News
We have an action packed year planned for One Straw members and friends. Our events are being upgraded and we have alot of surprises in store. We would love to connect with everyone throughout the year!
Please see below for the confirmed event dates and mark in your calendar.
Sunday Feb 15th - One Straw Volunteer Orientation with Community Potluck
Saturday March 28th - Seedy Saturday and Seedy Saturday Night
Thurs May 21st - Volunteer Appreciation
Sat June 6th- AGM and 20th Anniversary Party
August 13th - Volunteer Orientation
Saturday August 22nd - Creek Days
August 28th - 30th - Edible Garden Tour
September 17th- Communtiy Potluck
Saturday October 3 - Fall Faire
November 22 - Member Appreciation
All of our events are open to the public and we encourage participation in many ways. If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Also, this year One Straw has a theme, "Creating the One Straw Story"
We will be celebrating our 20th anniversary this year and we want to find a way to honour all that our community has accomplished and experienced together and of course, we want to honour Robin Wheeler, our founder who has now passed on.
Help us to create the One Straw Story! We want to hear from you. We will have ways to contribute to the story at all of our events, but also invite you to send in your stories to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will be finding different creative ways to compile all of the input, including the Tree of Life that we started to paint in 2014.
Thank you in advance to all who contribute to the story, and deep gratitude to all members past, present and future that help weave the story of One Straw every day with their contributions to the community!
In kindness,
One Straw Society
One Straw Volunteer Orientation & Potluck
Sunday February 15th, 2015
Orientation 12pm - 2pm
Potluck 2pm - 4pm
Location: Mission Point House, Davis Bay
Join us for a great afternoon in community!
We will begin our time with a One Straw Volunteer Orientation from 12pm - 2pm. If you are currently volunteering with us, or are interested in joining our awesome team of community helpers, please join us. During the session Kym Chi will share more in depth information on our organization and go over volunteer opportunities while doing some fun interactive activities that will help us to get to know each other and learn how to represent One Straw with the greater community.
To follow the orientation, we will host a Potluck from 2pm - 4pm for the whole community to attend. Join us for food and great conversation.
This is an opportunity for new comers to meet the One Straw community and get to know us and for existing members to hear updates about whats happening in the organization. Mostly, this potluck is about coming together, meeting new people and having a great time while eating awesome food together.
The theme of 2015 is also Creating the One Straw story, so if you have been an existing member, please feel free to come and share your story of One Straw, and new comers, please feel free to share your ideas for what the story of One Straw could become.
Please come for all or part of the day.
To RSVP or to ask any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Seedy Saturday is coming on Saturday March 28th!
We are so happy to host the annual Seedy Saturday in Roberts Creek with our friends from the Seed Collective and Transition Network!
There are some exciting new ideas for this years event. We will be expanding the daytime activites and will also be hosting an evening portion with an all ages dance event!
Details will be coming soon so please stay tuned for developments as things are confirmed.
We are also now accepting volunteers and vendor requests. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Winter Farm Gate Market & Curry in the Creek
Thursdays 3pm - 6pm
Roberts Creek Hall
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Come by every Thursday afternoon to the Roberts Creek Hall to enjoy some of your favorite vendors all winter long! You can also pick up some warm curry from Curry in the Creek for a cozy dinner on the go.
Free permaculture learning day
http://www.gaiacraft.com/
Experience permaculture in a creative new way with the next Ground Level : permaculture activation day
on Saturday March 23 from 11 am - 5:30 pm in Roberts Creek
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.
Food Webinars from Food Secure Canada
Check out some of these great webinars from Food Secure Canada :)
Aullak, Sangilivallianginnatuk (Going Off, Growing Strong)
Hosted by: Food Security Network of Newfoundland & Labrador
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10 FROM 2:00 PM (Labrador)
Youth Out on the Land and Sea Series. Aullak, Sangilivallianginnatuk in Nain is the first program of its kind in Canada, and is inspiring similar efforts across the North. The program offers youth the experience of going out on the land to learn about hunting, trapping, fishing, and other skills with experienced hunters. Food harvested through the program is donated to the Community Freezer and delivered to elders at their homes. Presenter Dorothy Angnatok, the program’s Coordinator, will share stories about the program and her ideas for engaging youth. Going Off, Growing Strong was recently highlighted in Clara’s Big Ride and just received $150,000 from Bell Aliant to support their amazing work. Learn more from this recent interview with Dorothy on the Marilyn Dennis Show.
