Check out our BLOG - http://gwfoodconnection.wordpress.com/
We are also on FLICKR - http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwfc/sets/
Corn Festival 2011
Britannia Urban Gardens (BUG) Grows
Events
Volunteer
1. CREATIVE CHEFS WANTED
1. NEIGHBOURHOOD MATCHING FUND
Events
1. FRUIT TREE HARVEST CELEBRATION AND FILM SCREENING OF THE “QUEEN OF THE SUN: WHAT THE BEES ARE TELLING US?”The Vancouver Fruit Tree Project and the Grandview Woodland Food Connection invite you to an end of harvest celebration and special film screening. Come learn about our efforts to harvest urban fruit. Meet others interested in local food security. Information tables, door prizes, silent auction, snacks.
Film Screening: QUEEN OF THE SUN: What Are the Bees Telling Us? (2011) examines the dire global bee crisis through the eyes of biodynamic beekeepers, scientists, farmers, and philosophers. This engaging, alarming and ultimately uplifting film weaves together a dramatic story that uncovers the problems and solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.
Britannia Community Centre, Upstairs Canuck Family Education Centre (next to Grandview Park)
1661 Napier St
Friday October 14, 5 – 10pm. Film Screening 7pm
By donation
Information: 604-718-5895
2. HERITAGE HARVEST CELEBRATION Celebrate the history and future of food in the False Creek Flats at Evergreen’s Urban Orchard! Enjoy delicious apple varieties from the Vancouver Fruit Tree Project, and learn about medicinal and edible native plants. Bob for apples, indulge in some tasty cider and learn new recipes made with local ingredients. Get your heels tapping to folk music, and participate in a First Nation’s blessing and drumming performance. Visit the crafts table, help create a community mural, and don’t forget to stick around for door prizes!
Sunday, October 2nd from 12 – 4 pm
Great Northern Way Urban Orchard
555 Great Northern Way, at the far West End of the Great Northern Way Campus
For more info contact Evergreen BC at 604-689-0766 or email infobc@evergreen.ca
3. OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS, OUR FOOD! BUILDING MORE FOOD SECURE NEIGHBOURHOODS
Are you interested in growing your own food or starting a community kitchen? Do you have food skills you’d like to share with your neighbours?
Come to this lively evening of presentations by community groups from across Vancouver who are making their neighbourhoods more resilient, neighbourly and food secure.
Presenting groups will include recipients of the 2010 Greenest City Neighborhood grants, and others! There will even be a round of Food Jeopardy, courtesy of The Downtown Eastide Kitchen Tables Project!
From community potlucks and mobile produce markets to bulk buying clubs, it’s a bumper crop of great ideas.
This event is graciously hosted by SUSTENANCE: Feasting on Arts and Culture Festival. Centered around World Food Day, SUSTENANCE is a celebration which reflects the intersection of art, culture and food in real life!—Come join the fun and enter into an exciting dialogue with food from local to global, from historic to present day! Oct 8 – Oct 19th.
Accessibility Notes: The Roundhouse Community Centre is a wheelchair accessible venue. Transit subsidy available at the registration table. Onsite childcare spots available- please pre-register at 604 879 1386.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
The Roundhouse Community Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews
Free. Refreshments will be provided. Please register in advance as seating is limited and we want to make sure we have enough food. Register here: http://ourneighbourhoodsourfood.eventbrite.com
The TLCC’s mobile pocket markets will be back in full swing starting September 10th. Take advantage of the harvest season and grab some wonderful fresh produce at affordable prices. Watch for our tasting kitchens at Helping Spirit Lodge and Orchard Park! See you there.
When: 2nd Saturday of the month. 10am-12noon. Market dates: Sept 10, Oct 8, Nov 12, Dec 10
Where: Helping Spirit Lodge, 3965 Dumfries Street near Kingsway Ave
When: 2nd Saturday of the month. 2pm-4pm. Market dates: Sept 10, Oct 8, Nov 12, Dec 10
Where: Orchard Park, 5988 Nanaimo St near E. 41st Ave
When: 3rd Saturday of the month. 10am-12noon. Market dates: Sept 17, Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17
Where: Brant Villa, 2290 E. 25th Ave near the Nanaimo SkyTrain Station
Where: Culloden Court, 1375 E. 47th Ave near Knight Street
5. BRITANNIA COMMUNITY KITCHENCommunity Kitchen participants come together every few weeks to cook and eat nutritious meals together and to take meals home to their families. Community kitchens provide a fun and supportive environment to meet new people and try new things and they can also save money on groceries.
The Britannia Community Kitchen project will feature diabetic friendly cooking designed to meet the needs of individuals with diabetes or at risk of diabetes. Each 11 week session will include a presentation by a health professional familiar with nutrition and diabetes prevention.
Come out and have some fun!
These kitchens are fully subsidized and open to individuals who are struggling financially. Donations are accepted. Registration for childminding is separate. Space is limited. Starting June 18, Sat 2 – 5pm and will run every two weeks.
