News
Select a news topic from the list below, then select a news article to read.
Report from Warsaw - Japan Bails Out on CO2 Emissions Target
Czesc from the day 5 of the Warsaw COP 19. Things are not going well here, especially with Japan reneging on its pledge to reduce emissions today. They join Australia and Canada as countries going in wrong direction.
Very busy weekend ahead with multiple events, a march through the city and the international coal summit on Monday.
Japan announced Friday that it will renege on its carbon emissions pledge, likely ending any hope global warming can be kept to 2.0 degrees C.
Report from Warsaw - Carbon Crash Ahead?
Czesc from Warsaw. A bit bleary eyed but I’m here at the UN climate conference COP 19 where the Philippine delegation has asked that the sympathy and well wishes regarding Super Typhoon Haiyan be re-directed to real action on reducing carbon emissions. More than 10,000 people may have been killed.
Coal Shipments Forum Organized for November 23
- Details
- Written by Beverly Saunders Beverly Saunders
- Category: News News
- Published: 05 November 2013 05 November 2013
Despite widespread concerns over the health and environmental impacts of shipping coal in uncovered rail cars and barges, and notwithstanding the climate change implications of burning coal, a plan to ship US thermal coal to Texada Island is scheduled to move forward without public information and consultation processes on the Sunshine Coast. Port Metro Vancouver wants to ship the coal across our coastal waters to Texada for open air storage and transshipment via deep-sea freighters to Asia.
Fall Faire Winners, Fruit Project, Winter Farmgate Market
- Details
- Written by Beverly Saunders Beverly Saunders
- Category: Latest Latest
- Published: 05 November 2013 05 November 2013
FALL FAIRE A GREAT SUCCESS!
Thanks to all the amazing vendors who came out to provide us with thanksgiving bounty at the sixth annual fall faire.
Your efforts are totally appreciated and we are thankful for the goodness you provide to us all! Thanks also to all those who crafted something beautiful for our contests this year!
FALL FAIRE WINNERS!
Best Jam or Jelly: Maggi Guzzi
Biggest Pumpkin or Squash: Giadora Family
Most unique looking vegetable: Heinz's carrot from Fay Farms
Best fermented preserve: Marguerite's corn relish
Congratulations to the winners!
FARMGATE MARKET WINTER TRANSITION
Just a reminder that the Farm Gate Market will be moving indoors for the remainder of the fall and winter in its third annual collaboration with Rashmi's amazing CURRY IN THE CREEK!
The new day is Thursday, but the time remains unchanged, 3-6 PM in the kitchen area of the Roberts Creek Hall.
Contact:
Farm Gate Manager Billy Hume for more information
farmgatekeeper at gmail.com
SC FRUIT TREE PROJECT
The Project is actively seeking volunteer pickers and fruit tree owners immediately.
The Food Action Network would like to apologize if efforts to contact the Sunshine Coast Fruit Tree Project this summer have been hindered by our provision of the wrong contact information in the last few issues of Growing Coastal. Please contact the Sunshine Coast Fruit Tree Project by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit: http://scfruittree.org/ for more info.
It's fun to pick fruit.
GROWING COASTAL WANTS YOU!
Growing Coastal Newsletter is actively seeking food related article submissions for the upcoming fall and winter issues.
Provide a poetic biography about your farm or processing operation, your thoughts on agriculture on the sunshine coast, ideas for new projects and initiatives, or amazing recipes involving our local products- all types of submissions are welcomed!
If you are a writer who wants to get some words out or a photographer who has a story of food to tell through pictures, please send original pieces (350 words or less) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All works will be considered.
Hope to see you out enjoying some farm fresh treats over the next few weeks.
From,
Your friends at the Food Action Network (FAN)
Environment Canada Report Reveals Canada's Emissions Higher
Canada's carbon emissions in 2020 will be 20% higher than Harper government's promised reductions under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord. More importantly, Canada's emissions will be 66% to 107% higher than what's actually required to do its share in meeting the 2C global warming target a new Environment Canada report revealed.
BCTS Cancels Logging of RC Headwaters Forest
- Details
- Written by Beverly Saunders Beverly Saunders
- Category: News News
- Published: 31 October 2013 31 October 2013
Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF) is pleased to announce that they’ve been informed by BC Timber Sales (BCTS) that Cutblock DK045, which ELF has been lobbying to protect, has been canceled from future BCTS logging plans. DK045 was part of a larger TFL A79517 (Dakota Bowl, lower Sunshine Coast) consisting of Yellow-cedar and hemlock where the trees range in age from 800-1,800 years old. This key headwaters forest (17.6Ha/43.4acres) is located on the north slope of Mt. Elphinstone, and acts as corridor with 2 Wildlife Habitat Areas.
Could You Live in a Tiny House?
