2010 Golden Carrot Awards

2010 Golden Carrot Awards

Selection committee members

-MarnieFeeleus of Fresh Option Organic Delivery

-Erin Crampton of Crampton's Market

-Ian Barnett of Fort Whyte Farms

-Raymond DjimasbeNgarboui of the Immigrants Integration and Farming Worker Co-op

-Heather Souter of Camperville, Manitoba

-Betty Kehler of Plum Ridge Farms

Rural Community Food Champions

-Norah Tolmie and JesAagaard of Aagaard Farms practice sustainable growing using organic methods on their farm, and co-ordinate the Brandon Local Farmers’ Markets. They also manage a Community Supported Agriculture program for Brandon families, and work with Samaritan House, who make sure that the fresh produce makes it to local families in need. Aagaard Farms was nominated this year by Connie McMillan.

-This year the members of the South Central Manitoba Spring Supper Committee received two nominations, one for Michelle Turnbull and Kim Knott, and one for the committee as a whole. Michelle, Kim, and all of the Committee members organized the largely successful From Field to Table gala supper event on March 25th, in Morden. The menu for the night showcased locally grown food, and also celebrated National Dietitians of Canada Nutrition Month. Michelle and Kim were nominated this year by their committee coworkers, and The South Central Manitoba Spring Supper Committee was nominated by ChantelleD’Andreamatteo of the RHA-Central Manitoba.
(Golden Carrot Award recipients)

-Kroeker Farms Ltd. is growing food and doing business in an environmentally and socially responsible way. They have a commitment to growing organic, and they are always trying to make their conventional agricultural practices as green as possible. Kroeker Farms was nominated this year by MarnieFeeleus.

-Sherry LegaryGenna Sharphave helped to bring gardens and fresh produce to Dakota Tipi First Nation. They started a community fruit and vegetable garden and helped community members to start gardens of their own. The fresh produce is used for health programs at the community Health Centre. Sherry and Genna were nominated this year by Sue Munro, Cathy Jackson, and the community members and staff of the Dakota Tipi Health Centre.

-Irma Laurin’s gardens feed her family and even some of her neighbours. She has created several perennial gardens on her farm, as well as a large vegetable garden. She started a fruit garden this year with a large variety of fruits including grapes, strawberries, raspberries, apple and plum trees to name a few. Irma uses her produce to make jams, preserves and desserts, and has passed some of those skills on to her niece Tracey Shillington, who nominated her this year.

-Cherie Storozinski has had an organic garden for several years now, and also operates a small organic chicken farm. Cherie shares her extensive gardening, cooking and baking knowledge and green initiatives through her regular on-air segment on CKDM Radio in Dauphin. Her experimental recopies and dedication to organic living made her as a finalist in the Suzuki organic garden awards. She is also an award winning photographer. Cherie was nominated by this year by David Bosiak.

-Karen Hodgson has served her community as a champion for Manitoba farmers in her career as a Marketing and Trade Economist with Agriculture Canada. She strives to provide Manitoba’s food and agriculture stakeholders with tools, information, resources and assistance in order to strengthen and grow Manitoba’s agricultural sector. She also collaborates with producers to help develop more markets for locally grown food. Karen was nominated this year by Tim Walker.

-John “OJ” Sabiston has been instrumental in getting gardening started in Crane River. He has coordinated gardening projects in the community, and has been working in Crane River’s community garden for the last three years. OJ has managed to make gardening accessible to everyone in the community, including building raised-bed containers so those with mobility issues could garden at their homes, and bringing fruit trees and bushes into the community. OJ was nominated this year by Catherine Kingsley.

-Tim and KathleenFreeman moved back to the family farm to make their living through traditional farming methods. They sell produce, herbs and preserves from their garden at Farmers’ Markets. They’re very interested in sustainable agriculture, and use a team of work horses and vintage machinery to plant their fields. Tim and Kathleen were nominated this year by Rhonda Coupland.

-Peter Dziveris currently working on turning his Elphinstone farm organic, so that their produce will have less chemicals. Peter was nominated this year by Kelly Ditz.

Urban Community Food Champions

-Mary Jane Easonis a community advocate for safe and healthy food. She was concerned about the ways in which modern lifestyles had denigrated the activities of home making, basic nutritional cooking, maintaining a clean home setting, and nurturing family members to become contributing participants in the care of the natural and human environment. Mary Jane’s Cooking School was established, first as a partnership of the participating women, and finally as a non-profit corporation in 1998. Their theme is Nurturing Today for a Healthier Tomorrow. Mary Jane was nominated this year by Tim Walker.

