• Grow a Row 2012

    Grow a Row 2012

    Here at Loving Spoonful we are in the planning stages for another Grow a Row campaign. What is Grow a Row? The purpose of Grow a Row is to encourage growers (both full-time farmers and backyard or community gardeners) to grow an extra row of food for the express purpose of ...

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  • Kingston supports Put Food in the Budget

    Kingston supports Put Food in the Budget

    The City of Kingston has officially declared support for the Put Food in the Budget campaign! This campaign, sponsored by our friends at The Stop Community Food Centre, calls for the following two actions on the part of the Ontario government to address chronic hunger faced by thousands in our ...

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May102011

ACORN Garden Workbee: Saturday, May 14th

By | May 10, 2011 | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments off

Join Loving Spoonful staff and volunteers as we prepare the ACORN garden for another season of growing vegetables for the Grow a Row campaign.

When: Saturday, May 14th  10a.m.-2p.m.

Where: Oak Street Community Garden

Details: We will be preparing the ACORN garden plot for planting, working alongside other Oak Street gardeners as part in the OSG opening party and workbee. People are also encouraged to attend two free workshops being offered by veteran OSG gardeners and to take part in the potluck at 12p.m. All are welcome!

Gardening Workshops:

11 a.m. Composting – Learn basic construction and strategies for dealing with common concerns such as heat and rodents

1 p.m. Alternatives to Tilling – Explore alternatives to tilling garden plots, such as sheet mulching

We hope to see you there!

The ACORN Garden is a family-friendly donation and learning garden hosted by Loving Spoonful at the Oak Street Community Garden. It provides a place where everyone can volunteer to help grow food for donation to local meal programs and food banks. It is a great opportunity to learn about growing food, to meet other gardeners, and to share with the community. Experienced gardeners are encouraged to take part and share their knowledge and skills with new gardeners.

Apr182011

Hiring: Grow a Row Assistant (Queen’s Work Study Program)

By | April 18, 2011 | Posted in employment, Grow a Row | Comments off

If you are a Queen’s student that qualifies for the Queen’s Work Study program and are registered as a full time student in the Spring/Summer term, contact us!

We are hiring a work study student to assist with our 2011 Grow a Row campaign. The position will be roughly 90 hours of work over the course of the summer at a rate of $12/hour. Work will involve volunteer coordination, promotional work, gardening and more. Some work hours will be on evenings and weekends.

To view the job posting online visit: https://careers.sso.queensu.ca/home.htm and login with your student id.  Look for Job ID # 37978 (Grow a Row Assistant).

Submit your resume, cover letter and contact info for 2 references to hiring[at]lovingspoonful[dot]org by Monday April 25th at 4pm.

Contact holly[at]lovingspoonful[dot]org for more information.

Apr052011

A Celebration of Our Volunteers!

By | April 5, 2011 | Posted in events, volunteer | Comments off
Loving Spoonful invites its supporters to attend a celebration potluck!
As part of National Volunteer Week, we want to recognize and celebrate the contributions made by our volunteers to improving access to healthy food for all in Kingston.
Theme: Food with a Story
Bring an appetizer, salad, main dish or dessert that has some significance to you. Stories and food will be shared in the spirit of community.
We look forward to seeing you there!
St. Vincent de Paul, 85 Stephen Street, side door
Tuesday, April 12th, 6:00pm
Please RSVP by Friday, April 8th
holly@lovingspoonful.org
613 546 4291 ext. 1871
Mar152011

Time to Sign up for CSA Memberships

By | March 15, 2011 | Posted in Gardens, news, projects | Comments off

It’s time to sign up for your 2011 CSA share! What is a CSA? The Community Supported Agriculture model lets you pay a farmer in advance for a season’s worth of produce, while contributing to a more secure local food system.  It’s a great way to support local growers and to ensure that you are getting the freshest seasonal produce.

Come sign up for your CSA Share at the following events:

Seedy Saturday: March 12th 10-3, Wilson Room KPFL Central

Earth Hour: March 26th 18:30-21:30, Market Square

Mar152011

2011 Workplace Challenge

By | March 15, 2011 | Posted in Grow a Row, projects | Comments off

Loving Spoonful and Grow a Row are excited to announce this new initiative for 2011. We are looking for businesses to support us in getting fresh food out to local emergency meal providers. You can contribute to a really important campaign while building community in your workplace, not to mention our most successful workplace growers will win exciting prizes!

Workplaces can participate in one of two ways:

1. If your office has grounds that are favourable, you could start a small garden plot with a row of food designated for Grow a Row.