- Details
- Written by Beverly Saunders Beverly Saunders
- Category: News News
- Published: 21 October 2013 21 October 2013
Are you thinking about downsizing from your large home? Or perhaps you are a young person wondering if you can ever afford a home of your own? The answer may be in building a tiny house. The next film in the Green Film Series Tiny: A Story About Living Small is all about living in less space and how to get there. The film will be shown at the Gibsons Heritage Playhouse at 7:30 pm on Monday, October 28. There will be a second showing at the Iris Griffith Centre at Ruby Lake on Saturday, November 2 at 2 pm.
Feast of Fields, Fall Faire, Community Farm and Speaker Series
- Details
- Written by Beverly Saunders Beverly Saunders
- Category: Latest Latest
- Published: 20 September 2013 20 September 2013
Ruby Lake Resort
Feast of Fields
Lynn Grossutti (Green Planet Foods) and Norm Blair (Deeprooted.ca) are working with the Ruby Lake Resort on their exciting plans to develop a greater resource for the Sunshine Coast community in terms of local food, educational opportunitie and much more.
They're planning a fabulous 'Feast of Fields' event on September 22nd. You can count on food, music and fun throughout the day. There will be a presentation from One Straw, an announcement from the arts community and a conversation on the future of Ruby Lake Resort and community engagement! 2 PM till Dusk. The day will include a performance by Brothers in Farms and The Creek Big Band. Visit the website at www.rubylakeresort.com for more information.
Phase 2
Ocean Vegetable Community Farm
Ocean Vegetables Community Farm has begun design and construction on phase two! Head by the site over the next few weeks to see how things are progressing!
Help install a few boxes on Saturday, September 21st 10 AM! Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested.
5th annual FALL FAIRE!
Sunday, October 6th
Roberts Creek Hall
12-4 PM
Apple press, kids activities, farm fresh food vendors, and harvest soups just in time to get you in an autumn mood!
Traditional Contests:
Greatest Jam or Jelly
Best fermented preserve
Biggest pumpkin or Squash
**New! Fastest Zucchini car!
Most unique looking veggie
Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information on volunteering or vending.
Vendor spaces are filling up very quickly so get in touch ASAP if you are interested!
$2 admission at the door.
Agricultural Area Plan
4 part speaker series
The Sunshine Coast Agricultural Plan team is excited to host a series of 4 upcoming workshops featuring guest speakers from across BC! Each event will feature invited speakers to inspire us followed by a community discussion around enhancing our local food system. Light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!
Speaker Series #1
Arzeena Hamir and Moss Dance (Merville Organics) will share their experience with the "Produced in the Comox Valley" logo and will discuss collaborative farm marketing strategies. Tuesday September 24th at the Seaside Centre, Sechelt 6:30pm-8:30pm. http://mervilleorganics.ca/
Speaker Series #2
Heather Pritchard (FarmFolk/CityFolk) will be on hand to discuss cooperative farming models and her experience with the Fraser Commons Farm Cooperative. Wednesday October 2nd at Frank West Hall, Elphinstone from 6:30-8:30pm. http://www.frasercommonfarm.com/
Speaker Series #3
Anna Helmer (Helmer's Potatoes) will be on hand to discuss the impact of agritourism in Pemberton from the Pemberton Slow Food Cycle. Tuesday October 8th at Roberts Creek Hall from 6:30-8:30pm. http://www.slowfoodcyclesunday.com/
Speaker Series #4
Anne Macey (Salt Spring Island Farmer's Institute) will discuss their Mobile Abattoir Initiative. Tuesday October 15th at Coopers Green Hall in Halfmoon Bay. http://ssifi.org/
For more information about the Sunshine Coast Agricultural Plan please visit:
Food Action Network Potluck
With Special Guests
The Otesha Project
Tuesday, October 1st 5:00-8:30 PM
Save this date! FAN potluck and theatrical performance from The Otesha Project.
The Otesha Project is a national youth-led charitable organization that uses experiential learning, theatre and bicycle tours to engage and empower Canadians of all ages to take action for a more equitable and sustainable world.
More info about Otesha performance time and venue to follow soon. But if you like bikes and care about the environment, you won't want to miss coming out to support this troupe of youth on bikes!
UBCM Calls on Province to Ban GE Plants and Animals
- Details
- Written by Beverly Saunders Beverly Saunders
- Category: News News
- Published: 20 September 2013 20 September 2013
In an unprecedented step, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), at their Annual General Meeting in Vancouver on September 19, passed a resolution “that UBCM ask the British Columbia government to legislate the prohibition of importing, exporting and growing plants and seeds containing genetically engineered DNA, and raising GE animals within BC, and to declare, through legislation, that BC is a GE Free area in respect to all plant and animal species."