-The Landless Farmers’ Collective do amazing work to show how environmentally friendly farming can be done, even in the heart of the city. The Landless Farmers’ Collective uses non-motorized and non-polluting transportation and equipment, to harvest and deliver their wonderful vegetable shares to CSA members.The Landless Farmers’ Collective received two nominations this year, from Fiona Muldrew and Eszti Nagy.

-Alison Froese-Stoddard has been described as one of Manitoba’s most committed foodies. She is involved in numerous food projects that she has been documenting in her food blog for the last four years. She participates in community gardening initiatives in the Spence Community garden, is a regular at local Farmers’ Markets, and has contributed to the Mennonite Central Committee’s Simply in Season cookbook. Alison’s blog address is planetborscht.blogspot.com, and she was nominated this year by Melanie Rose.

-Gloria Laing is one of Siloam Mission’s most valued volunteers. She is a regular supporter of the mission, and makes weekly donations of vegetables and other food and supplies to local inner city families in need. Gloria maintains a garden exclusively for use by patrons at Siloam Mission, and regularly volunteers her time for the cause. Gloria was nominated this year by Sherwood Armbruster, and the staff at Siloam Mission.

-Margo Malabar is the North End Food Security Coordinator in the North End of Winnipeg. Over the past year she has shared her passion for gardening and good food working with Residents’ Associations, schools, community groups and residents. Her work with the North End Food Security Network has lead the creation of the farmers’ market on Main Street, improving existing community gardens and creating new ones, starting community kitchens, and holding food security workshops. Margo was nominated this year by Chris McCarville. (Golden Carrot Award recipient)

-Tyson Cormack has worked tirelessly in Point Douglas on community gardens, safety issues and other community driven initiatives. Tyson volunteers his time to organize gardens for groups and property owners whey they request them. Tyson was nominated this year by Chris McCarville.

-Fruit Share was established in May 2010 by Getty Stewart, and is a volunteer organization that connects fruit owners, fruit pickers and community organizations together. The main principles behind Fruit Share are those of community building, food sustainability, inter-generational cooperation and giving to others. Fruit Share has been met with enthusiasm in its first year, and was nominated this year by Fernando Velarde Trejo.

Northern Community Food Champions

-Kimlee Wong has been an advocate and a support system to northern communities. She has initiated school gardens for the children in Sagkeeng First Nation, and is supporting the school by developing a compost program.

-Connie Cook has been instrumental to bringing youth together with Elders and knowledgeable community members to learn about the traditional and cultural food and medicine system of Grand Rapids and Misipawistik Cree Nation. In addition to her work with food from the land, Connie also works with the Aboriginal Head Start program to bring essential gardening skills back to the community. She started a raised bed gardening project this summer for local families. Connie was nominated this year by Karlah Rae Rudolph.

-Brent and Carol Ballantyneare commercial fishers from Misipawistik Cree Nation. They also work tirelessly with the youth from Grand Rapids School and in association with the local Culture Camp to pass on their food-related skills. Thanks to their efforts, local youth have been able to learn about moose and game hunting, trapping and skinning, and all about the tradition of the Lake Winnipeg fishery and how to debone and fillet their catch. Carol and Brent form a vital link in passing on traditional knowledge to youth around accessing cultural foods. They were nominated this year by Karlah Rae Rudolph and fellow- nominee Connie Cook.(Golden Carrot Award recipients)

-John Allan McLeod is an avid gardener, and has been for more than eighty years. Allan takes great pride in working with the land, and believes leaders in the community should encourage community and individual gardening. In the past Allan also fished and trapped commercially, and is famous for his smoked white fish. Allan was nominated this year by Glen Flett.

-Robert Weenuskgives a lot of himself to benefit his community in Oxford House. He organizes four garden meetings for the Manitoba Northern Healthy Food Initiative each year, and played a large role in erecting four greenhouses for the community. He provides gardening advice to local residents and raises chickens for eggs and meat in Oxford House. He was nominated this year by Myles Hodge, on behalf of the Manitoba Northern Healthy Food Initiative.

-Shawna Henderson has successfully reintroduced gardening to Fox Lake Cree Nation residents. Her goal is to see one garden for every household in the community, and coordinates and plans training for those members that require assistance and support. Shawna was nominated this year by Victoria Henderson, Angela Apetagon, Marie Henderson, and Chief George Neepin of Fox Lake Cree Nation.

-Harold Delaronde is dedicated to gardening and passes his knowledge and passion on to his son. His garden is the talk of Duck Bay, and his fellow community members value his contribution to providing healthy food and expertise. Harold was nominated this year by Loretta Thompson.

