The 2012 Gathering of the BC Food Systems Network: Call for Proposals

Planning is now underway for the B.C. Food Systems Network Gathering that is taking place from July 5th through the 8th, 2012. In preparation for the event, the Gathering Committee is putting out a request for:

proposals, workshops, roundtables and discussion topics;
potential sources for funding; and
ideas for making the gathering a meaningful and enriching experience for all.

This will be the 14th Annual Gathering of the BC Food Systems Network and we hope you will be able to join us at Camp Fircom on beautiful Gambier Island. Gambier Island is in the Howe Sound, in the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people. The camp is on the south west side of the island and is only accessible by water taxi from Horseshoe Bay, about 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver or a 90 minute ferry ride from Nanaimo. The camp has been recently renovated and offers many recreational opportunities, including beach access and hiking trails.

The theme of the Gathering is Reclaiming our Food Systems: Policy and Practice. A food system is defined as the resources and processes that are required to feed a population. It includes producing, processing, shipping, storing, selling and consuming food, as well as the management of waste associated with all of these processes. Most of our current food policy supports the industrial food system. One of the goals of the Network is to develop and advocate policies to redesign food systems to alleviate hunger and promote sustainability - food policy that places community food security as the highest priority.

The Gathering will blend scheduled workshops, presentations and activities with unstructured time and space to encourage informal sharing, socializing or quiet contemplation. During the Gathering there will be opportunities to explore exciting initiatives that reclaim elements of the food system as well as discussions about the network's policy priorities, including water rights and access, food labeling and GMOs, agricultural land use and urban agriculture, to name a few.

The purpose of the Gathering is to bring the Network together to share their experiences and initiatives, to build new relationships and to strengthen existing ones. The Gathering is about connecting people and drawing on the wisdom and expertise that exists within the Network. The Gathering Committee encourages all of you to share your knowledge and ideas on how to create a valuable experience for everyone.

Registration will begin in late April. If anyone would like to participate in planning for the Gathering or to volunteer during the event please contact us. The Gathering Committee is especially interested in new ideas for funding sources.

We are very excited about the Gathering this year and hope to make it meaningful and memorable experience for everyone. The committee is looking forward to hearing from you!

More: http://fooddemocracy.org/