Organic BC

Kootenay Farm Flood Preparedness Workshop (Virtual)
2022-03-17 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver) | Online
REGISTER HERE: https://kootenayfarmfloodprep.eventbrite.ca
NOTE: This is an interactive virtual workshop. Please only register if you can attend the live session.
Kootenay farmers are invited to register for this free workshop to:

Increase your understanding of potential flood scenarios for your operation
Identify the areas and infrastructure on your farm that are most vulnerable to floods
Begin to populate your flood preparedness plan using the Farm Flood Readiness Toolkit

This workshop will be led by Chris Marsh, an emergency management professional with over 25 years of public service and public safety experience.
It is being hosted by the Climate & Agriculture Initiative BC (CAI).
9:00 a.m -11:00 a.m. -All Producers (Including livestock producers)
11:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. -Additional content re: livestock protection, evacuation or relocation for any type of livestock producers

REGISTER HERE: https://kootenayfarmfloodprep.eventbrite.ca

Seed Saving 101 Workshop
2022-03-10 12:00 - 13:30 | Kamloops Food Hub, 185 Royal Ave, Kamloops, BC, V2B 8J6, Canada
Join FarmFolk CityFolk to learn more about garden design, seed saving basics, and some hands-on seed cleaning fun. Thursday, March 10th from 12-1:30pm at The Stir in Kamloops.
This event is free, with the option to donate to Butler Urban Farm. Advance registration is required: https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/event/seed-saving-101-workshop

UBC Soil Science Research Presentations and Farmer Discussions
2022-03-03 10:00 - 2022-03-08 13:00 | Online
Organic Vegetable Nutrient Management & Overwinter Soil Cover Strategies for Vegetable Producers

Join us for two online workshops in March 2022. Both workshops will include brief presentations of the results from four years of UBC regional field trials on twenty-five working farms. Research presentations will be followed by small-group break-out sessions focused on relevant skills, techniques, challenges, and opportunities.
Note: These workshops are designed to meet the needs of farmers from across B.C. We welcome researchers, students, and other professionals to join, however, we will be prioritizing farmer questions and preferences for break-out group discussions.
Workshops are hosted by the UBC Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes lab in collaboration with Organic BC.

Get full details and register at: ubc-soil-management-workshop-series.eventbrite.ca

2022 BC Organic Conference
2022-02-27 - 2022-03-06 | Online
The organic sector event of the year!
Each year, members of the organic community come together at our annual BC Organic Conference. The event is a chance to visit with current and future leaders in the BC organic sector, exchange ideas, eat amazing meals, learn from experts, and return home inspired by our incredible community before the growing season kicks into high gear.
The BC Organic Conference is open to anyone interested in organic agriculture, including Organic BC members, farmers looking to transition, researchers, students, like-minded organizations, and members of the general public. All are welcome!
Key an eye on our conference page for the latest details.

Pest Management Workshop for Small-Scale Berry Farmers
2022-02-23 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
BC berry growers: Join this interactive online workshop to learn about pest management frameworks using real pest examples.

About this event

This interactive online workshop offers berry growers an opportunity to learn about pest management frameworks using real pest examples that can be applied to the specific needs and concerns of your farm.

The frameworks include:

The six key components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A problem-solving tool for disease-pest identification
Guiding questions to aid in management decision-making

The session will also include plenty of time for Q & A.

Instructors
Marjolaine Dessureault and Dru Yates, IPM specialists with E.S. Cropconsult Ltd., will lead the workshop and guide participants through a new set of IPM guides for small-scale farmers they’ve developed in collaboration with BC growers over the last two years.

Registration details
The workshop is available at no cost, but registration is required. Capacity will be limited to 30 participants and the session will be held on zoom.
If you register and cannot make it, please cancel your ticket to make space for other participants. The workshop will not be recorded.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pest-management-workshop-for-small-scale-berry-farmers-tickets-238801320177

Pest Management Workshop for Small-Scale Vegetable Farmers
2022-02-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
BC vegetable growers: Join this interactive online workshop to learn about pest management frameworks using real pest examples.

