A county in the U.S. [Iowa’s Woodbury County] is taking a hard look at organic farming – with the hopes of declaring itself an Organic Capital. A story on Greenwire reports on this – and although it is in the U.S., the story setting could be in Newfoundland & Labrador. For example, from the article: “Most rural economic development projects focus on luring new industries or expanding infrastructure for water, electricity or broadband, but Woodbury County’s are aimed at creating a local food culture in an area that imports almost all of its food — despite its base of powerful agribusinesses.”
 
So what is the County’s unorthodox approach to economic development? Starting small rural businesses and repopulating schools by luring a new kind of farmer. In so doing, the county’s rural economic development director, Rob Marqusee, is trying to put Woodbury County into the vanguard of a U.S. organic-farming and local-foods movement.
Meanwhile in Newfoundland & Labrador:
  
i) on the west coast:  provincial government departments, community groups and others ( including the Department of Natural Resources, the City of Corner Brook, and the Environmental Policy Institute) are currently working together to start a Community Garden in order to provide members of the public with an area of land to grow their own produce.  Possible participants include people living in apartment buildings, senior citizen homes, college students, or other people who otherwise do not have the land and/or resources available to grow their own garden.

Corinne Hynes is your woman to speak to on this issue: contact her at info@wecnl.ca

ii) an invitation to participate in: Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture.

For details, contact: Denise Guignard, Events Planner & Special Project. (613) 773-2469 denise.guignard@agr.gc.ca

iii) Rosemary Murphy is ACORN’s Education and Outreach Coordinator and she is being very polite about asking people to join ACORN. Lots of reasons why you should, so shoot her a message at: rose@acornorganic.org

iv) how did your farm grow? Jason Bull of Eastport organics says he had lots and lots of salad greens this year. I happen to know it was a great first year for the Seed to Spoon Collective. But nothing says it like a word from the horse’s mouth. So come on farmers, tell us how this growing season was: your favourite crop [what surprised you most]? what customers are saying/wanting? what you’re going to delegate to the compost pile? what you’re going to keep growing next year? good news on growing? on new varieties tried & well-received by customers (okay, don’t give the house away, but give us a clue)? good news on retailing? we’re all ears.

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