Farmers' Market: Tracking Market Farmer and Vendor Performance 2009-2015
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In 2015, the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network (GBFMN) collaborated with Informa Market Research, visiting 30 network markets and interviewing 82 farmers, as well as 26 other market vendors. Results were compared with GBFMN’s 2009 survey to learn about growth and change in the sector. This study is intended to assist farmers’ market vendors and organizers, and inspire the interest and support of market shoppers and funders.

Economy, Food and Farming, feature, Economy Research, Food and Farming Research, Research,

Growing our Greenbelt is a blog series focusing on "areas of critical ecological and hydrological significance" recently flagged by more than 100 environmental and community group as requiring Greenbelt protection. Over the next several months, we'll be highlighting the headwaters, ground water recharge areas, surface water features and urban river valleys that, if added to the Greenbelt Plan, would be part of protected and connected clean water system. 

Want to see your Greenbelt grow? Follow our series and use #GrowOurGB on social media to join the movement!

Exciting news Niagarans!

More than 100 community and environmental groups are calling for Niagara’s Lake Gibson and Twelve Mile Creek to be added to Greenbelt Protection. 

It’s all part of a recently released plan that calls for a 1.5 million acre Greenbelt expansion into Ontario's sensitive water systems. (Find out more about the proposal here).  

In Niagara, we’re lucky to be surrounded by what seems to be a never ending supply of fresh water – but it’s how we take care of it that matters.  

And there are lots of reasons we should make the protection of Lake Gibson and the Twelve Mile Creek a top priority – here are just a few.

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On Tuesday January 26 we hosted our Greenbelt Review Telephone Town Hall! 

From 7pm to 8pm we had a live and interactive conversation on the ongoing provincial review of the Growth and Greenbelt Plans, with more than 11,000 people joining us!

The Town Hall was hosted by Greenbelt Vice-President Susan Murray with two guest speakers--David Crombie, Chair of the Land Use Advisory Panel and Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation--fielding questions from participants. 

We discussed everything from smart growth, to the future of agriculture, to water protection and urban river valleys. 

Listen to the full recording below! 

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We are encouraged by the province's decision to grow the Greenbelt to include 21 urban river valleys and seven coastal wetlands, bringing the Greenbelt into cities and towns with over 6 million residents. 

The province also added four parcels of protected countryside in the City of Hamilton and Niagara Region. 

But...the widely supported grassroots initiative to expand the Greenbelt and protect a ‘Bluebelt’ of vulnerable water resources was left out of the amendments to the Greenbelt Plan. We hear that the province plans to start a process to identify such areas in the coming months - let's hold them to their word!

The grassroots 'bluebelt' proposal, put together by a coalition of over 100 environmental and community groups, calls for an ambitious expansion of the Greenbelt in order to protect critical drinking water sources and to ensure an abundant supply of clean water.

Find out more about the proposal and take action at GrowOurGreenbelt.ca!

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** Update (Jan 2016): The Government of Ontario is currently reviewing the recommendations laid out in the Land Use Advisory Panel's report as well as all comments submitted for the co-ordinated review.

We expect the government to release the proposed amendments to the land use plans in the coming months. These proposed amendments will be open for public input. We don't yet know the form this public input process will take but we will be updating this page as we learn more!

Scroll to the bottom of the page to find out you can show your support for the Greenbelt leading up to these important conversations.

Grow the Greenbelt, protect natural heritage, invest in transit and infrastructure, and create liveable communities – these are just some of the findings of the 6-person Advisory Panel that has spend just under a year reviewing Ontario’s four land plans. 

After months spent going over the research, consulting with experts and stakeholders, and reviewing public feedback, the Advisory Panel has presented their much-anticipated recommendations to the provincial government.

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On the evening of December 4, 2015 the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation honoured former Premier Dalton McGuinty with the Friend of the Greenbelt Award.

Some 400 guests joined us for the celebration - from our partners and grantees, to our Greenbelt Friends and champions, to elected officials and long-time Greenbelt activists.

But among all our notable guests, it was our smallest attendee who made the biggest impression. At 7-years old, Alexander—a Friend of the Greenbelt and dedicated environmentalist—was not only our youngest guest, he was also our most enthusiastic.

After seeing Alexander work the crowd like a pro, we wanted to get his thoughts on the evening, on the Greenbelt, and on meeting the former Premier.

Here’s what he had to say!

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Farmland At Risk (4 MB)

Farming in the Greater Golden Horseshoe has important economic and ecological benefits. Farmland at Risk, co-produced by Environmental Defence and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, calls for improved land-use planning that views farmland as essential to the region – not as development land-in-waiting. The report outlines that Ontario needs to do a better job protecting farmland and helping farmers thrive.

Food and Farming, Growth and Planning, feature, Food and Farming Research, Research, Growth And Planning Research,

Tales from Niagara is a blog series focused on the people and places that make Niagara’s Greenbelt great. The series will cover everything from local businesses, to seasonal events, to life on Niagara farms. Look out for our upcoming posts to stay up-to-date and informed on exciting going-ons in Niagara's Greenbelt. 

Residents in Niagara have the gift giving game wrapped up. Going out for dinner? Bring Niagara wine. Birthday? Give wine. Congratulations in order? Wine. Friend having a rough day? See above. The variety of amazing wine and icewine in the Niagara Greenbelt is so plentiful that you could give wine for every occasion, every year, and never have to repeat yourself. And while not one single person has ever complained about receiving a bottle of VQA gold, there are so many other great gifts to be found in the Niagara Greenbelt, for the holidays, I thought I’d highlight a few.

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Tales from York is a blog series focused on the people and places that make York's Greenbelt great. The series will cover everything from local businesses, to seasonal events, to life on York farms. Look out for our upcoming posts to stay up-to-date and informed on exciting going-ons in York's Greenbelt. 

The festive season is approaching and the Greenbelt is getting lit up with holiday cheer! It’s the time of year to cozy up with a warm beverage and enjoy the local celebrations in your town! In York Region you don’t have to travel too far to find the holiday magic. There are great events and fun winter recreational activities to get you in the holiday mood right in the Greenbelt!

See the list below for some great ideas and make it a Greenbelt Holiday!

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"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."
– Dorothea Lange

On November 15, 2015, we had the pleasure of announcing the 20 winners of the Greenbelt’s 10th Anniversary Photo Contest. You can see all the winning photos here but I encourage everyone to visit the McMichael Canadian Art Collection to see them in person, framed and hanging in the gallery.

The photos are on display until March 2016.

The exhibition would not have been possible without the support of our partners at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and the Professional Photographers of Canada – Ontario (PPOC-ON).

The McMichael's Anna Stanisz, Associate Director, Creative Learning & Programs, and Rachel D'Oliveira, Art and Special Programs Coordinator, found us a home in the gallery. PPOC-ON, provided a team of master photographers and judges--including Kamini Le Capelain, Deb Deville, Brad Kelly and lead judge Jay Terry--who deliberated for hours over the final selections.

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