COG-NB Mission Statement

The COG-NB chapter is a province-wide organization interested in educating, networking, producing and promoting local organic food. We aim to:

• Provide a network for the organic sector in New Brunswick to promote production and consumption of local, organic products;
• Act as a clearing house for organic information, education and training for producers, our members and the public in general; and,
• Support the development of organic education in collaboration with other stakeholders.

COG-NB 2008 Steering Committee Members

Treasurer: Beryl de Beaupre Tel: (506) 375-4574

E-mail: beryl_de_beaupre@hotmail.com
Keeps chapter financial records, maintains bank account and transactions, creates annual financial report for COG National, and is one of two signing authorities.

Chapter and Regional Representative: Shannon Herbert Tel: (506) 367-2781

E-mail: herbert6@nb.sympatico.ca
Liaison between COG National and the NB chapter and holds the Atlantic Canada seat on the COG National board.

Join COG New Brunswick Chapter

If you are interested in connecting with the organic community in New Brunswick, consider joining the COG-NB chapter! We aim to create a social setting for people with all levels of experience, knowledge and activity in organics - from farmers to windowsill gardeners, retailers, consumers and anyone else. Our events range from our Seedy Saturday to speaker nights, organic potlucks, info booths and more. Of course, all of our members belong to COG National as well, and receive all the benefits that come with national membership. If you are interested in becoming a COG-NB member, please contact Shannon Herbert, the COG-NB Chapter Representative for more information!

COG-NB Newsletter: Nature's Way

Read up on COG-NB news and events in "Nature's Way":

Winter 2009

Winter 2008

Autumn 2007

Events Update

Uranium Mining Moratorium

Our chapter has recently signed the New Brunswick Environment Network  petition supporting a moratorium on uranium mining in New Brunswick. Uranium mining has extensive implications for agriculture, with many of the mining claims in the province directly affecting organic and other farms. For more information, please visit the Conservation Council website at: http://conservationcouncil.ca/southeast/WhatYouShouldKnow.html.

St. Andrews Community Garden Kick-off

COG New Brunswick was a key player in helping to break ground on a new community garden in St. Andrews. On May 24, the fine people at the Community Youth Action Centre flipped sod and turned  a part of their yard into a community garden. Several community members were there, include several children under the age of 12 and their parents who were very eager to get the garden started. Greg Thompson, the local MLS donated a fruit tree. Parents and children organized a great BBQ. Beryl from COG-NB organized a raffle for a blue recycling bin, pencils, a travel mug, and other goodies. Congratulations to Jake the Junior Gardner for taking the top prize!   For more information about the community garden, please contact COG-NB's Chair Katherine McCord.

Shiitake Mushroom Workshop

Shiitake mushrooms, with their intense flavour and link with Chinese cuisine, may seem exotic. However, they are now grown commercially in all three Maritime Provinces and hobby growers are cropping up in woodlots across Atlantic Canada. On May 11, over 30 people took part in the shiitake-growing workshop at An Artist’s Garden, the beautiful coastal home of painter and potter Karin Bach www.anartistsgarden.com. David Boyle from Maritime MicroBiologicals Inc. gave a talk about some of the essential roles that mushrooms and related organisms play in the natural world. Participants enjoyed lunch provided by Karin Bach and then took part in a hands-on demonstration on how to inoculate logs with mushroom spawn. Everyone took home a 3-foot inoculated log that, if kept under the appropriate conditions, will produce shiitake mushrooms the next year and for a few years after that.  Thanks to Janet Wallace for organizing this amazing event!

Seedy Saturday

The 2007 Seedy Saturday was held on March 22 at the Florenceville Village Hall. Workshop highlights included Grafting Tips and Tricks for your Organic Orchard with Mike Hutton of Hutlo Acres. Fun was had by all!

COG-NB AGM

The COG-NB Chapter AGM was held during the ACORN 2008 Conference in Memramcook. The AGM provided an opportunity to give an update on 2007 activities, as listed in the Winter 2008 Nature's Way newsletter. Congratulations to our 2008 Steering Committee and thank you so much to Andrea Berry for her dedication and enthusiasm since the inception of  COG-NB. We wish her much success in her continuing adventures as she develops her seed company. AGM meeting minutes and the 2007 financial report are available by contacting Serge LaRochelle, the Secretary of COG-NB.