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10/25/2011
10/21/2011
FOODSTOCK 2011 Updates & Memories
Here is my emial to all the awesome volunteers and others who helped during the day at FOODSTOCK
To All my volunteers,
Well what can I say but we did it!!!!. We made history on Sunday Oct 16 2011. I've been going over the numbers and WOW about 28,000 people attended. All of you volunteers did an outstanding job and you should all be very proud of yourselves.
This awesome event has been in the works since end of June (yes really, it was not very long to put this together). Working in the north parking lot for most of the day with you all was such a great experience and the comments were so great to hear. Everyone was smiling and raved about the food (which I only had a few bits thanks to some of you volunteers and concerned guests I found along the way) and the musicians and artists .
So many thought this was the greatest idea. Even when it was raining they told me that they where so happy be a part of this event we called Foodstock. To look and see all the cars parked down county Rd. 124, 3rd line, country road 21 and the 20th sideroad & our parking lots was like WOW (something out of a movie). At one point the traffic jam stretched all the way to Shelburne (13 km away)
Some people even parked near Horning's Mills and walked (5km) just to be a part of this. Thank you all for volunteering. You were all the greatest team I had a chance to work with (I'm a real estate agent not a event planner LOL :) There was NEVER any doubts in my mind that this was going to the the biggest event north of Hwy 7 in Ontario. I could not have done this with out all your help. Sometimes it was overwhelming, sometime crazy, sometimes disorganized on my part. I forgot a few things, could not get people to the south parking lot to the registration table, I missed the counters for the first 1hr). I have certainly stepped outside of my box through this whole journey and met lots of great people along the way.
Giving multiple interviews along the way - working with an amazing team to put Foodstock together and even being a part of a special CBC's The National was amazing.
My only regret about the whole day is that I never had a chance to feed you (my volunteers and for that I am very sorry) and for those in the afternoon that got there and did not have booth to check in, again I'm sorry) I did try but failed to get people to you as the amount of cars and people was pouring in). One big dissapointment was that CBC and Global and some other TV new stations did not cover the event! I wonder how many people we need to get at the next event before they take notice!
I have some numbers for you to think about.
North Parking Area (3rd line just north of 20th sideroad)
Parking - We parked 6,514 cars, 10 Buses in the north parking lot, on 3rd line, county road 21, Hwy 124, 20th sideroad.
People - We checked in 19,152 though the North lot main gate ONLY. Holy crap…LOL
Cars stuck in mud - 15 in total
Tractors - 6 working in the parking lots around the site
Gators - 6 plus - 5 ATV's and trailers ( getting the chefs to their locations)
Injurys - 3 (sprained ankles)
Robberies - 0
Police arrestes - 0
Donations - Are still being worked on
South Pakring 20th sideroad
Parking I counted aprox 3,234 cars
People - We had no counters there but I did have some updates from people taking the donations and they where guessing that had 3,324X2 people per car = 6,468
Entrance off 124 only for Band members, speakers, some chefs, friends of foodstock - The count of people in this location is rough as the public started to rush up the driveway…It was so crazy..LOL. But again we tried to keep track of the amount of people and 3,000 is a guess.
So in total be had about 28,982 people attend food stock!!! Sweet
Some other notes:
At one point the traffic was jammed all the way from Shelburne to 20th sideroad (13km) but the police helped get that shortened down to 5km :)
I also found out that 50% of the food was gone by 2pm
If any of you have video or photos of the musicians and speeches. I sure would love a copy of it or any photos of the event would be great.
Anyways I think the forest are back to normal, all quiet now. Oh, wait a minute……….things will never be normal!!! We've just started and our Stop the Mega Quarry movement is now 28,000 + STRONG. WE JUST MADE HISTORY!
It is only memories now but wonderful memories they are.
Pat yourself on the back. We deserve it.
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone involved.
David Waters - 519-215-0107 Cell
your friend, your supporter, foodstock co-organizer and real estate agent…..I say THANK YOU!
Please write back and let me know your stories…for better or worse :)
PS - I hope I did not miss any ones name - If I did please pass this one for me.
Articles
Foodstock fundraiser to stop Melancthon Mega Quarry
Foodstock – a culinary protest to stop the mega quarry
Foodstock draws more than expected
Dear Premier McGuinty - Foodstock?
Foodstock Chefs, NDAC, Consumers, Farmers and More Protest Quarry
Foodies unite en masse to oppose land excavation
Fighting the mega-quarry at Foodstock
Protesters opposed to planned quarry gather for Foodstock in rural Ontario
Event held to fight proposed quarry
Everywhere there was song and celebration: Foodstock fights the mega-quarry
Foodstock Takes Us on a Magical Forest Food Adventure
Foodstock draws thousands against mega quarry
The Star Foodstock 2011 Photo Album
Foodstock serves up local harvest next to site for ‘mega’ quarry
The Birthday gift that changed the world
Foodstock successful turnout to stop the mega quarry
One day of peace, love, music and food
Landscapes and the Proposed Mega-Quarry
FoodStock: A Whole New Field to Fork Experience
FOODSTOCK: Save The Land That Feeds Us
Snapshot: Foodstock’s delicious protest
5 Lessons to Savour from Foodstock
Reportback on Foodstock: Protect the land that feeds us
Guest Post: Paul Wartman on Foodstock
Ecocentric: Mega-quarry could lead to mega problems
Michael-Stadtlander’s-Foodstock
Foodstock was delicious success
Foodstock: Standing Up (in the mud) For What We Believe In!
