COG Island Natural Growers
Contacts:
Chapter Chair:
Patricia ReichertPhone: (250) 537-4282
Membership Secretary, General Enquiries:
Anne Macey106 Old Scott Rd
Salt Spring Island, BC
V8K 2L6
Phone: (250) 537-5511
Who Are We and Where Are We Located?
Island Natural Growers (ING) is the Gulf Islands chapter of COG. The Gulf Islands comprise Galiano, Mayne, North and South Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, and other islands between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. The majority of our 60+ members are on Salt Spring Island.Goals of the Island Natural Growers
Formed in 1992, ING promotes organic farming as one of the primary building blocks in establishing a sustainable community. ING goals are:1. to operate as a mutual self-help society that takes in the interests of farmers, gardeners, and the entire rural community.
2. to work in harmony with the natural processes of plant and animal growth, as the best way to maximize the production of pollution-free food for local consumption.
3. to exchange knowledge and expertise with each other, and undertake to inform the public about organic methods of growing.
4. to support the development of bioregionally-based food systems, to strengthen and stabilize local economies and to minimize transport of farm inputs and produce.
5. to oppose corporate control for the world food supply through issues such as global trade agreements, genetic engineering and seed patents.
Activities and Projects of the Island Natural Growers
The Produce Project
The Island Natural Growers (ING) has just released the results of an eight-month study of commercial produce agriculture on Salt Spring Island. One of the study's major findings is that farmers are only growing about 233,000 pounds of produce per year-enough to feed the equivalent of 400 residents or about 4% of the population.Read the complete media release
Read the complete report
Other Activities and Projects
* Monthly Meetings - ING holds meetings the first Wednesday of the month. Members volunteer to host a potluck supper, farm or garden tour and business meeting to plan projects and activities. The structure of the group is informal and works through consensus.* Seedy Saturday, the largest public event organized by ING, takes place on the second Saturday in February every year. It features a community seed exchange, seed saving and growing workshops, and the opportunity to purchase seeds from local seed companies.
* Salt Spring Island's Local Organic Food Guide, published by ING encourages everyone on the island to buy, grow and eat more locally produced organic food.
* The Produce Project, March-Nov 2005, will estimate the amount of fruit and vegetables currently being grown on Salt Spring and the potential for expansion. An action plan will be developed to increase island self sufficiency in terms of local food production and consumption through improved and coordinated production, storage, distribution and marketing. All community members are invited to give their input through surveys and meetings.
* Compost for the Mind - Members of ING, Vancouver Island and Islands Organic Producers Ass. (IOPA) receive a regional newsletter every two months. Members are encouraged to submit articles or notices of interest.
How to Become Involved in the Island Natural Growers
Gardening and farming include many diverse activities and concerns, and this is reflected in the broad range of interests of the ING membership, for example:* heritage seed and tree preservation
* self-sufficiency in food
* food production as part of a local rural economy
* horticultural practices to promote regionally-adapted vegetables and herbs
* agricultural land protection, organic certification, land trusts
Anyone who supports the goals of COG and ING is welcome to join.
If you live in the Gulf Islands you will automatically become a member of Island Natural Growers when you join COG. The membership fee of $40 includes the national magazine The Canadian Organic Grower and use of the COG mail-order library as well as the chapter affiliation.
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