About this event

This interactive online workshop offers vegetable growers an opportunity to learn about pest management frameworks using real pest examples that can be applied to the specific needs and concerns of your farm.

The frameworks include:

The six key components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A problem-solving tool for disease-pest identification
Guiding questions to aid in management decision-making

The session will also include plenty of time for Q & A.

Instructors
Marjolaine Dessureault and Dru Yates, IPM specialists with E.S. Cropconsult Ltd., will lead the workshop and guide participants through a new set of IPM guides for small-scale farmers they’ve developed in collaboration with BC growers over the last two years.

Registration details
The workshop is available at no cost, but registration is required. Capacity will be limited to 30 participants and the session will be held on zoom.
If you register and cannot make it, please cancel your ticket to make space for other participants. The workshop will not be recorded.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pest-management-workshop-for-small-scale-vegetable-farmers-tickets-238774961337

How to Design your Own On-Farm Research Workshop
2022-02-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Attend this workshop to share your ideas about challenges and opportunities for your farm and farm production. Do you have ideas of research you would like to pursue on your farm? During this workshop, Dr. Catherine Tarasoff will support producers to work through ideas and share templates to help guide your work. Come to the workshop ready to share your ideas! View the Grab & Go Research Templates here.
This event is PART THREE in our series to foster and promote farmer led on-farm research. Past events include: PART ONE: Indicators of Soil Health and On-Farm Measurements | PART TWO: Seeding Rates and On-Farm Measurements.
Free | Register here

WORKSHOP FACILITATOR:
Dr. Catherine Tarasoff of AgroWest Consulting will introduce producers to new research templates so that producers can plan and conduct their own on-farm research. The goal of the research templates is to inspire producers to experiment with methods to optimize farm production goals and think about practical methods to keep records and measure success. View the Grab & Go Research Templates here.

VIRTUAL: Okanagan Farm Flood Preparedness Workshop
2022-02-08 - 2022-02-10 | Online
Learn about flood risk, preparedness and response. Begin your flood preparedness action plan.

About this event
*NOTE: This is an interactive virtual workshop. Please only register if you can attend the live session.
Okanagan farmers are invited to register for this free workshop to:
-Increase your understanding of potential flood scenarios for your operation
-Identify the areas and infrastructure on your farm that are most vulnerable to floods
-Begin to populate your flood preparedness plan using the Farm Flood Readiness Toolkit

The workshop, hold over two 90 minute sessions, will be led by Chris Marsh, an emergency management professional with over 25 years of public service and public safety experience.

It is being hosted by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the Climate & Agriculture Initiative BC (CAI).

DAY 1: February 8, 2022 = Okanagan Flood Risk & Response, Assess your Risk and the Vulnerability of Your Assets
DAY 2: February 10, 2022 = Options to Protect Assets, Livestock and Farm Worker Relocation or Evacuation

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-okanagan-farm-flood-preparedness-workshop-tickets-241295720997

Seeding Rates and On-Farm Measurements
2022-02-02 10:00 - 11:30 | British Columbia
Crop selection and seeding rates are an important strategy for optimizing yield. With the broad range of growing conditions in the Kootenays from soils to climate, each farm needs to make their own decisions based on individual farm circumstance and goals. At this event, we will hear producers who have experimented with seeding rates to hear what strategies they suggest to measure success and get the seeding rate right for your farm.

This event is PART TWO of our series to foster and promote farmer led on-farm research. PART ONE was Indicators of Soil Health and On-Farm Measurements. The next event in the series is PART THREE: How to Design Your Own ON-Farm Research Project (workshop).

Free! Register here.

