Cooking Workshop

This Friday, March 26, ad 6:00 pm in Shatner 3rd Floor Kitchen its happening:

Iris and Sarah are going to be teaching us how to make great local organic meals based on the season's selection. I heard something about potatoe-turnip lattke goodness.

This is a FREE event, so come by for some laughs, good tastes and good learning.

Climate Change and the Road from Copenhagen

Climate Change and the Road from Copenhagen

Mar. 18, 2010 - 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Strathcona Anatomy & Dent, Room M-1, 3640 University Street

Greening McGill and the McGill School of Environment invite you to a round table on the recent climate change conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Panelists:

* John Drexhage, International Institute for Sustainable Development

* Steven Guilbeault, Equiterre

* Prof. Catherine Potvin, Dept of biology, McGill University

* Mark Purdon, McGill School of Environment



Moderator: Jaye Ellis, McGill School of Environment and Faculty of Law


Sponsor:Hydro-Québec Scholars in Sustainable Development

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=383105434516

How Green Energy & Climate Policies Create Sustainable Jobs

Wondering what to do with your degree after graduation? Whether it be agriculture, policy making, urban planning, architecture, engineering, renewable energy or corporate social responsibility you are interested in...there is a place for you in the green job market!

Former Agricultural Minister and German Member of Parliament Bärbel Höhn visits McGill to share with you "How Green Energy & Climate Policies Create Sustainable Jobs" with a special intruction by Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May and the McGill Green Party.

Come meet two stupendous international leaders and engage in a dynamic converstation about your future!

Free organic refreshments will be served courtesy of Organic Campus and Eden.

When? Thursday February 18, 2010 at 5:30PM. Where? Strathcona Dentistry & Anatomy Building, Room M1, 3460 University Street.
How much? FREE! Need more info?
Email mcgillgreenparty@gmail.com

True Ecosteria Dinner and Speaker Event by Organic Campus!

Hi folks.

You may have already heard - we our hosting an event next Wednesday, February 10th - True Ecosteria. Some of you may have attended it last year. This year will be bigger and better! We will be serving a delicious organic Ethiopian meal with fresh pressed juice and listening to a variety of local speakers talk to us about sustainable issues.

Details:

True Ecosteria

February 10, 6:30 pm in Gerts Bar.

Fee: $10.00

You can pick up tickets on Tuesday (tomorrow) at our Organic Corner - Second floor of SSMU in the cafeteria. You can also email organiccampus@gmail.com if you can't make those times or call 514-466-1148 and ask for Ledah. Tickets will also be available at the door. The event, apart from being a great time to learn and socialise, will be a fundraiser for helping Berhanu Wassihun, the farmer who supplies Organic Campus, build a Sustainable Agricultural School in Ethiopia.

As always, for more info on our service see organiccampus.blogspot.com

Come on out and share the food and conversation!

Organic Campus

Hello all!

Just a friendly reminder that the Cinema Politica/Organic Campus collaborative film screening takes place no other than THIS coming Tuesday, November 17th, in room 26 of Leacock at 8 pm. Free local organic food will be provided!

Synopsis from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765849/plotsummary

Welcome to the world of industrial food production and high-tech farming! To the rhythm of conveyor belts and immense machines, the film looks without commenting into the places where food is produced in Europe: monumental spaces, surreal landscapes and bizarre sounds - a cool, industrial environment which leaves little space for individualism. People, animals, crops and machines play a supporting role in the logistic of this system which provides our society's standard of living. OUR DAILY BREAD is a wide-screen tableau of a feast which isn't always easy to digest - and in which we all take part. A pure, meticulous and high-end film experience that enables the audience to form their own ideas.

Please come check it out!

On another note, Organic Campus is now located indoors (nooo!!) for the season, 2nd floor Shatner in the "Organic Corner". Come check us out there Mondays-Thursdays, 12-5 for your favourite sweet breads and produce.

To keep updated with us check out our facebook group "Organic Campus" and our website: organiccampus.blogspot.com

See you Tuesday (dont forget to bring your own bag)!
--
Organically yours,
Organic Campus

Movie Screening!

Come check out our screening with Cinema Politica!

Enjeras in the sun

Organic Campus goes rural!

Yesterday Organic Campus members and volunteers trekked over to the Wassihun Farm to help with the end of the harvest and to give people an opportunity to become better acquainted with the source of our food. Picking squash, digging potatoes and artichokes was the theme of the day and OC got 'down and dirty' in the Canadian soil. The Wassihun farm is located in Glenn Roberts, 1 hr from Montreal (in Ontario).

Berhanu, our farmer who supplies us with produce and baked goods, prepared us a delicious Ethiopian meal which we 'manged' beneath the gorgeous leftovers of summer sunlight.

Check out our pictures to see where the OC food comes from!

Organic Campus

Hello All!

