News - Oct 10

100 Mile Manitoba after December 9
At the general meeting held on October 1, participants discussed the possibilities of continuing 100 Mile Manitoba into the future. There was general agreement that this would be positive. Ideas for the future included bulk buying, continued connection with producers, helping to formulate policy on local food, and a challenge again next year. An opportunity for funding support was presented by Manitoba Food Charter staff. The Charter has received a 3 year grant from Heifer International to support a local food project in which the Charter will partner with 12 community groups or organizations throughout the Province. With the partnership comes some staff support and funds to assist with the carrying out of activities determined by the partnering group through its planning process. 100 Mile participants present at the meeting agreed to the development of this partnership if there was support for the idea from other 100 Mile participants.
So, your comments are welcome...is this something that you would like to see go forward? Do you have any reservations about it?
We hope to hear from you. Reply , or phone to 775-1724 in Winnipeg.

SNAC's 100 Mile Potluck
If you want to eat some great local food and hear some good music in beautiful St. Norbert, check out our 100 Mile Potluck Supper on Sat., Oct. 13, 5 p.m. Bring something to share that's made from local ingredients. The Magnificent Sevens will play and they are a bluegrass band with stand-up bass, mandolin, banjo, guitar and wonderful vocalists that sound like the Be Good Tanyas. it's FREE! for more information, contact Fiona. For directions to SNAC ( St. Norbert Arts Centre), check the website.

Volunteers Needed
We are looking for 4 volunteers to staff the 100 mile display at the Manitoba Food and Wine Show on Sunday October 14 from 11-4:30. (two people on each 21/2 hour shift) See http://www.manitobafoodandwineshow.com
If you are able to do this please contact 100milemanitoba@gmail.com , or phone 775-1724.

Home-made Yogurt Submitted by David Dawson
1. In a bowl microwave 1 litre of milk until almost boiling. (1%, 2% or full cream milk is OK. Skim makes a poor yogurt)
2. Cover and allow to cool – eg by setting the bowl in cold water.
3. When cool (less than 40 deg C/ blood temp) add ½ cup skimmed milk powder and stir to dissolve. Note that Medallion brand skim milk powder is produced locally.
4. Stir in ½ cup yogurt starter and place in a warm place overnight or about 12 hours.
For a starter you can use any commercial plain yogurt which contains 'active culture'. I have used Presidents Choice Organics plain Yogurt (ex Superstore) which is delicious. For your next batch of yogurt, you can use the last ½ cup of your previous batch as your starter, though it seems you can only do this a few times before the quality deteriorates, and you have to go back to the commercial product. You can also get dehydrated yogurt starter from health food stores.
5. After the 12 hours and cooling in the fridge, it seems a good thing to give the yogurt a stir as it is likely to separate.

Green Party of Manitoba Fall Dinner: A Celebration of Local Organic Food
The dinner will take place on Friday, October 12th, from 6-10 p.m. at theFREIGHT HOUSE LEISURE CENTRE, 200 Isabel St. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, children under 12 half-price. We will be serving a simple but delicious menu of locally-sourced organic food planned, including heartyfall soups, homemade bread and desserts, and many extras.
There will also be door prizes and a Silent Auction. Last year's dinner was a lot of fun and we are anticipating this years event will be even better. If you want tickets, or can helpout in any other way, please reply to James Beddome or call me direct at 204-880-4921.

Biofuels: Solution or Problem?
Are biofuels a solution to declining oil reserves and growing energy needs?
Does the production process consume more energy than the fuels generate?
Is global food security threatened?
These are but a few of the questions that will be addressed by the panelists.
There will be ample time for questions from the audience.

Wednesday October 17, 2007
7:00-9:00 P.M.
Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall
The University of Winnipeg
515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg
free!

Moderator: Reg Sherren, CBC National Reporter
Panelists:
•John Morriss, Associate Publisher and Editorial Director, Farm Business
Communications
•Dr. David Levin, Associate Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering,
University of Manitoba
•Shaun Loney, Director of Energy Policy, Government of Manitoba
•Ken Sigurdson, Farmer and Researcher on Ethanol for National Farmers' Union