Information to get users started in the Networking section

Welcome to the Local Food Systems Networking section!

The Networking section contains the social networking tools to help site users communicate and identify shared interests. The Networking section exists to help fledgling or expanding businesses and their supporters, particularly those in relatively close proximity, connect with each other to mutual benefit. Here you will find opportunities to connect with other individuals who are interested in starting new businesses, supporting existing businesses, and discussing ideas about local foods. The Networking section is focused on three main types of content:



Collaborative Business Networks (CBN) are designed for Local Food Systems users to collaborate, focus on, and achieve a specific, well defined goal. Primarily CBNs are used to develop business ecosystems, a collaborative network of entrepreneurs, existing businesses, business supporters, and customers that seek to create new or expand existing supply chains. However, CBNs have also be used for tasks such as developing inter-collegiate programs and as a vehicle for new community groups to organize around a shared vision. CBNs give site users a set of tools (posts, private messages, events, to do items, and folders) that allow them to organize and assign tasks, set deadlines, disseminate information, and share important files. CBNs can be either Public (available for everyone on the Local Food Systems website to see) or Private (view-able only by the members of the group).

Create A Collaborative Business Network



Common Interest Groups (CIG) allow you to discuss topics of interest with other Local Food Systems users. Less focused than Collaborative Business Networks, CIGs are designed to act as repositories of knowledge, to stimulate thought, and introduce people to new topics with which they are not familiar. Users with knowledge in topic areas are encouraged to share their experiences, post links to relevant articles, and answer questions from the Local Food Systems community. Tools available to CIGs include posts, events, and folders. These tools allow site users to disseminate information and share important files to other users that share their interests. CIGs can be either Public (available for everyone on the Local Food Systems website to see) or Private (view-able only by the members of the group).

Create A Common Interest Group



Forum Topics are for free flowing discussion on any topic relevant to Local Food Systems. You can start your own topic thread, or comment on an existing topic. All forum posts are public and view-able by all Local Food Systems users.

Create A Forum topic

Collaborative Business NetworksCreate A Collaborative Business Network

CBN Dashboard

Group Name Description Last Updatedsort descending Creator Subscription
OARDC Natural Rubber Ecosystem   9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Aquaculture Network

Currently contains information on businesses from a list of fish propagators provided by ODNR.

Should fish processors be included?

9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO Juice, Beer, Wine, & Spirits   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO Packaged Foods And Snacks   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO Candies   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
 
Group Name Description Last Updatedsort descending Creator Subscription
OARDC Natural Rubber Ecosystem   9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Aquaculture Network

Currently contains information on businesses from a list of fish propagators provided by ODNR.

Should fish processors be included?

9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO Juice, Beer, Wine, & Spirits   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO Packaged Foods And Snacks   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO Candies   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Common Interest GroupsCreate A Common Interest Group

CIG Dashboard

Group Name Description Last Updatedsort descending Creator Subscription
Local Food Technology & Software

Software & Technology are creating new & exciting possibiiities for the local food movement, and will play a significant role in a new, dec

4 years 12 months buckybox Subscribe to group
Circles of Support Pilot Project

Working in urban neighborhoods with low-income households, single parents with young children, etc.:

4 years 12 months Sara Ward Subscribe to group
Farm to Institutional Food Service

Local procurement policies for small institutions, particularly educational institutions, are a current opportunity to establish local food systems

4 years 12 months Tom Redfern Subscribe to group
Advance NorthEast Ohio Partners

This group is focused on building the Northeast Ohio local and regional economy based on local and regional food systems, renewable energy, distrib

4 years 12 months Casey Hoy Subscribe to group
Small Grains Information Clearing House

Create a website to distribute information on the complete list of small grains that can be grown in Ohio, their agronomic and nutritional characte

4 years 12 months Jeannine Snyder Subscribe to group
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updatedsort descending Creator Subscription
Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative (ASFC)

To build seed-to-table regional scale bean, grain,  oil seed and perennial nut staple food systems in Appalachia the Midwest, and wherever communit

4 years 12 months AppStaple Subscribe to group
Consumer-driven production practices, consumer education opportunities, educational needs for the producer

Three main areas of emphasis were chosen by this group:

4 years 12 months Leah Miller Subscribe to group
Farm Impossible

This project was developed at the 6th Annual Stinner Summit.  The project title, support and objectives are:  

 

4 years 12 months Chester Bowling Subscribe to group
Entrepreneurs in Agriculture

This group will explore diverse and unique attributes of agricultural businesses- seasonality, production modeling, distribution and food safety, a

4 years 12 months Abbe Turner Subscribe to group
Local Food Technology & Software

Software & Technology are creating new & exciting possibiiities for the local food movement, and will play a significant role in a new, dec

4 years 12 months buckybox Subscribe to group

Forums Dashboard