Community Events About Urban Food Production and Community Gardens, February 2009

Tuesday, February 3: Global Trends, Municipal Responses: Towards Healthy Food and Farming Systems, 7 to 9 p.m.—Jeanette Longfield, co-ordinator of Sustain: the Alliance for Better Food and Farming, discusses her experiences in lobbying for better food and agriculture policies in the UK at Artscape Wychwood Barns, Room 256 (601 Christie Street, south of St. Clair).

Thursday, February 5: Expert Panel on Urban Food Production, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.—A special meeting of The City of Toronto’s Parks and Environment Committee in Committee Room 1, 2nd Floor, Toronto City Hall. Panel members: Lauren Baker, Director, Ontario Alliance for Healthy Food and Farming; Rhonda Teitel-Payne, Urban Agriculture Manager, The Stop Community Food Centre; Solomon Boyé, City of Toronto Community Gardens Program Co-ordinator; Debbie Field, Executive Director, Foodshare, and James Kuhns and Joe Nasr of MetroAg, the Alliance for Urban Agriculture. For more information, contact Jodi Callan at the Toronto Environment Office via email or by phone at 416-392-1826.

Thursday, February 5: SPIN Gardening Workshop, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.—Paula Sobie will discuss SPIN (Small Plot Intensive) farming and her Victoria, B.C. business, City Harvest, and offer a free workshop on more efficient food growing in city gardens at the Council Chambers, Toronto City Hall. To RSVP, contact Jodi Callan at the Toronto Environment Office via email or by phone at 416-392-1826.

Friday, February 6: SPIN Farming Workshop, 1 to 5 p.m.—Paula Sobie leads another workshop; this time at FoodShare (90 Croatia Street). $30 per member of the public; $40 per person for those associated with organizations. To register, contact Everdale Farm online or call 647-367-1816.

Saturdays, February 7 & 14: How To Start a Community Garden, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Training by FoodShare, the Stop Community Food Centre, the Afri-Can FoodBasket and the Toronto Community Garden Network at Lawrence Heights Community Centre (5 Replin Road near Lawrence and Allen). Lunch is provided. Register with Ian at Foodshare via email or phone at 416-652-7867 X236. $60 (agency staff), $20 (students & waged workers), Free (unwaged).

Saturday, February 21: Growing and Eating for Nourishment and Nourishing the Future, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.—Canadian Organic Growers hosts its third annual organic conference, featuring keynote speaker Carlo Leifert, leader of the world’s largest and most comprehensive organic study. The conference takes place at U of T Conference Centre (89 Chestnut Street). $85, early bird $65, COG members $55; lunch is included. To register, email Canadian Organic Growers or call 416-466-9584.

Saturdays, February 21 & March 14: How To Start a Community Garden, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Training by FoodShare, the Stop Community Food Centre, the Afri-Can FoodBasket and the Toronto Community Garden Network at 85 Gilder Drive (near Eglinton and Brimley). Lunch is provided. Register with Amanda at The Stop Community Food centre via email or phone at 416-652-7867 X236. $60 (agency staff), $20 (students & waged workers), Free (unwaged).

Saturday, February 28: Seedy Saturday, 2 to 6 p.m.—Toronto's grassroots seed exchange and gardening event at a new location: Barn 2 at The Green Barns (601 Christie Street, south of St. Clair). Volunteers are needed to pack seeds on February 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Foodshare (90 Croatia Street). Call 416-652-7867 X222 or X241 to find out more about volunteering.

Photo by Robb, Morguefile.