PRESENTERS:
Wayne Ray, forage producer in Vanderhoof, will share his experience with trialing different crop varieties and seeding rates for optimal alfalfa yields. Read about Wayne’s project here.
Tyler Morrison, forage producer and rancher in Cranbrook, will share his experience with trialing different seeding rates and varieties of Sorghum sudan grass. Read about Tyler’s project here.
Dr. Catherine Tarasoff of AgroWest Consulting will introduce producers to new research templates so that producers can plan and conduct their own on-farm research. The goal of the research templates is to inspire producers to experiment with methods to optimize farm production goals and think about practical methods to keep records and measure success. View the Grab & Go Research Templates here.
Funding for this event is provided by the Agriculture & Climate Initiative BC.

Pacific Agriculture Show
2022-01-27 - 2022-01-29 | Tradex Exhibition Centre
The Pacific Agriculture Show will showcase the latest and most innovative equipment and technology for the agriculture industry. Join thousands of farmers and agri-food producers in comparing and investigating what over 300 exhibitors have to make your operation more efficient.
BC’s agriculture industry is unique in its diversity and the Show attracts an attendance from all the livestock and horticulture sectors including: dairy, cattle, poultry, equine, hogs, llamas, alpacas, to vegetable, berry, grape, bulb, ornamentals, hothouse, flower and shrub growing and more.
More details: https://www.agricultureshow.net

2022 Organic Summit
2022-01-17 - 2022-01-21 | Online
About this event

COTA’s annual flagship event, The Organic Summit: The Future of Food is Organic is scheduled for November 22-26th!
This year’s theme addresses the current food systems need for a radical transformation and how organic helps confront many of these areas where change is needed.
Join us for an informative and thought provoking week of organic innovative thought leadership, trailblazing science and new initiatives in organic regenerative agriculture!
The Organic Summit will be a virtual, week-long series of star-studded and industry acclaimed speakers and panel discussions. Prepare for some participatory sessions too!
Our annual flagship event is designed to provide organic supporters and the community to further our learning collectively on how we can work together as organic leaders to shape the future of our food system.

Organic Beef Supply Chain
2021-12-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Online
Are you interested in exploring opportunities and strategies to overcome supply chain barriers in the organic livestock sector in Canada?

About this Event
Join us for this one-hour webinar where we’ll be presenting and discussing the challenges experienced by producers and other relevant stakeholders in the beef supply chain and present a set of strategies for promoting the stability and growth of the organic sector. The findings have relevance for other livestock activities as well.
Simultaneous French interpretation is available.
This is the second webinar in our series of six supply chains:

Organic Carrots — Nov. 5 — Watch the recording
Organic Beef — Dec. 17 — Register today!
Organic Blueberries — Jan. 13 — Registration page coming soon
Organic Salad Greens — Jan. 28 — Registration page coming soon
Organic Oats — Feb. 11 — Registration page coming soon
Organic Field Peas — Feb. 25 — Registration page coming soon

There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and share your own observations on the challenges and opportunities in the supply chain and the steps that are needed to support current production and future expansion.

COP26 Climate Conference Report Back
2021-12-09 12:00 | Online
Seven NFU farmer leaders attended the UN COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow in November. Join us December 9th for an NFUniversity session where several members of the NFU contingent will report back and help us understand what was accomplished, what needs to be done, how the process was flawed, the agreements made, the false solutions on offer, the power of civil society in the streets, and how the international COP process intersects with Canadian climate policy and the future of farming.
Sign up at: https://www.nfu.ca/nfuniversity/cop26-climate-conference-report-back

Climate Adaptation Research for BC Agriculture: Virtual Workshop 2021
2021-12-07 - 2021-12-09 | Online
Don’t miss this year’s Climate Adaptation Research for BC Agriculture virtual workshop. Over three mornings, presenters, panelists and participants will be gathering online from across British Columbia and beyond to discuss major climate impacts:

Extreme heat and drought
Wildfire risk and recovery
Carbon sequestration

Each daily topic will begin with presentations on the latest research. Panel discussions will follow to share how these issues are impacting BC farmers and ranchers, and pathways forward for adaptation and mitigation.
All sessions will be hosted on zoom.
Once you are registered you will receive zoom log in links for each session and session recordings will be shared with you later in December.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/climate-adaptation-research-for-bc-agriculture-virtual-workshop-2021-tickets-191294175027