We now know the specifics for this Sunday's excursion to True Food Ecostere! We are meeting outside of the SSMU building on McTavish at 10:30 on Sunday in order to make it to the farm by noon. Then we'll check out the farm, help out, and have some lunch/dinner (linner?) courtesy of Berhanu and Worke. We'll leave by 5 or 6 to make it back for 7:30/8:00 (latest).

So, if you are interested and have not told us, email organiccampus@gmail.com with "Sunday Farm Trip" in the subject line. Space is limited due to car capacity, but if you have a vehicle it's not a problem! We're estimating it will be about $15 maximum per person to cover gas (lunch is free!).

EMAIL ASAP TO GET YOUR SPOT!!

Hello fellow OCers!

I hope your fall is going well and you are warming up to the cool weather! Here are a couple updates for what's going on with Organic Campus:

-Trip to the farm! This Sunday, October 18th, the OC is going to Berhanu and Worke's farm in Glenn Roberts, Ontario! Join us, and see where all your delicious organic produce comes from, as well as help out on the farm! There is squash to be picked, potatoes to be harvested, and Berhanu also wants to show people how to use the tractor so some plowing can be done. RSVP by this Friday, as we need to arrange for transportation. If anyone has a car we can use, please let us know! Email organiccampus@gmail.com with "Sunday farm trip" in the subject line to RSVP.

-Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Distribution: Just a reminder, the OC has expanded operations to Mondays and Wednesdays. Until the end of October we will be in Three Bares Park with the Farmer's Market from 11-5. Mondays and Wednesdays you can find us outside of the SSMU building in nice weather, or in the Organic Corner on the second floor from 12-5 if it's not-so-nice outside . After October we will be there on Tuesdays as well!

Yellow Door Vegan Fridays: Every Friday from 12:30-3:00 you can get hefty portions of delicious food for only $2 at the Yellow Door on Alymer north of Prince Arthur.

Canning Workshop October 17th: Campus Crops is hosting a canning workshop in the Midnight Kitchen. Registration required, email campuscrops@gmail.com for more information.

100-Mile Diet Participants Needed! Greening McGill is looking for students to participate in the 100-Mile Diet Challenge, from October 15-November 15. We’re challenging participants to eat only food grown and produced within 100 miles of Montreal. If you’re interested in finding out where your food comes from, learning about issues surrounding food production, and having a great (ie. delicious) time with other participants at food-related events throughout the month, email greeningmcgill@mail.mcgill.ca or check out the facebook group.

Lookout for a film screening in November with tasty organic goods!

Enjoy all the fall colors!
--
Organically yours,
Organic Campus

Organic Campus to Start Summer Operatons July 21st!

A big hello to the OC community from us here at Organic Campus!

After a brief hiatus from operations in March, Organic Campus is back in action for the summer to bring you the best local, organic crops from Farm True food Ecostere. As per usual, we will be open every Tuesday from 12-5pm in front of the Shatner Building to serve you throughout the bright summer days; yet if conditions are unfavourable we will be relocated on the 2nd floor of Shatner building, in the cafeteria. And for our welcomed friends joining us from off campus, the the Shatner building is located at 3600 rue McTavish. This summer we will be selling produce individually and in the "basket option", where a full spread of organic produce can be bought at a cumulatively lower cost.

So come and stop by this Tuesday between 12-5pm and pick up some fresh and delicious veggies, fruit, and other homemade Ethiopian baked treats. We would love to hear everyone's summer stories while the enjoying the sunshine with you at our tent.

This summer we are unfortunately a bit understaffed as many students have migrated away for the season, so we encourage anyone interesting in volunteering to come out and help us this Tuesday, or send an email to our Volunteer Coordinator at marina.freytsis@mail.mcgill.ca.

We look forward to seeing all the new and familiar faces this Tuesday at our tent. Don't forget to bring your reusable bag!

Organically yours,

Organic Campus

Film Screening and more!

On March 31st at 7pm in the Organic Corner, we will be screening the film “The Real Dirt on Farmer John” (see the preview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0egeHh1_Sb4). Organic popcorn, our famously tasty sweet potato cinnamon bread, and tea will be served.

Following the film there will be a raffle (with prizes like gift certificates to Cinema du Parc, Santropol and other great businesses and restaurants) to benefit our farmer, Berhanu Wassihun, in his efforts to establish a sustainable agriculture center in Ethiopia.

This is event is FREE. Please send an e-mail to organiccampus@gmail.com to RSVP (if you haven't already rsvp'd on the facebook event).

**Please bring a mug with you for tea!

Organic Vegan Breakfast Cooking Workshop!

