$30,000 for the Organic Farming Institute of British Columbia

This summer I wanted to make sure that I was involved in the broader organic farming community in BC. To do this, I chose to support the Organic Farming Institute of British Columbia by becoming their temporary-volunteer administrator. My first task was to complete a grant application to the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC) for the sum of $30,000 which we will use to develop and implement a new organic ground crop course for potential organic farmers in the province and hopefully provide an alternate economy for those areas hardest hit by the pine beetle. Here are the results:

ORGANIC FARMING INSTITUTE RECEIVES $30,000

At the September 19th Board Meeting, the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC) Directors voted in favour of supporting an application from the Organic Farming Institute of British Columbia (OFIBC) for $30,000.00 to develop an online organic field crop production course. SIBAC Director Randy McLean (Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen) said, “The SIBAC Board viewed this application as an opportunity to support a project that will be beneficial to not only the SimilkameenValley, but any region in the province with suitable land for growing ground crops.” The Organic Farming Institute of British Columbia is a non-profit organization that aims to increase the economic viability of regions throughout British Columbia through organic farming. The SIBAC funding will help to develop a new online educational program to educate prospective farmers in organic field crop production. Kevin Klippenstein, OFIBC Chairman said, “We look forward to being able to provide people in BC with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge, learn ways to supplement their livelihoods and most importantly grow healthy organic food. Thanks to the support of SIBAC, the resources that will allow these goals to become a reality can materialize." SIBAC is one of three Beetle Action Coalitions in BC’s Interior created in 2005-2006 to develop and implement mitigation plans in order to help affected communities endure the impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic. The funding is intended to support projects approved by the Beetle Action Coalitions that will create business partnerships, diversify local and regional economies, find innovative and value-added uses for forest resources and explore new industries to assist rural interior communities through this transition.

source: http://www.thenewsleader.info/october-2011.html

(Tbe words are pretty much all mine :) )