Everything Organic · Organic Opportunity · Organic Directory · Organic Food · Organic Gardening · Organic Agriculture

(A) Why Local & Organic?

(1) What's the big deal? What's in it for me?

We all eat. But few of us know what is in our food, what the risks are to ourselves or to society in general. We trust that healthy and ample food will appear, like magic, in the grocery store. We trust the corporations, the "food system", that creates this apparent miracle. And when the experts say it's the best way, most of us believe them (see www.prwatch.org).

But there are troubling questions. What are the effects of agri-chemicals – on consumers, farmers, farms, and the environment? Can industrialized, monocultural agriculture provide a secure food supply? What are the root causes of cancer and other disease? How can we best feed a growing population? Who are the vested interests, and who can be believed? Most importantly, what can you do – as a consumer, a worker, an activist, a citizen?

Whether you are an eater, a gardener, a job seeker, an activist or a business person, you will find something of interest on this page. From good food boxes, to gardening tips, to food-tasting festivals... from weekend workshops, to university programs... from organic getaways, to world travel... from hands-on volunteer experiences, to life-long careers. You will also find links to related topics such as permaculture, solar and wind power, strawbale construction, and ecovillages. A cornucopia of opportunities, waiting to be discovered, experienced, and tasted!

– Peter Blanchard (contact)

The Farm Crisis, Bigger Farms, the Myths of "Competition" and "Efficiency" (2)

Foodwatch – "According to Health Canada, we receive 80 to 95% of our total daily intake of dangerous chemicals [...] through our food. Children are especially vulnerable..." Discover what toxic contaminants the government is finding in your food; the potential health effects; what the federal government is or should be doing; locate retailers in your area who sell alternative food products; make your voice heard and take action. www.foodwatch.ca

Raffi: We're poisoning our children – "Today's produce is full of toxic residue and our children are most at risk. We need a new pesticide law". By children's troubadour Raffi Cavoukian, Feb 25, 2002, the Globe & Mail. Full article on-line at:
www.commondreams.org/views02/0225-06.htm Related links:
Children's Environmental Health Network www.cehn.org
Children's Health www.cela.ca/ch_health/ch_health_index.htm
Women's Health & Environments Network www.web.net/~when/
Stopping Cancer Before it Starts www.stopcancer.org
Links Between Health & Environment www.planetfriendly.net/health.html
Raffi's Troubadour Institute www.raffinews.com/about/about-ti.html

Ground-up batteries on your food? – "Toxic sludge can be relabeled as fertilizer, spread on food we eat. If you think that eating ground-up car batteries and drinking industrial waste is healthful, don't visit these websites. 'Tis good for many businesses to have their toxic waste relabeled as fertilizer. What the heck, the EPA says 'tis OK. These URLs explain part of the reason why. The process began under Ann Gorsuch, nominated to mismanage the EPA by George Bush Sr. (See book Fateful Harvest for details.) Ironically, many autism-spectrum children are being found to have impaired detoxification (often related to gastrointestinal problems), to have high levels of various toxic metals, and to improve subsequent to gut-healing, nutritional support, and removal of toxic metals (by physician-supervised chelation)". www.safefoodandfertilizer.com www.mail-archive.com/ecofem@csf.colorado.edu/msg08519.html .

Toxic Sludge Is Good For You (book) www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy.html – "a cautionary reminder that much of the consumer and political world is created by for-hire mouthpieces in expensive neckties"

Protect Farmland, Don't Pave It! www.planetfriendly.net/dontpave.html (article and links to sprawl & smart growth; preservation of agricultural land; landtrusts)

David Suzuki: Organic Farming A Realistic Alternative – "According to a landmark 21-year study recently published in the journal Science, organic farming can produce good yields, save energy, maintain biodiversity and keep soils healthy." Article by Dr. David Suzuki, June 2002 www.davidsuzuki.org/about_us/dr_david_suzuki/article_archives/weekly06070201.asp (if this link changes, go to www.davidsuzuki.org and search for organic farming).

For more on the need for organic food and sustainable agriculture (plus analyses and solutions) please see the section on Organizations & Websites, below.

The nearest natural food store may be the most obvious, but is far from the only option. Other choices include food box/delivery programs; farmers markets; Community Supported Agriculture; buying direct from the farm gate; food co-ops & buying clubs.