Hi all! Organic Campus is super excited to offer a free organic cooking workshop this upcoming Monday, February 16. The cooking workshop will show you how to create a tasty vegan organic breakfast using the produce typically found in our baskets. Plus, we'll be offering some pointers on nutrition as well as general organic info. If you're interested in attending, please send an e-mail to oraniccampus@gmail.com

• What: Cooking Workshop
  
• Where: Midnight Kitchen's kitchen, Shatner Room 304
• When: Monday, February 16 7 to 9pm
  

Plus, even though it's the middle of February, we still have lots of organic local produce to offer--apples, beets, onions, garlic, carrots, organic eggs, and Ethiopian baked goods—so come on by the Organic Corner and fill up on some organic goodness when you can.

True Ecosteria!

Join Organic Campus in helping our farmer, Berhanu Wassihun, establish a sustainable agriculture center in Ethiopia! On November 18 from 7-9:30pm we will be holding True Ecosteria! at Gert's Bar. A traditional Ethiopian meal will be provided, plus a talk by author Elizabeth Johnston on her new book "No Small Potatoes," and much more!

Tickets are 10$ and can be purchased at the Organic Corner (2nd floor Shatner) Tuesday Nov. 11 from 12-6pm and Wednesday Nov. 12 from 1:30 to 4:30. If you can't make it on Tuesday, send us an e-mail at organiccampus@gmail.com and we can arrange a possible meet-and-swap.

So come join us in support of sustainable organic agriculture and health on the 18th while being surrounded by an array of enlightening speakers, like-minded enviro enthusiasts, and delicious organic food! See you then!

Fall Trip to Farm True Ecostere

On Sunday October 5, some of the Organic Campus volunteers headed out of the city to the True Ecostere Farm. The farm, located just over the Quebec/Ontario border in Glen Robertson, Ontario, is run by Berhanu Wassihun and provides Organic Campus with all its produce and baked goods.
The beautiful fall day was spent harvesting carrots and squash and connecting with the Earth which provides for us.

Below are some pictures from the day at the farm:


(photos by Alexandra Prince)

Last day of the August McGill Farmer's Market

Today is the last day of the Farmers' Market for the month of August, but don't worry, we will be back next week at our regular spot, in front of Shatner, from 2-6pm. You will have the option of buying a $15/$25 basket filled with fresh local organic produce, or buy each item you want individually.

The Farmers' Market will return for the last 3 Tuesdays in September at 3 bares park, in the heart of the downtown campus.

Meanwhile, pickup this week's edition of the Montreal Mirror which features an article on our farmer, Berhanu Wassihun, and his project to open a sustainable agriculture center in Ethiopia. The picture was taken at the Organic Campus Kiosk during the McGill Farmers' Market. Organic Campus still collects donations for the center every Tuesday during distribution.

McGill Farmers' Market and Volunteer Callout!

Hi everyone and welcome back for another Organic Semester!

Summer is almost already over and today is already the last day of the "regular summer activities". But it's not over... its the peak of the season and the produce looks and tastes fabulous! Come and have a look!

Now things will be very special for the next few weeks because in conjunction with other McGill students and McGill Food and Dining Services, we are going to have a FARMERS' MARKET on campus. For this event Organic Campus will be joined by other local farmers and baked good producers to bring you a fresh, healthy and local food alternative right here on campus!

For today's distribution, please take note that we will NOT take any orders for next week! For the farmer's market period, we will sell produce by the unit, like at the real market!

Here is the schedule for the next few weeks:

Frosh week's farmer's market:
-August 25, 26, 27, 28: 11am to 6pm, in the parking lot, next to Shatner, so basically ten feet left from where we normally stand.
** on Tuesday the 26th we'll actually close at 4pm to leave the space to the
street fest.

In September:
-Sept 2 and 9: 2pm to 6pm. Regular Organic Campus Activities. You will find our white tent at our usual spot in front of Shatner, no other vendors will be present.
-Sept 16, 23, 30: 11am-6pm The farmer's market will be held at 3 bares park ( in the hollow below the arts building, west of the main campus avenue).

And don't forget that the OC is cooperatively run, and can't survive without the support of all of you... so in the cooperative spirit, this is a VOLUNTEER CALL OUT! Volunteer duties range from greeting our farmers/distributors, dividing up orders, taking orders, answering the questions of curious people, and much more. You can meet lots of people, have lots of fun, and see exactly what goes into making the OC run and how all of that delicious organic food is brought to you every Tuesday. What could be better? So get involved, email us your Tuesday availability between 1:30 and 6:30pm and our volunteer coordinator, will get get back to you with more details. If you want to volunteer on a Tuesday, we'll ask you to commit to a 1-2hr shift for the whole semester.

You only to volunteer once or twice to see how it works? We also need a whole bunch of extra volunteers to help out with the Farmer's Market from 10:00am to 6:30pm on August 25, 26 27, 28 and September 16, 23 ,30. Email us at organiccampus[a]gmail.com to sign-up!

Hope to see you soon!

