Food Security Group

Comment

Comment by Heather K on January 7, 2011 at 2:13pm

 

Buying local & increasing our food security does take a change in consciousness and action.

Would anyone like to start a TW discussion or blog on this topic within our larger TW network?

And would anyone be willing to work with the coop to assist them in increasing visibility of our local products? (You can connect with me on my TW member page or email).

 

I'm confirming Kate has scheduled Sunday Jan 16^th from 3-6 for planning session with her to initiate a “Whatcom County Food Security Summit.” Email has been sent out to those who confirmed they could attend, per prior doodle. Agenda to be posted on this work group page, and she has asked for agenda ideas & facilitator.

 

Welcome Shannon! Thanks for event info on the Jan 26 “ Producer-Owned Business Structures Workshop”.

Comment by Juliet Thompson on January 5, 2011 at 11:11pm

Yes it is, Jeff moved on to work for  the Northwest Agricultural Business Center - so there is life after getting fired, as millions now know.

Comment by Jamie Jedinak on January 5, 2011 at 11:00pm

Is this the Jeff Voltz that was the GM for the Food Coop in Bellingham who got fired?

Comment by Shannon Maris on January 5, 2011 at 10:43pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   
January 5, 2011 – Bellingham, WA

Event: Producer-Owned Business Structures Workshop
When: Wed. January 26, 3-6 p.m.
Where: Re-Sources Sustainable Living Conference Room, 2309 Meridian Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-2403
EvEv
 
Producer-Owned Business workshop pools resources for market expansion

Bellingham, WA – The Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) and the Sustainable Connections Food & Farming Program are holding a business development and educational seminar to help Whatcom and Skagit County agricultural producers in their consideration of business expansion. The event will provide an overview of three different types of business structures which include cooperative corporations, limited liability companies and benefit (B) corporations.
 
“We live in a region that has a tremendous capacity for food production, yet most of the food available in the Puget Sound region comes from somewhere else,” NABC project manager Jeff Voltz says. “This seminar will provide good nuts and bolts information on business structures and business formation, and how those relate to positive examples of producers who are working together to increase local and regional market share.”
 
On-hand at the event will be two agricultural producers and a food manufacturer, who have formed and operated these different types of organizational structures. The event will also feature a panel discussion covering the areas of tax-accounting, legal requirements, and federal agricultural development programs.

Panel participants include Phil Tucker, owner of Whatcom Natural Beef and six year board member of Island Grown Farmers Co-op, Allan Merritt, owner of Merritt Apples, Inc. and founding owner of Skagit Fresh Natural Beverage LLC, Trudy Scherting, owner of Moka Joe Coffee, Jason Perry, CPA at Larson Gross, Pllc, Erin Crisman Glass, Barron, Smith, Daugert, Pllc, and Sharon Exley, Business Programs Specialist, USDA Rural Development.
 
Food and agriculture business members are invited to attend. RSVPs are requested by Tuesday, January 11. Please E-mail Jeff Voltz,jeff@agbizcenter.org or call (360) 593-4744. For more information, visit the NABC’s website.
 
This event is one of a series on producer-owned business models, funded in part by the WSDA Specialty Crops Block Grant and the Whatcom Community Foundation, and is a co-project of Sustainable Connections Food & Farming Program and the Northwest Agriculture Business Center.
 # # #
 
Sara Southerland
Food & Farming Outreach Coordinator
Sustainable Connections
(360) 647-7093 ext. 114
www.sconnect.org

Comment by Alys Kennedy on January 4, 2011 at 10:29am

Thanks for the compost ratios, Walter....good to know!

Comment by Alys Kennedy on January 3, 2011 at 10:16am

Hi Jamie! and Happy New Year....

When I use rabbit manure I put it on late in the fall, or early winter and let it sit till spring...and it seems to work great.  So, it does sit for a while, but doesn't have to decompose as long as does chicken manure! So, you are right, it does need a little time before it can be used in the garden.

Comment by Jamie Jedinak on January 2, 2011 at 6:07pm

Thanks Alys,

Rabbit feces has lots of ammonia output to be mindful of from the urine that accompanies the feces....some plants have done okay but mostly I had to let it sit, when I was getting it in big bags, and let it off gas......  :)

Comment by Alys Kennedy on January 2, 2011 at 10:40am

I too like the idea of being able to raise meat (rabbits and other small critters) quietly...however, I think it would be wise to study more about eating rabbit as an exclusive meat product. The human body needs fat in order to survive and rabbit has little to no fat, and through research shows that humans cannot survive on rabbit alone. Thus, I think it should be considered as a supplement, rather than as a survival food. And, the good news is that rabbit manure is a fantastic fertilizer that is not hot!

Comment by Heather K on January 1, 2011 at 10:15pm

 Hi All, “Do your doodle” and come together to create the Food Security Summit event and meet with Kate for a couple hours!

http://doodle.com/pxcb53ppxxt2dy2q

 

I agree with Farmer Walter.

Lets create something in January. ( Greenhouse & cool crop seed sowing begins in February).

 

In November 2010 Kate suggested we aim for January 2011. Well, here we are Jan 1st! .

If we want to include our local farmers & growers to attend, and encourage more neighbors to grow food and buy from their local farmer, I'd encourage us to look to a January date.

 

I called my local grange, and asked about the possibility of having a community farm-food meeting there and that is just the type of event the range was created for. They would also welcome new grange members to help them maintain the community space that was created many decades ago.

I have a list of the dates available, and we even have the option of having an event the same day as monthly grange breakfasts, that happen twice a month....mmm think food then event...

 

I'm willing to schedule a date at our grange for January if asked - just give a call so we can talk voice to voice, if you want me to help with this.

 

I appreciate the vision of simply bringing folks together in the same room, sharing what we know, and finding out what the missing pieces are, and inspiring everyone towards 'More Planting' and 'Less Planning'. There are still some weekend dates before the Bellingham Seed-Swap that is held Sun Jan 30^th. Simple needs are date, space, facilitator, promotion, and commitment from folks like Kate, Fred & Steve to attend - and us the local eating community.

 

Thoughts?

 

Comment by Kate Clark on January 1, 2011 at 11:47am

PS: Tris, good thinking. In fact, Steve and Fred have both already expressed a strong interest in participating in a Whatcom County Food Security Summit!

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