Consumers' Guide to Eating Organics, 3rd edition. Info & listings for consumers, including 300 stores across Ontario, 100 certified-organic farms, a dozen organic delivery services in Metro Toronto, organic farmers' markets, and info about organic agriculture & genetically modified foods. Lists what each farm sells, and when & where you can buy their products. Print edition: $5 + $2.50 shipping. www.organicadvocates.org/guide.html FREE, downloadable PDF versions: www.organicadvocates.org/stores.pdf www.organicadvocates.org/farms.pdf

How to Avoid Genetically Engineered Food (Shoppers Guide) – A catalogue of the Genetically Engineered (GE) foods sold in grocery stores across Canada. Provides alternatives to the GE foods currently available, and reveals which companies are taking action for the environment and their customers by removing GE ingredients. It also reveals those which are not. Lists over 1,000 food products and whether or not they are genetically engineered. It is currently the only source of information available to the majority of Canadians who don't want to eat GE food. We hope you find it useful in navigating the unlabelled aisles of Canada's supermarkets. On-line edition: www.greenpeace.ca/shoppersguide/ Print edition: suggested donation $2. To order, call: 1-800-320-7183 or e-mail members@yto.greenpeace.org or visit The Big Carrot, Grassroots or other environmentally responsible stores. Published by Greenpeace Canada: www.greenpeace.ca www.greenpeace.ca/e/campaign/gmo/

The Eco-Foods Guide (book). New book, available fall 2002: Eco-Foods Guide – What's Good for the Earth is Good for You! The essential guide to making sense of grocery store aisles. "A lively conversation about accessible solutions eating for health, for the environment, and for ecological values designed to empower consumers to vote with their food dollars for positive alternatives". By Cynthia Barstow, New Society Publishers, 2002. Foreward by Francis Moore Lappe. www.newsociety.com/bookid/3805 www.newsociety.com 1-800-567-6772 (if your bookstore doesn't have it on order, see the stores listed at: www.newleaf-dist.com/retail_stores/stores.htm or try www.google.com/search?q=%22eco-foods+guide%22 )

From the Eco-Foods Guide, by Cynthia Barstow, New Society Publishers, 2002
(see above listing or: www.newsociety.com/bookid/3805 www.newsociety.com)

Community Supported Agriculture is a way that you can get fresh, local (often organic) food at affordable prices, while also helping to support a local family farm.

Farmers markets can include both real, local farmers – as well as vendors who are selling food trucked in from elsewhere. Many mainstream markets have at least a few local, organic farmers. Note that most have very limited hours: many are on Saturday. The earlier you arrive, the better the selection will be. Ask the farmers if the food is locally grown, certified organic (and if not, what is their approach to pesticides). Ask if there are other organic farmers at the market. If you're looking for learning opportunities, inquire about volunteering, work-exchange opportunities, apprenticeships, or paid work.

Some of the entries in this section will be of primary interest to gardeners (and those who would like to learn how to garden), while other entries are of greater interest to organic farmers. But there is no clear distinction between the two – don't ignore some sections just because you don't consider yourself a "farmer". For more information and learning opportunities, see also the various sections below: Books & Magazines, Organizations & Websites, Events, Courses, etc.

(a) Of interest to both gardeners and farmers

Organic Gardening Articles – soil; composting; flowers; vegetables; natural lawn care; permaculture; pests and diseases; seed saving; herbs; urban gardening; native plants; more www.life.ca/food , Gardening Without Chemicals , www.icangarden.com/document.cfm?task=viewcategory&categoryid=52 , www.icangarden.com/document.cfm?task=viewcategory&categoryid=39 , www.backyardorganicgardening.com , www.organicgardening.com/steps , http://symptomsolver.organicgardening.com , www.organicaginfo.org

Seeds of Diversity – "open-pollinated", heritage varieties which are not genetically engineered and grow well in organic & low input conditions. Canada's heritage seed-saving network. Their website includes an extensive list of Heritage Seed Companies in Canada, USA, England & France. Don't miss their annual "Seedy Saturday" fairs across Canada each spring, offering seed exchanges, workshops, trade show tables, and more. www.seeds.ca . See also the section on "What is Biodiversity", above, for further explanation of why heritage seeds are crucially important.

Organic Catalogues – Seeds, Plants & Supplies
Seed companies & nurseries that sell heirloom and rare or endangered varieties of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs (see also "Seeds of Diversity", above) www.seeds.ca/library/rl/rl.htm
Mail-order – Organic www.qnet.com/~johnsonj/Organic.htm
Mail-order – Natives www.qnet.com/~johnsonj/Natives.htm
Mail-order – Heirloom www.qnet.com/~johnsonj/Heirloom.htm
Mail-order – Canadian (general, incl. non-organic) www.qnet.com/~johnsonj/Canadian.htm
Mail-order – Perennials www.qnet.com/~johnsonj/Perenn.htm More: www.qnet.com/~johnsonj/

Native Plants – North American Native Plant Society www.nanps.org Gardening With Native Plants (more) http://directory.google.com/Top/Home/Gardens/Associations/Wildflowers_and_Natives/

Permaculture What is Permaculture? www.permacultureactivist.net/intro/PcIntro.htm
Permaculture Activist (website & magazine, incl. links & listings) www.permacultureactivist.net
Permaculture.net www.permaculture.net
Permaculture links, resources, courses, contacts: www.planetfriendly.net/permaculture.html
http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Environment/Sustainability/Permaculture/

Landscaping & Lawn Care – Tips, questions to ask lawn care companies, action kits, lawn signs, organic lawn care companies, more. www.torontoenvironment.org/pesticides/ , www.gca.ca/pesticides.htm , www.organiclandscape.org , SOUL: www.organiclandcare.org (BC), On-line course: www.organic-land-care.com

