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Growing, and sharing, food in HaltonBy Nathan Howescan be less dependent on imported foods, while The second project is Garden Sharing, andnext five years, and McPherson said she would OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFcollecting locally grown fruits that would other-plans for its implementation are already beinglike to start two or three of these orchards.wise go to waste, she added.made, said McPherson. Owners with availableWe would like to do a trial orchard this com-Fresh produce in Halton is going to get a Were dependent completely on imported land will be matched with volunteer gardenersing season so it would be for spring of 2012 and much-needed boost to grow from the Ontario food except for a few times a year when you can who do not have gardens. Training on organicthen the orchard will be maintained over a lon-Trillium Foundation (OTF).go and buy local food. Now were really trying to gardening methods will also be included and isger period of time because it will take a while for The Oakville Sustainable Food Partnership expand that to people (with) understanding and expected to be ready next spring, she added. the fruit trees to yield, said McPherson. But all (OSFP) and Go Local Oakville (GLO) have connect to Halton-produced food, said Were working with our church partnersthese projects can be sustainable past the three teamed up for a new food initiative for Halton, McPherson.right now and getting that set up. You have toyear grants as well.with funding provided by OTF. The first project is the Halton Fruit Tree have everything planned out so you can buildNot only does it (Growing and Sharing Food Growing and Sharing Food in Halton will Project, which is now underway, and involves your gardens and start right when the springin Halton) keep jobs in Halton, (but) we dont officially be launched tomorrow (Saturday, July harvesting available fruits and vegetables from comes, said McPherson. In Oakville that startswant to see all of our land developed to housing, 23) at the Harbourside Organic Farmers Market private or public lands within Halton. The pro-to get a little harder to do, but there are still somesome of it we need to keep building up reserves in downtown Oakville.duce will be shared with owners, volunteer properties that have a little bit of land, so peoplewith the farmland as well, said McPherson. (It) This is a grant we are looking forward to sharing gleaners, and local food banks.can grow their own food and then we can getkeeps our dependency on imported foods down, with our community partners, its not just a The idea is to have a registry of trees in both that back into the community.and our knowledge and skill set for local food project were doing ourselves, its all about con-public and private property where they can be The third project will be titled Communityhigh, and it keeps farming jobs in the Halton necting with community partners, said Jennifer apple, pear or another type of berry or nut and Orchard. Through this program, its goal is tocommunity.McPherson, coordinator for Growing and harvest it because it would otherwise go to create one or more community fruit and nutThe Harbourside Organic Farmers Market is Sharing Food in Halton. We will be working waste, said McPherson. People dont collect the orchards within the Halton Region that will belocated at 120 Navy St. For more information on with other environmental groups and different fruit, so volunteer pickers would go out when its maintained and harvested primarily by volun-the project and the OSFP, visit www.osfp.ca, and food related agencies so we can make this a con-ripe, and pick the fruit and then distribute it to teers. The harvest will be maintained over theon GLF, visit www.transitionoakville.ca. nected project within Halton that everybody can local food bank agencies or co-op housing.share within it.McPherson said the project is based on other The project was awarded a three-year, successful programs in the GTA, with similar WOOD N FLOOR$128,000 grant from OTF this spring, and will concepts in Hamilton, Toronto and Mississauga.We install all Kinds of Floors, Stairs and Railingsinclude three projects for the duration of the We have a number of trees already registered Serving Oakville residents for over 20 years.donation. The money used will go towards salary, and the picks will start to happen this fall with WRefinish Your Wood Floor Like Newtraining, equipment and materials for the trees the apples and pears. We are able to do the pick-and gardens, McPherson said.ing, give the fruit to them and then they (can) We will beat every written quote!The purpose of the projects is to expand exist-give that fruit to those that need it most, said ing food agencies in Halton so that the region McPherson.Call KAZ (905) 338-1881 www.woodnfloor.caHOTWEThat's why we're working so hard to protect them.DEALSOn behalf of the Town of Oakville,tree conservation and believe that Arborwood Tree Service is currently in many cases, tree conservation is treating qualifying ash trees thiseconomically and environmentally summer to protect them from thesuperior to tree removal. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). View the Coalitions full article at The Coalition for Urban Ash Treewww.oakville.ca/eabresources.htm Conservation has published an article by clicking Emerald Ash Borerwhere they strongly endorse ash Management statement.Support the Oakville Canopy Club!You dont need an ash tree to do your part to help saveCOOLOakvilles treecanopy. Visit www.oakville.ca/eab.htm.Mention this ad on the Oakville Canopy Club Facebook page and get a free t-shirt!(T-shirts are available to Oakville residents only. While supplies last.) Oakville Canopy Club@OakCanopyClubSprea !FANSarborwood.ca 1.888.721.8882 | 905.681.9933 OAKVILLE905.845.2461 gls@gerrie.comstudio open 7 days a week shop 24/7 www.gerrielightingstudio.ca5 Friday, July 22, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com