The Newsletter of Vancouver Farmers MarketsMarket News
East Van is Open - Kitsilano Just Around the Corner!
Its that time again! Time to dig out your market-going gear and head to the first markets of the season. Thank you to everyone who attended the first 2 Trout Lake Markets of the year - we have been overwhelmed by the support and well wishes we're received in our new location. Some of you have even mentioned that you like the North Lot location even better than our usual spot.
If you haven't had a chance to check it out, please do but remember - parking is very limited in the area - no parking is available on 13th Avenue. So park a little further out - Victoria, Garden or 19th Avenue and walk in. Its really a very nice walk through the park. There is also a parking lot off of 19th in the park.
Free Bike Valet and a designated Grocery Pickup area (corner of Garden and Grandview) help to make shopping at this parking-limited location a little easier. For more information visit: http://www.eatlocal.org/troutlake.html
The Kitsilano Farmers Market opens this weekend and we're excited to offer a completely full market to our loyal Kits shoppers. This market was in very high demand from vendors this year - we're sure that's due to the great support we've received from the community. Check out the new vendors, visit with familiar ones and as always, enjoy the best of BC in your backyard!
Wondering who'll be at the market on opening day? Check out the INTERACTIVE MAP.
Kitsilano Farmers Market, Sundays, 10am - 2pm, May 23 - October 24
In the parking lot of the Kitsilano Community Centre.
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Market Search Engine
Looking for a specific product? Check out our new Produce Search Feature You'll receive a list of vendors who have the product you're looking for and the next dates that they'll be at the market. Need to get in touch with the vendor directly - you'll receive their contact information too. Try it out!
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We're an Envirofund Visa Award Winner!
Vancouver Farmers Markets Board Co-Chair, Amy Robertson accepts the Vancity Envirofund Visa grant award at the awards luncheon recently.
The Vancouver Farmers Markets is proud to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Vancity Envirovisa Fund to launch a new initiative for our city called "Winter Food in Vancouver". Starting in summer of 2010, funds will be dedicated to the following key objectives:
1. A series of dynamic, community-based public events focusing on preparing and preserving summer and fall foods for the winter (starting in the summer of 2010)
2. A new location for the Winter Farmers Market, transforming it to larger, more accessible, weekly event starting in November of 2010, and preparing for a permanent year-round farmers market at the New City Market local food hub (now in the business planning phase),
3. A widespread public awareness campaign on the benefits of eating locally in the winter, with info on where to find local foods from November to April.
We're very grateful to Vancity for this support and opportunity, and, because it takes a community to build a resilient food system, we look forward to working with all of our partner organizations in Vancouver to increase the impact and exposure of the Winter Food in Vancouver initiative.
Special thanks go to Jason Boyce of Local Food First for working with the Vancouver Farmers Markets staff to prepare the proposal to Vancity, and the Local Food First team for concept development and planning support.
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Next Member Appreciation Day
The member appreciation day calendar is just being drafted but we've got big plans to make membership in Vancouver Farmers Markets (and the society behind the scenes "Your Local Farmers Market Society") a whole lot more valuable.
Chat with a member representative at any market location for the low-down on the benefits of membership. Annual memberships are only $10 and support our work to grow farmers markets in Vancouver. Members also receive 15% off at the Market Information tent on all merchandise and juice purchases.
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Vendors Looking for Market Help
The Bean Buggy is looking for temporary staff!
We are looking for an individual available to work with us on the weekends at the farmers markets, and some festivals. The ideal candidate should have previous experience working as a barista (or coffee shop-type setting), should like interacting with people, be a team player; and enjoy working on a really busy, clean, fun and professional environment. For more information about us and The Bean Buggy please check out our website: www.thebeanbuggy.com
Please contact us by phone or through e-mail for more info.
Erika: 778.855.2965
Krusheska: 778.829.3953
e-mail: contact@thebeanbuggy.com
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Maan Farms
Sales people required to work in a country store on a farm in Abbotsford. Full time/part time positions available. Must be enthusiastic, organized and people-person. Some lifting required. Training available. $9/ hr. Work available beginning of June. Candidates can send resume by email to maanfarms@shaw.ca Attention: Devinder
Classes and Events
Join the Barrowtown Agricultural Development Society on May 27th for its inaugural film night!
The Barrowtown Agricultural Development Society was founded in 2009 to support the development of new farmers in the Fraser Valley by establishing an inventory of land, equipment and other resources as well as providing education and networking opportunities for new farmers. One of their main activities is developing incubator farms, which are a means for new farmers to test their business plans and build operating businesses in a supported environment without the considerable costs of purchasing land and equipment.
