Hosting a Community Dialogue on Local Food Systems I

Over the past few years, Deconstructing Dinner has involved itself with the Nelson, B.C. based networking group, Community Food Matters. Like many similar community food security groups operating throughout North America, Community Food Matters is made up of organizations, businesses and individuals interested in enhancing the local food system. On March 24, 2009, Deconstructing Dinner, alongside Community Food Matters, hosted an event designed to stimulate awareness and collaboration within the community. For those outside of the community, the event acts as a model of how other North American communities concerned with local food security could gather once a year and share their work and future plans. What resulted from the March 24 event was an amazing snapshot of the capacity of just one community seeking to tackle the difficult but critical task of fostering a viable local food system. This episode marks part one of two episodes featuring recordings compiled at the event. Funding for this project has been provided by the Community Food Action Initiative, in cooperation with Interior Health Voices Abra Brynne - Kootenay Local Agricultural Society (KLAS) (Nelson, BC) Suzanne Miller - Kootenay Organic Growers Society (KOGS) (South Slocan, BC) Aimee Watson - Kaslo Food Security Project (Kaslo, BC) Matt Lowe - Kootenay Grain CSA (Nelson, BC) Gail Southall - Creston Valley Food Action Coalition (Creston, BC) John Alton - West Kootenay Eco Society (Nelson, BC) Laura Sacks - Soil Matters CSA (Tarrys, BC) Laura Gareau - Nelson Food Cupboard Society (Nelson, BC) Jesse Phillips - Oso Negro Coffee (Nelson, BC) Sandi McCreight - Kootenay Food Strategy Society (Castlegar, BC) Colleen Matte - Earth Matters (Nelson, BC) Tara Stark - Interior Health (Nelson, BC) Michelle Beneteau - Kootenay Country Store Co-operative (Nelson, BC) Frank & Libby Ruljancich - Growing Through the Seasons (Deer Park, BC) Conversation Voices: Florence Christophers (Nelson CARES Society), Ryan Martin (Hume Hotel / Best Western), Brenda Hyshka (Aurora Gardens), Marilyn James (Sinixt Nation), Geoffrey Austin (Fisherman's Market), Robert Agnew (Upper Columbia Co-operative Council), Nadiv (Preserved Seed Cafe / Mount Sentinel Farm)