2021 BC Seed Gathering
2021-11-19 - 2021-11-21 | Online
Our BC Seed Gathering connects over 100 seed growers, advocates, and community organizers from across BC to build and align a strong provincial seed sector. Biennial seed gathering events increase the availability, supply, quality, and diversity of locally produced seeds through learning and engagement opportunities. We collaborate with stakeholders to build momentum from these gatherings for a broader impact on BC’s sustainable seed sector.
This year’s BC Seed Gathering will take place virtually from Friday, November 19th through Sunday, November 21st, 2021. Join us for a variety of seedy presentations, a tasting and recipe swap, live music, movie night, and more! Register here.
If you identify as Indigenous and would like to attend the event for free, please register with this link instead.

Agricultural water management in a changing climate
2021-11-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
In many parts of BC changing precipitation patterns and average temperatures are resulting in hotter and drier summers. These conditions increase the water needed for healthy crops and livestock while reducing the available water supply. This session will highlight projects that have been underway in very different parts of the provinces (Delta and the Kootenays) to implement proactive strategies for increasing agricultural water resilience.

Presenters:
Strategies for improving water conservation on farms: Lessons from the Kootenay-Boundary region, Andrew Bennett, Living Lands Agroecology
Modelling, monitoring and sharing salinity data for agricultural water management in Delta, Leisa Yee, Delta Farmers’ Institute and Andrew Nadler, Peak HydroMet Solutions
Session host: Emily MacNair, Climate & Agriculture Initiative

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/agricultural-water-management-in-a-changing-climate-tickets-175853772367

BC Land Forum
2021-11-08 - 2021-11-25 | Online
CALLING ALL FARMERS AND LANDHOLDERS
Our second annual LAND FORUM is here!
We were thrilled to see so many of you in the community this summer at our on-farm Land Socials. The B.C. Land Matching Program team is super excited to welcome you back to learn together and take a deeper dive into information and interactive sessions about land sharing and starting a farm business. The Land Forum is accessible online so that we can reach you wherever you live and have Internet access. We can’t wait to share knowledge and online space with you all!
WHEN: November 8 – 25, 2021
WHERE: Online on unceded Indigenous territories across what is today known as B.C. Join us from the comfort of your couch, office, tractor, compost heap – wherever you find yourself able to tune in!
RSVP: Register for the Land Forum here and you’ll get access to links for all the webinars.
QUESTIONS: alex@youngagrarians.org | 1-855-561-4633

Investigating crop suitability for changing climate conditions
2021-11-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
This session discuss tools to support crop selection decisions from phenological models to on-farm research trials.

About this event

This is the third session in a four-part Climate & Agriculture Initiative webinar series discussing major ways climate change is impacting BC farmers and ranchers and sharing resources and research enabling adaptation. From changing pests and pollinators to summer heat and drought, this series offers examples of adaptation in action.

Investigating crop suitability for changing climate conditions
As the climate changes, we are seeing shifts in average temperatures as well as increasing variability in weather and seasonal conditions. Crop selection is an important strategy for adapting to new climate conditions as well as improving resiliency as weather becomes less predictable. This session will discuss tools developed to support crop selection decisions, including phenological models for BC wine grape varieties and resources for on-farm research.

Presenters:
Tools and tips for doing your own on-farm crop trial research, Dr. Catherine Tarasoff, P. Ag., Agrowest Consulting Scientists
How phenological models for BC wine grapes can lead the way for choosing crops and varieties for a changing climate, Dr. Elizabeth Wolkovich, University of British Columbia
Session host: Shauna MacKinnon, Climate & Agriculture Initiative

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/investigating-crop-suitability-for-changing-climate-conditions-tickets-175838837697

2021 Seed Webinar Series
2021-10-27 | Online
The global pandemic has shown that stewardship of seed and innovation in plant breeding have never been more important to support Canada’s seed security. Our 2021 webinar series will explore how farmers and plant breeders are working to save and improve important Canadian crop varieties, as well as the regional seed systems that make those varieties available for the benefit of all Canadians. Join us for this national conversation about seeds in Canada!
All webinars are free! Register at seedsecurity.ca/en/programs/learn/online-events.