2. If space at work is not available, you and your colleagues could commit to growing a row at home, and bring your harvest into the office to donate to Grow a Row as a team.

Prizes will be given in two categories: the largest overall donation and the greatest number of participants. Drop us a line if you would like more information on getting involved: kate@lovingspoonful.org

Mar122011

Seedy Saturday

By | March 12, 2011 | Posted in events | Comments off

Saturday, March 12 10am-3pm Kingston Public Library, Central Branch

Seedy Saturday is a national event where both seed novice and expert can learn more about seed saving, food security and biodiversity. The following workshops are offered:

How to save seed in your garden
Haudenosaunee food systems
Seed Saving Initiatives across the Globe
Permaculture gardening for Kingston

Loving Spoonful will have a table at this event, and we encourage everyone to come check it out!

Mar102011

Hungry Kingston

By | March 10, 2011 | Posted in events | Comments off

Monday March 21st, 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Mac-Corry Hall, Rm. B201

What are the origins and consequences of poverty?

What is our government doing to end poverty and hunger?

What can you be doing to help make positive change?

Come out to learn and discuss!

***

Homemade treats and refreshments will be provided. Bring a mug and save a cup.

***

This is an educational event organized by Queen’s Meal Exchange, Queen’s Students Against Poverty, Kingston Coalition Against Poverty, and Loving Spoonful.

Speakers:

Dr. Elaine Power (Professor, Queen’s School of Kinesiology and Health Studies): the relationships of poverty, food, and health

Robert Pullman (Member, Kingston Coalition Against Poverty): a local perspective on poverty and social assistance in Ontario

Susan Belyea (Coordinator, Loving Spoonful): the fight for food security and how to get involved in Kingston

To learn more, try the survey and read the FAQ athttp://www.dothemath.thestop.org/

Mar072011

Free Movie Night! The Gleaners and I

By | March 7, 2011 | Posted in events | Comments off

Now to be held on March 31st!

Come out to our Free Movie Night to meet and faces of Loving Spoonful and see an award winning documentary.

The Gleaners and I is a French documentary by Agnès Varda that features various kinds of gleaning. It has won awards around the world. The film tracks a series of gleaners as they hunt for food, knicknacks, and personal connection. Varda travels French countryside and city to find and film not only field gleaners, but also urban gleaners and those connected to gleaners, including a wealthy restaurant owner whose ancestors were gleaners. The film spends time capturing the many aspects of gleaning and the many people who glean to survive. It has been described as profound, poetic, and moving.

Where: Watson Hall, Rm. 217, Queen’s Campus

When: Thursday March 31st, 7:00pm

Mar072011

Community Gardening 101 Workshop

By | March 7, 2011 | Posted in events, Gardens | Comments off

What is a community garden and how can you start one in Kingston?

Join us March 4th, March 10th or March 16th for a Free Workshop on Community Gardening in Kingston.

We can help lead you through the process of starting a community garden in your neighbourhood in Kingston.  This talk will cover the process from assembling your gardening group and developing an initial plan, to finding land, consulting with your neighbours, and finding the resources you will need.  We will look at different models of community gardens, talk about the successes and challenges community gardeners have faced in Kingston and elsewhere, and, hopefully, inspire you to start a garden in your community!

Please contact us 613 546-4291 ext 1871 or gardens@lovingspoonful.org to register

March 4th:  2:30 pm Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (as part of the Kingston Gardening Festival)

March 10th:  7:00 pm Atillery Park Aquatic Centre

March 16th, 7:00 pm Invista Centre

Feb242011

Volunteer Orientation and Workbee

By | February 24, 2011 | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments off

Loving Spoonful is hosting a Volunteer Orientation and Workbee on Tuesday, March 1st at 7pm!

Volunteers new and old are invited to come learn more about Loving Spoonful’s work in the community. Areas to be discussed include: Community Gardens, Grow a Row, The Community Harvest Market, food reclamation, and the community kitchen project/workbees. Bring your questions and find out more ways to get involved by sharing your skills and/or learning new ones.

The evening will also include a silk screening workbee. Help print patches and cards with the Loving Spoonful logo, to be used as part of our fund-raising and promotion. People are invited to bring an article of their own clothing to print and take home as well.

Come out and meet other volunteers who share your interest in making healthy food accessible to all!!! We look forward to seeing many of you soon.

RSVP to holly@lovingspoonful.org if you plan on attending. Loving Spoonful is located in the Memorial Centre, at 303 York St, Room 217.