Canadian Organic Growers Conference Sat Feb 18th - Anyone interested?

[Occupy Gardens - Jacob]

Hey all,

We might have a few free passes for the Canadian Organic Growers
conference this saturday -

If you are interested in representing Occupy Gardens let me know -

Jacob

[maria kasstan]

 I am interested in the organic conference but would love to give others the chance if you get lots of response. I might get there on my own anyway, but if you are left with EXTRA passes, I'll take one. Great news about the land offer. I'd love to look at it some time but don't feel managerial. It'll be interesting to see what it can grow [and what is growing there already.] And the world peas expo was a really good schmooze. Did anybody see my blue porcelain cup? Maria

[Gwen Jacob]

Hey Jacob, I'd love to check out this conference. Are there tickets still available? I think I could grab a friend...

Gwen Jacob

[Jesse Naiman]

This would be really great. I've been hanging out in the sidelines,
but I've got my / our (I intent to share a good deal of the seedlings)
garden already started and I would love to learn more about keeping
things lush and organic.

Here's an idea though. Why don't we have a task / contest for however
many tickets exist? I don't really like the idea of just getting
something for free, because I feel like this global protest is partly
about taking ownership, and I also feel that if we can help encourage
involvement our movement may grow in new and better ways.

[Occupy Gardens]

Gwen & Jesse - Unfortunately the passes have been spoken for - I deliberated on a first come first serve basis - since the conference is this saturday and they wanted our confirmation ASAP - next time such an opportunity comes up I will again put the call out to folks - and depending on level of interest we can go from there-

Jesse - I like the idea of having contests and 'prizes' for encouraging new people to participate - hard to organize however - much more likely that we will just share seeds/plantlings to strangers as a means of inticing them or getting them interested - thats worked well for me in the past - nothing is for free and when people recieve a gift they generally feel an obligation to pay it forward ...

[Jesse Naiman]

The problem with this approach is that it won't scale as we grow. If
the way to get things for free is to know the main participant then we
could create a culture of people who feel entitled. Keep doing what
you're doing, it's working out great so far, but I think it would be
good to keep in mind that equal opportunity is attractive, and it's at
the core of gardening together.

On 15 February 2012 15:13, Occupy Gardens

[maria kasstan]

I am going to be able to go on behalf of seeds of diversity, so I don't need a pass, but I have learned that the best way to go to things for free is to become a reliable volunteer over the long term. Eventually, you become indispensable to organizations. Doesn't happen over night, but I know that Canadian Organic Growers, North American Native Plant Society and Seeds of Diversity are all in need of a steady supply of volunteers to help staff events as well as doing the hands on work. Maria

[Katie Berger]

Hi everyone!

http://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=Edible+Trees&lang=en

A good opportunity to get some funding ($4000). I would totally do it but I'm already severely behind in school...if anyone can make the time please apply on behalf of Occupy Gardens!

[maria kasstan]

That is very exciting. We need to find someone who is good at this kind of application. [Apparently it is a learned skill and I have not learned it very well.] But I can think of a few people. Zora, this sounds like something Lara would know how to apply for? Or do you have this kind of experience? I can imagine a nut grove and a mixed orchard and a hazel family and black and rasp berry canes woven through hedges of native flowers loud with bees and.....well, you get the idea, but we would also need to shop around for a site. This will probably go to a school, which would be fitting.