-Alex McDougall started gardening just three years ago, and has already successfully grown a variety of crops. This year he also undertook the task of raising 25 roaster chickens, who are growing and thriving under his care. Alex is currently the Director of Centre Development for Neewin Health Care Inc., for Wasagamack First Nation. Alex was nominated this year by Byron Beardy or the Four Arrows Regional Health Authority.

-Wenty Paton is a veteran gardener and is participating for the first time this year at the Thomson Community Gardens. She also volunteers several hours a week to help maintain the garden area and assist other gardeners with their plots. Wendy has shared much of her skills and experience with the gardening group, including her knowledge of wild vegetation. She was nominated this year by Erin Wilcox.

-Walter Chupka’s northern vegetable garden is impressive enough to be in a category of its own. While participating as a judge in a local botanical gardening contest, Walter’s 6ft corn stalks and lush, healthy plants caught the attention of the other judges. His garden was such an inspiration that fellow judge Erin Wilcox not only requested that a vegetable garden category be added next year so that he could get a chance to enter, but she nominated him for a Golden Carrot Award this year as well.

-George Wilcox has been an instrumental volunteer in ensuring the success of the Thompson Community Gardens. George spends countless hours planting seeds, tending to plants, repairing garden beds, and mentoring new gardeners. He is always quick to provide tours of the gardens to curious visitors, and usually sends them away with a snack from the garden. George has a passion for gardening and teaching others the gift of growing. He was nominated this year by Heather Reed-Penney.

Business Community Food Champions

-Ben Kramer & Diversity Food Services have shown an amazing amount of support towards local farmers and producers. Their focus on healthy, well-balanced meals at affordable pricing for students is proof positive that healthy, local food does not have to come at a high price. Some of their initiatives include reducing waste, promoting reusable containers, supporting local food, making food from scratch, and teaching valuable cooking skills. Ben Kramer & Diversity Food Services was nominated this year by Derryl Reid.(Golden Carrot Award recipients)

-The Winnipeg Folk Festival has set some LOFT-y goals through their Local, Organic, and Fair Trade program in both front of house and backstage food purchasing and promotion, which reaches more than 60,000 attendees each year. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a signatory member of the Manitoba Food Charter, and pledged that at least 25 percent of the backstage food would be supplied by Manitoba producers. The Winnipeg Folk Festival was nominated this year by Kelly Kuryk.

-The Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks General Hospital has been specifically dedicated to addressing the underlying reasons for illness and supporting lifestyle changes since it opened in 1997. As part of its commitment to healthy nutrition, the weekly Farmers’ Market at the Wellness Institute provides quality, local and organic produce and preserves in the northwest corner of Winnipeg. WI also contributes to a healthy food system by composting organic waste, using compostable or bio-degradable disposables, and providing healthy cooking seminars. The Wellness Institute was nominated this year by Karin Whalen.

-Frigs Natural Meats & More is a beloved local butcher that carries Manitoba-raised beef, pork, chicken, bison, elk, rabbit, and more. They process their own product in store, and also carry a range of other local products, including cheese, preserves, and pasta. Frigs Natural Meats & More was nominated this year by Jonathan Taylor.

-Food For Thought provides catering and frozen meal delivery service city wide. Using fresh local ingredients, including organic produce and hormone-free, naturally raised meats. They are a registered meal provider with Veterans Affairs Canada, and all meals are low in fat, sugar and sodium. Food For Thought was nominated this year by Tony Olivera.

Media Community Food Champion

-Ted Messeyton, the Singing Gardener and Grow-It Poet from Portage la Prairie. Every week for over 20 years, Ted has been writing a weekly column in the Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic and Central Plains Herald Leader. Ted supplies old tyme gardening advice, natural plant and pest remedies, folklore, canning and preserving tricks, and always has time to promote local farmers, gardeners and the farmers’ market. He includes photos of local growers and shares their tips with readers, and always ends his column with a riddle or a joke.

Education Community Food Champions

-Dawn Buchanan has done many workshops and demonstrations about growing healthy food, preserving that food, and making good meals delicious and nutritious. She has gathered many of her meals to Manitoba audiences that are interested in eating better. Through the Wwoof organization she has also mentored and taught many young people to grow their own food. Dawn was nominated this year by Betty Kehler.

-Sharon Taylor lives and works by the good food philosophy, from her role managing the Manitoba Farm Mentorship program, to helping promote local, organic food in Manitoba and through her volunteer work promoting sustainable food in Costa Rica. Sharon was nominated this year by Wanda and Adolf Andres.

This year’s awards were designed by Laurie Green.