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Our official launch was September 13th during the 7th perennial Harvest Moon Festival in Clearwater, Manitoba. This initiative is well over a year in the making and it is very exciting to be officially off the ground! The Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative (HMLFI) is an effort to try and create a more local, fair and sustainable food system right here in Manitoba. Indeed this responsibility must be shared between farmers and eaters. We are committed to raising healthy animals and plants and enabling you to have access to safe, nutritious and tasty food all year round. Another big part of this initiative is to educate, raise awareness and ultimately be more inclusive about our food, how it is grown, processed and distributed. All who are involved will ultimately determine the shape and direction of this initiative and we want you to be a part of the journey! The HMSLFI is currently comprised of 10 farm families, 2 small on-farm food processing businesses, and a HMS advisory committee and, hopefully, you too!
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 HMS Vision
A world in which healthy land and communities are celebrated by all, leading to equitable food systems, a sense of place, and care for the environment now and in generations to come. HMS Mission The HMS is a non profit organization whose mission is to develop a learning centre that works toward strengthening and building linkages between urban and rural areas, empowers communities through grassroots initiatives while creating strategies and infrastructure to sustain community and environment. This will be carried out using a diversity of tactics focused on grassroots and participatory practices. The learning centre is located on the site of the former Clearwater School, purchased from the Prairie Spirit School Division. The motto for the HMS is "Healthy Land, Healthy Communities." Click here to go to the HMS website. |
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Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet)
CCEDNet is a member-driven organization that seeks to increase the scale and effectiveness of community economic development (CED) - helping organizations and individuals strengthen their communities and create solutions to local needs. In Fall 2008, CCEDNet provided funds to the Harvest Moon Society and Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative to hire an intern staffperson that would help coordinate HMLFI endeavors and activities over a 6 month period. For more info on CCEDNet, click here.
Environmental Conservation Lab (ECL) - University of Manitoba
Our research in the ECL incorporates both quantitative and qualitative approaches to management and conservation-related problems that affect rural communities around the world. Recent research and educational programs have focused on issues related to rural decline in the Prairie Provinces. Current research explores the role of networks such as co-ops in building social cohesion and what role this plays in the adaptive capacity of producers and rural communities. Find out more about the ECL here.
Heifer International
In 2006, Heifer International provided financial support to assist in the development of the HMLFI. Heifer envisions "a world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet. Heifer's mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth." Read more about Heifer International here. |
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