they are sold--early in the morning just before the market opens at 10 am. It’s all over by 11:30 and shoppers in the know are there by 10!
Dates: Mondays and Thursdays beginning July 7 (except holiday Mondays)
Times: 10:00-11:30 am
Location: Sunshine Garden Market, on the sidewalk in front of 1001 Queen St W at Ossington
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Weekly Farmer Portraits
Every Wednesday the Toronto Star has been featuring a portrait written by Pamela Cuthbert about a different farmer at our wonderful markets. Read this weeks article on organic flower farmer and former community gardener from Hamilton, Shane Eby of Underground Organics.
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Save Our Farms: Action Needed
In the Spring issue of Edible Toronto, there was an article by Samantha Albert, "Pigs that Root and Turkeys that Fly" (www.edibletoronto.com/content/pages/articles/spr2008/pdfs/pigsThatRoot.pdf), about Vicki and Max Lass and their Church Hill Farm in Punkeydoodle's Corners near Stratford, which was followed by a wonderful, heartfelt story written by Vicki about the challenges – and, ultimately, the joys – of owning and operating a humanely run, small-scale livestock farm.
Vicki had no way of knowing, when she wrote her story last winter, that she and Max would soon be faced with the most asinine challenge imaginable – the possibility of Church Hill Farm being literally paved over to make way for a highway bypass.
Please consider signing a petition opposing this, and making as big a stink as you possibly can about this. People like the Lasses and their neighbours should not be forced to face the potential expropriation of their farms, their homes, their years of hard work, and their cherished memories. This affects us all -- consumers and farmers alike.
The petition can be accessed by going to www.ipetitions.com/petition/ChurchHillFarm.
Please pass this on to your friends!
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Feast of Fields
Meet chefs, vintners, brewmasters and organic farmers. Sample great food and drink and enjoy a day in the country at beautiful Everdale Organic Farm!
Sunday, September 7, 1 - 5 pm
Everdale Organic Farm and Environmental Learning Centre
5812 Sixth Line, Hillsburgh, ON (45 minutes northwest of Toronto)
Cost: $100
Info and tickets: 905-859-3609 or www.feastoffields.org
A portion of the event proceeds going to Farmer/Chef Intern program at Everdale.
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Picnic at the Brickworks 2008
Evergreen and Slow Food Toronto Present:
Picnic at the Brick Works 2008
Sunday September 14, 2008
1-4 pm @ Evergreen Brick Works
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!
Ticket Purchases: https://registration.evergreen.ca/
Information: http://www.evergreen.ca/en/events/picnic.html
From the Ground Up:The Urban Farm
Nuturing the Art of Sustainable Living Annual Lecture
Presented by the Gardiner Museum
September 17: 5:30 p.m.
Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. West, Toronto
“There is a quiet revolution stirring in our food system. It is not happening so much on the distant farms that still provide us with the majority of our food; it is happening in cities, neighborhoods and towns…It is a movement that has the potential to address a multitude of issues: economic, environmental, personal health and cultural.” – keynote speaker, Michael Ableman
Concerned with the sustainability of our food supply? Don’t miss From the Ground Up.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Michael Ableman, a pioneer in this field, is the founder and executive director emeritus of the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens in California, and now farms on Salt Spring Island. He is the author of three internationally acclaimed books, the most recent of which is Fields of Plenty: A Farmer's Journey in Search of Real Food and the People Who Grow It.
PANELISTS:
Elizabeth Driver, author of the award-winning Culinary Landmarks: A Bibliography of Canadian Cookbooks, 1825-1949 and Food Roots columnist for Edible Toronto
Stephen Teeple, five-time winner of the Governor-General’s Award for Architecture, who is currently designing community housing with significant green surfaces to support agriculture
Debbie Field, executive director of FoodShare, a long-time advocate for growing food in the city to feed neighbourhood dwellers.
Lori Stahlbrand, president of Local Food Plus, will moderate.