"Each year, Americans spend as much on lawn maintenance as the government of India collects in federal tax revenue" – Wade Davis, The Globe and Mail, A11, July 6, 2002

More gardening and farming information (see also sections below): www.cog.ca/links.htm
http://directory.google.com/Top/Home/Gardens/Specialized_Techniques/Organic/ , http://dmoz.org/Home/Gardens/Specialized_Techniques/Organic/ (click on "Cultural Information")
directory.google.com/Top/Science/Agriculture/Farming_Practices_and_Systems/Sustainable_Agriculture/
www.ns.ec.gc.ca/epb/factsheets/pesticides/altern.html

Community gardening & urban agriculture

Community Gardening – A community garden is a shared space used by individuals, families, or other groups to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers for consumption, donation, or sale. It can be large or small, on the ground or on rooftops, in plots or in planters. It can be "communal", where everyone shares the work & the harvest, or, gardeners can have their own individual plot within the garden and can also join with others to grow some crops communally (e.g. zucchini or corn). Toronto Community Garden Network www.foodshare.net/garden01.htm
www.toronto.ca/parks/programs/community.htm
Ottawa Community Garden Network www.flora.org/cgn-rjc/
Frequently Asked Questions www.foodshare.net/garden02.htm (2)
American Community Gardening Assoc. www.communitygarden.org
More: http://evreka.passagen.se/g/Lifestyle/Gardening/Gardens_by_Type/Community_Gardens/
[editor's note: not all community gardens are organic]

Why Community Gardens & Urban Farms? – healthy food, healthy individuals, healthy community. www.eatwithabandon.com/communitygardens.html www.co.brown.wi.us/uw_extension/gardens.html

Community Garden E-Newsletter – occasional e-mail newsletter with gardening tips, news, Toronto events, workshops, jobs. Partial archive of back-issues: www.foodshare.net/newsletter_main.htm , www.foodshare.net/garden01.htm Subscribe (free): cgnetwork@foodshare.net

Community Gardening Manual: "How Does Our Garden Grow? A Guide To Community Garden Success", published by FoodShare, $25. www.foodshare.net/garden03.htm

(b) Primarily for farmers, researchers & business

Cyberhelp for Organic Farmers – This portal website is geared to improving accessibility to quality organic content online, and upgrading farmers' capacities to access that information. The overall objective is to provide farmers with the tools necessary to function effectively in the new economy. The learning portion of the website has organic production (livestock, vegetable, fruit, specialty crop, greenhouse) information as well as connections to great resources on soil, farm equipment, organic certification and how to use your computer and the Internet. This is the place to learn the organic ropes. On the services side of the website visitors will find timely market information, farming news, a business of farming page and, coming soon, an online farmers' forum and links to an organic helpdesk, supported by a searchable FAQ system. www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa

Ecological Agriculture Projects (EAP). Large library of on-line publications; resource centre of over 2,000 books (Montreal, Canada); research services; training; more. The "Virtual Library" main subject categories include: Alternative Agriculture; Crop Production; Cropping Systems; Disbenefits of Conventional Agriculture; Environment; Health and Nutrition; Food; International Development; Livestock Production; Organic Agriculture; Pest Control; Policy and Economics; Soils and Fertilizers. http://eap.mcgill.ca

Organic Agriculture Info www.organicaginfo.org (new in 2003)

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Nova Scotia Agricultural College. "Research & education serving all farmers and students, dedicated to enhancing the environmental and social integrity of agriculture". Also: college/university level web-based courses. www.organicagcentre.ca

Organic Agriculture, Processing, Marketing, Management (enormous directory of information available on-line) BC Gov't Community InfoBasket (or go to http://infobasket.gov.bc.ca/Infoman/communities/community.asp and click on "Organics".

COG Organic Reference Series (downloadable articles from Canadian Organic Growers) www.cog.ca/refseries.htm

Organic Farming Publications (ATTRA) http://attra.ncat.org/organic.html

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture & Food (OMAF) Organic Crops Factsheets & Infosheets www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/organic/organic.html

Organic Certification
Organic Certification Bodies in Canada www.cog.ca/cb.htm
About Organic Certification (articles & links) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification
www.google.ca/search?q=organic+certification+canada

Books on Organic Gardening, Farming, Permaculture, Biodynamics
Natural Life Bookstore (Canada, mail order) life.ca/store/gardening.html life.ca/store/biotech.html
Rodale Institute www.rodaleinstitute.org/bookstore/home.html
Sustainable Living Books (Toronto), hundreds of titles on organic/natural gardening, permaculture, etc. www.sustainablelivingbooks.com (site under construction) jillian@permaculture.net
Chelsea Green Publishers www.chelseagreen.com/Garden.htm
Home Harvest Books http://homeharvest.com/organicgardeningbooks.htm
Permaculture www.permacultureactivist.net/booksvid/BooksnVid.htm (books & videos)
The Eco-Foods Guide www.newsociety.com/bookid/3805
Books on food systems & security www.planetfriendly.net/food.html#Resources
Canadian Farm Business Management Council www.farmcentre.com/english/products/ (at bottom)
Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture www.organicandbeyond.org (2)

