Friends of Agriculture in NS
Food For Nova Scotia's Healthy Future
FarmWorks provides space for Friends of Agriculture in Nova Scotia
FANS – Healthy fields, farms and food for the people and communities of Nova Scotia now and in the future. FANS may provide small grants to organizations that share FANS goals. News Release below.
FANS Grant Application Form 2022.
Three events Spring 2022!
Spring Flavours will raise awareness of Nova Scotian food producers and providers who are associated by FarmWorks and Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia. It’s sponsored by FANS and funds remaining will be available for grants to community-based food-related organizations.
FANS VISION
Healthy fields, farms and food for the people and communities of Nova Scotia now and in the future
MISSION
Educating ourselves and others with regard to local and global issues, seeking solutions, and promoting food security and sustainability within an interconnected framework
EDUCATION
We will educate ourselves and others about issues that affect the food supply for Nova Scotians. These issues include local and global trends, availability of a secure and sustainable supply, the economy, health, financial opportunities for food producers and individuals, reversibility of rural decline, climate impacts, and the social and cultural benefits of producing food.
FACILITATION
We will foster networking among citizens, farmers, economists, specialists, politicians, academics and all others who contribute to solutions.
Directors:
Linda Best, Chair, Greenwich
Richard Melvin, Vice Chair, Canning
Ann Anderson, Secretary, Wolfville
Alison Scott Butler, Director, Canning
Stephen Anderson, Director, Wolfville
Dave Bethune, Director, Halifax
Valerie VanOostrum, Director, Berwick
Jayn Kenny, Director, Black River
Sarah MacDonald, Director, Kentville
2018 Birthday Roast and Toast For Ann Anderson and Linda Best raised funds for FANS and 4-H
May Flavours Gala Dinner and Silent Auction – May 30th, 2019 raised awareness of local food and money for food organizations
Links to Food Summit Videos:
Dr Alan Warner – Local Procurement
Dr. Catherine Mah – Healthy Food
Annabelle Singleton – Community
Emily Tipton – Community and Economy
Chris de Waal, Getaway Farm – Farming Challenges
Carrie Poyser, Poyser Farm – Financing Challenges
Slide Presentations:
The Port Grocer_FoodSummit2016
Food, Culture, and Community Food Summit
CHB Food Summit presentation May 2016
Miller NS Food Summit presentation
Puzzle Piece graphic and Student Reflections Press Release
Here’s the previous Nova Scotia Food Summit Report Dec 15, 2009 which may help us understand what has changed and what needs to change.
Resetting the Table – People’s Food Policy Document
NEWS RELEASES
FRIENDS OF AGRICULTURE NOVA SCOTIA –
FANS began as a group of people interested in supporting local agriculture in the spring of 2008. In 2009 members of FANS organized, promoted and held the very successful Food Summit in Greenwich, which attracted 250 participants. The report is available here – Nova Scotia Food Summit Report Dec 15, 2009.
In 2012 FANS was incorporated as a Society to raise money through charitable means for organizations that share FANS mission. The organizations also sponsors some FarmWorks Investment Co-operative Limited events.
FANS has given $500 grants to many organizations to create accessible, beautiful, and edible green spaces, to use sustainable practices to increase urban agriculture and empower the community through learning skills around growing produce, to help support projects to bring people together to grow, cook, share, and advocate for good food while working together with the broader food movement to build greater capacity for impact and to empower communities to work toward a healthy and fair food system.
Money raised through auctions at April and May Flavours are used to provide small grants to help achieve initiatives other organizations have in common with the goals of FANS: to educate the public about the issues affecting the food supply of Nova Scotians, and to promote food security and sustainability within an interconnected framework of community members (farmers, citizens, economists, specialists, politicians, academics and all others who contribute to solutions).
Grants
Annapolis Valley Farmland Trust
Children’s Summer Camp Lunch Program
Sipekne’katik Community Garden
Dartmouth North Community Food Centre
Berwick Community Gardens
SOUP Project
Bear River Garden
Acadia Garden
Sip’eknekatik
Berwick Community Garden
Young Naturalists
FarmWorks
Acadia Garden
Partners for Care
Berwick District Livestock Shelter
Pan Cape Breton Food Hub