Hello Skookies!
At its first meeting, your new Board set as a priority for this year, “member engagement” – creating opportunities for us to get together, learn together, and play with food together. Of course, the current COVID-19 virus situation has thoroughly put the kibosh on doing that in person, so we are working on ways for us all to engage with each other while still keeping our distance physically.
One of those ways is what you see here – the first issue of a regular newsletter. This issue introduces you to the members of this year’s Board, and we hope to have a similar section in every issue featuring Skookum members – a kind of “Humans of Skookum” if you will (not sure what that refers to? Check out “Humans of New York” at https://www.humansofnewyork.com/ ). We’ll be putting out a call soon for members to tell us about themselves.
If you would like to contribute something to the newsletter, whether that’s an article, pictures, how-to’s or anything else Skookum-related, please contact Brooke at brooke dot oxley at gmail dot com
Stand by for more ways to connect with other Skookies around food, while maintaining “social distancing”, coming to your email soon!
Kevin Wilson
Why is the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop important to you? Because building our food community is critical to thriving in the future.
What can you offer to members of Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop? Food production and preservation education, seeds and plants (some years), organizing events and other stuff.
What are some things you enjoy learning about? All kinds of how-to information… current obsession is knitting machines!
What is your favourite thing about living in Powell River/qathet Regional District? The “gift economy”… we don’t have to re-create it, it’s already here.
Sheryl McCumsey
Why is the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop important to you? Globalization illustrates a serious need for Canada to move towards local organic food-many folks are food insecure and right now the Coronavirus illustrates this weakness.
What can you offer to members of Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop? My expertise/knowledge around how pesticides/agrochemicals harm the food system, our planet, beneficial species and our health. Many Canadians are chronically ill and science points a big finger at our food system. I have done many presentations/writings around this-to media, Universities and gardening groups. .I have a background in microbiology and find the connections between gut and soil health interesting.
What are some things you enjoy learning about? Farming/gardening/agroecology/permaculture/cooking……….FOOD! Reading about “systems”……how we can change.
What is your favourite thing about living in Powell River/qathet Regional District? Good weather for growing and lovely places to hike and paddle.
Tabatha Berggren
Why is the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop important to you? I have a beautiful young family and we moved to Powell River for a slower lifestyle, being self sufficient is an important part of that. Skookum is a wealth of information, supportive people and accessible education opportunities. I wanted to contribute to the community. I’m excited to be a small part of keeping food knowledge accessible locally.
What can you offer to members of Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop? I have a vested interest in indigenous food sovereignty, I hope to be a voice for the influx of young families that have moved here without knowledge about growing food who are looking to integrate gardening/self sufficiency into their lives.
What are some things you enjoy learning about? Growing and creating herbal medicine, homeschooling, home baked goods.
What is your favourite thing about living in Powell River/qathet Regional District? How accessible nature and community are here.
Mike Gormley
Why is the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop important to you? it has an important mission.
What can you offer to members of Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop? i’ll help where I can.
What are some things you enjoy learning about? just about anything
What is your favourite thing about living in Powell River/qathet Regional District? walking on the beach
Adriana Virtue
Why is the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop important to you? People coming together to mentor and skill share is a great thing. Food security is important for everyone and every community. Skookum Coop is a group of like minded people participating in our food security and sovereignty which I’m glad exists in our community!
What can you offer to members of Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop? I love hearing and sharing stories! I can manage projects and support mentorship models.
What are some things you enjoy learning about? I love learning about how people learn and how they grow. I’m a student of meeting people where they are at. All things related to nature and any building of capacities.
What is your favourite thing about living in Powell River/qathet Regional District? The swims, gardens and views. qathet and Tla’amin territory is just so beautiful.
Brooke Oxley
Why is the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop important to you? Skookum’s purpose and mission aligns with my own beliefs and I’m excited about meeting and working with others who believe in these things too.
What can you offer to members of Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop? Listening to what is important to you all and figuring out how to make that happen.
What are some things you enjoy learning about? Birds, plants, people’s creative processes, people’s stories about their lives.
What is your favourite thing about living in Powell River/qathet Regional District? The sea lion chorus that accompanies my gardening!
Alfred Bolster
Why is the Skookum Food Provisioners’ Coop important to you? Because we all need to pay more attention to food security, and as a coop it helps to build community.
What are some things you enjoy learning about? Food preservation
What is your favourite thing about living in Powell River/qathet Regional District? Our home, the way we have it set up to help us be self reliant.
Well, if you made it through this far, thank you!! Here are some of our favourite food and community related websites:
How to Share – Food! (and build community)
West Coast Seeds Garden Wisdom Blog
Geoff Lawton’s Permaculture Youtube Channel