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 Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Non-GMO Feed Grains Network

This is the private work space for project members who are associated with one or more of the following groups. 

11 years 4 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO_Breads

Develop a mission statement

9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Small Business Management

A general study of the field of small business focusing on policies,
strategies, organization, operation, and problems associated with

6 years 1 week webadmin Request group membership
Mellinger Farm Land Management and Operations

Draft a land management plan that will include strategies for rental contracts and management and programs. 

10 years 1 month Casey Hoy Request group membership
NEO Juice, Beer, Wine, & Spirits   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
 
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAV)

This PUBLIC portfolio collaboration space is for companies that are currently in the SUAV sector, companies that would like to join the SUAV sector

9 years 9 months David Spisak Request group membership
Ohio Livestock Product Processors

This portfolio contains an extensive list of licensed meat and dairy processors in Ohio, specifically those from the Northeast region.

6 years 1 week Brian Gwin Request group membership
OARDC Natural Rubber Ecosystem   9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Food as Economic Development

Build economies using food and ag.

7 years 5 months admintest Request group membership
Resilient Health Network, Inc.

We promote, enrich, and sustain resilient human, community, and environmental health by developing synergistic/cooperative linkages among programs,

4 years 11 months Brett Joseph Request group membership
Common Interest GroupsCreate A Common Interest Group

CIG Dashboard

Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
MI Culinary Tourism 2010 Conference Planning   4 years 12 months SusanSmalley Subscribe to group
The Erie Wire's Harvest Vision

 

4 years 12 months The Erie Wire Subscribe to group
Pittsburgh Community Garden Coordinators   4 years 12 months jnewman11 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
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Value added dairy processing

This group focused on value added processing for dairy products suggested three opportunities that would benefit local dairy industry:

4 years 12 months Brian Schlatter Subscribe to group
Marketing and Education, relative to any foods

Out of many possibilities, the proposed area of focus is to adopt and join the national Buy Fresh, Buy Local program for Ohio.

4 years 12 months Sylvia Zimmerman Subscribe to group
MASCRI Environmental

Welcome to a network of fruit and vegetable industry members in the Mid-Atlantic Specialty Crop Research Initiative, funded by the USDA Specialty C

4 years 12 months webadmin Subscribe to group
Advance Wayne County Agriculture

Working group to develop business cases within the Agriculture and Biosciences Cluster for Wayne County

4 years 12 months rcrider Subscribe to group
Small Scale Farming Permaculture

Discussion, knowledge collection, resource collection, and project incubation related to small farm

4 years 12 months webadmin Subscribe to group

Forums Dashboard

Topic Replies Last post Forum
Normal topic What age would you retire?
by Brian Gwin on Thu, 2016-09-08 13:50
2 by Brian Gwin
Thu, 2016-09-08 13:52
General discussion
Normal topic Lake Erie Algae Bloom
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:09
3 by Mark Mittiga
Wed, 2016-11-30 13:20
General discussion
Normal topic Corn - Leading Grain Crop
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:32
4 by webadmin
Fri, 2016-12-02 15:38
General discussion
Post Post Message Posted In
Yes this is a major problem.
by webadmin on Fri, 2016-12-02 15:38

Yes this is a major problem.  I wonder what they will come up with to fight it?  Wind fences maybe?

Corn - Leading Grain Crop
The breeding of the corn
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:43

The breeding of the corn stalks are also posing to be a problem. When the seeds are planted and then being treated with chemicals it is making them grow too quick and as a result causing the stalks to break when growing too quick. 

Corn - Leading Grain Crop
The engineers are finding
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:40

The engineers are finding that the corn stalks are simply beign destroyed way too often due to wind. They are currently looking into the issue of wind damaging teh stalks. 

Corn - Leading Grain Crop
Wind-induced corn stalk
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:34

Wind-induced corn stalk failure has recently hindered the process of moving forward in regard to corn production. Engineers are taking on this problem to see where the issues lay.

Corn - Leading Grain Crop
Not only are the weather
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:20

Not only are the weather patterns affecting the algae growth in the lake, but the new laws and regulations are also cutting down on the amount of growth that is appearing in the lake. Farmers are being required to use chemicals that are not harmful to the water. 

Lake Erie Algae Bloom