Grandview Woodland Food Connection E-Newsletter

Welcome to issue #65 of the Grandview Woodland Food Connection E-Newsletter. This newsletter has been created to share information about food security in the Grandview Woodland and neighbouring communities. Please feel free to send us any information that you would like included.

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Check out our Blog - http://gwfoodconnection.wordpress.com/

Thanks McMaster Alumni 
Garden 2 Plate
Corn Festival 2014

We are also on Flickr - http://flickr.com/photos/gwfc/sets/

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Vancouver’s Sustenance Festival Connects Communities October 5-19, 2014Art, Culture, Food and Sustainability – Making Connections, Building Relationships

October 2, 2014 Vancouver, BC From October 5 until October 19, 2014 Vancouver’s Sustenance Festival focuses on making connections in your communities through a series of events focused on food from foraging to preservation and everything in between.

This city-wide festival includes everything from food inspired art exhibits to local food workshops, talks, walks, dances and more – all taking place in community centres and public spaces throughout Vancouver and many of them free of charge.

There are more than sixty events in this 6th year of the biggest Vancouver Sustenance Festival yet. Thanks to Choices Markets for helping this festival grow.

Highlights include:

• Sustenance: More than a Mouthful, More than about Food – Art Exhibit Oct 1 - 31 Britannia Community Centre - Library
• Food for Thought Art Exhibit - Sponsored by Ungalli Clothing Co. October 12 – 19 Roundhouse Community Centre

Some new events this year:

• Gluten-free Baking
• Foraging 
• Tea Tasting
• Vancouver Food Policy Council event: TOWN HALL “Getting Food Issues on the Municipal Election Agenda, October 15 at the Roundhouse
• World Food Day - October 16
• Intermediate Canning - Apples 3 Ways (at Hastings Community Centre)
• Native Edibles (at Dunbar Community Centre)
• Plastic Recycling Depot (McBride Park)

For Kids:

• Kids in the Kitchen, 6 sessions starting Oct 11 at Hastings Community Centre
• Growing Chefs! with Parents & Tots, Oct 15 at False Creek Community Centre sponsored by Growing Chefs!
• Fall Harvest Community Dance, Oct 17 at Trout Lake Community Centre

Markets:

• Orchard Park Mobile Market and Tasting Kitchen, Oct 11 @ Orchard Park
• The Mobile Produce Market Returns to Kensington Community Centre, Oct 18 @ Kensington Community Centre

A few samples of Community Events:

• Neighbour Savour V, Oct 6 @ Heritage Hall (Village Vancouver’s Potluck for 300!)
• A Sustenance Sharing Circle: Understanding the connection between Sustenance, Culture and Ecology, Oct 12 @ Britannia 
• South Vancouver Community Harvest Festival, Oct 18 @ David Thompson School Farm

For all details and city venue map, visit: http://www.sustenancefestival.ca/

Eat it Forward Community Food Market, Grandview Park - The Grandview Woodland Food Connection is proud to partner with the Eat It Forward Markets Society (EIFMS) in  establishing a new community food market in Grandview Park. This market has an explicit food access mandate, ensuring that healthy, nutritious, local and socially-just food is available to community members who are struggling financially to become more food secure.

The Eat it Forward Market table will provide organic food at 30% and 80% discounted rates for lower income residents. Individuals and households that qualify will be issued memberships much like a buying club. As such, the market is helping to provide dignified food access by providing food choice, affordability, and organic quality and helping to ensure that all community members have equal access to good food.

The Eat it Forward market will run weekly on Sundays all year, from 11 am – 6 pm at Grandview Park on Commercial Drive.For more information check out http://www.eatitforward.org
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Events

1. A SUSTENANCE SHARING CIRCLE

2. HASTINGS FOOD NETWORK SUSTENANCE EVENT

3. SOUTH VANCOUVER SUSTENANCE HARVEST FESTIVAL

4. THE FEAST WORLDWIDE VANCOUVER

5. NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING SERVICE
6. 2015 UNITED WAY PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE

Workshops

1. SEASONS OF FOOD WORKSHOPS

2. TEACHING PERMACULTURE CREATIVELY

3. SPANISH WE LOVE VEGGIES 

4. HANDS-ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH WENDY SARKISSIAN

Jobs

1. COMMUNITY DEVELOPER – FOOD SECURITY & LITERACY

2. UBC FARM PRACTICUM

3. COMMUNITY GRANTS COORDINATOR – VCH

Volunteer

1. GRANDVIEW WOODLAND FOOD CONNECTION - COMMUNICATIONS
2. THE FOOD 2 U PROGRAM
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Events

1. A SUSTENANCE SHARING CIRCLE

Please join us for a Sustenance Sharing Circle: Exploring the Connections between Food, Art, Culture and Ecology. The Sharing Circle is an opportunity to understand a more holistic approach to sustenance. Sustenance is more than simply access to food. It is about sustaining the whole person, their culture, food, and the environment.

