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Rural Redefined: Post-Georgetown Conference 2013 Insight by Linda Best

lindabestatgeorgetown

The time is ripe to re-energize the entrepreneurial spirit that historically characterized Atlantic Canadians.

From the successes of early settlers to the accomplishments of individuals today, from entrepreneurs in small communities to urban farmers, from engaged kids to senior volunteers, there are multitudes of examples of Atlantic spirit. Maybe it’s the ocean around us, maybe the food we grow, the distances that make us self-reliant but neighborly, the friend and family connections: these and many other elements inspire engagement and innovation and enterprise.

Perhaps some of us have lost sight of our abilities, perhaps we’ve become a bit too dependent on external solutions, but we all know lots of people whose knowledge, foresight and determination has created solutions that have worked locally and globally. We know how to “get ‘er done”.

FarmWorks is one of those solutions. Investment of local money in farmers and food producers is providing the conditions for enterprising food entrepreneurs to increase production, ensuring sustainability and the availability of increasing amounts of good food for citizens.
Georgetown reminded everyone that the spirit needs nurturing and each of us is in the right place at the right time to do that. Let’s emulate Pam Mood, Mayor of Yarmouth, who asked for and got “All Hands on Deck”.

Linda Best at Georgetown Conference 2013

Video streaming by Ustream

You can watch all the George Town Conference 2013 talks here:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/39544430

Fifth Offer to date: $1,395,000 invested

Shares With Edible and Financial Benefits

$361,400 was invested by Shareholders the Fifth Offer for a total of $1,395,000 

The money previously invested is currently supporting 55 food-related businesses with more to come, and monthly repayments are being added to the capital available for loans. Money is loaned at 6% for one to five year terms and is having a positive effect on farm and food-related businesses. Applications are processed as described on the Lending Page.

If you are interested in learning about FarmWorks please contact: Linda Best (542-3442, 670-3660, lbest@ns.sympatico.ca)

Congratulations Oakview Farm in Kingsport

Oakview Farm is FarmWork’s 6th Loan Recipient! See Loan Recipients here

Oakview Farm is a small local producer of pesticide free produce. They have three market areas; an on farm U pick operation for fresh fruit/vegetables, free run egg, and direct market sales at the Halifax Seaport Market. They have been in business for 16 years and have consistently grown their sales over that period of time.

They have direct contact with their customers and enjoy providing fine quality produce for their business partners. Recently, they have added a greenhouse to extend their growing season for salad crops and flowers. They are also expanding their current operations to include a facility for on farm processing/ packing of fruit and vegetables as well as cold storage.

Keep up to date with Oakview: https://www.facebook.com/OakviewFarmAndGreenhouse

Pam Warhurst: How we can eat our landscapes

What should a community do with its unused land? Plant food, of course. With energy and humor, Pam Warhurst tells at the TED Salon the story of how she and a growing team of volunteers came together to turn plots of unused land into communal vegetable gardens, and to change the narrative of food in their community.

Pam Warhurst cofounded Incredible Edible, an initiative in Todmorden, England dedicated to growing food locally by planting on unused land throughout the community. Full bio »

PEI FarmWorks Offers Islanders a Chance to Invest in Island Agri-Enterprises

Islanders will soon have an opportunity to use their investment dollars to grow the province’s number one industry, agriculture and agri-food, right here at home.

PEI FarmWorks is the first investment cooperative set up under the Community Economic Development Business (CEDB) program announced last August by Finance Minister Wes Sheridan.

The CEDB program helps strengthen local communities by offering Islanders a new method to invest in economic development, said Sheridan. “Islanders want to invest in Islanders – in Island businesses that have the potential to benefit the community and foster growth in the local economy,” he said.

Here’s how it works. Investors have the opportunity to put their investment dollars into local Island businesses. In return the Province of Prince Edward Island provides a 35 per cent personal income tax credit, and the investment is RRSP eligible.

“Right now, we are finalizing our constitution and bylaws,” said long time Augustine Cove farmer Elmer MacDonald, who chairs P.E. I. FarmWorks. “We will be kicking off a publicity campaign in the near future to let Islanders know what we are about.”

Phil Ferraro, director of Institute for Bioregional Studies initiated the idea of P.E.I. FarmWorks after learning of the success of a similar investment cooperative in Nova Scotia. Ferraro said that he has attracted a board of directors made up of certified accountants, farmers and social entrepreneurs who will scrutinize business plans to ensure that private investment goes to credible agri-business operations.

David Tingley of the PEI Cooperative Council has been working on behalf of the province to promote CEDBs on Prince Edward Island. He said the program allows Islanders to invest up to $20,000 annually in return for a tax credit of up to $7,000.

According to Ferraro, investing in local businesses is a key to economic prosperity. “We are responding to global trends among consumers to buy local, know your farmers and increase food security.”

“PEI FarmWorks will help support and sustain a new generation of Island agriculture and give Islanders an opportunity to invest in ourselves, said Ferraro. It provides one of the best opportunities we have to harness the strengths of citizens right across the Province to support a culture of economic, social, and environmental sustainability, while at the same time providing significant tax benefits for that support.”

While the concept may be new to this province, MacDonald said it has an enviable record of success in other areas. In Nova Scotia, for example, over $36 million has been invested in over 50 projects since the fund was established, in 1999. “Each year, $90 million dollars leaves Prince Edward Island and goes to investment agencies primarily in central Canada. Just think of what that money could accomplish if we kept it right here at home.”

