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 Subscription
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
OARDC Natural Rubber Ecosystem   9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Food Processing Technologies Center

Develop a center / pilot / demo facility for Ohio food processing industry partners.

9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO_Breads

Develop a mission statement

9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Small Scale Soil Conservation Equipment

Development of equipment and associated production practices focused on soil conservation for small producers.  

 

9 years 5 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
 
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
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
OARDC Natural Rubber Ecosystem   9 years 3 months Brian Gwin 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
Ohio Oilseed Research and Demonstration

In this 2013 project, we are evaluating the production, ecosystem services, and value chains that could result from four oilseed crops: flax, canol

10 years 7 months Casey Hoy Request group membership
Small Scale Soil Conservation Equipment

Development of equipment and associated production practices focused on soil conservation for small producers.  

 

9 years 5 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Common Interest GroupsCreate A Common Interest Group

CIG Dashboard

Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Western PA Shared Commercial Kitchen/Value-Added Processing Network

This network developed out of the 2011 Shared Commercial Kitchen Roundtable hosted by the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, in

4 years 12 months smith_leah Subscribe to group
LFS Philadelphia Working Group

This group will serve as communication medium for people involved with Local Food in Philadelphia.

4 years 12 months sam@earle.com Subscribe to group
The Erie Wire's Harvest Vision

 

4 years 12 months The Erie Wire Subscribe to group
MI Culinary Tourism 2010 Conference Planning   4 years 12 months SusanSmalley Subscribe to group
Pittsburgh Community Garden Coordinators   4 years 12 months jnewman11 Subscribe to group
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Cincinnati Local Foods Group

The Cincinnati Local Foods Group is a yahoo group which shares information about local fo

4 years 12 months valereee Subscribe to group
Cincinnati Regional Food Congress - March 2009

4 years 12 months Clare Norwood 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
Coalition for Food Abundance in Pittsburgh Wiki

The purpose of this workspace is to provide a space to collaboratively develop a manual for food sovereignty in Western PA.

4 years 12 months webadmin 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

Forums Dashboard