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The Point
Community News
 North & South Point Douglas ♦ Explore Life in The Point! |
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Last updated: May 6, 2012
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Upcoming Manitoba Farm Mentorship Tours The North End Food Security Network (NEFSN) was established in October 2007 and includes representatives from a variety of community groups. Our mission is to establish a network in the North End of Winnipeg that is able to provide education and resources to all residents, with the ultimate goal of creating a stronger, more sustainable and equitable food system. To date, NEFSN has compiled an inventory of food security activities and needs through community consultations and a forum. The network's vision is a community where there is nutritious, safe and culturally appropriate food available for all residents, access to local food production, adequate and appropriate knowledge of healthy food choices, and ongoing care and improvement of the environment. 'Food Security' is defined locally and globally as meaning that:
We know that poverty is a basic indicator for food insecurity. For families barely surviving on a low-income budget, acquiring the types of foods they want and need in sufficient quantities is a serious challenge, which leads to a dependence on community-based food initiatives or charitable donation centres. A representative from Winnipeg Harvest states that over 1000 families in North Winnipeg proper use their food banks and that these people also go to food banks in other areas of Winnipeg to meet their needs. Research shows that the people at highest risk for being food-insecure are those receiving social assistance, low-income households, lone mothers, children and urban Aboriginal Peoples. Point Douglas demographics show higher percentages of low-income households, children, and urban Aboriginal Peoples than Winnipeg's average. During our community consultations, several representatives from community groups stated that the cost of housing affects the amount of money that residents have available to purchase food. This ultimately affects food choices. Residents often use their food money to cover rent. Another common concern of low-income residents was the lack of accessible, affordable and nutritious food in their community. The Point Douglas population has a higher percentage of people who rely on public transportation or walking as their main means of getting groceries than the city of Winnipeg in general. Inability to access low-cost foods increases food insecurity. Initiatives such as food boxes, community gardens, collective kitchens, nutrition classes, accessible grocery stores with lower prices, and better food choices have been found to increase personal capacity to improve food security, to enhance community cohesion, and are initiatives that NEFSN is striving to facilitate. Community gardening promotes physical activity and allows individuals and families access to fresh, nutritious food that supports health. Community gardening is a social activity where people can meet others and build a sense of community. Community gardens improve the urban environment by re-greening vacant and other lots and by enhancing the beauty of the community and creating a sense of pride in the neighbourhood. Gardening participation builds skills and creates positive community development that is widely accessible to a diverse range of people. Partnerships between the City, other levels of government and community organizations create additional community benefits through fostering youth employment, volunteer activity, and the restoration of natural areas. Community gardens also help prevent crime. Police departments have recognized local gatherings as an effective type of community-based crime prevention strategy. The Green Institute reports that increased green space has been linked with a decrease in crime. this benefits the whole community. All residents who live and work in the designated North End communities, but in particular low-income families, single parents, youth, seniors, newcomers to Canada, and Aboriginal persons will benefit from the food they are able to grow in community gardens and the food they are able to provide for their families through better food purchasing decisions and opportunities. The community will benefit by having a greater number of residents who are more able to be self-sufficient and who have an increased capacity for community engagement. For additional information on NEFSN, food security issues, and upcoming workshops please phone Margo at 221-1046. Upcoming Organic Food Council of Manitoba/Manitoba Farm Mentorship tours: Manitoba Farm Mentorship reminds you that the registration deadline is coming up for the tour of Dunsmore Farm on Saturday, July 18 from 10am to 12pm. Please contact us to register by Friday, July 17. Dunsmore Farm is a conventional farm near Stonewall, MB. Farmers George and Shelley Matheson incorporate direct marketing and pastured poultry production on their mixed operation, and will discuss farming and sustainability from their perspective as 27 year veteran farmers. We have invited the Stonewall MAFRI GO Team and other local producers to offer ideas on sustainable farming techniques and details on programs and services available in Manitoba for producers who are interested in taking steps toward sustainability. For more information, directions, and to register, call 204.414-3742 or go to www.organicfoodcouncil.org. Manitoba
Farm Mentorship is also planning a tour of Zacland Certified Organic Dairy near
Winkler, MB on August 22, 2009 and a tour of Blue Lagoon Florascape, a certified
organic market garden and CSA operation, on September 11, 2009. Check back to
our website or sign up to our mailing list for more details.
www.organicfoodcouncil.org;
manitobafarmmentorship@gmail.com Upcoming University of Manitoba tours: You are
invited to learn more about organic crop production research taking place at the
University of
Manitoba
under the supervision of Martin Entz this summer by attending our upcoming
organic field tours. Tours will take place at Carman MB, Oxbow SK and Glenlea
MB. Each tour will feature unique projects exclusive to that site, as well as
some studies that are being conducted in two or more of these locations. More
details about each tour are listed below. The 2 hour tour will include
a "walk" of the organic farm located at the U of M research station. Visitors
will see the 6 year rotation and we will discuss crop rotation design for
organic and low external input farming systems. In addition, we will learn
about: There are two very special projects at Carman this year: 1. Grazed green manures. Instead of just tilling green manure legumes, why not derive some income from the plants as well? We are investigating grazing as an alternative to traditional tillage to manage green manures and make them more profitable. A wide range of green manure species are being tested. 2.
No-till organic. Come see the impressive results where flax has been no-tilled
into a rolled barley/hairy vetch mulch. You will see the crops plus the
machinery used to make reduced tillage in organic farming a reality. Moose Creek Organic
Farm and University of Manitoba Organic Field Day Glenlea Organic Field Day The tour will feature: This tour is hosted by the University of Manitoba's Natural Systems Agriculture program.
August
6th, located at Grande Clariere MB, contact is Laura Ellis in the OPAM office,
204.748.1315 or
opamlaura@mts.net. There will be socializing and networking after the field
tour as well in the form of a pot luck gathering. There is no cost to attend. Other tours and field days (some duplication with descriptions above) Confirmed
Organic Field Days 2009 Sharon
Taylor Explore Life in The Point!
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