The Society is launching a series of film nights that focus on food and agriculture. Food Inc. has been chosen as the first film because it touches on a number of broad issues that are likely to spark discussion. For more information about the film, visit http://www.foodincmovie.com/.
So, join us May 27th at 7pm at the Abbotsford Agriculture Centre (the big red building next to the Abbotsford Community Gardens), located at 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford V3G 2M3. Feel free to show up at 6:30 to mingle.
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Garden Festival - May 29th East Vancouver Market
As always, our May and June markets will be a good time to find veggie starts, bedding plants and potted herbs for our home gardens. Its also a great time to talk to the growers and get their tips and tricks for getting the best results from your work. Mark your calendars, our Dig In! Garden Festival is happening on May 29th at the East Vancouver Market location.
Look for gardening information and resources, demonstrations and kids activities as well as lots of plants and planting advice. We'll also be having our first Garden Book Swap - building on the popularity of our Cookbook Swaps - bring your old garden books & pickup something new to you.
May 29th is also BC's First Day of the Honey Bee - come celebrate these hard-working heros of the farm and garden at the market as well. Pick up a jar of local honey from Vlad's Apiary if all the buzzy business has got you in the mood!
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Growing Out of Hunger
Rescheduled for Tuesday, July 13, 7-9pm
Welch Community Dialogue presents GROWING OUT OF HUNGER featuring Will Allen, CEO, Growing Power Community Food Centre, Milwaukee & Chicago
Find out how this former professional basketball player, corporate sales executive and urban farmer is feeding 10,000 people and starting a community food revolution out of his inner-city farms in Milwaukee and Chicago. Winner of the $500,000 MacArthur Fellowship in 2008, Will Allen is transforming the cultivation, production, and delivery of healthy foods to underserved urban populations http://www.growingpower.org/blog/
Croatian Cultural Centre
3250 Commercial Drive (and 14th)
Vancouver, BC
This event is free but registration is required. Register here.
Opportunities - Volunteer and Otherwise
Young Farmers Summer Camps at Southlands Heritage Farm in Vancouver
An understanding of “Where does my food come from, and how is it grown?” will be the outcome of this fun and educational 'farm to table' program for children ages 6 to 12.
Campers will discover the wonder of life on the farm while learning basic skills such as: caring for hens, goats, horses, ducks and other mysterious farm fauna; and germinating seeds and growing, harvesting and preparing seasonal foods. Campers will also take part in farm fun recreational activities, farm crafts, and hands-on science experiments.
The camp runs from 1pm to 4pm during the summer weeks and is instructed by professionals with backgrounds in agroecology, culinary arts, education, and science. Instructors have first aid certificates and the ratio of campers to instructors is 5 to 1. Weeks 1 and 2 are already full - so book now to reserve a place!
For a full day experience, campers can register for the Pony Meadows morning horse riding camp which runs from 9am to noon.
For More Information, please visit our website: www.southlandsfarms.com OR call us at 604 261 1295
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FUN Camps
FUN Camps is an environmental leadership summer day program being run at UBC by Friends Uniting for Nature (FUN) Society, a charitable non-profit organization.
FUN Camps is for 6-16 year old youth and focuses on environmental education, leadership and collaborative skill development and most of all FUN! Activities include: exciting games, sports, arts, drama, hiking, creation of solar powered cars, bike maintenance workshops and gardening. The camps run Monday-Friday July 5th to Aug 27th from 9am-4pm and costs $195.00/week. Each week has a different environmental theme such as food, energy,transportation, water, nature, eco-footprint. There are two added bonuses this year, an environmental loot bag for each participant and a social/environmental change project contest.
Spaces are filling up fast, so please register soon!
For more information/details and to register, please visit http://www.funcamps.ca or contact Maia Green - maia@funcamps.ca
The Grocery Gap
by Sarah Rubin, The Atlantic, Published: May 17, 2010
Urban revitalization does not at first glance relate to the growing national interest in fresh fruits and vegetables. But the Pennsylvania-based Food Trust views the supermarket as the perfect starting point for improving the commercial viability of a neighborhood. When the group launched back in 1992, it was originally dedicated to expanding farmers' markets throughout Philadelphia. Today, the group is working tirelessly to eliminate food deserts--areas without any access to "real" food.
To accomplish this goal, the Food Trust is working with Pennsylvania lawmakers to develop a series of public/private partnerships that address food access problems. One such program is the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, a grant and loan program that encourages supermarkets to open in underserved areas. The group is also working on nutrition policy for Philadelphia schools and is helping corner stores improve their produce offerings. Yael Lehmann, The Food Trust's executive director, spoke with The Atlantic about what supermarkets can accomplish for cities nationwide.
Read on...