Organic Gardening Magazine – News, action, how-to's, message boards, free trial issue. Bi-monthly. www.organicgardening.com (print magazine; only partly online)

Canadian Organic Grower Magazine www.cog.ca/magazineissues.htm

Organic Field Crop Handbook (Canadian) www.cog.ca/ofch.htm
Organic Livestock Handbook (Canadian) www.cog.ca/olh.htm
Other Publications & Videos (from Canadian Organic Growers) www.cog.ca/otherpubs.htm
Lending Library (Canadian Organic Growers) www.cog.ca/library.htm
Lending Library (Ecol. Farmers of Ontario) http://gks.com/efao/lendinglibrary.html

EAP Reference Centre – "One of the world’s best collections of materials on sustainable food and agriculture systems. It contains over 2,000 books, more than 100 periodicals, nearly 100,000 articles organized in files, and an extensive range of audio-visual materials, collected over a 25 year period. Many of the materials are unpublished or out of print, or otherwise difficult to obtain. The holdings are catalogued in print and electronic form. Visitors have access to a photocopier. Staff are available to help you find what you need. Cost: $10/hour for non-members, free for members". http://eap.mcgill.ca/general/services.htm

The Ram's Horn – monthly journal of food systems analysis, by the Brewster Kneen, author of Farmageddon.www.ramshorn.bc.ca

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Articles & Bibliographies
Ecological Agriculture Projects www.eap.mcgill.ca
www.sustainable.org/economy/agriculture.html
www.cplpress.com/glossary/G358.htm www.organic-research.com/books/index.asp
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/srb9705u.htm (academic & policy)
(for more, search for: "sustainable agriculture books")

"Globally we lose 25 billion tons of fertile topsoil every year, the equivalent of all the wheatfields in Australia" – Paul Hawken, The Ecology of Commerce (book) www.serve.com/ecobooks/ecommerc.htm www.planetfriendly.net/dontpave.html

Visit these websites for news, information, events, resources & opportunities. If you're looking for work or to volunteer, these organizations offer a variety of opportunities in Canada and around the world. If you have an idea about something specific you'd like to do, you could write a grant proposal, and possibly create your own dream job as a "project" of one of these organizations.

Canadian Organic Growers – COG is the education and networking organization representing farmers, gardeners and consumers across Canada: www.cog.ca . Subscribe to their quarterly Canadian Organic Grower magazine (included in membership, $20/$30/year). For interesting speakers, networking & discussion, or to inquire about local learning & work opportunities, go to a meeting of the local chapter nearest to you. See also the Directory of Organics in Canada (2).

Organic Farming is a Realistic Alternative
"Conventional farming produces high yields, but there are also enormous costs – pollution of groundwater, rivers, lakes and coastal areas, and reduced soil productivity through nutrient leaching. The use of pesticides and herbicides also kills beneficial non-target species and poses a health risk to farm workers and potentially to consumers. None of these 'external' costs are factored in to the price of conventionally grown crops." – Dr. David Suzuki (if this link changes, go to www.davidsuzuki.org and search for organic farming).

E-mail newsletters and lists related to organic and sustainable food and agriculture:

Organic-l e-mail Discussion Forum (Canada) – Join our discussion forum on organic agriculture issues, research, news and events... Organic-l. Wide-ranging discussions with fellow farmers, researchers, educators, and students. Founded June 2003. www.organicagcentre.ca/discussion_forum.asp (source)

Ecological Solutions Roundtable (Canada) – an on-line forum for the discussion of ecological solutions to common farming problems. eap.mcgill.ca/disc1_frm.htm (source)

BC Organic Farming Newsgroup (British Columbia) – a forum for organic farmers throughout BC to post questions, answers and exchange ideas with regards to production and marketing issues. www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/contact/listserve.htm (source)

Foodnet-L (Ontario) – discussion about food security issues. Ontario Food Security & Nutrition Network. Homepage: www.opha.on.ca/foodnet/

Foodshare Newsletters (Toronto based) – e-mail newsletters with news, events, workshops, jobs, organic & community gardening tips. www.foodshare.net/newsletter_main.htm (source)

Toronto Food Policy Council – About twenty messages a month on food-related conferences & publications, some exceptional articles/reports culled from a wide range of electronic sources and a few reports on the Food Policy Council. To subscribe, email tfpc@toronto.ca (source)

Biodemocracy / Organic View (USA based) – e-newsletter of news and analysis on genetic engineering, factory farming & organics. www.organicconsumers.org/publications.cfm (source)

GoodWork Canada – daily postings of jobs and apprenticeships related to organics, environment and sustainability in Canada. www.GoodWorkCanada.ca

More Organic & Sustainable Food E-mail Lists www.foodshare.net/links01.htm#2

How to use e-mail and e-mail lists effectively www.planetfriendly.net/emailtips.html

Organic events tend to be as enjoyable as they are interesting. The people are down to earth, and the atmosphere casual. Many are free, or highly affordable. And if you're looking for opportunities, there's nothing like face-to-face interaction. Bring your questions, and don't hesitate to ask them! There's no such thing as a "dumb" question. Below are some organic-related events, mostly in Canada, plus links to other organic calendars across North America. Many more events and workshops happen with less advance notice; to hear about them before they happen, subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter (see also: most recent edition; continuously updated on-line version). Please let us know of upcoming events & activities!