MacDonald is also the current chair of the PEI ADAPT Council. “During my time on the board I have seen that there is no shortage of innovation and entrepreneurship within the agricultural community on PEI.” He is excited about the program, adding “I fully expect we will have the same kind of success they have enjoyed in Nova Scotia.”

Vermont ‘Farm to Plate’ to Create Jobs and Strengthen Local Food System

Vermont is an example of how state-level legislative support can help regional, mid-sized, and small producers and rural communities. The state has developed polices aimed at community-based agricultural economic development aligned with local and regional food system infrastructure development. In 2009, the Vermont Legislature passed the Farm to Plate (F2P) initiative as part of the state’s jobs bill. Estimates of the F2P plan include 1,500 jobs over the next 10 years based on a five percent increase in food system production and an accompanying annual increase of $88 million in the state’s gross domestic product. Currently, 12.9 percent of private businesses and 16 percent of private jobs in Vermont are in the food and farm sector. In 2007, the state’s agricultural and food output totaled $2.7 billion.

By Marissa Lee / August 11, 2011  http://seedstock.com/2011/08/11/vermont-farm-to-plate-local-food-system/

Interesting video:

Andrew Meade – Vice Chair

andy-meadeAttorney at Law, Turks and Caicos Islands, (Inactive); Barrister and Solicitor, Alberta, Canada (Inactive); Self Employed – small business venture financing, real estate investing and consulting and directorial services to individuals, companies and funds; Director & Vice President – St. George’s Trust Company Limited in Bermuda; Attorney at Law McLean McNally, Turks and Caicos Islands, trust and estate and corporate law, director and legal counsel for trust company and securities brokerage; Legal Counsel – Trizec Properties Limited, negotiation and drafting commercial leases for office and retail tenants.

Student-at-Law – Bennett Jones, Calgary, studied and worked under partners focusing primarily on commercial, security, estate planning; Business Systems Analyst – EPS Software Consultants Ltd., Toronto, development and maintenance of the financial planning system.

Legal Education Society of Alberta, Canada Bar Admission Courses; Dalhousie University Bachelor of Laws 1991/93; Saint Mary’s University – Bachelor of Commerce, 1986/89

Volunteer at Kings College Panamá S.A.; Former Member of the Halifax Club; Former Director and Secretary of the Bermuda Crimestoppers Committee; Former member of the Bermuda Association of Licensed Trustees; Former member of Rotary International; Former member of the Law and Order Committee of the Turks and Caicos Islands; Former Business Basics Instructor with Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta

Snorkeling; Swimming; Mountain Biking; Canoeing; Hiking; Downhill Skiing; Cooking; Painting; Reading; and Curling.

Keith Rudderham – Director

Keith Rudderham, Lt.-Col., is a Point Edward, Cape Breton farmer and Commanding Officer of the Cape Breton Highlanders. He is married to Lori and they have three children, Cameron, Ian, and Emily. He graduated from Royal Military College with Bachelor of Arts Honours Economics and Commerce in 1992, and Master of Arts in Defence Studies in 2009, and holds the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning CPF designation.

He brings to the Board: Public Service Experience, Management skills, Community Leadership, Public Budget Management. He is a Problem Solver, Consensus Builder, Team Builder, Logistics Expert, Employee Motivator, Public Speaker, Trainer and Mentor.

He is Vice President of the Cape Breton Richmond Federation of Agriculture, and was Ex-Officio Board Member of the Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre Board of Directors, Board Member of the Algonquin College Capital Fundraising Foundation responsible to raise money for the construction of a new College Campus.

Lt.-Col. Rudderham deployed to Kosovo in 1999, to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2003-2004 where he assumed the duties of officer commanding camp services in Camp Julien. In 2007 he deployed to Kandahar as part of the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team responsible for the training of the Afghanistan National Army. His military career has also seen him serve as base commander of CFB Petawawa from 2009-2011, before returning to Nova Scotia in 2011 to take on the position of commanding officer of 5 Division Headquarters. He has also been the commanding officer of 33 Field Ambulance in Halifax since April 2014.

 

Johanna Kwakernaak, Director

Johanna KwakernaakI am interested in the work of FarmWorks based on my personal experience and a strong belief that agriculture as a historical foundation to our Nova Scotia economy can and should be integral to our economic future. FarmWorks provides an innovative model to grow all aspects of an agricultural economy, is uniquely Nova Scotian, a model of a cooperative collaborative community.

I grew up in the Annapolis Valley, an immigrant, the daughter of a landscaper, nurseryman, and small scale produce farmer. My Uncles were dairy and pork producers. After gaining a diploma in Physiotherapist from Dalhousie University in the early 1970’s I worked briefly in Nova Scotia before heading to Alberta. During my almost 40 years in Alberta I returned first to the University of Alberta to earn a Bachelors of Physiotherapist and then to the University of Calgary for a Masters of Business Administration. My professional career was in Health Care. In 2009 I retired from Alberta Health Services where my last role was as Director of Clinical Support Services in the Calgary Region managing an array of clinical services, a staff of over 1,000 and an annual budget of almost $20M.

On retirement my husband and I returned to Berwick in the Annapolis Valley. I have taken up gardening once again and volunteer with a number of organizations: the Western Kings Community Health Board- current Chair, the Berwick Community Garden Group – Vice-Chair, Kings Senior Safety Society – Treasurer, CAPPSCA (Community Alcohol Project – Partners Shifting the Culture of Alcohol) – Recording Secretary, and Kingston/Greenwood Mental Health Association – Treasurer.

I want to see our communities grow, prosper and be healthy and believe FarmWorks has a role in that vision.