Submitted by:
Meghan Rose |

On December 12, 2012 a group of valley residents gathered to discuss how the Swan River Valley could become more food secure.


Click any picture for a larger version.

The session was led by Jackie Avent of the Harvest Moon Society, along with a University of Manitoba graduate student, and began with a visioning session of the Swan Valley in 2050.

Some dreams identified included processing facilities for the products we grow, more locally produced food in grocery stores, smaller family farms, more young people moving back to the Valley and an expansion to the Swan Valley Farmers’ Market to include more vendors and more sales.

The group continued through a process to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in our current situation.

Two strengths were a vibrant Farmers’ Market and the Food Processing Centre at the Veterans Community Hall. The large senior segment of the population with their knowledge of gardening and raising animals “the old fashioned way” was seen as an opportunity.


With this information some first steps and short and long term goals were discussed.

Within the next 1 to 3 years the group identified a need to create more backyard gardens and promote growing your own food to increase consumer awareness of the high quality of food that can be produced in northwest Manitoba. The group also identified that more support was needed for school garden projects and education for young people about how to grow their own food.

The group will meet again in early 2013 to discuss and share their passion for growing their own food.

If you’re interested please call Meghan or Greg at the MAFRI office at 204-734-3417