The first meeting of the Appalachian Farm and Food Alliance (AFFA) will be held on Monday, Feb 12th at 6 pm in the first floor conference room at the Garrett County Health Department at 1025 Memorial Dr, Oakland, MD 21550. The meeting will also be available via video conference or phone (link and number below).
The mission of the AFFA is to facilitate collaboration between agricultural and food system service providers to educate the public and provide solutions for food insecurity through the creation of a resilient, sustainable, and equitable food and agriculture system across the region. Attend to learn more about the newly formed non-profit organization. The Western Maryland Food Council (WMFC) voted to move to the AFFA as a fiscal non-profit organization sponsor. We have not made the move but will be working on that over the next few weeks. The AFFA and the WMFC have aligned missions and we hope that we can strengthen both organizations with collaboration and cooperation to help the farming community and citizens of western Maryland. Join with Google Meet meet.google.com/wzj-dmsq-bct Join by phone: (US) +1 513-480-3955 PIN: 782 726 795#
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Interested in helping us plan our 2024 Western Maryland Food Council conference (fall of 2024)? Join us on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8 am:
January 10 February 14 March 13 April 10 May 8 June 12 July 10 August 14 September 11 October 9 Join Zoom Meeting https://umd.zoom.us/j/5179298672?omn=98503362220 Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 One tap mobile +13017158592,,5179298672# US (Washington DC) +16469313860,,5179298672# US --- Dial by your location • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) • +1 305 224 1968 US • +1 309 205 3325 US • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US • +1 564 217 2000 US • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 ![]() You are invited to our next Western Maryland Food Council meeting! We'll have county updates, project reports, and a special speaker. Join us to learn about the food system efforts in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties! WMFC Meeting Agenda Thursday, June 15, 2023 1. Welcome and Introductions - Willie 2. Minutes from last meeting - Cheryl 3. Treasurers Report - Melissa 4. Restaurant Meals Program - Mischelle Williams, MD Dept of Human Services 5. WellSky - Jen Thomas and Dr. Lorend de Leon 6. County Reports 7. Maryland Food Council Collaborative Update 8. SPINE Grant Update - Non-Profit Update 9. Sherry Frick Memorial Update 10. Food Resiliency Council Update - Theresa 11. Frostburg Grows Funding 12. Food Council Conference Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/GYS9RSMY Topic: WMFC June Meeting Time: Jun 15, 2023 04:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://umd.zoom.us/j/5179298672?pwd=ck5WelI5eSt5Q3JjeVJTbVJKMHNuQT09 Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 Passcode: 602831 One tap mobile +13017158592,,5179298672# US (Washington DC) +16469313860,,5179298672# US Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 305 224 1968 US +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 689 278 1000 US +1 719 359 4580 US +1 253 205 0468 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) 877 853 5257 US Toll-free 888 475 4499 US Toll-free 833 548 0276 US Toll-free 833 548 0282 US Toll-free 833 928 4608 US Toll-free 833 928 4609 US Toll-free 833 928 4610 US Toll-free Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 Find your local number: https://umd.zoom.us/u/acb6vsiGN Join by SIP [email protected] Join by H.323 162.255.37.11 (US West) 162.255.36.11 (US East) 115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai) 115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad) 213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands) 213.244.140.110 (Germany) 103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney) 103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne) 149.137.40.110 (Singapore) 64.211.144.160 (Brazil) 149.137.68.253 (Mexico) 69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto) 65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver) 207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo) 149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka) Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 Passcode: 602831 Mark your calendar for our next WMFC Annual meeting, scheduled for February 16, 5:00 to 6:30 pm. Below is the agenda and the zoom link for the meeting. Please review the draft minutes from the last meeting.
