The LAFS newsletter will be delivered to your inbox on a regular basis.  Our goal is to keep you abreast of agriculture and local food system news and build stronger connections between the great people working in this field (and in the fields!)  Click on this link to subscribe.  Once we have a good list, our first newsletter will be sent….probably within a week.  Thanks for subscribing and stay tuned for more info.  If you have news you want to share, send it to lillooetagricultureandfood@gmail.com.

Take 1 minute today to vote for which events LAFS should sponsor. Poll closes at 5pm tonight! To vote, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K793DLJ

One of our goals is to facilitate educational events in order to support the agricultural sector in Lillooet. Do you want to learn how to responsibly harvest mushrooms? How to make profit farming on one acre of land? How to preserve food? Do you have any other ideas for workshops, networking, socializing, or other events? We want to hear from you! To give your input about which workshops and events you would like L.A.F.S. to sponsor, please click the link below and complete the short survey (just 2 simple questions). https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K793DLJ

Statistics Canada’s 2011 Census of Agriculture found the average age of farm operators was 54, up from 49.9 years a decade earlier. Farmers under 35 years of age represented just 8.2% (CBC News, Sept 16, 2013).

If that shocking statistic wasn’t enough, consider this: everyone needs to eat but only a small proportion of the population produces food. In fact, less than 2% of the population are farmers (www.youngagrarians.org). The shortage of young farmers is becoming such a problem that organizations like Young Agrarians have created a  network for new and young ecological and organic farmers. In addition, the federal government offers several programs and services for young or beginning farmers. Need a little inspiration? Check out these businesses owned by young farmers in Lillooet: Farma C  Spray Creek Ranch  Bitterbine Hops Not ready to throw on your Carhartts and head over to John Deere just yet? You can support Lillooet’s young farmers (and all our farmers!) by buying local. Stay tuned to learn about our campaign to support food that is LILLOOET GROWN.