Join us for an open dialogue with:

Cease Wyss - Member of the Squamish Nation, an indigenous herbalist and educator
Ian Marcuse - Community Food Developer with the Grandview Woodland Food Connection exploring a dignified right to food system
Sharon Kallis - Environmental artist who works to discover the inherent material potential in the local landscape
Sonja Hebert - Artist who connects art and the natural world and passionate about gatherinbg wild plants for food and medicine

Sunday, Oct 12, 1 - 4pm
Canuck Family Education Centre, Britannia Community Centre, North side of Grandview Park
Free - please register - 604-718-5800

A Sustenance Festival event
Sponsored by Britannia, The Vancouver Public Library, and Grandview Woodland Food Conection

3. HASTINGS FOOD NETWORK SUSTENANCE EVENT

3. SOUTH VANCOUVER SUSTENANCE HARVEST FESTIVAL

4. THE FEAST WORLDWIDE VANCOUVER

5. NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING SERVICE

Nutrition counseling services by a certified holistic nutritionist and herbalist will be available for under-served residents and open to all community members on a sliding scale basis. This service is aimed at helping you navigate the food choices available in our area and choose the foods that are best suited for your health, taking into consideration any health issues or goals you may have. Improved eating habits can help boost your physical and mental health. This service also aims to help connect residents to affordable, accessible, healthy food programs and options. Service available Tuesdays 6-9pm.

Contact Nikoo Boroumand at info@healinggardenswellness.com to book an appointment. For more information, visitwww.healinggardenswellness.com
Appointments at Britannia Community Centre
Supported by the Grandview Woodland Food Connection

6. 2015 UNITED WAY PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE

Are you a changemaker and want to help strengthen your organization’s capacity to advance social change? Organizations applying to attend this training program must be from the non-profit sector, active in the areas of social or health-related services and interested in affecting public policy change in those areas. Enrollment is open to organizations from all regions of the province.

This program is specifically designed to help non-profit leaders and their organizations increase their knowledge of the public policy process and their capacity to influence it. Monthly two-day sessions will be delivered over a six month period; from January to June 2015. A dedicated and very experienced cohort, the opportunity for shared learning as part of a small cohort of 25 sector leaders and an applied learning approach with a manageable course calendar make this a unique capacity building opportunity.

United Way starts accepting applications on Aug 13, 2014 and the deadline to apply is Oct 10, 2014. For more information please visit the program webpage athttp://www.uwlm.ca/public-policy-institute. To obtain an application form, please contact Yves Trudel at: yvest@uwlm.ca

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Workshops

1. SEASONS OF FOOD WORKSHOPS

Hastings Community Centre
Brand NEW Season. Brand NEW workshops!!
Great facilitators, excellent topics, small groups!!
ALL workshops only $15

Check out our upcoming workshops in October, November & December! Registration is open & spaces are limited.

More Fall Harvest & Preserving Food:
October 8 – Dehydrating Foods
October 9 – Intermediate Canning: Pickles
October 15 – Sauerkraut
October 16 – Intermediate Canning: Apples: 3 ways

Cooking for all Ages:
October 11, 18, 25, November 1, 8, & 15 – Kids in the Kitchen – $75/6 sessions
October 4 – Korean Cooking
October 10 – Indian Cooking 2
October 17 – Date Night! I’ll Cook 1
October 24 – Date Night! I’ll Cook 2
November 7 – Date Night! I’ll Cook 3

Holiday Baking (or anytime!):
November 12 – Holiday Biscotti
November 18 – No Knead Bread
November 26 – Holiday Cake Pops
December 2 – Holiday Peppermint Bark

Healthy Eating:
October 14 – Crock Pot Yogurt
November 6 – Healthy Oils

In the Garden:
October 19 – Putting Your Garden to Bed
November 2 – Permaculture Planning 1
November 16 – Permaculture Planning 2

If you cannot afford to take a program we offer subsidies to members who have a Leisure Access Card. You can apply for a reduction of up to 50% off of the program fee. Ask for a form at the front desk.
Registration is available for all workshops
By phone: 604.718.6222, ext. 2, after 12:00 noon every day
In person, at the HCC main reception desk.
For more information email: info@seasonsoffood.com
See the Community Centre Program Guide for a full listing.

