News Archive

04Dec 2023 by admin
Feel-Good Stories from 2023

Feel-Good Stories from 2023

Featured News, L2T Updates, News
Perhaps you’ve heard (cause we’ve shared a few times now)… New this year, Land to Table has been collecting an inventory of the fresh food needs of local social service agencies and food banks across the North Okanagan. This work is a result of the “value chain development” we have been doing in conjunction with UBCO - to connect organizations who care about using purchasing dollars toward ethical/sustainable food, to the farmers who produce said food! Through strong leadership values, advocating for more local food and clear food purchasing goals at Turning Points in Vernon, we were able to connect a local farmer to Turning Points Food Service Manager. Read to hear the farmers experience of that connection: ​​As soon as we completed our first delivery to Turning Point in…
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30Nov 2023 by admin
Sowing the Future: Land to Table’s Ongoing Commitment to the BX Ranchlands

Sowing the Future: Land to Table’s Ongoing Commitment to the BX Ranchlands

Featured News, L2T Updates, News
As we approach the end of 2023, it's time to shine a spotlight on one of our favourite projects. The BX Ranchlands (BXR) represents the opportunity for community-led growing and infrastructure development for greater food security and resilience, all wrapped up in a beautiful 135 acre parcel of land! Land to Table (L2T) Network has been deeply rooted in the plans for this site since our inception in 2018 - mostly in supporting the visionaries (i.e. the BX/Swan Lake Residents Association and RDNO Electoral Area Directors for areas B and C) and advocating for it to remain in public hands. As the year draws to a close, it's heartening to see our collective efforts continue to sprout opportunity, and step-by-step progressions toward  a vision for community resilience through farming. Nurturing a…
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18Oct 2023 by admin
Recap: Collective Impact through Needs & Strength Mapping

Recap: Collective Impact through Needs & Strength Mapping

Event Recap
Recap: Collective Impact through Needs & Strength Mapping This month, key food actors from across the region gathered for our first Community Food Security Session to identify opportunities for collective impact through mapping our strengths. In the face of what our neighbouring communities just experienced through wildfire this summer (and remembering our experience from two years ago), and based on what we have heard about the community and organizational response (especially when it comes to food for fire evacuees) - it is clear that we are more effective and resilient when working in collaboration. This has us thinking about our community resilience, including how we prepare for, respond and rebuild when there is an emergency or disruption. In a roundtable style, participants shared their organizations’ strengths or “assets” that could…
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05Oct 2023 by admin
OKIB Sun Valley Ranch: Grasshopper Update

OKIB Sun Valley Ranch: Grasshopper Update

Featured News, L2T Updates, Regional News
Our Land to Table Network is an incredible community of people helping each other share information, resources, and knowledge to support our local food system. This summer, we shared that Okanagan Indian Band's Sun Valley Ranch was struggling with a grasshopper infestation that was decimating their crops. We urgently asked the network if anyone had bug netting they could donate or sell to OKIB, and you responded! Here is a big thanks to Mike Randell, Area C Director of the Regional District of the North Okanagan and president of OK Apiaries, who donated and delivered lots of shade cloth. And thank you to Kirk Hughes from Kootenay Covers Okanagan who also offered netting he had in stock and free delivery. The food security folks at Sun Valley Ranch have not…
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27Sep 2023 by admin
Join the Good Food Box Board of Directors

Join the Good Food Box Board of Directors

Featured News, News, Regional News
The Good Food Box Society of the North Okanagan is looking for new members to join the Board of Directors. The program is based in Vernon but is looking for people located in the North Okanagan who are interested in the areas of social media, writing and accounting. Positions will require between 4-8 hours per month.  Open Board of Director Positions: Director at large: Oversee a long-term project and chair the subcommittee (2-4 hours monthly) Treasurer: Report to the Board on monthly finances and prepare monthly and annual financial statements. (The new website will do most of the information gathering)  (4-6 hours a month)  Secretary: Write meeting minutes and manage correspondence for the Board (4-6 hours monthly)  All Board Members will be expected to attend one monthly zoom meeting (~2…
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26Sep 2023 by admin
Oct 4th, 2023 | Collective Impact through Needs & Strength Mapping

