Joanne, Cain, Brian, Tina, Joan, Allan, Simone, Tom, Graham, Sheila, Paul, Pia, Claire
Meeting was called to order at 2 pm . The minutes of the last meeting were passed, Moved by Brian and seconded by Cain.
An email was received from COG regarding the Growing Up Organic proposal. Joanne will look into COG's issue about funds and what this has to do in regard to our chapter.
An email was also received from a man in Quebec who is an organic farmer and wants to visit the organic farms in the Yukon this spring. Subsequent to the meeting this gentleman has contacted Joanne to delay his visit until the late summer/fall.
As of Nov 30 the bank has a balance of over $8000. Most of this is allocated for ongoing projects. The 2008 budget will be available after Dec statements are received and reconciliation is complete.
Brian mentioned that COG had received a fairly large donation from an individual. No big news.
Joanne mentioned the fact that our chapter is not receiving memberships funds from COG and are actually being charged fees for numerous things. She has contacted COG to clarify these charges but has yet to receive a reply.
The committee met on December 6. Discussion was held on the draft multi-year development plan. The APF funding has been extended by a year for continuity while the new Growing Forward funding comes into place.
Discussion was on what was contained within the plan and that the Industry Group will continue on and watch over the implementation of the multi-year development plan.
The organic sector has good support within the plan. Sheila brought up several ideas which might be applicable to this plan and they might include transition to organic costs and certification costs. A look into what PEI has done along a similar theme would help on this.
Tom suggested containers for certified organic producers. This would be valuable to help separate seed lots, feeds and supplements from any cross contamination with unlabelled feed or conventional seed . It would also provide more value than large fertilizer bin arrangements because generally organic growers don't have a need for those volumes. There would be a container per certified organic farm to prevent issues with locations. Research into containers could provide some insight into what would work.
Sheila said several committees will be struck to examine specific areas/projects proposed within the multi-year development plan. The committee will be looking for representation from the organic sector. Some of this committee work will include looking into a proposed multi use facility that has been studied by the Yukon Agriculture Association. There were some comments on this in regard to the scale. Apparently the issue of have 400 birds per hour being processed is somewhat overboard so some consultation will have to be done by this committee.
When Sheila brought up the idea of increased regulation of meat processing within the Yukon, all of the group was adamant that this be put aside. Sheila mentioned this was brought up as a result of bringing on processing facilities such as the multi use facility, similar to what is going on in BC. The group was very vocal and firm that BC not be followed because of the destruction of their small scale processing facilities and subsequent loss of businesses and lifestyles. Sheila will pass on our concerns in regard to this and will garner more information from the Industry Group on this. This item should remain on the agenda.
As far as marketing goes it was suggested by the Industry Group that emphasis be put on the Fireweed Community Market and that some sort of partnership be created with the City to provide a more permanent location/structure.
Sheila was asked if the Group had discussed the North of 60 conference in regard to the discussion on genetic engineering. The organic group was firm that the discussion was biased and that the only people who attended were already in agreement in opposition to the technology. There were no others from the agriculture industry except for the Yukon Grain farm who also listened to the talk. Consensus was that although ideas were brought forward it was not an adequate forum for the industry.
Claire reported that the group had decided to not allow for two additional trade seat in the group.
The OFC has also asked for proposals to help build the organic groups within each area in Canada. Since Growers of Organic Food Yukon is the single organized organic group currently within the Yukon, Claire submitted a proposal to OFC for approximately $5000 to build organic membership. This will include talking with all entities promoting organics such as processors, retailers, new farmers, restaurants and also community outreach to those interested in organics outside of the Whitehorse area.
Joan reported that the Fireweed Community Christmas Market did well this year with over 35 vendors and in excess of $80,000 dollars brought in. The Fireweed Society received many compliments on its organizing of the event and for the support for local entrepreneurs. Although substantial monies were made it was pointed put that the society itself only just covers costs on the project.
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306.1 Legume Study. Cain has submitted the plant and soil samples for tests. Not all of the results are back yet. The final analysis will be done at the end of the next year. There was discussion of looking at different components as well.
There is no confirmation of a Technician for next year yet. Cain will have the 2007 report done tentatively by mid to late January, 2008.
406.3 Infarmation articles. Joanne wrote a great review of the Polyface Farm video for the last issue of the Ag branch publication. There was no remarks as to what has happened with the Yukon Agriculture News Letter. Several articles have been submitted but there hasn't been a news letter. Continued support will focus on Infarmation.
