Thanks to funding from The Hornby Community Fund, HICEEC and Heron Rocks Friendship Centre, the Hornby/Denman Growers and Producers Alliance is putting together a Local Food and Farming Guide for Hornby. (Actually we hired Joanne Ovitsland to put it together, but it was our idea and design.)
Should you be in the Guide? Yes, if you are a Hornby grower or food producer who sells nursery plants, vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, honey, shellfish, seaweed, herbs, wine, jam, juice, flowers, nuts, seeds, or some other food or agricultural product we haven’t thought of. (Although we promise not to list the local growers of Hornby’s most notorious crop!)
We have developed a list of forty one potential growers and producers whom Joanne will be contacting in the next few weeks. If you would like to be included in the Guide, feel free to contact Joanne at 250-335-0922 to make sure you are on the list.
We hope to have the Guide finished and ready for free distribution by May. The Denman GPA folks are also working on a similar brochure for their island. “Islands Feeding Islanders” starts with knowing where to look for people growing what you need.
In other GPA news, we are excited to have set up a meeting with Agriculture Minister (and Comox Valley MLA) Don McRea on March 16. Hopefully there will be a good Southeaster blowing and all the farmers will be able to attend and give us input into shaping the direction of BC agriculture. What about starting with a BC-wide ban on GMO seeds?
We hope to offer several agriculture-related workshops over the coming year, in cooperation with other island organizations. What workshops would you be interested in attending? Mushroom-growing, grafting, wild-crafting, mason bees, worm-composting are a few that we are considering. Contact a board member or attend the March 16 meeting to have your say in the 2012 Workshop list.
Last but not least, notice our attractive new logo. The logo competition was won by Hornby’s own Tyler Manson, artist of many First Edition covers. We are very pleased to offer the logo to GPA members to use in labeling their island products.
2012 board members: Reina LeBaron, chair, Doug Wright, vice-chair (DI), Veronica Timmons, secretary (DI), Lisa Pierce, treasurer (DI), Jack Hansed, Dale Merrick (DI), Suzanne LaRose, Kate Janeway (DI), Tim Biggins.
Grow local! Buy local! Eat local!
By Reina LeBaron