2. TEACHING PERMACULTURE CREATIVELY

3. SPANISH WE LOVE VEGGIES 

4. HANDS-ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH WENDY SARKISSIAN

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Jobs

1. COMMUNITY DEVELOPER – FOOD SECURITY & LITERACY

Are you passionate about food security, literacy, and community? The Community Developer of Food Security & Literacy plays a key role in implementing and delivering various programs in the community. He/she is also actively engaged in planning, developing and evaluating the programs and community development objectives. The Community Developer will provide leadership for both the South Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Network and the South Vancouver Community Literacy Plan and South Vancouver Food Network Steering Committee. Both aim to engage and build the capacity of community residents of all ages and backgrounds. For more information about the following, please visit:

SVNH – www.southvan.org Food Network – www.southvanfoodnliteracy.orgLiteracy Plan – www.decoda.ca

Start Date: Nov.3-10th, 2014
Terms: 30 hours/week
Category Classication: Program Coordinator (Level 1)

*Please note this position is for a one year term as it is dependent on funding on a yearly basis

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Provide leadership to the South Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Network and the South Vancouver Community Literacy Plan & act as an advocate for food security & literacy in South Vancouver
• Actively engage South Vancouver residents in both the Food Network and the Literacy Plan
• Plan organize and lead food security and literacy activities, facilitate discussions, and deliver workshops
• Promote programs both internally and externally, including through blogs and e-newsletters
• Build, develop and maintain effective relationships with all stakeholders of the programs
• Assist in program administration, monitoring outcomes and maintaining statistics and expense records
• Assist in recruiting, hiring, orienting, coaching, and supervising volunteers in consultation with the Program Director

Qualifications and Skills Required:
• Minimum of one year experience in community development and/or community planning processes
• Relevant post-secondary education and/or education related to food security, literacy or similar
• Knowledge and understanding of food security, literacy and community-based planning processes, and understanding of capacity and strength building approaches
• Proven ability to work independently, conduct outreach, facilitate groups, supervise volunteers, organize and manage projects and develop partnerships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to use computers
• Cross cultural communication, understanding, and experience
• Knowledge of the South Vancouver area is highly desired
• Criminal record search required & willing to obtain First Aid

Submit resume and cover letter to tanya@southvan.org by 5:00pm Friday, Oct.10th, 2014
We thank everyone for applying. Only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

2. UBC FARM PRACTICUM

The 2015 UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture application is now open, and you’re invited to attend the Practicum Open House!

When: Saturday, September 20 1:30pm-4:30pm
Where: UBC Farm
On September 20th, you’re invited to the UBC Farm to learn more about the Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture.
Event Details: http://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/events/practicum-in-sustainable-agriculture-open-house/

The practicum is an eight-month experiential learning program designed for aspiring farmers, urban gardeners, environmental educators, and students with an interest in applying their learning about sustainable agriculture and food systems. Meet current students, tour the farm, ask questions, and more! Hope to see you there.

To learn more about the UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture, and to submit your application, click here. Application closes October 22nd.

3. COMMUNITY GRANTS COORDINATOR – VCH

We are looking for a dynamic Community Grants Coordinator to join our Population Health Team. This is an exciting position that supports the community grants portfolio with the SMART Fund, Aboriginal Health Strategic initiatives and Aboriginal Health Services. The Community Grants Coordinator reports to Steven Dang as the Manager of Population Health Community Investments. Please contact him if you have any questions about the position steven.dang@vch.ca

Internal Board: https://internal-vch.icims.com/jobs/51022/community-grants-coordinator-%28tft%29/job
External Board: https://careers-vch.icims.com/jobs/51029/community-grants-coordinator/job

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Volunteer

1. 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.

We are currently seeking a social media person to help us build our public profile.  This is a great opportunity to get involved in community food programming. Call Ian if interested @ 604-718-5895

2.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 homebound seniors or persons with a disability most Tuesday 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 Jan Russell at (604)301-3886.