To register for one or both of the teleconferences email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (709) 237-4026
Sign up here
Organic Livestock
Hosted by: ACORN
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10 FROM 8:00 PM (AST)
ACORN Series: Introduction to the Canadian Organic Standards. With Anne Macey, co-author of COG's Organic Livestock Handbook. Understanding the Canadian Organic Standards (COS) is a requirement of organic certification. These standards are currently under review, so this is a good opportunity to learn about it and include your voice in the review process. ACORN will present experts from across Canada for an introductory overview of the Canadian Organic Standards. An overview of the livestock production sections of the standards, focusing on information regarding livestock origin, feed, health care, and living conditions. For more information or to RSVP please contact Tara Scott - ACORN's Organic Transition Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. http://www.acornorganic.org
Sign up here
Linking Farmers to Land - Alternative Land Access and Tenure
Hosted by: New Farmers Initiative of FSC and FarmStart
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17 FROM 1:00 PM TO 2:30 PM ET
Access to land is often cited as the largest challenge facing new farmers. With the cost of farmland and interest rates as they are, existing farms are consolidating and new farmers are forced to seek alternatives. Kathy Ruhf of Land for Good and Leslie Carbonneau of Banque de Terres will join us to discuss how land-linking organisations work outside the traditional avenues of farmland access, opening doors for new farmers to farmland opportunities.
Sign up here
Fishing for Success
Hosted by: Food Security Network of Newfoundland & Labrador
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17 FROM 2:00 PM (Labrador Time)
Youth Out on the Land and Sea Series. Fishing for Success is a non-profit community dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the traditional fishing knowledge and culture which sustained Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for generations. Their vision is that one day every child in Newfoundland and Labrador will once again be taught the traditional fishing knowledge and skills of the people who came before them. The program has a goal to instill a sense of pride, of place, and a longing to protect and conserve their natural home. Kimberly Orren will introduce the program and share her ideas for putting young people in touch with traditional food skills and knowledge. To register for one or both of the teleconferences email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (709) 237-4026
Sign up here
Organic Processing and Labelling
Hosted by: ACORN
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17 FROM 8:00 PM (AST)
ACORN Series: Introduction to the Canadian Organic Standards. With Kelly Monaghan - Ash Street Organics. Understanding the Canadian Organic Standards (COS) is a requirement of organic certification. These standards are currently under review, so this is a good opportunity to learn about it and include your voice in the review process. ACORN will present experts from across Canada for an introductory overview of the Canadian Organic Standards. This session will provide an overview of the organic processing sections of the Canadian Organic Standards. Gain a better understanding about what the standards say about maintaining organic integrity, organic percentages, organic processing methods and processing aids. For more information or to RSVP please contact Tara Scott - ACORN's Organic Transition Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. http://www.acornorganic.org
Sign up here
FarmStart LLP – Developing financial literacy among new farmers
Hosted by: New Farmers Initiative of FSC and FarmStart
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24 FROM 1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM ET
FarmStart LLP, a program of Farm Credit in New England, assists beginning farmers and new cooperatives through their start-up years by providing working capital investments of up to $50,000 to get their business off the ground. Gary Matteson of Farm Credit in Washington DC and Lynn Weaver of Farm Credit East in Connecticut will join us to discuss the conception and effectiveness of the American FarmStart program. Christie Young of FarmStart in Ontario will join us to put the model in context to the Canadian situation. This webinar is 2nd in the New Farmers Initiative “Character Capital” Series and is targeted to anyone interested in financing for new farm businesses and policy development to help new farmers. Also of interest will be the previous webinar in this series, FarmWorks - Investing in Farm Businesses, which is archived on FSC's YouTube page.
Sign up here
Dismantling Racism and Oppression in the Food System
Hosted by: FoodShare Toronto
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25 FROM 1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM ET
Join us for a conversation with Erika Allen, National Projects Director for Growing Power, Inc to learn about the importance of dismantling racism and oppression in our food systems in order to create a food system that is just and equitable for all. Growing Power is a US acclaimed non-profit organization and land trust providing equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe, and affordable food, especially in underserved communities, and also a leader in challenging systems of oppression in our food systems.
Sign up here