Junior gardeners raise funds
Thirty-five children have raised $3,215 for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s Acres of Hope growing project in Rivers, Man., by selling fresh produce and home-baked goods.
Esther Krahn and her nine grandchildren, who had previously raised money for the foodgrains bank by selling corn, led the sale during three days in August.
Krahn said they were helped by the local 4-H club, which assisted at the sale and donated baked goods.
Fifteen families were involved in the sale.
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Most of the children involved were from the Rivers Baptist Church, but others in the community also participated. Among them was eight-year-old Sera Gilbert, who got involved after seeing the first week of the market.
“I asked if I could work here for the next two sales because I wanted to help others who have no food,” she said.
Every child had a job to do at the market. Toddlers helped older children put produce into bags for sale, while older children served customers.
The Acres of Hope growing project is one of more than 200 across Canada that raises money for the foodgrains bank every year.
pulse executive director appointed
The Manitoba Pulse Growers Association has hired Larry Taylor as its executive director.
The association’s current executive director, Roxanne Lewko, is going on a one-year maternity leave beginning in January.
Taylor obtained his masters of science in agriculture from the University of Manitoba and his masters of business administration from the Olin School of Business in St. Louis, Missouri.
He spent 22 years in various positions of increasing responsibility with Monsanto, including research and development manager, product development manager, director of growth and business development, and technology director of bio-technology and seed.
Since 2002, Taylor has worked at Technology Focus Inc., an agricultural consulting firm.
MPGA has contracted Larry for a 15 month term.
For more information, contact the MPGA at 204-745-6488, www.manitobapulse.ca or roxanne@manitobapulse.ca.
Bird watching project
People who feed birds in their farmyards or backyards can support bird research and conservation by joining Project FeederWatch and sharing information about birds that visit the feeders between November and April.
The information will help scientists at Bird Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology track changes in bird numbers and movements.
The 27th season of Project Feeder-Watch begins Nov. 9 and runs until early April.
Participants count the number and kinds of birds at their feeders and enter the information on the FeederWatch website or on printed forms.
FeederWatch results provide a detailed picture of weekly changes in bird distribution and abundance.
Last season, there were 2,800 Canadian and 17,000 American participants in the project.
There are four ways to register in Canada:
- Fill out the online form at www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/pfw/.
- Email pfw@birdscanada.org.
- Write to P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan, Ont., N0E 1M0 (enclose a $35 cheque to Bird Studies Canada).
- Call Bird Studies Canada at 888-448-2473.
A $35 enrolment fee is required and includes a Bird Studies Canada membership and four issues of BirdWatch Canada magazine.
MANA manager appointed
MANA Canada recently announced Kevin Jacobson will join the company in the new position of Canadian portfolio manager.
He will be responsible for managing MANA Canada’s extensive product portfolio, as well as leading the new product development and innovation program.
Before joining MANA Canada, Jacobson spent 25 years working in the agriculture industry for Cargill AgHorizons, Monsanto, Richardson International Limited and most recently WinField Solutions as its Canadian business development manager.