Organic Campus

Organic Update!

Great news! Summer operations are scheduled to start on July 15th, when Berhanu will be back distributing his delicious and plentiful summer baskets every week in front of Shatner.

We are still looking for volunteers to help us with orders and distribution. If you have already contacted organiccampus(at)gmail.com to volunteer, we'll contact you back very soon. If you have not yet done so and you are available for a 1-2h time slot on Tuesdays from 3-7pm please email us!

Tomorrow's Distribution and Special Ethiopian Treats!

Yes, sadly, tomorrow will be Organic Campus' last day of activities for the winter term. And to thank you all, volunteers, regular customers, one-time buyers, cinnamon bun lovers, we'll have some Free Special Ethiopian Treats tomorrow! Come sample some delicious fresh enjeras with delicious vegetarians fillings and some honey lemonade! Compliments of Workie and Berhanu from True Food Ecostere. So don't forget to drop by to say hi, eat a bite, refresh yourself, give suggestions, comments, appreciation, exchange recipes and talk about the fabulous weather!

We'll be back in July (stay posted for the exact date), when the harvest season begins. As in previous summers, we'll be in front of Shatner every Tuesday from 4-6pm but... we'll have a tent! Yes, yes, yes, just like at the market! Expect much more organization, with more volunteers to help you out, take your orders and give you tips on how to cook all those green leafy vegetables! If you intend on getting baskets this summer, please drop-us a line (organiccampus[at]gmail.com) so we can get a rough estimate. And please don't hesitate to let us know if you wish to volunteer during the summer months. We'll need volunteers to help out with distribution and also to help organize a field trip to the farm.

Good luck on your exams! We wish you a fabulous summer and hope to see you around the OC tent this summer!

Organic Campus

"Deconstructing Supper", a film introduced by Food Activist Holly Dressel

"Deconstructing Supper", a film introduced by Food Activist Holly Dressel
Part of the Series "From Field to Feast - eating locally in Montréal"
Wednesday, March 19th at 18:00h
Leacock 219

Join Greening McGill for an evening of food politics and great tasting local food. HOLLY DRESSEL is an environmental activist and an organic farmer who lives outside of Montreal. She is a best-selling author of books on environmental subjects, and has co-authored two books with David Suzuki: "From Naked Ape to Super Species" and "Good News for a Change".

"Deconstructing Supper" is a film starring chef John Bishop leads viewers on an eye-opening and engaging journey into the billion-dollar battle to control global food production. Starting with a gourmet meal in his five-star restaurant, Bishop travels the world -- from farmer's fields to biotech laboratories to supermarket aisles -- on a personal quest to find out what our food choices are. Holly will be available to answer ALL your questions after the screening.

Free local food (including the famously delicious habeshan-style pies, sweet potato and cinnamon breads and apple cake bread!) will be provided at the screening by Organic Campus.

Hope to see you all!

Organic Graduate Students, make yourself heard!

Are you a graduate student involved in, or benefiting from, any student-run (SSMU-based) campus clubs, services or associations- such as Organic Campus? Are you confused by the all talk surrounding a lack of agreement between PGSS (your students society) and SSMU over how clubs and services should be funded? Concerned about what this might spell for grad student participation in clubs and services? Would you like answers from PGSS' council and executive- or want to tell them what you think, where you stand, and that clubs and services funding is important to you?

If you answered yes, to any of these, come to PGSS' annual general meeting (AGM), on Wednesday March 12, 6:00 pm, Thomson House ballroom. It's your Society, your AGM- come and be heard.

*** Read below for the official Organic Campus position on this debacle!

---

Dear Organic Campus Members,

When the Organic Food Co-op changed its name in 2006 to become Organic Campus, a SSMU service, there were no doubts in our minds that this would only be for better, and that it could not affect the basic principles on which our cooperative had been founded on in 2003. We did not become a SSMU service to obtain operating budgets from both student societies, as we generate small profits to cover our expenses, but rather to obtain the visibility and stability required to reach as many members of the McGill community as possible.

The aim and purpose of our cooperative, as defined clearly in our constitution, has always been to supply students as well as the local community with quality organic foods and goods, in an effort to promote environmental sustainability. All the profits generated through the sale of baked goods are re-invested to support other initiatives that share similar goals and to promote environmental awareness through publications and workshops. The cooperative has always been, and should always be open to all persons, undergraduates, graduates, past students, McGill employees and professors and the McGill community in general, with no discrimination.

We would like SSMU and PGSS to reconsider not renewing the recently lapsed Memorandum of Agreement, which had allowed graduate students, which form a good proportion of our clientele and volunteers, to benefit from our service. We feel that our student initiative, as well as all other student initiatives deserve to be, and should be, supported by both SSMU and PGSS.

This is our position, what is yours?

Organic Campus would like to thank you in advance for voicing your opinions!