Foodstock: Canadian Foodies and Chefs Fight Mega Quarry in Ontario
Keep up the pressure on officials
Foodstock Videos
Foodstock Oct 16/11 near Honeywood Ont. getting into our Chef's cook sight
Wayne Buttery Larry & Kurtz- FOODSTOCK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKcdq6iCz68&feature=related
Barenaked Ladies (most of em) - Allergies FOODSTOCK
Foodstock raises awareness, tantalizes taste buds
www.robuffenstrouthouse.com serving folks at Foodstock
Sarah Harmer Plying at Foodstock Oct 16 2011 1 of 2
Sarah Harmer Playing at Foodstock Oct 16 2011 2 of 2
Jim Cuddy Playing With Cuff the Duke at Foodstock Oct 16 2011
Foodstock 2011 - Killin' Time Band Playing at Foodstock
Foodstock’s Message? To Hell with the Mega Quarry!
TVO Agenda Interview with Michael StadtlanderSteve Paikin's Channel
10/15/2011
FOODSTOCK T-Minus 38 hrs
Ok so you might not know about the Mega Quarry but should you care? Hmmmm, good question? I get asked that a lot! I also know that a few of the people that follow my 365 things to do in Orangeville don’t live near here, but this is an important issue and I want to draw attention to this.
Hello my name is David Waters and I’m one of the Organizers of FOODSTOCK. This is an event that you will not want to MISS! Here is a little summary of how we got here.
Melancthon township is a small rural area northwest of Toronto, between Orangeville and Collingwood that is primarily farmland. Specifically, it is one of the most prolific potato-growing regions in Ontario and supplies the Greater Toronto Area with a large percentage of its potatoes. A couple years ago, a large corporation known as Highland Companies began buying up farms in this area, telling sellers they would continue with potato farming. They amassed a plot of 8000 acres, then submitted a proposal to the Ontario government to operate a limestone quarry on this land. Initially proposed at over 2300 acres this is by far the largest quarry to operate in Canada and they have been granted perpetual rights to draw a 600 million litres (enough for over 2.7 million people) of water per day from the area. The region is near the headwaters of the Grand River watershed and 4 others, which serves over a million people in Southwestern Ontario, including Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, the Niagara region – as well as Guelph. The quarry will dig 230 feet below the water table so the potential for contamination of the whole watershed is HUGE!. This land is far from any major highway, yet they will be running 300 trucks an hour (7,200 a day in and out) carrying stone back and forth.
While they intend to grow crops again on the quarry floor, this concept is laughable at BEST, as quarrying generates soil contamination and it is highly unlikely that this would even be possible. Further, this company, while supposedly Canadian, receives primary backing from a New-England based hedge fund, and neither company has ever operated a limestone quarry, let alone a Mega-Quarry. That tells me they will likely be bringing in an outside operator after approval, so any concerns regarding safety records will not be addressed. Furthermore, there is a loophole in the law saying that quarries do not have to undergo an environmental assessment to be approved. This land is located just outside the Greenbelt, a protected area that grows much of Ontario’s produce. Fortunately Ontario’s government has recently reversed course and has finally ordered an Environmental Assessment for the project.
Quarry Query - CBC Metro Morning 99.1 FM
Matt Galloway spoke about a proposal to build a quarry in Melancthon Township with chef Michael Stadtlander, founder of Canadian Chefs Congress 
, and with John Sherer. He is a principal at the Highland Companies
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2153598168
With this impending threat to our local food security, local Ontario chefs have come together to show solidarity with the protests against this mega-quarry. Leading this is celebrated chef Michael Stadtlander, one of the country’s best chefs and one of the strongest advocates of local, farm-to-table cuisine. The Canadian Chef’s Congress, of which he is the chairman, has organized a fundraising dinner at an area farm that did not sell out to Highland and we have billing this as “FOODSTOCK”, with the implied reference to Woodstock quite intentional. More than 90 chefs, including Stadtlander, Jamie Kennedy, and other top chefs will be present and contributing dishes.
Unlike most celebrity chef charity events, that will usually cost more than $150 per person, Foodstock is a pay-what-you-can event. You can either register in advance at www.canadianchefscongress.com or pay at the gate – the suggested donation is a mere $10 PER person. Of course, since all funds go to support the cause, larger donations are obviously welcomed. This is a no-frills event – except for the FOOD and Awesome Music. Attendees should bring their own plate, cutlery, napkin and water glass. As this is on a farm and will go rain or shine, it is probably also a good idea to bring a chair and boots.
The event is on Sunday, October 16, 2011, from 11am – 5pm. The farm is just 10 minutes north of Shelburne, at county road 124 and Melancthon 20th sideroad. To get there from Toronto, take Hwy 401 to 410, then to Hwy 10 (Hurontario st.) and stay on it past Orangeville to Hwy 89 at Primrose. Go left and continue to county road 124, turn right (ESSO is on the corner) and follow 124 until 20th sideroad. I imagine there will be signs near the location. it is about 1 hour’s drive from Toronto, depending on where you are. There are also bus trips being organized to the event from Toronto, Guelph, Hamilton, and Collingwood. These are being organized primarily on Facebook and by charted bus lines. Below is a map of the site 
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