URBAN AGRICULTURE SLIDESHOW
by photographer Laura Berman
Buy tickets now and save! https://www.securewebexchange.com/gardinermuseum.on.ca/regmain.aspx?TopNavImage=4
Reclaiming Our Food System: A Call to Action
Food Secure Canada/Sécurité Alimentaire Canada National Assembly 2008 and the inaugural conference of FoodNet Ontario
Travelodge Conference Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
November 7th to 10th
Program Highlights
Friday, November 7th, all day:
Pre-conference Exposure Tours (proposed):
• Political Ottawa
• Food Ottawa
7:00 p.m. Public presentation at Bronson Centre: The Food Crisis
•UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
•speakers from La Via Campesina and COPAGEN (Coalition for the Protection of Africa’s Genetic Heritage) (invited)
Saturday, November 8th:
Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.at Travelodge
Saturday, November 8th and Sunday November 9th:
Conference events run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The program includes plenary panel sessions on Zero Hunger, Healthy and Safe Food,and Sustainable Food Production/Harvesting/Distribution. Each one will include speakers with a focus on international and Indigenous issues. There will also be workshops and roundtable discussions; displays, Local Flavours Feast on Sunday and special events on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Monday November 10th:
Conference events begin at 9:00 a.m.
Closing ceremony 2:00 p.m
The program includes the AGM for FSC-SAC and the establishment of an Action Plan to reclaim our food system. There will be simultaneous interpretation (French/English) at all plenary sessions and one of the workshop streams.
Through plenary sessions and workshops, the conference will focus on analysis of current issues in the food system. It will highlight initiatives that reclaim the system, including practical skill building and policy work at every level of the system. It will begin the process of developing food policies for Canada that derive from the experience of the grassroots, reflect our principles of justice and sustainability, and address the real crises we are facing today. Food Secure Canada members may log in to the Assembly 2008 Planning Group on the website for more information or to make suggestions regarding the program. FoodNet Ontario members may contact info@foodnetontario.ca for more information.
Members of Food Secure Canada and FoodNet Ontario are invited to propose workshop and roundtable topics, and leaders, to address the burning issues in our food system and to develop effective actions to reclaim the system.
Please contact the Chair of Food Secure Canada through the website with your suggested topic and facilitator or resource person (feel free to nominate yourself).
website: www.foodsecurecanada.org
Registration
The conference fee covers all events, breakfast and lunch all three days and the Local Flavours Feast on Sunday. Registration for the Exposure Tours is separate.
Conference fee:
• Before October 1st, $280 for members of Food Secure Canada and FoodNet Ontario, $325 for non-members.
• After October 1st, $320 for members, $375 for non-members.
A limited number of scholarships are available to members of Food Secure Canada and FoodNet Ontario.
Accommodations at the Travelodge are available at $109 per night single or double occupancy.
Registration forms will be posted at www.foodsecurecanada.org by August 1, 2008
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Where the Beez Buzz
Wonder where the bees have gone? Well, there are 2 hive locations in downtown Toronto, thanks to the Toronto Beekeepers Coop. Check out the Urban Honeybees map for the hive locations and some sweet info:
http://www3.thestar.com/static/googlemaps/starmaps.html?xml=beehives.xml
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Share your fruit this season!
If you have a fruit tree in Ward 21 (Toronto) that you can't fully harvest, we can help you out!
When your fruit is ready to be picked, we'll send a team of gleaners to harvest your fruit. The yield will be divided up to share with volunteers, community organizations (e.g., food banks and shelters), and you. The benefits for you include:
We harvest as much of the fruit as we can (within safety limits);
We leave the ground beneath clean;
You can keep up to 1/3 of the fruit that we pick, if you wish;
You help minimize food waste in our community and supply fresh fruit to those in need.
Contact us now at info@notfarfromthetree.org to find out how!
To get involved: www.notfarfromthetree.org
More info: www.notfarfromthetree.org
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CSA Opportunity
If you're still interested in joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), there is a new one just started this season. You can still join, and pay a proportionately reduced fee. The farm is Zephyr Organics and more info is at the website www.zephyrorganics.com.
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Employment Opportunities
The Stop : Family Support Worker
The Stop Community Food Center strives to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality. The Family Support Worker works to enhance the health of pregnant women, babies, and mothers with new babies at The Stop Community Food Centre through home visits. Specific activities include: intake and assessment, supportive counseling (nutrition, budgeting, infant care etc.), information, referral, and follow-up.
