Dear members and organic supporters,
It’s hard to believe how quickly the first month of 2022 has gone by. I hope you had a moment to relax over the holidays.
As you may have heard, the upcoming BC Organic Conference has moved online. It now features a series of virtual events which I hope you will find not only informative, but also refreshing and engaging. More details on that are below.
And, in addition to producing a new series of Organic BC podcasts for the conference (in which you will hear many of your colleagues), Jordan will also be hosting a pre-conference Beer/Bevvie Night. Hope to see you there!
Eva-Lena Lang, Executive Director
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2022 BC Organic Conference Updates
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Here are the latest updates on the 2022 BC Organic Conference, which has shifted to a virtual format on February 27 & March 6, from 9 am - 12:30 pm. Don't forget, tickets are on sale now (including a new student rate—only $60 for a full conference ticket!).
First, a thank you!
A big show of appreciation for our event sponsors and partners: FCC (Mental Wellness Sponsor), Institute for Community Engaged Research (Digital Partner), BC Co-op Association (Conference Partner), and Gambrinus Malting (Beer Night Sponsor).
Podcast contest
Tell us why you love the Organic BC podcast and you could win one of our signature conference mugs, hand-crafted by the talented Emily Walmsley Ceramics! All you have to do is share your favourite Organic BC podcast episode on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, say why you love it, tag @thisisorganicbc, and you're entered to win! Each post will get you one entry into the draw, and you’ll get an extra entry if you tag a friend. The draw will be made live on Feb. 27th.
Check out past podcast episodes at organicbc.org/podcast, and get access to all-new episodes by registering for the 2022 BC Organic Conference!
Pre-conference beer/bevvie night
Let’s get together before the conference starts — raise a glass, talk shop, and catch up with each other! This event is free and open to all, but registration is required.
Join our tradeshow
Showcase your business! As a tradeshow exhibitor, you will have a virtual booth in Whova, an online event app that provides opportunities for networking and promoting your business/organization to registrants. And, you will be featured in social media posts leading up to the virtual conference! Learn more.
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Have You Checked Out the Organic BC Job Board?
Looking for a helping hand (or several) for the upcoming growing season? By posting on the Organic BC job board, you’ll reach folks who are looking for opportunities on organic farms or other sustainably minded operations.
We welcome a range of job opportunities in British Columbia, including for organic farms and businesses of course, but also for other farms, businesses, educational institutions and organizations that have a focus on regenerative and/or sustainable agriculture and products.
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Important: Upcoming Groundwater License Deadline
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Don't forget: The deadline to apply for a groundwater license is March 1st, 2022 That's only a month away!
Young Agrarians has put together an excellent FAQ that outlines everything you need to know about the deadline, including this on-point summary:
Long story short: After March 1, 2022, everyone using groundwater for farming is legally required to have a water licence. If you have been using water prior to February 2016, you can submit an application for existing use by March 1. If you don’t, you must submit a NEW USE application, which will cost more money and potentially be harder to get. Take advantage of this opportunity to secure your water supply!
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Organic Sector Survey Results
Remember the nationwide organic survey from last spring? The one which aimed to help redefine the services that will support the growth of the organic industry? Well, the results are in!
Check out stats and detailed responses on the Organic Federation of Canada's website.
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New Public Comment Period
There's a new public comment period regarding national standards for organic agriculture! This round of questions raised by organic stakeholders includes topics such as protection and promotion of ecosystem health, requirements for agricultural ingredients and more.
View all questions and proposed answers on the OFC website. You have until February 11th to have your say!
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OFC and OACC Launch Call For Letters of Intent
Canadian scientists are invited to submit their research proposals under the fourth Organic Science Cluster (OSC4), that will take place from 2023 to 2028.
The deadline for LOI submissions is February 4, 2022. Visit the OSC4 website for details about the call for Letters of Intent (LOI) and updates relating to OSC4.
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Celebrating 50 Years of IFOAM
This year, IFOAM - Organics International turns 50! With over 700 members from about 100 countries and territories, there is so much to celebrate.
Take a look at IFOAM's journey so far: ifoam.bio/50-years-ifoam-organics-international
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Call for Cover Cropping Experts
Canadian Organic Growers is working with Farmers for Climate Solutions on a new program thats aims to develop and implement peer-to-peer farmer training.
As the lead delivery partner for the curriculum development and mentor training for the cover cropping component, COG is assembling a team of cover cropping experts to complete this vital work. Interested? Learn more here.
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Flood and Mudslide Recovery
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries has complied supports and resources to help BC's agriculture producers recover from floods and mudslides. Learn more.
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AgriStability 2021 Late Participation Option
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In response to 2021’s extreme weather events, a joint agreement between Canada and British Columbia will allow late registration into the AgriStability 2021 program year, until December 31, 2022. However, AgriStability payments to Late Participants will be reduced by 20%. Learn more.
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How to Design your Own On-Farm Research Workshop
Feb. 8, 2022 | 10:00 am - 11:30 am | Online
Attend this workshop to share your ideas about challenges and opportunities for your farm and farm production. Do you have ideas of research you would like to pursue on your farm? During this workshop, Dr. Catherine Tarasoff will support producers to work through ideas and share templates to help guide your research work. Learn more.
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Pest Management Workshop for Small-Scale Vegetable Farmers
Feb. 16, 2022 | 9:00am - 12:00 pm | Online
BC vegetable growers: Join this interactive online workshop to learn about pest management frameworks using real pest examples. More details.
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