Land Social at Lohbrunner Community Farm Co-op
2021-10-03 15:00 - 18:00 | Lohbrunner Community Farm Co-op, 1152 Lippincott Rd, Victoria, British Columbia, V9C2Z6, Canada
You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at Lohbrunner Community Farm Co-op in Langford, B.C.! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about – or just want to check out what your local farmers and farm interns are up to – join us for the event.
This event will tour Lohbrunner Community Farm, a cooperatively managed farm owned by FarmFolk CityFolk, which includes garden space for core co-op members as well as two market garden operations.
We’ll tour the farm, network, and look at the steps to building a successful land sharing relationship. Your regional Land Matcher will share information about how the B.C. Land Matching Program can help you find the perfect farmer for your land – or farmland where you can build your dream farm business.
Land Socials connect farmers and farmland holders, and set them up to receive ongoing support through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about sharing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land.

Feeding Growth: Scale Your Progressive Food Business Workshop Series
2021-09-23 13:00 - 2021-11-18 20:30 | Vancouver or online
This series of five workshops provides practical tips for progressive retail and packaged goods companies to reach and maintain success. Each workshop follows the Feeding Growth recipe: personable and caring food industry mentors share advice; participants engage in hands-on exercises; and the helpful community of progressive change-makers connects over tasty local food. The series culminates with a keynote event celebrating our graduates and the local food movement.

WORKSHOP DATES
1. Marketing & Branding: September 23, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., UBC Farm Yurt
2. Retail, Sales & Distribution: October 7, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Horizon Grocery + Wellness
3. Sourcing & Manufacturing: October 21, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Faculty Brewing
4. Financing & Growth, November 4: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Vancity Head Office
5. How to Integrate Sustainability into Your Business: November 18, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Lost & Found Cafe

ACCESSIBILITY
For our friends that are not in the Vancouver-area, we will be offering a remote viewing option. Each workshop takes place on a Thursday, and by the following Tuesday we will make a recording available to view for one week. Please select the remote-viewing option when purchasing your ticket(s). While we recognize you won’t be able to join us for the food, drinks, and networking that are part of the in-person events, we have offered a discounted rate for remote viewing and we look forward to connecting with you digitally.

WORKSHOP DETAILS
Find out more at FeedingGrowth.com, or register here.
The workshop series is open to all. No prerequisite required.

In-person Series

Full workshop series – $299.00; Vancity business members – $199.00; Squamish region businesses – $199.00*
Individual workshop – $89

Remote Series

Full workshop series – $149.50
Individual workshop – $44.50

*This offer is available to the first 10 Squamish businesses, and is designed for entrepreneurs operating anywhere between Britannia Beach and Pinecrest. Supported by the District of Squamish.
30% discount on purchase of second ticket for full workshop series or individual workshops. Discount only applies to $299 full workshop series and $89 individual workshop tickets. Message info@feedinggrowth.com for discount code

Cook-Along With Chef Randle
2021-09-15 17:30 - 19:00 | Online
Celebrate BC Chicken Month and Canada’s Organic Week! Enjoy a FREE cooking lesson with Chef Trevor Randle and learn about organic BC foods and agriculture with a virtual webinar.
Chef Randle will provide expert instruction as he guides you online through two delicious fall-inspired recipes:

Organic Braised Moroccan Chicken with Couscous
Organic BC Cider Poached Apples with Toasted Walnuts

Farmers Dion Wiebe from Rossdown Farms and Natural Foods and Molly Thurston of Claremont Ranch Organics will also join Chef Randle to provide insights on organic farming in BC. Plus, webinar participants will be entered into a draw for a chance to win 1 of 3 prize packages valued at $250+ each!