906.1 Brian's corner. Brian asked about what type of hand seeder is best. A lot of comments about the Earthway Seeder and all the discs is has for different seeds. Numerous comments about good and not so good issues. The planet junior is a good seeder but more expensive. Tom suggested Roland might be a good source of info on these types of seeders.
Tom and Brian are talking about some hulless oats. Tom would like to find some hulless barley to try as well. Soft wheat would be good to try because pasta at the market would do well(Tom again).
Joan has some corn seeds left from several plants that matured in her garden! She is going to try again this year to build the seed supply up.
Joanne has some bean seeds to share.
Group consensus felt it would be great to somehow advertise ahead of time what veggies will be available at the market.
Brian thinks we need more zucchini at the market, any takers?
907.1 Poultry Processors. There was a poultry processors meeting November 25 at Cain's house. Simone will be posting the report and any ideas from the meeting on the website.
907.4 Growing Up Organic. Linda wasn't able to make the meeting to discuss any of this as it might stand now. Joanne will be calling COG so find out any information from their end.
907.5 Apiary. A project put forward by Cain and Peter McPeake to examine a selection of different queen bees and how they perform in the Yukon and overwinter. Currently this is only an information item for those interested in the study. Growers of Organic Food Yukon have no connection to it. Cain mentions that the search for suitable varieties of bee queens is currently underway. A trip south will be early in the spring to pick them up and also hives boxes.
907.6 Yukon Agricultural Products Guide. Simone, Joan and Jodi have begun preliminary work on this through the Fireweed Community Market.
1007.3 Wildwood Festival . It will be on Aug 3 for 1 day. The theme is the Art of Fine Food. They are plans for edible art, food with vendors perhaps or paid demonstration of different foods, a barn dance and maybe animal presentations as opposed to a petting zoo.
There will be a link connecting this to the Yukonfood website
1107.3 Conferences. Joan, Joanne, Brian and Cain would like to attend the COABC conference. Brian will look into a proposal for funding to attend the conference.
Joanne is looking into the ACORN conference. Not as close or as convenient but it's a big and very proactive group.
1207.1 Farm apprenticeships. Joanne is interested in this for people willing to work for a wage and education on a farm. Was suggested that Garret would be good to talk to and that there is funding to help offset the cost through one of the Agriculture funds.
1207.2 Great Green Growers. Unfortunately Garret could not make the meeting to fill us in on all of this. With what information we had it was discussed. Joanne would like to see more information from the Co-op before committing the organic group to anything.
Tom felt that the commitment was limited to just the planning process and that is all. As such he would favor supporting it through Slow Food. Simone thought it would be good to not only be a part of their planning process but also the application. Brian agreed. Brian will contact Garret to discuss this further. Brian and Tom are willing to join in the planning process with the Great Green Growers subject to clarification. Brian is also only committing to this process until the end of march.
1207.3 GE Free Petition. Tom gave an update on the petition. Minister Archie Lang had responded in rather bland non committal terms to the petition. Tom said that Ge Free Yukon has responded to both Minister Lang and Tony Hill in regard to this. The minister's office hasn't responded but Tony Hill has and a meeting will be put together early into the New Year. All of the information regarding this is posted on the gefree.yukonfood.com website.
Tom has since responded personally to Minister Lang in the News and Tory Russel from GeFree Yukon did in the Star.
Brian mentioned that the Yukon Agriculture Society had responded to a request by Minister Lang for their position on it. Apparently without consultation of their membership the the Yukon Agriculture Association board of directors saw fit not to support the petition.
Comments on this were that the petition was circulated to the YAA membership earlier saying the board had no position on this. Subsequently they now have a position without consulting membership, many of whom are organic growers. General dissent around the lack of any communication.
It was stated well by Brian that Growers of Organic Food Yukon have no position in regard to what the YAA directors have said. Individually however, members of the Growers of Organic Food Yukon who are also members of YAA should contact the YAA and ask for a copy of this letter and respond to it accordingly. It was agreed that although Growers of Organic Food Yukon base their production of food on the absence of genetically engineered material and are bound to do so if certified, their support of the petition is to the Government and subsequently the Agriculture Branch and not the YAA. Comments to the YAA should be dealt with individually and directly as members of that association.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm with a motion from Brian. Food was served!!
January 27 at the Public Library Meeting room, This will be confirmed.