Agenda for February 16:
Topic: WMFC Annual Meeting Time: Feb 16, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://umd.zoom.us/j/5179298672 Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 One tap mobile +13017158592,,5179298672# US (Washington DC) +16469313860,,5179298672# US Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 305 224 1968 US +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 689 278 1000 US +1 719 359 4580 US +1 253 205 0468 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 Find your local number: https://umd.zoom.us/u/acb6vsiGN Join by SIP [email protected] Join by H.323 162.255.37.11 (US West) 162.255.36.11 (US East) 115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai) 115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad) 213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands) 213.244.140.110 (Germany) 103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney) 103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne) 149.137.40.110 (Singapore) 64.211.144.160 (Brazil) 149.137.68.253 (Mexico) 69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto) 65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver) 207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo) 149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka) Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 As you may know, the Western Maryland Food Council has supported the work at Frostburg Grows since its inception. Now that the project has completed, some remaining equipment and supplies will be auctioned on 10/27. Here is the public auction info:
PUBLIC AUCTION Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022 3:00 PM For Western Md. RC&D. @ Frostburg Md. I-68, Exit 34, RT 36 South ¼ mile, watch for auction signs Greenhouse and grower supplies and equipment such as hoops for a 30’x 40’ high tunnel plus extras, 2-40ft storage containers, 8- 4x4 caged water tanks, new and used row covers, shallow well pumps, gas water pumps, 4” flex drain pipe coils, sump pumps, step ladders, raised bed railing, 300ft tape measure, Hitachi sawzal, miter saws, small reddy heaters, ½” pex pipe rolls, plant starter packs, 3500 watt generator, metal heavy duty base and wall cabinets and lab counter tops, solar panels, batteries, 2-boat trailers, 10- 1x4x8 insulation, igloo coolers, vine clips, porta-john, small air compressor, 300’ 2 inch pvc piping, metal racks, gas cans, office chairs, miscl. items Check auctionzip.com or gotoauction.com for photos and questions call Jesse Maust Auctioneer or Willie Lantz at 240-321-8568 Jesse Maust Auctioneer Ph 814-662-2943 Lic. AU004048 ![]() As many of you know, we lost one of our longstanding WMFC members, Sherry Frick, last month. Sherry was such an inspiration to us, with her commitment to local farms and foods, her dedication to help end hunger, and her passion for helping teach others about our food system. UMD College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Dean, Craig Beyrouty, captured our sentiments in his email regarding Sherry's passing: Sherry had the most giving heart and enthusiasm for life, and she will be deeply missed by all. Sherry was an incredibly dedicated and active member of the college community. She spearheaded a number of notable projects that earned her significant recognition for their undeniable impact across the state. Her innumerable accomplishments include the Jane Gates Heritage House teaching garden, where she helped serve the museum’s mission of faith, education, and African American History. Sherry designed and executed a backyard transformation that included four raised beds for vegetables, a small bed for fruit, and a pollinator garden. Sherry initiated the “Apples for All” project in 2017, where she collaborated with a local WWII veteran who wanted to donate all of the fruit from his orchard to folks in need. Frick organized 35 volunteers to pick and distribute over 6,000 pounds of apples to 22 organizations including food pantries, homeless shelters, senior centers, soup kitchens, and schools. Some of Sherry’s other innovative projects include the installation of the new rain garden at a local school as well as her work at 13 different sites where she assisted in the planning and design of community or demonstration gardens. Sherry was ever present at her local farmer’s market as an ambassador for its popular demonstration garden, which she was instrumental in designing. The garden provided a platform for programming opportunities and emphasized native plants, attracting pollinators, the historical use of plants for medicine, dye, fiber, edible landscaping, and food gardening. When the pandemic hit, instead of scaling back programming, Sherry ramped it up. She collaborated with the Garrett County horticulture educator to transition programs into a virtual format. Their gardening and forestry series drew an amazing 3,500 participants for their synchronous sessions. Also during that time, Sherry chaired UME’s Program Reopening Committee which was tasked with developing guidelines and resources for Extension educators to return to in-person programming in response to COVID-19 health and safety issues. In her free time, Sherry was engaged in many service activities including three visits to Haiti with a local church to educate women about proper seed planting techniques and growing vegetables and flowers. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct 22 at 1 pm at Pleasant View Baptist Church at 8931 Garrett Highway in Oakland, with a dessert extravaganza to follow. ![]() We have four follow-ups from our food council meeting today: 1. Maryland Food System Resiliency Council Lunch & Learn: October’s Lunch and Learn will be held on October 19th at noon and will feature FSRC member, Meg Kimmel, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer of the Maryland Food Bank (Member of the FSRC and Co-Chair of the Food Access and Distribution Subcommittee), and Carmen Del Guercio who is the Maryland Food Bank President and CEO. More info in the flyer here. 2. White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health was held on September 28th. The Executive Summary is here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/27/executive-summary-biden-harris-administration-national-strategy-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/ 3. In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, the Maryland Hunger Solutions Annual Legislative Brainstorming Session will be held on Thursday, Oct. 20 from 1-3:30 pm. The discussion will be held virtually with breakout sessions covering SNAP and Child Nutrition Programs. MD Hunger Solution’s Director, Michael J. Wilson, is a member of the FSRC. The link to register is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItduytrTwsHdULXO5SNttPOeIpeChzit4F 4. Save the Date! The next (annual) Western Maryland Food Council meeting will be held February 9, 2023 (2nd Thursday) at 4:00 pm. It will be held in person with a zoom option. Mark your calendars!
Join us for our next WMFC Meeting on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 4:30 pm! Below is the zoom link.
Minutes from March 10 meeting. Topic: WMFC - June 2022 Meeting Time: Jun 23, 2022 04:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://umd.zoom.us/j/5179298672 Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 One tap mobile +13017158592,,5179298672# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,5179298672# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 Find your local number: https://umd.zoom.us/u/acb6vsiGN Join by SIP [email protected] Join by H.323 162.255.37.11 (US West) 162.255.36.11 (US East) 115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai) 115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad) 213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands) 213.244.140.110 (Germany) 103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney) 103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne) 149.137.40.110 (Singapore) 64.211.144.160 (Brazil) 149.137.68.253 (Mexico) 69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto) 65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver) 207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo) 149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka) Meeting ID: 517 929 8672 |