About COG Toronto Chapter

Our Mission

To create awareness of and appreciation for sustainable organic food systems by growing membership and providing opportunities to connect people and their food, land and community (with hope, promise and passion)

Please contribute your thoughts as to how we can best serve you in the Seed Box!

The Board

A team of dedicated people who believe in healthy food and a clean environment. Can’t have one without the either after all!

Elizabeth Chrumka – a la Presidente

Tanmayo Krupanszky – a la Special Events

Christine Carstens – a la Mistress of Events Extraordinaire

Judith Mapleson – Membership and Mistress of “da Records”

Bob Kennedy – le Master of Coins (aka Treasurer)

Sunny Lam – the Stand In Webmaster, Traveling Herald and Agent (i.e. Member at Large)

Okay, did I miss anyone else?

Volunteers Speciale a la Carte

Volunteers are the life blood of this organization. Without you COG Toronto just wouldn’t exist. Period. We love all of you. Sometimes we just don’t have a chance to tell ya! Don’t worry we’ll find you!

Florence Chung

Vlad Skotar

Christine Finder

more to come!~

Biographies

Here are some biographies of the current (or past) board members. (Work in progress, more to come)

Judith Mapleson (Membership Secretary)

Growing and eating organic food has always been part of my life. Reared in the UK where everyone had their own organic vegetable garden, (largely because of food shortages in WWII), I just kept growing and then buying locally produced and organically grown food. Emigrating to Canada in the mid 1970’s and living in an apartment posed some challenges but I had beans, lettuces and tomatoes on my balcony each summer, and when I moved to a house the garden and ability to grow vegetables were of prime importance. My training in plant physiology and biochemistry and years of medical research work only served to reinforce my understanding that it made no sense putting synthetic chemicals and insecticides on food that I was going to eat, and what about the soil?! My children were reared digging vegetable plots and planting their own seeds and then tending their mini plots. We returned to live in the UK for 7 years in the 80’s and I was amazed at how much easier it was to find organic food there, than in Canada.

Returning to Toronto in the early 90’s I set out to discover sources of organic food and also joined COG at that time, with the thought that it might help me in sourcing organic meat and produce. At that time COG didn’t really help the consumer connect with organic suppliers, but at least I was aware that there were some people in Canada who actually believed in organics. I also felt that the organization had integrity and was comprised of a group of people who actually held similar beliefs and aspirations to me. So when an effort was made to rejuvenate the Toronto chapter in early 2005 I decided to offer my services by keeping track of membership and taking minutes at meetings. Organic food and stewardship of the land has always been part of my life, and now as a practicing homeopath I am well aware of the personal health benefits of eating nourishing food. Organic food, is for me, part of a life style that tries to take an element of responsibility for my impact on the planet. If you have similar beliefs or interests or just want to know more, we will be delighted to try to help.

Sunny Lam (Board Member at Large, Maverick Agent of Change)

Sunny Lam

Sunny is a management consultant with 7 years of research experience who assists individuals and organizations in the environment or food sector to succeed, thrive and flourish. Sunny has co-developed a local food system initiative with 10 core organizers and over 100 volunteers thanks to a $90,000 grant from the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI), executing a 4 part speaker series, workshops and a Local Food Summit with over 1000 people in attendance and 6 keynote speakers. Sunny organized a university farmers market over 9 months that provided special food retail services to 20,000 people. Sunny also has experience with managing a community garden with over 70 supporters in a low income neighbourhood.

Sunny is also a philosopher, fencer, swordsman, martial artist, poet, writer, chanter, instrumental musician (flute, mandolin), activist and advocate researcher. In addition: a Macintosh Apple power user, a practitioner of Getting Things Done, follower of the Warrior’s Diet, social network adept, marketing/green marketing dabbler. Also member of: Green Enterprise Toronto, FoodCycles, Toronto Community Gardening Network and Toronto Community Based Research Network.

About COG National

Canadian Organic Growers (COG) is a national charitable organization (13014 0494 RR0001) with members in all regions of Canada. COG is connected to the regions through fifteen local Chapters, three affiliated organizations, and to the international organic community through membership in the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

COG’s membership is diverse and includes farmers, gardeners, processors, retailers, educators, policy-makers, and consumers. Not all COG members run certified organic operations, but they share a vision for a sustainable bioregionally-based organic food system. Our members believe that organic food production is the best choice for the health of consumers and producers, for the protection and enhancement of the environment, and for the sustainability of the food production system. In fact we believe that the survival of our country and even of the planet depends on it.

Mission

To lead local and national communities towards sustainable organic stewardship of land, food and fibre while respecting nature, upholding social justice and protecting natural resources.COG Affirmations

COG works in:

• All types of agriculture.
• Communities and culture.
• National governance of issues relating to agriculture.

COG serves:

• Both farmers and market gardeners. Some will be organic already and others are contemplating transition to organic.
• Consumers or anyone who is interested in feeding and clothing themselves and their families with healthy natural foods and fibers.
• National and Regional organic organizations through representation, networking and sharing resources.
• Government by informing and advocating for an organic perspective.

COG provides leadership in:

• Environmental improvement linked to agriculture and market gardening.
• Quality organic food production.
• Conservation of non-renewable resources in agriculture and market gardening.
• Sustaining local communities.
• Providing and distributing information about organic production and distribution methods.
• Connecting and engaging organic growers and consumers.
• Promoting and informing consumers of all ages about organic value.
• National advocacy for organic integrity to government and organizations.

COG pledges to work through:

• Respect for the land and future of the earth.
• Responsible and nurturing stewardship.
• Respectful interactions based on integrity.
• Modeling organic agriculture on nature.
• Sustaining our bodies and minds with nutritious food.
• Cultivating understanding through education.
• Nurturing social justice & fair treatment of all.

COG’s activities include:

• Production of the quarterly magazine The Canadian Organic Grower.
• Books, fact sheets, kits and videos produced for growers, consumers, educators and everyone interested in organic food production – Publications.
• Farm and garden tours, demonstration gardens, farmers’ markets, workshops and conferences organized by local COG chapters.
• The Mary Perlmutter Scholarship, awarded each year to a graduate student undertaking research of benefit to organic growers.
• The COG lending library, a unique free mail service of organic reading materials.
• Co-operation with other organizations and government to achieve policy change to encourage the adoption of organic agriculture, such as the Consumer and Corporate Affairs “Definition of Organic Food”, the “Organic Production Systems General Principals and Management Standards” and the“Organic Products Regulations”.
• COG founded the Heritage Seed Program, now an independent organization called Seeds of Diversity Canada. This grassroots seed-saving program protects the biodiversity of our food crops

COG’s position on Biotechnoloy

• Click here to read COG’s statement on its position regarding biotechnology

Memberships include The Canadian Organic Grower, use of library and chapter affiliation where applicable. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more.

Read more about Canadian Organic Growers here.