Responsibilities:
- Explain program goals, objectives and policies to participants
- Assess participants to determine supports required
- Provide assistance to locate community resources by providing information, referrals, supportive accompaniment and follow-up
- Visit participants in their home and in the community
- Advocate on behalf of participants
- Monitor expenses related to participant support
- Maintain written records of client contacts
- Attend and participate in team meetings
- Attend monthly consultation meetings
- Support Healthy Beginnings perinatal program, through outreach and in-program individual support
Qualifications:
- Strong understanding of challenges faced by marginalized women and women with infants
- Demonstrated experience working with and sensitivity to women and their families who experience poverty, isolation and discrimination
- Fluency in English and an additional language that is representative of Healthy Beginnings participants (Portuguese, French, etc)
- Knowledge of Toronto's social service sector, including food access programming, early childhood resources, women’s resources, and resettlement resources
- Demonstrated skills in advocacy, referrals and supporting people to actualize their goals
- Experience working with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Salary: $14.00/hour Hrs: 10-15 hrs/week Start Date: September 2008
Please send your letter and resume by August 25, 2008 to: Hiring Committee – Family Support Worker, The Stop Community Food Centre, P.O. Box 69, Station E, Toronto, M6H 4E1 or email tolinor@thestop.org
The Stop is committed to Employment Equity and encourages applicants from equity seeking groups. We regret that only those applicants being considered will be contacted.
This is an exciting time to join the Public Health Division in the City of Toronto, and make your contribution in the following key role.
Manager, Health Promotion (Food Strategy Development) File Reference #: X8CSA16094
Major Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Director of Planning and Policy, the Acting Manager will be responsible for: Managing the development of a Toronto Food Strategy and accompanying action plan over the next year, with the Medical Officer of Health as lead and chair of the Food strategy steering group.
Overseeing the writing of all BOH reports, reports to the Food Strategy Steering Group, updates to Toronto Public Health and key City of Toronto staff.
Working with Toronto Public Health Communications to develop resources for a public engagement strategy, for input from key stakeholders and Toronto Public Health staff.
Identifying and maintaining effective intersectoral linkages with community and non-profit organizations, the business sector, provincial and federal orders of government.
Facilitating appropriate linkages within Toronto Public Health, across City divisions and with key community organizations and academic institutions to ensure the food strategy work builds on existing initiatives.
Acting as a primary contact for Toronto Public Health in establishing collaborative inter-departmental relationships within the City related to food issues.
Managing the development of a comprehensive project plan for the food strategy including identification of project resources, timelines and appropriate project development processes.
Providing strategic analysis, managing complex information and sometimes competing policy directions, in order to provide effective advice and guidance to assigned food strategy staff and the food strategy steering group.
Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with a network of community experts, academics and food business sector leaders to ensure their perspectives are integrated in the strategy.
Consistently bringing forward the Òhealth lensÓ within food strategy deliberations.
Analysing and using research and other data sources, identifying trends and issues and determining possible strategies to make TorontoÕs food system healthy and sustainable.
Representing Toronto Public Health where appropriate on corporate committees and partnerships, coalitions and networks.
Key Qualifications:
Strong project management skills and experience, including the ability to define and meet project purpose and objectives, undertake all project activities, define and achieve milestones and deliverables, monitor and track progress and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
Demonstrated strong working knowledge and understanding of food system issues from a determinant of health perspective.
Highly developed analytical, problem solving and negotiating skills.
Ability to exercise discretion, judgement and work independently with a high degree of initiative and creativity in problem solving.
Excellent written and oral communication, presentation and interpersonal skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others in an interdisciplinary team.
Excellent organizational skills.
BachelorÕs degree in Health or Social Science or the approved equivalent combination of education and experience. MasterÕs level preparation or equivalent an asset.
Familiarity with government legislation in the area of occupational health and safety.
Salary: $89,707.80 - $111,202.00 annually
Duration: Temporary Full-time
To apply for this position, please send us a resume and cover letter, quoting File #X8CSA16094, using one of the following methods:
Online: Go to www.toronto.ca in the Employment Opportunities and Apply for this position, or
FAX: 416-397-9818, or
Mail to: Human Resources, City of Toronto, Metro Hall, 55 John Street, 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3C6.
Please do not send duplicates.
Applications must be received by August 29th, 2008.
Committed to employment equity, the City of Toronto encourages applications from Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, members of visible minority groups and women.
Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under the CityÕs Employment Accommodation policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.
We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted
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If you have events, jobs, volunteer postings or items of interest, please email them to Ravenna Barker ravenna@foodshare.net, no later than the 15th of the month.
To change your subscription, please click on the personalized link at the very bottom of this newsletter.
Photos © 2008 Laura Berman www.greenfusephotos.com