Events in Canada, USA, plus a few international events. In order by date.

Organic Conference & Trade Show, Annual (January), Guelph, Ontario. 2007 dates: Jan 25-28, 2007. Canada's largest public, organic event. Free organic trade show & food-tasting fair with over one hundred exhibitors (free to the public). Over thirty workshops & courses for all levels of interest, novice to experienced grower. Come for one day or all three. University Centre, University of Guelph. Conference audio tapes available. New website: www.guelphorganicconf.ca Info, sponsorship: Tomas Nimmo 705-444-0923. Fax: (705) 444-0380 organix@georgian.net

Green Communities National Conference, Annual (January), Canada. Info: Sharyn Inward 705-745-7479 www.gca.ca [topical links, resources, opportunities: Sustainable Living Links ]

Eco-Farm & Garden Day, Annual (February), Morrisburg, Eastern Ontario. Speakers, workshops, trade show, organic lunch, more. www.cog.ca/ottawa/ www.cog.ca

Seedy Saturdays, Annual (various dates Feb-April), across Canada. An annual series of separate events that have sprung up across the country. A day for gardeners, local seed companies, merchants, and environmental organizations to come together to share and to learn from one another. Find help for your garden; community seed exchange; buy open-pollinated heritage seeds & plants which are not genetically engineered and which grow well in organic and low input conditions (vegetables, fruits, flowers, grains and herbs). Swap table: each item brought to the table allows you to exchange it for another item, anything related to gardening, seeds, plants, cuttings, books, magazines, etc. Workshops on seed saving, biodiversity conservation, organic gardening. www.seedysaturday.ca Seeds of Diversity Canada www.seeds.ca

Organic Landscape Alliance – Annual Conference (Feb), Toronto. Of interest to seasoned organic professionals; those interested in integrating organic techniques into their existing businesses; novices and anybody interested in the issues of pesticide use and the alternatives. Speakers, break-outs, trade show, gourmet organic lunch. www.organiclandscape.org

ACORN Atlantic Organic Conference & Trade Show, Annual (March), Atlantic Canada. Conference tapes available. Info: Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network (ACORN) www.acornorganic.org

Canada Blooms, Annual (March), Toronto. Large mainstream flower & garden show. Be sure to ask the vendors about their use of pesticides and other chemical, water, energy and labour inputs (especially compared to native plants and organic approaches). Read ingredient lists and look for organic certification. Listen critically to any responses about why organic isn't necessary, practical, or affordable. Consider alternative gardening events such as Seedy Saturdays, the Organic Landscape Alliance, the Native Plant Sale, etc. Canada Blooms: www.canadablooms.com

All Things Organic Conference & Trade Show, Annual (May), USA. The place to be if you're passionate about organic, want to learn about the latest regulations facing the industry, looking for outstanding business opportunities to meet decision makers, and enjoy doing business in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Info: Organic Trade Association (USA, Canada & Mexico). www.ota.com www.atoexpo.com

Foodshare Open House, Spring Plant Sale & AGM, Annual (May), Toronto. Foodshare works with communities to increase access to affordable & healthy food – from field to table. Free. Info: www.foodshare.net 416-392-6653

Native Plant Sale, Annual (May), Toronto. Annual sale offering hundreds of species of native plants & wildflowers under one roof. Add interest & beauty to your garden. Native plants benefit the environment, providing vital food and habitat for indigenous birds, butterflies and other wildlife. They don't require additional watering, fertilizers or harmful chemicals. Plants are grouped by habitat (sun, shade, etc.) for easy selection - no matter how poor your garden conditions seem, we have the perfect plants for you! Native plant experts are available to answer questions; also native plant seeds, books, magazines, info sheets, memberships, more. Free admission, inexpensive plants. Info: North American Native Plant Society nanps@nanps.org 416-631-4438 www.nanps.org www.nanps.org/sale/frame.shtml

Herb Fair, Annual (June), Toronto. Medicinal & culinary herbal displays, demos, lectures, children's activity tent, culinary treats, plants & products for sale, organic vegetarian cafe. Free. York Quay Centre, Harbourfront Centre, Queens Quay W. (Harbourfront LRT from Union Stn.). Info: www.herbalists.on.ca/annualherbfair.html www.herbalists.on.ca/events/ www.herbalists.on.ca

