Around The Sound Local Food Market – “Sneak Preview”

December 16, 2008

marketshot There’s a new store opening that is part of a rapidly growing local food movement. The store is to sell fresh fruit and vegetables in season as well as poultry, eggs, beef, lamb and fish. It is located at 972 First Ave. W. in Owen Sound. The “Sneak Preview” is scheduled for Dec. 18 – 21, 2008.

Owen Sound’s first local food retail store is to open Dec. 18 for what proprietor Anne Finlay-Stewart describes as a three-day, “sneak preview” of a three-day-a-week operation selling a wide variety of locally-grown produce

It’s a sole proprietorship business because that’s the quickest way to get the business going, but Finlay-Stewart has partners who have contributed funds and store fixtures.

She has purchased a freezer and has a long and growing list of suppliers. It’s part of a rapidly growing local food movement that is growing by leaps and bounds.

There are all sorts of reasons why people are looking closer to home for food supplies. Ontario Green Party vice-president Shane Jolley, who is an Owen Sound bicycle retailer and investor in the new store, said people have become increasingly concerned about the security and health of the large international food supply systems behind major retail supply chains.

Both Jolley and Finlay-Stewart predict that local food will find its way eventually into area supermarkets. However, both say it will take the introduction of new distribution and transportation systems that have not yet formed.

“The distribution system will be reinvented,” Finlay-Stewart said. “It has to be because that’s what we need to have happen to make this work,” she said.

Finlay-Stewart also denied that her shop represents a competitive threat to the existing Owen Sound Farmers Market, which operates Saturday mornings in the city’s downtown core. It provides another outlet for growers and is a good example of how to expand home-grown businesses.

So get on over there and check it out… for all your locally grown/raised food! Come visit us for a sneak preview December 18, 19 and 20, Thursday and Friday 10 – 7 and Saturday 10 – 4. For more information visit www.aroundthesoundfood.com

Written by Ryan · Filed Under Downtown, Features, Food, Gardening, Innovation, theOwen

Internship at RJG Creative

September 17, 2008

Plug into hands on publishing and digital media skills, create original web based content, help build your portfolio and more with internship at RJG Creative. Learn the ins and outs of web publishing, get published on theOwen.com, and create content using mediums such as blogs, podcasts, and video. We are looking for 3 interns from area high schools; these interns will commit to 9 hours per week after school for one semester. Completion of an internship such as this is a valuable addition to your resume and can directly lead to future employment. You should have enthusiasm, a sense of humour, awareness, and excitement at the prospect of a challenge. Some digital media skills are an asset but not required. Think you’re the next RJG Creative intern? Submit a resume with cover letter to internship@rjgcreative.com for an interview to be arranged.

Written by Lauren · Filed Under Business, Community, Innovation, Internet, Owen Sound, Participation, Skills, Youth, theOwen

September Jelly Date set – more co-working fun

September 11, 2008

casual co-working in owen sound
Last month theOwen.com held the first in what we hope to be a monthly series of casual co-working events. It was a great day with a lot of interesting conversation, resource sharing and child caring…(oh yeah, sitter cancelled, good thing the event was at our place!).

A number of local business owners/entrepreneurs made it out. Special thanks to Jen @ Keylime Creative for bringing the homemade blueberry jelly, Andrea for making a cookie run downtown and the rest of the gang (If yo didn’t get a link remind me and I’ll hook you up in the future!)

“OK, so I have first learned about Jelly (or casual co-working environment) a number of months ago. Not really sure about the name but the concept sounds super interesting. Basically a get together and work day for the solo professional set (or anyone in an office setting that can convince the boss that hanging out/working at Jelly is beneficial to the company, words like networking, creative juices, inspiration… could be thrown around during your pitch!)”

I believe a regular co-working get together for area business owners, entrepreneurs, digital creatives, visionaries … has to be a good idea and at very least it will spice up the work week a little bit.
You can read the whole intro to Jelly post here

September 24th is the next Jelly date, hope you can make it.

When

Somewhere in the 9-5 (ish) range. You don;t need to come for the whole day but you might just want to.

Where?

The event will take place at 925 2nd Ave West in Owen Sound

Leading up to the event if you have any questions feel free to contact Ryan (wiseman@theowen.com) or shoot us a message via the contact page.

Written by Ryan · Filed Under Administrivia, Business, Events, Innovation, jelly, theOwen

Lawrence Lessig lectures on Free Culture

February 26, 2008

The following video is both lengthy (you will likely want to watch it full screen if you can!) and of great importance to our collective future. Definitely worth the watch in my opinion as it outlines a couple of different future scenarios as to how creative works will be protected (but more importantly be freed for many to build on…).

I first stumbled across this video on www.lessig08.org/, a site which it appears was created to potentially support an attempt to be elected to American Congress. You can read the whole story on the site but in the meantime free your mind and learn a little about free culture.

Written by Ryan · Filed Under Innovation, Internet, Video, theOwen Features