Youth Out on the Land and Sea: A New Teleconference Series from FSN

Join FSN for this two-part teleconference series about programs that are bringing young people back in touch with the land and the sea. Programs which connect youth to their natural environment and food heritage can help improve their physical, emotional, and social resilience. In turn, this affects community connectedness and community wellbeing.

To register for one or both of the teleconferences email info@foodsecuritynews.com or call (709) 237-4026. Registration is recommended by the day before each teleconference to be sure you get the materials in time.

February 10: Aullak, Sangilivallianginnatuk

Tues. Feb. 10 2pm in Labrador, 2:30pm in Newfoundland

Aullak, Sangilivallianginnatuk (Going Off, Growing Strong) 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.

 

February 17: Fishing for Success

Tues. Feb. 17 2pm in Labrador, 2:30pm in Newfoundland

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.

Our Ten Most Visited Pages of 2014

We've compiled a list of the ten most popular pages on our sites, foodsecuritynews.com and rootcellarsrock.ca. Enjoy!

1. The Big Question: What is Food Security?

http://www.foodsecuritynews.com/What-is-food-security.htm

What is food security exactly? This page has an answer for you: “Food security means that all people at all times have physical and economic access to adequate amounts of nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate foods.” The Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to making that happen here.

2. A Root Cellar for Hobbits

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2013/06/school-root-cellar-in-sweden-stores-fresh-food-for-students/

A recent post on Reddit bumped these images of a Swedish, “shire-inspired” root cellar into our top ten this year, attracting visits from all over the world.

3. Food Skills Workshops

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/food-skills-workshops/

This is a list of all our excellent workshops, featuring the four Ps: Planting, Picking, Preparing, and Preserving. These documents are meant for individuals and community groups to help teach and improve food skills in our communities, and are blocked with great information.

4. All About Labrador Tea

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2013/07/labrador-tea-an-abundant-local-edible-wild-plant/

Labrador tea is a plant you’ll find in barrens, wetlands, damp and dry woods, beside ponds, exposed areas, and in arctic-alpine barren. So, in other words, you can find it pretty much everywhere in the province. Here is some information on identifying it and ways you can enjoy it.

5. A Long List of Canning Recipes

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/recipes/canning/

A collection of links showing you how to can or pickle anything from blueberries to dandelion greens to beets—including a link to our super easy, one-jar fridge jam recipe.

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2011/10/out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-jam-jar/

6. The 2014 Good Food Challenge

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2014/10/sign-up-for-the-good-food-challenge/

“Food and food issues have become complicated, so it can be overwhelming to make good food choices.” says FSN Executive Director Kristie Jameson. “With the Good Food Challenge the idea is for people to take the time to think about food, talk to each other, and to set their own goals.” We spent the month of November talking about food, digging up statistics, reading books, and eating delicious things.

Click for a Good Food Challenge post archive: Week One / Week Two/ Week Three / Week Four

7. How to make your own maple syrup

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2012/08/diy-maple-syrup/

Maple syrup is delicious, and you can make it here in the province. Lisa & Steve McBride wrote this very detailed post on making maple syrup a few years ago.

8. A tasty invasive: Japanese Knotweed

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2011/05/tasty-invasives/

The term “invasive species” sounds harsh—we prefer to call them “dinner.” At least in the case of Japanese knotweed. Here’s some inspiring information about cooking and eating this fast-growing plant.

9. Choosing a Backyard Compost Bin

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2012/08/backyard-compost-bin-patterns-choosing-a-bin/

Composting is a good thing to do. One big reason is to prevent our landfills from producing so much dang methane. Each molecule of methane in the atmosphere traps more than 20 times as much heat as carbon dioxide. Decomposition with oxygen — eg. in a compost — produces less methane than when it decomposes in, say, a garbage bag piled on top of thousands of other garbage bags… So! Composting reduces the amount of methane produced by our waste and messing up our atmosphere. Anyway! End of rant. This link gives an excellent roundup of backyard compost bins available, as well as directions on building your own.

10: International Year of the Family Farm: Growdat Farms

http://rootcellarsrock.ca/2014/09/a-conversation-with-terry-dobbie-and-donna-bishop-of-growdat-farms/

Summer student Sarah Campbell created a wonderful bunch of features about the International Year of Family Farming this summer, gathering stories of family farming from around the Avalon Peninsula. Here's one about Terry Dobbie and Donna Bishop of Growdat Farms, located on the Avalon Peninsula in the place between Heart’s Desire and Heart’s Content.