Feast of Fields, Annual (September), various locations near Toronto (shuttle bus from Toronto). Celebrate the organic harvest with chefs, wineries, breweries & farmers! Imagine strolling through a sweet-smelling field, sampling dozens of the freshest, most succulent organic creations, accompanied by organic local wines & beers. Meet and enjoy the delicacies of 35 chefs. Sample the beverages of 18 wineries and micro-breweries. Purchase organic food and learn about organic agriculture, the environment and fair trade (display stations of 50 organic farmers and non-profits). Live music & entertainment. Funds raised support numerous sustainable food & farming causes. Largest-ever gathering of local organic farmers, chefs, consumers, suppliers, wineries, and like-minded non-profit groups. Rain or shine. Media passes & chef interviews available. www.organicadvocates.org/feast.html www.organicadvocates.org

Ottawa Feast of Fields, Annual (September). A feast of local organic food samples - offered by local area chefs renowned for their haute cuisine with a twist. Also: organic wines, beers, teas & coffees. Environmental & social concerns are highlighted on the menu. Last year a crowd of 300 attended. Eating tables: 12-3pm. Silent auction. Wandering entertainers. Help support Canadian Organic Growers! www.cog.ca More organic events in eastern Ontario: www.cog.ca/ottawa/

Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, Annual (September), Woodstock, Ontario. Includes: Eco Expo; Clean Water Expo; more (click on expos). At the U. of Guelph Research Station, in Woodstock (approx. 2hrs west of Toronto). www.outdoorfarmshow.com Eco Expo Clean Water Expo

Vegetarian Food Fair, Annual (September), Toronto. A fun-filled weekend celebration, free to the public. Sample a diverse cross-section of vegetarian cuisine and learn more about making healthful, ethical and earth-friendly food choices. New vegetarian products; over 80 exhibits; free food samples; hourly cooking demos; dynamic guest speakers; interactive workshops; great vegetarian meals; children's activities. A dynamic roster of presenters will address a range of issues such as prevention & reversal of disease; biotechnology; ethical & cruelty-free investing; and mind/body wellness. Of interest to vegetarians and everyone else. Each year, over 12,000 people from across Canada, the U.S. & beyond make our Food Fair the largest annual vegetarian event of its kind in North America. Free. Seeking volunteers. York Quay Centre at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen's Quay W. Info: Kathleen Farley, Food Fair Coordinator foodfair@veg.ca 416-544-8891 www.veg.ca www.veg.ca/foodfair (Toronto Vegetarian Association) [editor's note: while only a few of the exhibitors and events are specifically organic, there should be much of interest and relevance to organic enthusiasts].

Canadian Health Food Convention & Trade Show, Annual. Feb: Québec. April: Vancouver. September: Toronto. Includes Organic Market-Place. Info: Canadian Health Food Association 905-479-6939 www.chfa.ca www.chfa.ca/conferences.html [from the website, it is not clear which portions of this event are open to the general public; please call them for details]

American Community Gardening Association, Annual Conference, location varies (usually USA). 2004 dates & location: Oct 1-3, 2004, Toronto, Canada. Scholarships available. www.communitygarden.org/conf/ www.communitygarden.org

Ontario Land Trust Alliance Conference, Annual (October), location varies. www.ontariolandtrustalliance.org [topical links: Open Directory | Google Directory | Protect Farmland, Don't Pave It ]

Royal Winter Fair, Annual, (November), Toronto. Includes an "Organic & Natural" section. www.royalfair.org

World Organic Trade Fair & Other International Events, Annual (various dates and locations). Info: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). www.ifoam.org/conf/ www.ifoam.org

Smaller Annual Events & Courses

Friends of Everdale Annual Meeting, Annual (July), Hillsburgh, Ontario. At Everdale, a non-profit learning centre, working organic farm, diverse wildlife habitat, and sustainable technology showcase, one hour northwest of Toronto. Free. Bus & train service to Georgetown. Info/RSVP: www.everdale.org info@everdale.org 519-855-4859 (Everdale Environmental Learning Centre)

Permaculture Design Fundamentals, Annual (July, week-long course), near Orangeville, Ontario. Practical training to help you become more self-sufficient in your own life by learning to meet your basic needs for food, shelter, energy, fulfilling employment and supportive community. A whole systems approach to ecological living. Classroom and hands-on experiential learning; personal empowerment work. For backyard gardeners to design professionals. With Gregoire Lamoureux, Richard Griffith, Monica Kuhn. At the Ecology Retreat Centre. Info: Russell 519-941-4560 http://welcome.to/ecorc [topical www.permacultureactivist.net www.permaculture.net ]

Ecovillage Network of Canada, Annual (late summer/fall), location varies. Annual gathering of the Ecovillage Network of Canada, facilitating the exchange of ideas and information on healthy, sustainable living in our homes and daily lives. http://enc.ecovillage.org/events.htm http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecovillage/ Ecovillage Network of Canada: http://enc.ecovillage.org Global Ecovillage Network: www.ecovillage.org Communities Links: www.planetfriendly.net/community.html