Organic Week 2021
2021-09-13 - 2021-09-19 | Online
The largest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country!
Here are a few things you can look forward to from Organic BC:

A free Cook-Along with Chef Randle, featuring BC organic food and farmers. Register soon—space is limited!
Free access to 25+ podcasts spanning all aspects of food systems and organic farming in BC. These were originally only available to attendees of the 2021 BC Organic Conference, but we’re releasing them to the public during Organic Week!

And a few of the many events being hosted by Organic Week:

#OrganicChat with Paddy Doherty, a BC organic farmer
Free film screening of The Seeds of Vandana Shiva
Regenerative Agriculture Panel Discussion

View and register for all of Organic Week’s events on their Eventbrite page, and keep an eye on the @choosecanadaorganic Instagram page for the latest contests and announcements.

BX Farm Tour
2021-09-11 10:00 - 2021-10-03 15:00 | The BX region of Vernon, BC, Canada
A self-guided, self-paced tour of the food, farms and sights of Vernon’s BX region

This fall, you’re invited to “Know Your Farmer, Explore the BX”—to connect with local food, to better know your farmers and how they are farming, and to explore all the BX has to offer. The BX is a rich agricultural region with lots of walking and hiking trails, and is the perfect place to get out and explore your own backyard.
The BX Farm Tour is hosted by the North Okanagan Land to Table Network, in partnership with funders, farmers and local supporters. Now in its inaugural year, the event features four local farmers, with more to be added in the coming years.
Drive, bike or walk the route and take an afternoon or a day. The BX Farm Tour is yours to explore, your way.
Get all the details at: https://landtotablenetwork.com/bx-farm-tour

Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative - What’s Really Healthy for Our Soil?
2021-09-02 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Nowadays, as we stroll up and down the aisles of the grocery store and peruse the weekend farmer’s market, we are confronted with a lot of choices. Organic certification, produced using biodynamic methods, grown on a no-till farm – but what do any of these mean? In this webinar we are going to be taking a deep dive into the various new ‘types of agriculture’, what they mean and why they all seem to boast being the healthiest for our soil. Join our panelists Barbara Schellenberg, Corine Singfield and Tim Nerbas for an exploration of these new methods and how focusing on our soil health is driving a revolution in agriculture.

Young Agrarians Business Bootcamp
2021-09-01 | Online
Young Agrarians presents the Business Bootcamp for New Farmers! This online, community-based program will give you the space and skills to write a stellar business plan for the farm of your dreams.
The next round of the Business Bootcamp starts in Fall 2021. Sign up for the Young Agrarians newsletter to be the first to find out about it!
The Business Bootcamp will cover everything from writing a mission statement to creating a financial plan to defining a marketing strategy. In this program you will have the opportunity to:

Write a farm business plan
Get insights from experts on your farm business
Get to know others in farm start-up
Get ideas and inspiration from your peers
Get set up to access capital

This program is open to all new and aspiring farmers with the goal being to write (or rewrite) a business plan for a farm enterprise. The Business Bootcamp is a great place to explore the viability of your farm dream, figure out details for your first growing season, or to investigate adding another enterprise to your current farm. Having at least one full season of farming experience is advised for participants. All production types are welcome!

Future of Food Global Dialogue Series - Mobilizing Industry to Make a Difference
2021-08-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Many of us are doing our best to lower our impact on the planet – taking shorter showers, bringing a reusable cup, supporting local and much more. However, in order to make a big difference in the climate crisis we need to move beyond individual efforts and mobilize our industries to make positive change. The second episode in our mini series on climate change will explore ways in which we can encourage the agricultural and agroforestry industries to join the fight. Our panelists will discuss where we are at with our climate mitigation goals and what needs to be done to move us forward.

Future of Food Global Dialogue Series - How Nature Based Solutions Restore Balance
2021-07-29 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Let’s talk about the climate crisis. The first episode in our two part mini series on climate change will explore nature based solutions – what even are they and what are we doing to try to implement them around the world? These natural climate solutions involve restoring and better managing ecosystems, from switching to restorative agriculture to cultivating mangrove forest regrowth, and many of them were founded in indigenous knowledge systems. Join our panelists Drew Bondar, Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, Professor Terry Sunderland, UBC Faculty of Forestry, and Larry McDermott, Plenty Canada, as they discuss their own approaches and research on restoring the balance mankind has disrupted.

