FRIENDS OF FOOD

Friends of Food in Ward 32

Friends of Food is a new initiative of Councillor McMahon that seeks to direct the enthusiasm and interest local residents have for food-related issues and events in Ward 32. If you'd like meet with like-minded residents who may be interested in starting a bake oven in a local park, advocating for sustainable and local food, findnig out about backyard hens or promoting healthy food options, this is your group. Send us an email and we'll be in touch in December with the first meeting likely happening in January of 2012.  Councillor_McMahon@toronto.ca

Wanted: Backyards. Will Provide Gardens
TORONTO – Imagine a world where everyone has access to healthy, local, organic food. Sharing Backyards wants to make that goal a reality. In fact, they’re willing to give anyone who wants to grow food, the space to do it.
The premise of this unique urban gardening program is simple: Sharing Backyards connects those who have garden space with those who don’t. Now would-be gardeners, non-gardeners and neighbours of all kinds can come together in an atmosphere of trust – where the end product not only beautifies a homeowner’s yard but also provides fresh food for all. Homeowners are paired with a gardening partner and split the cost of supplies. Later once they reap the harvest, both parties share the abundance of the crops.
For more information on this exciting program, visit www.sharingbackyardstoronto.ca and click on the map to browse through listings – post your own or look for others already offering yard space or gardening skills. Your address and e-mail remain hidden, and messages come directly through the website to you. You can also sign up to receive free gardening advice. Sharing Backyards Toronto is brought to you by the LifeCycles Project Society (www.lifecyclesproject.ca ) together with local partner Growing for Green, founder of Toronto’s first community orchard in a public park. Growing for Green also runs annual fruit tree care and gardening workshops. (www.communityorchard.ca ).

About Growing for Green
Growing for Green, founders of Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard, is a volunteer eco-gardening group based in Toronto’s Ward 21. The group is responsible for the planting and maintenance of Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard. Volunteers have donated hundreds of hours of their time to transform the park, and to create educational programming and activities including regular stewardship days to take care of the Orchard and Pollinator Garden.

For information on orchard events, contact Suzanne Hartmann at shartmann@sympatico.ca  or visit the website at www.communityorchard.ca

Leslieville Farmers market is closed for the season, but good news - there's a winter produce program starts November 13th, called "Leslieville Farmers Market Winter Food Mix", offering residents a chance to pick up seasonal produce......<Read More Here>

CITY COUNCIL UPDATES - LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT
• Councillor McMahon cemented her position as champion of local food by passing a motion at Council during the summer to head off threats to the Toronto local food procurement policy and also to strengthen it.
• She persuaded Council to support changes that would include a more practical category approach to the millions of dollars spent by City agencies on food.
• The program benefits local growers, reduces Ontario's carbon footprint and provides exemplary leadership for everyone in the Province.
• Under the policy, staff will try to increase the proportion of locally-grown food in purchases of food for City of Toronto.

Farmers Markets User Fees

• Some City Councillors want to increase user fees for farmers' markets

• This could put farmers in a position where they can no longer participate. markets make Toronto a greener and healthier City. 

• Toronto residents benefit from fresh seasonal food brought directly to their neighbourhoods and the markets encourage people to participate in their communities and meet their neighbours.

• The environment benefits when food travels a shorter distance, using less fossil fuel and less packaging.

•Markets also support and encourage family farmers.

•  You can vote against increasing costs for Farmers' Markets

• Facilitate space in parks, parking lots and other suitable locations;

•  Keep fees low to market organizers and vendors; and,

• Maintain low cost parking options for farmers.

To sign the petition, please visit:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/torontofarmersmarkets/

The Toronto Food Policy Council 

The Toronto Food Policy Council manages this information service for people working on food issues with community organizations, social agencies, public health units, educational institutions, faith and justice organizations, and local governments.  If you would like to share information on community gardens, urban agriculture, farmers markets, school meals, obesity, social determinants of health and diet, local food systems, or multicultural, educational and anti-hunger initiatives in your area, please send them totfpc@toronto.ca.  

If you are interested in global food policy, please consider subscribing to an e-mail service we co-sponsor called Foodforethought, at: editor@foodforethought.net  If you would like to view the TFPC's website, please visit us at: http://www.toronto.ca/health/tfpc_index.h