Seventh Generation Annual Meeting & Social Gathering, Annual (September), Ottawa. Seventh Generation is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable living practices in the greater Ottawa area to help in the preserving of our beautiful planet and in creating health and well-being for people and our communities. We do this through organizing conferences, workshops, seminars, trade shows and tours; networking and partnering with other like-minded organizations; and supporting and promoting "green" businesses. Free. Info: 613-839-3997 info@seventhgeneration.ca www.seventhgeneration.ca

Ongoing

Guelph Sustainable Agriculture Forum, Thursdays 11am, Guelph. A student group at the University of Guelph, offering information, ideas and accessibility to sustainable agriculture, organic farming, genetic engineering issues, family farm community, etc. University Centre, Grad Lounge. All welcome. Subscribe to our e-mail list for updates. www.angelfire.com/on4/sustainable/ saf_opirg@yahoo.ca

More Upcoming Events

For many more events, see: People- & Planet-Friendly's On-line Calendar; links to Other Calendars; the Learning Centres & Places directory; Protect Farmland, Don't Pave It; and the next section. Please let us know of upcoming events & activities!

Organic Calendars – many more organic & related events, workshops, conferences

Canadian Organic Growers www.cog.ca/events.htm
COG Chapters across Canada www.cog.ca/chapters.htm
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada www.organicagcentre.ca/wn_upcoming.html
British Columbia Gov't Organic Events Calendar (Canada, USA, international) http://infobasket.gov.bc.ca/infoman/mypage/gadgets/Organics/EditedContent/Events.asp
Organic Opportunity (North America) (especially the sections on "Events & Conferences", "Learning Centres", "Short Courses & Workshops" and "E-mail lists") www.planetfriendly.net/organic.html#conferences
Ottawa-area Events (Canada) www.seventhgeneration.ca
Ontario Events www.planetfriendly.net/calendar/ and latestnewsletter.php
Learning Centres & Places (North America & worldwide) www.planetfriendly.net/learn.html
Food Safety Events & Conferences (USA & worldwide): www.organicconsumers.org/eventlink.htm or www.organicconsumers.org (click on "events")
Organic Trade Alliance (USA, Canada, international) www.ota.com/calendar_of_events.htm
Organic Research (international) www.organic-research.com/whatson/events.asp?yr=2003
USDA Organic Calendar (international) www.fas.usda.gov/agx/organics/Calendar/Calendar.htm
Sustainable Business Events (international) www.sustainablebusiness.com/events/
OFRF Calendar (mostly USA) www.ofrf.org/events/conferences.html
OEFFA Calendar (mostly USA) www.oeffa.org/events.html
Sustainable Agriculture Events (USA, Canada) www.sare.org/calendar/
Green People (mostly USA) www.greenpeople.org/search2nd.cfm?type=Event_Planning
Ecovillage Network Calendar (North America) http://ena.ecovillage.org/English/Calendar/ (includes a variety of events related to organics, permaculture, renewable energy, etc.)
Mother Earth News Calendar www.motherearthnews.com/2003_cal.html
Permaculture Courses & Events (USA & Canada) www.permacultureactivist.net/culturesedge/Culture'sEdge.htm www.permaculture.net/courses/
IC.org Sustainable & Community Events Calendar (North America) www.ic.org/events/
Sustainable Communities Network (USA) www.sustainable.org/information/calendar.html
Farmland Preservation & Urban Sprawl www.planetfriendly.net/dontpave.html#events
Progressive Calendars Directory (Canada & USA) www.planetfriendly.net/calendars.html
People- & Planet-Friendly (mostly Canada) www.planetfriendly.net
The Green Pages (mostly Canada) www.thegreenpages.ca/events/

Mainstream Food, Gardening & Agriculture Calendars

Gardening Conferences & Events (mostly mainstream)
Canada: www.icangarden.com/event.cfm
http://directory.google.com/Top/Home/Gardens/Events/
http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/Home_and_Garden/Lawn_and_Garden/Events/

Food & Agriculture Conferences & Events (mostly mainstream)
Canada: www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/food/events/ontcanfoodtradeshow.htm
Canada: www.agr.gc.ca/pubs_e.phtml#cal
www.agnic.org/mtg/ www.agnic.org/mtg/2003.html www.agnic.org/mtg/omc.html
www.fcc-sca.ca/english/ag_insight/managing_your_farm/agriculture_events.shtml
http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Agriculture/Conferences/
http://dmoz.org/Business/Agriculture_and_Forestry/Trade_Shows/
http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Agriculture/Conferences_and_Events/

PLEASE LET US KNOW of upcoming organic, ecological & sustainable living events, meetings & activities! We can help spread the word to thousands of interested people. Please use our submission form: www.planetfriendly.net/submit.html – your listing will be posted to the on-line calendar within 24-48 hours, and will also be submitted to our e-mail newsletter.

