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Is there a natural evolution in organic food production systems? Hint – every product, idea, movement… has a life-cycle. What is that life cycle for organics? Please describe in clear terms. Each year the Conference covers eco-topics such as climate change, permaculture, urban ag, holistic management, eco-flowers, values and ethics, etc. What new topics do you want to see offered for the 2011 Conference? What’s a Greenvention? Well, it’s an eco-friendly idea that makes a big difference in the world. SunChips recently introduced their Greenvention: the world’s first compostable chip bag. And now, CBC’s Dragons’ Den has teamed up with SunChips to search for the best Greenvention. More information on how to pitch your Greenvention go to the Dragons’ Den website. The final deadline is March 19, 2010. Please get your workshop idea in right away ! For more information Please go to http://www.guelphorganicconf.ca/workshops/proposals/ for more information. Our tenth annual Halton Eco Festival will take place on Saturday, April 17 from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday, April 18 from 11 am to 4 pm at the Glen Abbey Rec Centre on Third Line in Oakville. Volunteers are needed to help promote the event before it happens and other volunteers are needed to help with a variety of interesting assignments on that weekend. The Halton Eco Festival features 80 green exhibitors, 18 educational workshops, a supervised kid’s eco fun area, and a silent auction. Please refer to www.haltonecofest.ca for more details about this event. The 2010 Conference ran 15 workshops around several major themes: Organic Crop Production, Organic Soil Management, Canadian Organic Issues, Ecology & Biodiversity and Farmer Direct Marketing Issues. Can you suggest other major themes which would interest you for 2011? 2010 Guelph Organic Conference A Big SuccessGuelph, February 17, 2010January’s just-completed Guelph Conference drew another strong crowd approaching 1800 people. With 155 Expo booths, a wide array of farmers, traders & students foraged the show for organic samples. Meetings, food events, trainings & AGM’s spanned 5 days. The activity whirlwind included close to 200 guests at the Organic Dinner; a large Keynote guest audience; an estimated 425 Expo booth participants; incredible volunteer efforts; a key Sunday a.m. Organic Trader meeting; several spontaneous organic farmer training & advocacy meetings. Highlights for attendees included the Food Inc. showing in downtown Guelph hosted by organic yogurt giant, Stonyfield Farm’s Gary Hirshberg. Margaret Webb’s ‘Think Big Canada’ Keynote presentation packed the house. Vermont success story, Pete Johnson and partner/co-presenter Meg Gardner of Pete’s Greens’ talk on organic market gardens was a sold out workshop of 100+ registrants. The University Centre was vibrant and lively on Saturday and Sunday with a vast array of organic trading companies & non-profits exhibiting at the Expo. The show drew a lot of inquisitive consumers this year, proving that the organic business is really drawing the attention of the mainstream. The trade show is ideal for consumers to meet organic suppliers in person. One particularly exciting highlight of the day was the presentation of a $5000 cheque to Ann Clark and the University of Guelph’s Organic Agriculture Program by Organic Advocates/Feast of Fields, a non-profit organization of organic producers, environmentally concerned chefs, food professionals, and enlightened consumers. By far, the most popular workshops in 2010 were the ‘Organic Market Managers’ & ‘New Farmer Panel’. Many attendees and organizers felt that the time allowed was only enough to graze the surface of the depth of the issues. Referring to the Organic Farmers Market Networking room, a popular multi-booth display and demonstration room, Carrie Ann Watson stated “As a long-time organic market supporter and organizer, this Networking Room was a fabulous idea. I think its popularity was a remarkable example of the booming desire to strengthen the connection between our food, our environment and the people who grow it.” Everyone involved – the many volunteers, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and an extremely dedicated staff, deserve high praise for contributing to a very successful event. Conference Manager, Tomas Nimmo in his humble fashion commented, “Every year this show attracts such an exciting crowd that you know you’re at Organic Central. Guelph 2010 met all my goals.” A sincere thanks to all the non-profit organizers of the 29th Guelph Conference:
For a copy of the Conference Proceedings including a summary of the 35-workshops and a “guide to organic marketers” trader list, please mail a cheque payable to ‘Organic Conference’. Organic Conference, Box 116, Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 3Z4. $10 postpaid to Canada or $15 to the U.S. Watch for news of the 30th Annual Conference, late January, 2011 at the Guelph University Centre. Photo Caption: Receiving a welcome $5000 donation. Posing for the photo: students of the Organic Agricultural Program; holding the cheque from left to right Feast of Fields chair Daniel Gilbert, Professor Ann Clark, Conference Manager Tomas Nimmo. Photo credit: © 2010 Heather Osborn, Crave Images. Can you suggest a title for 2011 Conference – the 30th Annual? Well at least for Saturday, Feb. 20, 9.00 am-5.00 pm, during the COG-Toronto Organic Conference. ‘Your Food, Your Choice’ – Grounds For Change. Come one, come all to a one-day event at 89 Chestnut St. (U of T Residence), 2nd floor for the organic event. See: www.cogtoronto.org – for details and pre-registration. Sponsored by The Big Carrot and several other organic businesses. Note: the Guelph Conf. Mgr. will be moderating a panel so be sure to say hello. Also “the world needs more organic events where consumers can meet producers and organic associations” – so that we can all understand each other Michigan Organic: Seeds, Soils & HealthDedicated to the memory of Doug Murray & Nancy Jones Keiser March 5 & 6, 2010 Michigan Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) will sponsor the Michigan Organic Conference on March 5 and 6 at the Kellogg Convention and Hotel Center located on the Michigan State University Campus in East Lansing MI. Jeffrey Smith of the Institute for Responsible Technology will present a Friday evening Keynote address titled “Don’t Put That in Your Mouth: The Health Dangers of the Genetically Modified Foods You’re Eating” and a Saturday morning address titled “Arming the Choir: How We Can Kick Out GMOs (REALLY!)”. Longtime organic activist and organic seed provider C.R. Lawn of Fedco seeds will present a Saturday Afternoon Keynote titled “Growing Habitat: Embracing Biodiversity”. This year’s conference will include educational sessions, gourmet luncheon, displays, film festival, childcare and much more! Visit: www.moffa.org for conference updates and registration information. Conference March 6 sessions: Seeds: Inside the Seed Company: C.R. Lawn, (Fedco Seeds), Global Seed Companies: Who Owns What?: And More! Soils: The Challenge and Rewards of Organic Soils: MI Organic Farmer Panel And More! Health:”PC” Nutrition on Trial: Birgit McQuiston, (Nutritional Wellness) The Healing Garden: And More! Young Farmers: What is the future of MI farming?: Alexis Bogdanova-Hanna & Friends Intergenerational Forum: And More! Film Festival: |
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29th Annual Guelph Organic Conference ©2010 | acc |
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