Growing Seed on Contract: Meet Seed Companies and Local Growers
2021-07-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Regional seed companies often rely on contract growers to secure a diversity of vegetable, herb, flower, and heritage grain seeds for their consumers. The trusting and collaborative relationship between companies and contractors are at the heart of what works about regional seed systems. Join us for this dynamic and interactive session during which we’ll learn more about how contracts are structured, what companies are looking for, and how skilled seed growers can get into this growing market opportunity. This webinar is for seed company representatives of any size in Canada and the USA, in particular seed companies that are looking to include or expand their offering or regionally grown seeds, and seed growers who are interested in learning more about what it means to grow seed on contract.
Resources:
Growing Seed on Contract: Advice to get Started
Growing Seed on Contract Case Studies: Salt Spring Seeds
Growing Seed on Contract Case Studies: Tourne-Sol Farm
Growing Seed on Contract Case Studies: West Coast Seeds

Land Social at WoodGrain Farmer Co-op
2021-07-11 15:00 - 18:00 | WoodGrain Farmer Cooperative, 490 Swan Lake Road, Hazelton, BC, V0J 1Y5, Canada
You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at WoodGrain Farmer Cooperative in the Kispiox Valley! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about, join us for the event.
Be inspired and learn about the incredible farming that can be done on leased land! WoodGrain Farmer Cooperative is an organic, full-circle, small-scale vegetable operation in Northwest BC within unceded traditional Gitxsan territory. Growing a diverse selection of veggies for two local markets and a 40+ member CSA, the four WoodGrain farmers have been able to divide and conquer farm tasks to keep a steady supply of locally grown vegetables for their community. Some highlights will include a passive solar propagation house currently under construction, seed and grain crop tour, and the bountiful veggie production.
We’ll tour the farm, network, and look at the steps to building a successful land sharing relationship. Your regional Land Matcher will share information about how the B.C. Land Matching Program can help you find the perfect farmer for your land – or farmland where you can build your dream farm business.
Land Socials connect farmers and farmland holders, and set them up to receive ongoing support through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about sharing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land.
DATE: Sunday, July 11, 2021 • 3-6pm
LOCATION: 490 Swan Lake Road, Hazelton, BC
REGISTER: Due to COVID-19, we require registration for our events so we can limit the number of attendees to allow for physical distancing. PLEASE REGISTER HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.
SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
3-4 Farm Tour
4-5 Introduction circle & B.C. Land Matching Program Overview
5-6 Food & Networking
BRING: Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. A light catered meal will be provided, but if you’d prefer you can bring your own meal instead. There will not be any wash stations for dishes available. Please bring CLEAN footwear and clothing if coming from a farm/garden. Optional: face mask.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Please stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms, OR if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are completing a period of self-isolation as mandated by public health, OR if you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. Refer to the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool for more information.
We welcome cancellations at any time – you can do so through Eventbrite, through the link in your registration confirmation email, or by contacting morgan@youngagrarians.org. Please let us know if you aren’t able to attend so we can open up a spot to someone else.
Please follow physical distancing guidelines and keep 6 feet apart from other people. No handshakes or hugs please!
Masks are not required, but bring one to wear if you’d like.
We will have a hand sanitizer station for your use throughout the event. Please refrain from touching tools, pets and livestock, and door handles etc. on the farm.
If provincial health guidelines for events change, we may cancel the event and you will be notified by email.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This event is free and open to everyone! Children are welcome but please leave furry friends at home.
Join our Young Agrarians Central-Northern BC Facebook Group to stay up to date with all events.
Sign up for our e-newsletter to get events and opportunities for your region delivered straight to your inbox.

SHARE: Planning on joining us? Invite your friends and share the Facebook event! (Link coming soon)
