July 2015 News & Events
Potential Shared Commercial Kitchen Space
Do you need a part time commercial kitchen space? Have you outgrown your home kitchen? Are you tired of lugging stuff in and out of a church basement? A Peterborough organization is considering setting up a commercial kitchen space and are looking for subleasees.
The ideal situation is a few people/organizations who can commit to a regular weekly shift (such as 1 day a week). There will be some space on site to store tools and ingredients if you are a regular user. There would be on site cold storage. There may also be the opportunity to bring in your own specialized equipment. Hourly rental may be offered if there is enough demand.
The space would be within the City of Peterborough and would be accessible. Might you be interested in such a space? The project can be reached through Jamey Coughlin at Peterborough Economic Development: (705) 743- 0777 x 2123 | jpcoughlin@gpaedc.on.ca
Soil Health Day
August 12, 2015 | 9:00am | Hewitt Creek Farms, Innisfil, ON
Join Dr. Christine Jones and the OMAFRA Soil Team for a full day workshop on restoring and rebuilding soil, as well as multi-species cover crop demonstrations.
Dr. Christine Jones is an internationally renowned groundcover and soils ecologist with a PhD in Soil Biochemistry. She has worked with farmers on four continents to regenerate tired soil. She demonstrates how to restore the elements that will bring new life back into soil, build organic matter, improve soil structure, increase water retention capacity, and create fertile ground. Dr. Jones has a wealth of experience working with innovative landholders to implement regenerative land management practices that enhance biodiversity, increase biological activity, sequester carbon, activate soil nutrient cycles, restore water balance, improve productivity and create new topsoil.
For more info, or to register, visit: www.ifao.com
Trent Vegetable Gardens Workshops
Raised Bed Gardening Workshop & Potluck
July 28, 2015 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Trent Field Garden | By Donation
Kollene from Well Grounded Garden has embarked on a raised bed garden journey this season and will be sharing her experiences in this workshop. Learn all about the benefits of raised beds, different raised bed designs, and the variety of possible uses of your raised bed throughout the season, including succession planting and season extension.
A potluck dinner will be shared following the workshop. Please bring a vegetarian dish or snack to share with ingredients.
For more info, email trentvegetablegardens@gmail.com
Permaculture 101 & Garden Potluck
August 6, 2015 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Trent Field Garden | By Donation
Join Trent Rhode from Transition Town Peterborough to learn all about the core principles of permaculture and how you can apply them in your home garden, community plot or larger garden venture. This workshop will explore permaculture applications such as companion planting, sheet mulching, no-till gardening and the role of perennials.
A potluck dinner will be shared following the workshop. Please bring a vegetarian dish or snack to share with ingredients.
For more info, email trentvegetablegardens@gmail.com or visit the Facebook event page.
Directions to Trent Field Garden
- Go to the main parking lot of the DNA building such that you are facing the building
- From there walk to the back left hand side of the parking lot where there will be a gate with a gravel road behind it
- Walk through the gate (or around it if it's closed) and follow that path as it leads around to the left
- Keep following that gravel road until it leads you directly into the field garden. We are just past the fenced in area. (Do not take the other road veering to the right. That will lead you astray!)
IAPO Beginning Farmers Financing
The Beginning Farmers Program (BFP) is a four year program designed to support new beginning First Nations farmers between the ages of 16 and 35 through all stages of farm business start up. BFP will support the creation, development and investment in new farm businesses, such as: livestock, crop, fruit and vegetables, maple syrup, honey, floriculture and nursery production, mixed farming, and aquaculture.
Start-up financing of up to 30% (to a maximum of $15,000) is available for approved projects, as well as mentoring and training provided through workshops.
Applications will be accepted until August 7, 2015. For more information, contact IAPO: 1 (800) 363-0329 | info@indianag.on.ca
Central Ontario Beekeepers’ Association - Summer Meeting & Potluck Picnic
July 19, 2015 | 2pm | Green Side Up, 121 Grassy Road, Omemee
Demonstration: Making molds for candle production by Julius Arnold, experienced beekeeper and candle producer.
Tour: Native Plant Nursery by Doug Kennedy, owner Green Side Up Environmental Services and Landscaping (www.greenservices.ca).
Report: COBA’s participation at the Lavender Festival at Laveanne Lavender in Campbellcroft by Sherry Summersides, COBA Executive member
Display: Various Methods of Successful Feeding of Bees by Todd Kalisz, Dancing Bee Apiaries and Bee Supplies (http://shop.dancingbeehoney.com/)
Display: AZ (Slovenian) Beehive by Lenka Petric and John MacFarlane
Please bring:
- Your favourite potluck contribution, as well as your own plates, cutlery and lawn chair
- Gadgets, tools, equipment or stories that you would like to share with members.
- Come prepared to have a good time.
No RSVP required.
Maple Syrup Production Mentorship
New Maple Production Training Opportunity!
This new Farms at Work Maple Syrup Mentorship connects new and intermediate producers with experienced mentors. Participants receive over 30 hours of instruction in sugar bush management, syrup and value-added production, as well as economics and marketing. The Program is offered over five curriculum-based field days between October 2015 and May 2016. In addition, participants receive one-on-one support from our mentors, and attend an OMSPA info day, where they will gain valuable exposure to the maple industry in Ontario. For more information, visit farmsatwork.ca/maple-syrup-mentorship-program, or call (705) 743-7671.
Pollinator Habitat Field Day
September 2, 2015 | 9:00am | Peterborough County | FREE
Join us on Wednesday September 2 for a full day FREE bus tour showcasing the great work being done to support native pollinators by farmers in Peterborough County. We’ll visit two farms to hear how they’ve effectively incorporated pollinator conservation into their farming systems, and then spend the afternoon working on a new planting project at a cattle farm outside of Lakefield. Space is limited to 15 people, so register soon! For all the details, visit pollinatorhabitat.eventbrite.ca, or phone (705) 743-7671.