The B.C. Federation of Labour is calling on British Columbia’s government to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour
How to walk away from civilization
February 8th, 2015 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on How to walk away from civilization)Miles Olson built a ‘feral homestead’ as a squatter, foraging, hunting, gardening and scavenging among a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to living close to the land, in alignment with their values
Hamperville Nanaimo draws attention to ongoing need for food security
December 1st, 2014 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Hamperville Nanaimo draws attention to ongoing need for food security)Hamperville Nanaimo project is launched for Christmas 2014, and asks for much-needed volunteer assistance and food donations as it continues to make a difference in the community
Christmas Hampers Nanaimo — known as Hamperville Nanaimo — is a community organization formed 11 years ago by the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank and The Salvation Army of Nanaimo. The groups gather food and cash donations and distribute them to the community in need at Christmas time. In 2013 Hamperville served over 5,400 people and distributed 2,450 hampers. Organizers expect that this year an equal number of hampers will be needed.
Local and urban agriculture grows food, business, and community
October 6th, 2014 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Local and urban agriculture grows food, business, and community)Christopher Brown — aka “Farmer Brown” — participates in a locally owned and operated growers co-operative that delivers food to Nanaimo’s Farmer’s Markets
A little over a year ago a group of local farmers just south of Nanaimo formed a partnership called the Farmship Growers Co-operative. As reported in the Nanaimo Daily News, “the group worked out a deal in which they would lease nine acres of the Wyndlow Farm…along with Chris Brown, a new farmer who just wrapped up his first year growing food in the Cowichan Valley.” Chris is one of a burgeoning new generation of urban farmers reimagining and reinventing farming for a new century.
Farmers’ markets get it right, soar in popularity
July 14th, 2014 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Farmers’ markets get it right, soar in popularity)The benefits of local and organic food production are huge—providing significant environmental and social benefits
“There’s no doubt people are becoming increasingly passionate about buying local, in-season food and locally produced goods,” says Elizabeth Quinn, executive director at the B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets. She points to the fact that over the last several years, there’s been a 62% increase in the number of farmers’ markets in the province.
And anyone who’s a farmers’ market regular knows that in addition to locally grown food and locally made products, the markets offer a surprising variety of community activities such as live music, children’s activities, cooking classes, artisan workshops and much more.