For more information contact Britannia Food Security @ 604-718-5895
Are you interested in fresh fruits and veggies? Do you want to save money? The Britannia Bulk Buying Group purchases fresh produce at wholesale prices saving you about 30% on your food bill.
Food is bought once a month and brought to Britannia Community Centre to sort and pick up. Cost is $13 for about 7- 8 varieties of food. That is two bags of food. This program is for individuals and households who are struggling financially.
For more information call Ian @ 604-718-5895
1. BRITANNIA FALL FOOD WORKSHOPS
All workshops at Britannia Community Centre, Pre-teen Centre
Info: 604-718-5800
Cost for each workshop: $15
Eightfold Eats: Gluten & Sugar-Free Baking
This workshop includes a baking demo on how to bake gluten, sugar free $ diabetic safe; a discussion on macrobiotics and the truth about alternative sweetners. Join Mike Robinson, holistic nutritionist, Life Coach and culinary chef for these informative, fun, and affordable workshops. Each workshoop will provide information, tips on cooking and handouts.
Mon, Oct 17, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Sauerkraut Fermentation
We will learn how to make your own tasty and nutritious sauerkraut. It’s easy and fun. This workshop is open to all and no experience is necessary.
Tues. Oct 18, 6:30 – 9:30pm
All About Sprouts
Come learn about the amazing benefits of living sprouts and how to incorporate them into your daily diet for just pennies a day. This workshop will cover the health benefits of sprouting, methods and recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cost includes one sprout starter kit, sample snacks and lots of fun.
Wed, Oct 19, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Canning for Beginners
Learn how easy it is to do your own canning. We will cover the basic canning methods for fruits and vegetables, equipment, and food safety. This is a hands-on workshop and you will take home a canned treat.
Thurs, Oct 20, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Samosas, Chutney and Chai
Join Truy Ann for this free hands on workshop in celebration of Diwali 2011. Lear to make “baked” vegetarian samosas, chutney, and a special chai. learn about the history of chai and take home recipes and handouts.
Sun, Oct 23, 10 – 1:30pm
2. FOOD GROWING AND SECURITY: 3 MINI-WORKSHOPS FOR WEST ENDERS
Sat Oct 8 and Sun Oct 9
Mole Hill (Community Room, back lane at 1169 Pendrell)
$5 donation (for 1 or all 3)
Join “edible landscapes" expert Robin Wheeler for one, two, or three workshops on food growing and food security in the highly urbanized setting of the West End. Learn skills. Gain knowledge. Network with others. Each workshop will be 1.5 hours long. Choose one, two, or all three. Hand out materials will be available. Workshops will include presentation, discussion, and Q&A.
Workshop 1: "Personal Food Security" 10:30 to 12 noon, Saturday, Oct 8
Workshop 2: "Apartment Gardening" 10:30 to 12 noon, Sunday, Oct 9
Workshop 3: "Edible Landscaping." 1:30 to 3 pm, Sunday, Oct 9
PRESENTER: Robin Wheeler teaches traditional skills, sustenance gardening and medicinals at Edible Landscapes (www.ediblelandscapes.ca), a nursery and teaching garden in Roberts Creek, British Columbia. Author of Food Security for the Faint of Heart, and Gardening for the Faint of Heart.
ORGANIZERS: Green Millennium Foundation, Village Vancouver, West End
Neighbourhood Food Network
Register online, write foodwestend@gmail.com
or tel 604-512-9059
3. FOODSAFE LEVEL ONE COURSE
We all have questions when it comes to food safety. What should we be concerned with when handling food in our kitchens? What’s safe and what isn’t in our day-to-day work in the kitchen?
Come learn the basics about safe food handling in a friendly classroom environment. This is a provincially recognized course taught by qualified instructors. It is suitable for individuals who have a grade 8 or higher reading comprehension level.
Choose from one of the following dates:
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat, Mar 31, 2012, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, 1150 Raymur Ave. Vancouver, BC
Cost: $50.00 – $95.00 (sliding scale)
To register: Contact Darlene Tanaka, at 604-216-2325 or darlenet@foodbank.bc.ca
Please note: Lunch is not provided, so please bring a lunch. Registration is limited to 20 per class. Payment required upon registration. Cancellations must be done at the latest, 72 hours before. No refunds for no-shows. The workshop may be rescheduled if registration numbers are not met.
4. COMMUNITY KITCHEN LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS
During this workshop you will have the opportunity to find out more about community kitchens, different ways a group can work and how you can lead or start a community kitchen. Learn the history of the community kitchen movement and the effect it has had around the province. Hear about the different kitchen models that run successfully in our communities. Experience a community kitchen first hand! Lunch will be provided.
Choose from one of the following dates:
Thurs, Oct 13, 2011, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Thurs, June 7, 2011, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Location: Vancouver Food Bank, 1150 Raymur Ave.
Cost: $45.00 (lunch provided)
To register: Contact Darlene Tanaka, at 604-216-2325 or darlenet@foodbank.bc.ca
Please note: Registration is limited to 15 per class. Payment required upon registration. Cancellations must be done at the latest, 72 hours before. No refunds for no-shows. The workshop may be rescheduled if registration numbers are not met.
