The Request for Proposal...

A few months back, I have shared some information with you, that an idea for development of an agricultural co-operative has been bounced around for quite some time. Over the past few months, the discussions have become more serious. A Local Foods Coalition has been developed and has decided to have a feasibility study done for the possibility of a co-op in the Dryden area. Here's a brief summary of what we are asking of the Feasibility Study:

The purpose of this feasibility study is to explore how a producer-consumer co-operative will strengthen our agricultural sector and address local food security issues. With the deliverables of:

• determine whether Dryden and area are food secure,
• identify the specific local food security issues,
• define and assess the local agricultural sector,
• identify the specific steps that need to be taken to strengthen the local sector,
• outline, in detail, how a viable producer-consumer co-op will both address local food security issues and strengthen the local agricultural sector,
•  identify the specific and realistic steps and timelines that need to be taken to develop the producer-consumer co-op including, but not limited to, the following:
• explore the option of a stand alone co-op or being in association with an existing co-op,
• outline how the co-op can be structured as to encourage new producer participants,
• analyze the economics of a local producer-consumer co-op,
• assess the feasibility of a specific local location, and
• identify potential obstacles or challenges to establishing and operating the co-op.

 If you do have any questions, comments or ideas. Please email me at kdscia@hotmail.com

THE LOCAVORE BOX

The Locavore Box is a type of Community Supported Agriculture, where particpants pre-pay for seasonally fresh local produce. This produce is conviently packed in a box and ready for pick up at a central location. Sounds like a deal!

Here's some more information...

What you can expect from the Locavore Box:

Every second Tuesday; between 3:30 and 5:30 PM you will pick up a box of fresh locally produced food at the depot – 56 King Street. The box will also contain a newsletter and an evaluation form so you can give feedback on the content of the box and the progression of this pilot project. The cost is $20 PER Locavore Box. The box will contain $20 worth of Farmers’ Market priced fresh produce – picked just that morning! A $10 box deposit will be required with your first payment. For each pick up date you will need to return your empty box and completed weekly feedback form in exchange for a new box full of produce. The contest of the box will vary according what is in season. You will not be able to choose the contents; however, what you do receive will be fresh and in-season.

Other information:

We hope the first box will be ready for pick up starting June 29th and continue right through to October. (Mother Nature permitting!)

• The boxes will be pre-paid for by cheque or cash – either in monthly payments or in full.
• The evaluation form is mandatory as we would like to see the success of this project continue in the future to benefit you and the local producers.
• Information packages will be emailed to you before May 24th.

If this interests you, or you know of someone, please contact Jessica at 223.7378 or kdscia@hotmail.com

Green Eating - in more ways than one!!!

In today’s world we are faced with a rapidly changing food industry affected by food preservatives, additives, genetically modified foods, and E.coli scares. In response, there is an increasing awareness and concern about the quality and the cleanliness of the foods we consume. It would be impossible to identify and track the pesticides and routes taken to get your food produced and transported to the supermarket. Local foods begin to make a lot more sense when you think of how your tomatoes get to the supermarket from Mexico. Eating local foods allows you to take more control over what you and your family are putting into your bodies.


Packaging, shipping and shelf life are not primary issues of local producers selling directly to local consumers. Instead they can focus on selecting, growing and harvesting crops that ensure freshness, nutrition, seasonal quality and taste. Eating locally means eating seasonally; a practice which is in tune with Mother Nature.

Local foods are not only safer for you, but for the environment. Even if the farm is not organic, it’s a safe bet that these smaller farms are choosing less aggressive ways to produce foods when compared to commercial farming. Small scale farms also take more interest in protecting and preserving the agricultural gene pool; growing a variety is important for current food security issues and the ones we face in the future. Also, buying locally produced food decreases the journey it takes to get to your table. This lowers gas-emissions and your overall ecological footprint!

UPCOMING:
 
LOCAVORE BOXES!

Dryden Co-operative Project: A Local Food Security Initiative

Do you find yourself asking: Where does my food come from? Why is local food important? Is local food healthier for us and for the environment? Local foods are becoming an interest to more and more people within the Dryden community but there are still many questions surrounding its potential benefits to both producers of local foods and consumers.

More specifically, we are looking for other ways to support our local farmers and the larger community as a whole, in addition to the traditional farmers’ markets. In this edition of the newsletter we will be exploring an option that can potentially answer all of these questions: the creation of a producer-consumer co-operative!

The desire to create a co-op is not new; in 2004 a feasibility study and business plan was created, known as the “Dryden Rural Infrastructure Project”, to further investigate the viability of this venture. The study identified that a co-op would be successful in Dryden.

Fast forward 6 years later…Where are we now? A steering committee, comprised of interested producers, consumers, health educators, and community developers, has been created in order to get a scope of the different perspectives on a co-op development.

Collectively, these members embrace the idea of a ‘Local Food Security Initiative’ that can “promote and enhance a sustainable agricultural system in Northwestern Ontario, which utilizes accessible farm land in an environmentally friendly and economic manner, while encouraging accessible and adequate healthy eating in our communities.” We believe that the development of a producer-consumer co-op will satisfy the demands for food security.

A co-op will:
- be unique to this area,
- benefit the local economy,
- address local food security issues, and
- provide the community with healthy local foods.

We are in the process of:
- initiating an updated feasibility study,
- considering various greenhouses and other properties to house the co-op,
- continuing to develop the producer-consumer co-op structure, and
- gauging the interests of the Dryden community.


Where do you fit in all of this?
If you would like more information about the co-op project, or if you would like to join the steering committee and add your voice, air questions, or share your concerns about this process, please contact Jessica Symington at 223-7378 or jsymington@drytel.net or stop by 56 King St.!

LOCALLY GROWN ALL NATURAL BEEF

From:

Milkwell Farm, Dryden - Paul Wildhaber

and

Timber Hill Farm, Oxdrift - David Rhyner

"We rase good quality, young animals on a grass fed diet. All the meat is provincially inspected and Grade A quality! No Hormones! No additives!"

What they sell...

1/2 sides or 1/4 sides cut and wrapped to your specifications.

Shrink wrapped: $2.70/lbs

Paper wrapped: $2.65/lbs

Lean Ground Beef: $2.60/lbs

Box of assortments

(roasts, steaks, some stew and ground beef - shrink wrapped)

Approximately 32 lbs for $145.00

For more information or order, please call:

Paul @ 937-2738

or

David @ 937-6522

DRYDEN'S WINTER FESTIVAL

Fun for all ages!

The Cloverbelt Country Farmers' Market will be providing sleigh rides at Van Horne Landing from Noon - 3pm on Monday, February 15th!

Come out and enjoy the whole day with the family!

ADDITIONAL FARMERS' MARKET DATES

We are happy to announce that the Cloberbelt Farmers' Market will be in Dryden every second week starting mid June!
The Oxdrift Market will continue to be at Oxdrift Hall every Saturday from 9am-12pm, staring mid June.