Growing Food Leaders // A look back at the first year of the Community Food Leader Certificate Program

Last month we wrapped up our first Community Food Leader Certificate Program, with thirty participating organizations from across NS in Cape Breton, Cumberland and Halifax! This program is for community-based organizations and businesses who want to start or grow lasting and meaningful food initiatives in their region. Check out our short video to learn more:

This year, participating organizations ranged from food banks, family resource centres, and public libraries, to farms and other local businesses like local food markets. Each month we gathered for a one day training session to learn about approaches and topics related to community food, including: how to run community food skills workshops, how to measure success using creative (and fun!) evaluation approaches, and how to engage our communities for social change. The regional Community Food Leader Coordinators met with participants in between training sessions to focus in on their own projects to help move them along.

Click to view slideshow.

Here are just a few of the projects that participants focused on:

• Community garden development
• Food box programs
• Strengthening existing farmers markets
• Adding public education component to a farm (school tours, workshops, etc)
• Increased programming around community oven and garden projects
• Youth cooking skills project
• ‘Farm to Food Bank to Pantry Project’
• Bulk Buying Group
• Recipe cookbook that includes stories from community members who experienced food insecurity, including their ‘go to’ meals when things get tight.
• Streetscape garden project – free food for the taking
• Development of an ‘eco-village’ with a focus on community food projects
• Expansion of a youth-led social enterprise that sells honey

What past participants have to say:

Click to view slideshow.

Interested in joining us?

We are so excited to launch the second round of the Community Food Leader Certificate Program, starting May 2018!

Applications are due April 20, 2018. Please visit http://www.communityfoodleader.com for more information and the online application.

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Blog written by: Jen Organ, Community Food Coordinator (Leadership Development), Ecology Action Centre

Adventures in Local Food is your source for food news in Nova Scotia, from pickles to policy. It is a project organized by the Ecology Action Centre.

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