Blogs

Growing Connections Project Launch!

May 18, 2013 - 5:50pm | posted by: vanessa

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.

The Cowichan Green Community (CGC) officially launched their new handbook, Growing Connections: a handbook for purchasers and farmers in the Cowichan Region, at a hugely successful networking event on May 1st.  A "Meet-Your-Maker" styled evening, held at the beautiful Alderlea Farm and Cafe in Glenora, allowed local chefs, business owners, and grocery purchasers to network with Cowichan Region farmers.  

A panel discussion set the networking off to a boisterous start, with Michael Mockler, produce director of Thrifty Foods, sharing some enlightening and entertaining stories.  Next was Susan Tiche of ShareOrganics, who spoke of the benefits of farmers participating in box programs, which was followed by an energizing discussion by Bradford of Amuse who explained the true value of knowing the person who grows what you eat.  Finally, Rick Juliusson, proprietor of Free Range Consulting, invigorated the crowd with the latest news on the creation of a Food Hub in the Cowichan.

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VIU students come help at Cowichan Green Community

February 19, 2013 - 12:22pm | posted by: heather

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.

Our class at VIU just started a program at Cowichan green community

Second year students work there Tuesday’s and Thursdays first year students Only go Thursdays. And we will be growing plants and fruits and vegetables

And we will be building a greenhouse and starting an urban farm. And we will be put into teams. our teams are called the garden team ,theres the greenhouse team ,and  theres a media team.

My name is Gregory Norris. The first year students are Emily, Rachel, Marika, Sarah, Rory, Navron, Logan, Chris ,.And the second year students are me Gregory ,Nick ,Brendon ,and Tonia and we will be working  toghether at kinsmen park during the weeks

And our program is an employability course,we started in Febuary to the end  of June.I would like to learn alot from this program.

from gregory norris

 

week of febuary 19

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We want your input!

February 5, 2013 - 2:22pm | posted by: Niki

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.

Right now the Cowichan Agricultural Market Project has an online survey for farmers, purchasers (including chefs, grocers and wholesalers), as well as consumers.  We’re asking you how you buy or sell local food and what can be done to help increase local food sales. The aim of this project is to stimulate connections between farmers and purchasers in the Cowichan Region, increasing market opportunities for farmers, and ultimately strengthening our local food economy.  
 
If you fall into any of the above categories (and we’re all consumers!), please fill out our survey at: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/CGCMarketSurvey/
 
The results of this survey, combined with information gathered from interviews with farmers and purchaser, will be compiled in a handbook with tips and information to help connect Cowichan Region farmers, purchasers, and consumers.  Look for the handbook in mid April, but for now please share your thoughts and input with us by filling out our survey!
 
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Update! Cowichan Agricultural Market Research Project

January 14, 2013 - 4:07pm | posted by: audra

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.

Vanessa, Tessa, Nikki, and Audra were immersed in secondary research over the month of December for the Cowichan Agricultural Market Research Project (CAMP).  Secondary research is the collection of data that already exists, from census, news, surveys, etc., and like a toddler with wrapping paper on Christmas morning, we were buried in it.  As this stage of research comes to a close, we have learned some very interesting facts regarding agricultural production in the Cowichan Region, but as we waded through the literature we also learned some interesting stuff from all over Canada, North America, and the world…

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Kin Park Urban Farm

January 8, 2013 - 10:31pm | posted by: heather

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.

Walk through Kinsmen Park these days and it's hard to imagine that much is happening there while the community gardens sleep for the winter and the recently retrofit pool building is locked up awaiting summer programming.

But behind the scenes, a hard-working team of six Cowichan Valley Youth (Clark, Hebecca, Kurtis, Lara, Kendall and Anthony) is carefully putting together the site and marketing plans for a small-scale urban farm and greenhouse that will be implemented over the coming months. Based on the principles of permaculture, the Kin Park Urban Farm will grow veggies and herbs for market while facilitating social, environmental, economic and educational benefits for the downtown community.

Some of the questions on the team's mind these days include "glass versus poly?", "till or no till?", and succession planning and organizational structure for after the official Skills Link project wraps up in April. With several donations of tempered greenhouse glass in the wings, and a soil sample sent off to Salt Spring's Agrichem Analytical, things are really starting to take root. Presentations for final approval of the farm design will be made to the City of Duncan and Municipality of North Cowichan at the end of this month.

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Providing Food For People in Need

January 4, 2013 - 2:17pm | posted by: amanda

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.

What does the term ‘food security’ mean when you don’t even have a house to call home? What is a home when you pay all the bills, and then there isn’t enough money left over to feed your family? Although we all struggle with the cost of living in British Columbia, there is an alarming number of individuals and families who have no idea what food security means, or even how they can access enough food to put on the table. This is where Anne Balding, Chuck McCandless and the Cowichan Green Community are trying to bridge the gap between empty tables and hungry bellies with a program called Meals on the Ground.

Meals on the Ground is a grassroots and community (volunteer) driven program that provides food for people who are in need of greater food security in their lives. From the homeless to people on fixed-incomes and minimum-wage workers (who can’t make ends meet), to single moms with children and even seniors on below poverty-line pensions, these meals are helping fill a huge need in our community for greater food security in the Cowichan Valley. According to Balding and McCandless, what initially started out with twenty-people showing up for a free meal has now grown to over seventy-people, and those numbers are rising every week as the news of this program spreads.

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VIU Student Experience with CGC -by Katie Jones & Abigail Neal

November 22, 2012 - 3:22pm | posted by: alyssa

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.

Having lived in the Cowichan Valley for 25 years, it may seem impossible that I had never heard of the Cowichan Green Community before. Believe it or not, this is true, and if it had not been for the involvement in my Vancouver Island University sociology class this semester, I would not have become involved in this amazing community organization. Of course I had heard of the Kinsmen Community Gardens, but did not realize the other incredible projects that the CGC were involved with, such as the FruitSave program, the Community Environmental Education programs, the Garden Pantry Thrift Store, and their many initiatives to provide a sustainable future for the Cowichan Valley. The staff seem to be perfectly aligned with the mission, vision, and values of the organization and they have such a contagious passion for what the organization stands for. It has been a great experience for me to learn about this organization and to be able to work with the staff who have been so accommodating to me and my classmates. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to learn more about this organization and to have been involved with them, although it was only for a short time. I hope that I can continue to be involved with and support the CGC in the future.          

-Katie Jones, VIU Student

 

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Earth Day 2012 Celebration

April 12, 2012 - 2:54pm | posted by: amanda

The CGC Blog

Here at CGC we like to talk about what is going on. A quick look at the blog posts will show you that we have not shortage of things on the go. Feel free to leave comments and talk to us.