Oct 4th, 2023 | Collective Impact through Needs & Strength Mapping

Past Event
Community Food Security Session: Collective Impact through Needs & Strength Mapping October 4th, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PST (online)  Register now! What is this event? Join fellow food access program providers and key food actors from across the region to identify opportunities for collective impact through mapping our strengths.  In the face of what our neighbouring communities just experienced through wildfire this summer (and remembering our experience from two years ago), and based on what we have heard about the community and organizational response (especially when it comes to food for fire evacuees) - it is clear that we are more effective and resilient when working in collaboration. This has us thinking about our community resilience, including how we prepare for, respond and rebuild when there is an…
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11Sep 2023 by admin
BX Ranchlands Development Plan

BX Ranchlands Development Plan

News
Visit the BX Ranchlands Info Booth at the BX Farm Tour, Sept 16-17, 2023 What are the BX Ranchlands? The BX Ranchlands is a 167-acre property located on Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) land near Vernon, BC. Historically, the area was an important site for Indigenous hunting and gathering, however, these activities were greatly disrupted by the implementation of Settler agricultural practices in the 1870’s. Settlers used the land to provide pasture for the horses of the BX Express stagecoach, which moved people, goods, and communications throughout the province. In recent years, it has been primarily used for growing forage and hay crops, and over-wintering horses and cattle. Approximately 33 acres have been used to form a perimeter trail network. It is also an ecologically diverse site, containing habitat areas that…
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10Sep 2023 by admin
Sep 16-17, 2023 | BX Farm Tour

Sep 16-17, 2023 | BX Farm Tour

Past Event
3rd Annual BX Farm Tour A tour of the food, farms and sights of Vernon’s BX region. On September 16th and 17th, you’re invited to “Know Your Farmer, Explore the BX”—to connect with local food, to better know your farmers and how they are farming, and to explore all the BX has to offer. The BX is a rich agricultural region with lots of walking and hiking trails and is the perfect place to get out and explore your own backyard. The BX Farm Tour is hosted by the farmers of the BX, with support from the North Okanagan Land to Table Network, Tourism Vernon and other local partners. Learn more
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25Aug 2023 by admin
Connect with Liz: L2T Network Director

Connect with Liz: L2T Network Director

Staff Bios
Liz Blakeway, MUrb Liz is a systems change practitioner, with 15 years of experience in sustainability program creation and implementation, policy planning and development, and community engagement. An early passion for waste reduction and recycling education and program development set the foundation for her food systems work. Liz has loved working in and with the community on projects ranging from zero waste schools curriculum delivery and community composting initiatives in Western Australia, to shifting community behaviour change at the District of North Vancouver. Over the past five years as the Coordinator, now Executive Director with Land to Table, Liz has grown the organization from a small, consultation based network, to a staffed organization that is addressing local food system gaps through projects, research and partnerships (e.g. with local government and…
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22Jun 2023 by admin
Recap: Market Opportunity Study Webinar

Recap: Market Opportunity Study Webinar

Event Recap
Recap: Market Opportunity Study Webinar On June 15th, Land to Table hosted a webinar to share the results from our Market Opportunity Study conducted in partnership with KPU’s Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS). The purpose of this study was to identify opportunities and pathways to scale up local vegetable and fruit procurement from small-medium scale farms, and better understand the potential to develop small scale aggregation infrastructure to supply North Okanagan-produced fruit and vegetables to institutional and retail market channels. To view the full Market Opportunity Study Report - click here To view the Market Regulations Overview handout - click here Listen to the recording for an overview of: The current agricultural and market landscape in the Okanagan Brief overview of the regulations that govern the sales of fruit…
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