One of the ways to have a healthy life is to have healthy food. The Assiniboine Food Security Alliance has launched several projects to get people to grow their own food at home, or find local producers who they can buy it from. One of these projects was the Prairie Sun Seed Festival, held recently in the city.
The seed festival brought together several presenters and exhibitors who provided tips on how to grow food, save seeds, and preserve the foods that come from the garden at the end of the season.
Heather Torrie, coordinator of the Prairie Sun Seed Festival, says that the festival is about a different aspect of food security. Attendees also had the opportunity to purchase heirloom seeds, which Torrie says are not hybrids and are often older varieties of produce.
"We usually think of food security as food banks or emergency food aid, this addresses people's capacity for people's ability to grow their own food," says Torrie.
The festival itself also marked the introduction of "One Bite at a Time," a directory of local food producers within 160 km around Yorkton. The directory lists producers selling a wide range of foods, from eggs, to grains, to produce.
Warren Crossman, Chair of the Assiniboine Food Security Alliance, says the goal of the directory is to connect consumers with local producers, and encourage more people to buy local food. Fifty one producers are listed in the guide, and while Crossman was surprised by the number, he also thinks there are more producers to be found.
"I don't think that list is complete, I think there are more producers out there that have products they will sell to consumers... I've already talked to a couple people who didn't make the cut this year, but want to get in it next year," Crossman says.
The initial print of 500 copies the guide was available at the seed festival. Crossman hopes to eventually have a place in the city, such as the Tourist Information booth, where people can pick up their copies.
"We're hoping just to create that awareness that this is even available," Crossman says.
He also sees potential in a frequently updated website, though he admits that the Alliance does not the expertise to operate one at this point. Crossman says that the Alliance is made up entirely of volunteers, and anyone who is interested in their cause should get in touch.
Another ongoing project is the community garden, which Crossman says is beginning in partnership with the Yorkton Alliance Church. He says details need to be worked out but that progress is being made.
"We expect to start small, but we expect to start in the spring," Crossman says.
People interested in getting a copy of the directory or in any of the other projects the Assiniboine Food Security Alliance is involved in can contact Crossman by calling (306) 782-3249 or by email at [email protected].