5. COMMUNITY KITCHEN ROUNDTABLES
These free, two hour roundtable are an opportunity to meet other community kitchen leaders, to share and hear about other kitchen activities, challenges & successes. We are now posting an overview of what is discussed in our Roundtables – visit the blog category “Around the Table” to see notes of previous meetings.
Dates/Times:
Thurs, Sept 22, 2011, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Thurs, Jan 12, 2012, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Thurs, Jun 14, 2012, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
To register:: Contact Shona Lam at shonal@foodbank.bc.ca. Although it is a free workshop, we kindly ask that you register so that we know who will be in attendance. Location: Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, 1150 Raymur Ave
_____________________________
Volunteer
1. CREATIVE CHEFS WANTED
The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House is looking for creative chefs with a passion for social justice to volunteer their time once a month to run a themed Community Kitchen as part of our Right to Food programming. Themes include food preservation (canning, pickling, etc.), health (i.e. cooking for diabetes), baking, and food from different cultures. We are also open to chefs proposing their own themes.
All Community Kitchens follow the DTES NH Right to Food philosophy, which upholds the human right of Downtown Eastside residents to abundant, local, fresh and nutritious food. Food created and served at the DTES NH should use the freshest ingredients and avoid refined sugars and processed foods.
For more information please contact Melanie Spence, Food Activist at the DTES NH:
dtesfoodnetwork@gmail.com
(604) 215-2030
2. GROWING CHEFS INTERN
Growing Chefs! is looking for a motivated and creative individual to join our team as our Fall Intern. The successful candidate will be responsible for a wide-range of activities, ranging from event coordination, public relations support, community outreach, social media, and administrative duties. This position is a three-month part-time unpaid volunteer position, with possibility of extension. Position is based in Vancouver. Must be able to work remotely and in office. Commitment is approx. 10hrs per week—may occasionally include evenings and weekends.
This unpaid internship will provide you with a range of hands-on experience from event planning, event coordination, marketing, public relations, office administration, and fundraising. It will offer the successful candidate an inside view of the workings of a non-profit environment, and provide valuable training and job skills applicable to both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.
For more information visit: http://growingchefs.ca/opportunities)
We welcome your cover letter and resume at admin@growingchefs.ca by 6:00pm, September 4th, 2011. Please quote “Fall Intern” in the subject line and articulate your interest and how you meet this volunteer position criteria.
3. GROWING KIDS PROGRAM
Looking for work experience in the environment or education sectors? Interested in outdoor classroom learning? Believe that education has the power to create social and environmental change? Apply now for Environmental Youth Alliance’s Growing Kids Volunteer Internship Program for Fall 2011!
As a volunteer intern you will:
• Work regularly with an elementary or high school to help teachers and students develop and maintain their school garden and/or school garden club
• Assist in facilitating workshops and lessons on topics such as: seed saving, winter garden preparation, soil ecology, composting, plants as medicine, native plants and wildlife, and food security.
• Help coordinate student-driven garden projects
• Become a role model for youth in environmental stewardship; teaching about the social, political, economic and ecological implications of what we eat and how we live.
• Support teachers in better utilizing their school yard as a learning grounds.
Interested? For more information visit www.eya.ca. Please send a resume and covering letter indicating why you are interested in the position and detailing your experience working with youth and/or growing food, to Co- Coordinators Alaina Thebault, alaina@eya.ca AND Matthew Kemshaw matthewk@eya.ca
Apply by: Sunday, August 28th, 2011.
4. GRANDVIEW WOODLAND FOOD CONNECTION
The Grandview Woodlands Food Connection is a grassroots food security group supporting residents to access healthy and affordable food. We are developing a number of community based food initiatives, including community gardening, bulk buying groups, school gardens, canning workshops,community kitchens and more and are looking for individuals interested in hands-on project coordination. Check out our projects. Call Ian @ 604-718-5895
5. THE FOOD 2 U PROGRAM
The Food 2 U Program is a partnership between the Vancouver Food Bank and Vancouver Coastal Health. The program delivers food to seniors or persons with a disability most Friday mornings and is looking for volunteer drivers (with their own car) and passengers. Mileage will be reimbursed for those using their vehicles. Volunteers must be able to work well with people and be physically able to lift 20-25 lb grocery bags. Familiarity with the downtown area is an asset. For further information, please contact Carrah Boume at (604)215-3931.
______________________
Deadline: October 31 The Neighbourhood Matching Fund supports projects by neighbourhood-based groups who want to make creative improvements to local public land. It supports projects which actively involve people in developing community and building neighbourhood connections while improving parks or other public spaces. The Vancouver Park Board will supply funds up to $10,000 to match the contribution the community makes through other funds raised, donated supplies, or volunteer labour. Projects which have other committed Park Board or City of Vancouver funding are eligible for a maximum of $5,000 and will be considered second to projects with no such funding. http://vancouver.ca/parks/arts/nmf/index.htm
