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What are the goals of the Growing Up Organic project? How is the Organic Food Council of Children's Health and Organics Program Reports and Meeting Minutes Links for Children and Organics
Growing Up Organic is a national initiative from Canadian Organic Growers (COG). This initiative is designed to increase the amount of organically grown food in Canadian institutions, beginning with childcare centres. The primary motivation for starting with childcare centres is to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our society, young children, have access to organic food. Over the next 3 years, 12 COG chapters will bring locally grown organic food to childcare centres across
Photo courtesy of Marnie Feeleus, 2006
Janine Gibson, Chair of OFCM-COG,NITC presentation, January 2007
To donate to the Growing Up Organic project, please click here. You will be redirected to the Give Meaning website.
Children's Health and Organics
When compared with conventional food, organic food has higher nutrient levels and less pesticide and chemical residues 1. Free of growth hormones, antibiotics, and artificial additives, certified organic food is not irradiated, nor does it contain genetically modified components (GMO’s). Let’s look at why organic food is a healthier option for our children. Children and infants are particularly vulnerable to pesticides as they consume more food per kilogram of body mass than adults. Their developing nervous systems absorb substances faster and they have more difficulty eliminating these substances. One of the ways children are exposed to agricultural chemicals is through the food they eat2. A number of recent studies have indicated that an organic diet can help to reduce children’s exposure to pesticides. One study concluded that eating organic produce is a relatively simple means for parents to reduce their children’s pesticide exposure.3Furthermore, a review of 400 nutritional research studies has shown that organic foods have more minerals, vitamins and higher levels of cancer fighting anti-oxidants.4
Dr. Warren Bell, family physician and past founding president of CAPE (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment) in Salmon Arm British Columbia summarized the benefits of organic food for children in the following way:
“Organic food benefits children in two crucial ways. First, it spares them the burden of exposure to pesticides, hormones and a host of other actually or potentially harmful substances. Second, organic foods are generally richer in "defense" compounds, like anti-oxidants and salvestrols, which aid a child's immune system. In both the short and the long term, therefore, children's health benefits from organic foods."
Please take the time to read our "Why Go Organic?" information sheet
Photo courtesy of Marnie Feeleus, 2006
Well into year two of a five-year pilot project, we here in Manitoba have surpassed our goal of having two child care centres participating as there are currently 14 locations on board! The goal of GUO Manitoba is to gain commitment to the program from 35 child care centres by year five of the project and we are well on our way to realizing that goal. Click here to view a list of participating centres. Click here to find out how to add your centre to the list. Growing Up Organic doesn’t only aim to get locally grown organic food onto the plates of children in Manitoba. We also offer up some fun and educational workshops and tours for participating locations. Workshops
GUO led a workshop for the pre-school and school age kids at K.I.D.S Inc this summer. [photo to come]
Tours Staff and children of Crewstivew Day Care recently took part in a tour of Marg’s Strawberry Patch, an organic U Pick near Lorette, MB. Participants picked and tasted organic fruit, learned about on-farm water management and after a lunch on the farm, had a sweet dessert: strawberry honey harvested from the farm’s bees the prior week. [photos to come] Coming up before summer’s end is a tour to Wiens Shared Farm on August 25th. Staff and students of Taking Care will have the opportunity to see what’s growing and going on at a local CSA farm. Check back to find out what they learned and to see some photos of the tour. Stay tuned for information regarding two upcoming fall bakery tours.
Loco for Local!
Click on the following links for articles about the Loco for Local! event in support of GUO Manitoba
Uptown Magazine, November 22/07
Click here to listen to our Loco for Local radio showcase! Click here to view a video of the Loco for Local on U-Tube
Tall Grass Prairie Bakery Tour
Childcare Centre Follow-Up
A Steering Committee, spanning a wide range of expertise, has been started for Growing Up Organic. Click here for a brief bio of OFCM Steering Committee Members. Click here to read minutes from the first Steering Committee meeting, held on February 13, 2008. We recently completed a feasibility study in which we surveyed producers, retailers, distributors, processors and institutions, providing a snapshot of our local situation for both production and distribution of local food. Click here to see the results of the study.
Presentation at the Getting Vocal, Growing Local March 7th and 8th, 2008 conference OFCM was on the steering committee for the conference and GUO presented on the 8th. The presentation was a joint session providing practical suggestions for simple, healthy breakfasts and lunches, as well as information on how to become a part of Growing Up Organic and incorporate organics into educational settings.
Market Research We thank the Canadian Wheat Board for the financial support they have provided to do market research in the area of local organic crackers. Our study will survey marketing and distribution of local organic crackers. Please check back in early 2009 to see the results of this study. The report will be available in PDF format. GUO is pleased to announce that we have received the Early Childhood Education Council Grant. These funds will be used to design child oriented workshops and educational materials.
Program Reports and Meeting Minutes
February 2008 Report June 2007 Report
GUO Steering Committee Meeting Minutes, August 26, 2008 GUO Steering Committee Meeting Minutes, February 13, 2008
Click on the links below for recently published articles about GUO in Manitoba. Bakers Journal, "The Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company: Organic, Sustainable, and Profitable" Manitoba EcoNetwork´s EcoJournal, Sept/Oct. 2007 Organic Earth Magazine, Fall-Winter 2007/08 The Winnipeg Foundation´s 2007 Annual Report
Julie Fine, Tel/Fax: 204.772.4363 Email: guo-ofcm@cog.ca Canadian Organic Growers, National Office Tel: 613-216-0741 Toll-free: 1-888-375-7383 Fax: 613-236-0743 Email: organic-childcare@cog.ca
Links for Children and Organics Pesticide Effects and Studies: Effects of pesticides on unborn children Children exposed to pesticides while at school Study: Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children's Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides The Ontario College of Family Physicians, published paper Pesticide Literature review 2004 Children's Health: Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE) BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation - Marketing information for fruit and vegetables A website hosted by Dr. Greene, a US doctor and advocate of organics for children Natural Law Mothers for Food Safety - Promotes public awareness of the dangers of genetically modified foods Other links: UK Soil Association - The UK's leading campaigning charity and certification body for organic food and farming About Organics - A website that provides information for anyone interested in living an organic lifestyle.
OFCM-COG would like to thank the sponsors of Growing Up Organic in Manitoba, the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund, with Manitoba Conservation providing funding, the Assiniboine Credit Union, Organic Meadow Inc., Organza Market, Poplar Grove Farm, Vita Health Natural Food Stores, and all our other sponsors.
1 Baker et al., (2002) Pesticide residues in conventional, IPM-grown and organic foods: Insights from three U.S. data sets Food Additives and Contaminants, Volume 19, No. 5, May 2002, pp 427-446 Heaton, S, (2001). Organic Farming, Food Quality and Human Health Soil Association, 2 The 3 Curl et al., (2003). Department of Environmental Health, 4 Heaton, S, (2001). Organic Farming, Food Quality and Human Health Soil Association,
& This page was last updated on: 2008-10-27. |
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In June, the River Heights Home School Association invited GUO to come do a workshop for students and parents. 
We had a great time doing activities, taste tests, seed sprouting and a vermi-composting demonstration with Muslim Day Camp in July. 