To find out about transportation options, check the event websites or contact the organizers directly (well in advance of the event, if possible). Sometimes they can match you with someone else who is going to the conference. For public transport and other options see: www.planetfriendly.net/living.html#transport

Volunteering or Wwoofing on an organic farm or garden can be a wonderful, truly unique experience. There are opportunities for all ages and levels of interest – from helping out for one afternoon, to season-long or even year-long apprenticeships. Each farm is unique – the land, the people, the work, the lifestyle, the social experience. Develop new skills, make new friends and/or local connections that can lead to paid work. Wwoofing can also be a great way to travel the world. Wwoof gateway, articles & link directory | International WWOOF Association

World-Wide Orientation to Organic Farms & Gardens – An amazing diversity of organic farms, gardens and businesses have opportunities – from a few days to a few months – where you can work in exchange for accomodation, organic home-cooked meals, learning and fun. Locations across Canada and around the world. Working/learning opportunities vary from organic farming & gardening, to cooking, carpentry, business admin, creative work, childcare, solar power, sustainable living skills. Everything is negotiated between you and the host. From solar-powered to strawbale homes, from herbs to orchards to rare-breed cattle, from swimming holes to gourmet cooking – the variety is endless. Year-round; all ages. Membership is $30/year; this gets you a fascinating booklet describing over 400 organic farms, gardens & businesses across Canada. Also known as Willing Workers On Organic Farms. What is Wwoofing? All About Wwoofing – wwoof gateway, articles & link directory. Wwoof Canada: John Vanden Heuvel, WWOOF Canada, 4429 Carlson Road, Nelson, BC, Canada, VIL 6X3. Tel. 250-354-4417 (please call Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Pacific Time). Wwoof USA: Overview | Organic Volunteers (online listings) | Wwoof USA | New England Wwoof (mostly apprenticeships) | Wwoof California Worldwide: Wwoof.org | How to Join | Organic Links & Resources

Learning Centres & Places in North America: Sustainable Living Learning / Eco-Experience Centres | Wwoof Gateway | Organic Gateway

When you phone a host, be clear about any skills, specific goals or interests you may have, and limitations. Make sure you understand the host's expectations: ask ask lots of questions. See also the "tips" section, at the bottom of this document.

For other volunteer, work exchange & barter opportunities, go to your farmers market; browse a festival or trade show; see the learning centres listed below; or contact a farm or organization of interest to you.

There is a growing number of environmental, ecological, or sustainable living Learning Centres across Ontario and Canada. Also, ecovillages around the world serve as living demonstrations of organic, sustainable living. Participate in a workshop, volunteer, or inquire about apprenticeship & work opportunities. Some of these have very active programs, and a variety of short- or long-term volunteer or barter opportunities. Their offerings vary greatly from one centre to another, and from year to year. Workshop schedules are usually posted on their websites in late winter or early spring. If you ask to be put on their e-mail list you'll get occasional updates.

Please note that some of these centres are operated from peoples homes, without corporate or government funding. Please be considerate in your requests. Do not contact farm-based centres later than eight or nine in the evening, unless they specify otherwise. They often have very busy lives and are doing this for little or no money. Try to ask not only what they can offer you, but what you can offer them – if only willing hands and an open mind.

Introduction to Organic Agriculture (Crop 3400), University of Guelph. A new, one-term university-level course offered by Professor Ann Clark.
www.plant.uoguelph.ca/courses/crop-3400/ (Guelph, Ontario)
www.plant.uoguelph.ca/faculty/eclark/
www.angelfire.com/on4/sustainable/organicagriculture.htm

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Nova Scotia Agricultural College. "Research & education serving all farmers and students, dedicated to enhancing the environmental and social integrity of agriculture". Offering college/university level web-based courses. www.organicagcentre.ca

Sustainable Agriculture Programs at universities (mostly USA)
www.permaculture-hawaii.com/links.html#univ

Institute for Social Ecology – offers a variety of programs, from week-long workshops, to a university degree. For example: Sustainable Design, Building & Land Use, May 31-June 21, 2002. Using the Institute for Social Ecology's 50-acre site as a laboratory, this program explores the history of agriculture, social ecology and design, organic agriculture, appropriate technology, alternative building, permaculture, ecological restoration and more. In northern Vermont, just a few hours drive from Ontario. www.social-ecology.org www.social-ecology.org/jump.php?id=64 info@social-ecology.org 802-454-8493

Living Routes – college/university programs based in ecovillages around the world. Knowledge, skills & inspiration to build sustainable lifestyles for yourself, your community and your planet. www.livingroutes.org (USA, India, Scotland, Australia)

Agricultural Colleges & Universities in Canada, USA & Europe (mainstream - mostly not organic "We're learning how not to farm. The school is as good as owned by the pesticide and genetic engineering companies" – student of an agricultural university program, Ontario, Canada) www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/external_links/aglinks.htm
www.oneglobe.com/agriculture/agcolleg.html#cancol
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/edtr10.htm

Courses in British Columbia, Canada (includes about a dozen organic & integrated pest management courses; the rest are conventional) www.island.net/~awpb/training/tcr.htm

Please tell them you heard about it at planetfriendly.net


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