*Growing Up Organic* in Canada
Canadian Organic Growers (COG) is interested in shifting Canada towards organic agriculture - a safer and more sustainable form of food production. For this purpose, we have launched the *Growing Up Organic* project. This project has been designed to help farmers transition to organic management practices and to increase the amount of organically grown food in Canadian institutions, beginning with childcare centres.
The Growing Up Organic (GUO) project will:
- Create a market for organic farmers
- Increase the number of organic farmers in Canada
- Link childcare centres with organic farmers
- Educate childcare centers about organic food consumption and production
- Develop local rural and urban organic food systems
*Growing Up Organic* in Manitoba
The Organic Food Council of Manitoba, a local chapter of Canadian Organic Growers, is in the first year of implementing the GUO initiative.
We are working with a number of childcare facilities in Winnipeg to increase the amount of local organic food, with a goal of 25 facilities by 2011.
In addition to linking childcare centres with locally grown organic food sources, the GUO project provides assistance with program implementation and offers education and materials related to organic food.
This summer, the GUO program offered a farm tour to a participating childcare centre as well as a tour of the kitchen at York the Hotel.
In Manitoba, the GUO project receives funding from The Sustainable Development Innovations Fund with Manitoba Conservation as well as Assiniboine Credit Union.
Donations
We are now accepting donations towards our funding goal. To make a contribution by cheque or credit card to the Growing Up Organic project, please click on the "donation" button located on the upper left part of this page. Please forward this link to others who may have in interest in the initiative. To do so, click on the "spread the word" link just under the donation local.
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