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 Namesort ascending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
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
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
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
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
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
 
Group Namesort ascending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
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
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
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
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Namesort ascending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
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
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 Namesort ascending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Youth in Local Food Systems

We are an expanding network of educators, mentors, community activists, local foods entrepreneurs, students, parents,and interested others who are

4 years 12 months Ross MacDonald Subscribe to group
Western Pennsylvania Farmers Market Managers

Welcome to the Western Pennsylvania Farmers Market Manager Discussion Forum!  This is a place for market managers to connect with one another to sh

4 years 12 months smith_leah Subscribe to group
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
Value-added Processing (all foods)

A good inventory and assessment of agricultural resources in Ohio, both production and processing is an important and needed baseline - what infras

4 years 12 months Amalie Lipstreu Subscribe to group
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
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Namesort ascending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Youth in Local Food Systems

We are an expanding network of educators, mentors, community activists, local foods entrepreneurs, students, parents,and interested others who are

4 years 12 months Ross MacDonald Subscribe to group
Western Pennsylvania Farmers Market Managers

Welcome to the Western Pennsylvania Farmers Market Manager Discussion Forum!  This is a place for market managers to connect with one another to sh

4 years 12 months smith_leah Subscribe to group
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
Value-added Processing (all foods)

A good inventory and assessment of agricultural resources in Ohio, both production and processing is an important and needed baseline - what infras

4 years 12 months Amalie Lipstreu Subscribe to group
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

Forums Dashboard

Topicsort ascending 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
waterloo iowa
by Brian Gwin on Thu, 2016-09-08 13:51

waterloo iowa

What age would you retire?
NE IL
by Brian Gwin on Thu, 2016-09-08 13:52

NE IL

The long term outlook for Ag commodities is flat to negative from where we are currently.

What age would you retire?
The algae samples that are
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:13

The algae samples that are being tested and found in Lake Erie have been proven to be a "toxic chemical" resulting in several warning signs alerting people not to drink the water. 

Lake Erie Algae Bloom
This year was a good year for
by Mark Mittiga on Wed, 2016-11-30 13:18

This year was a good year for the lake algae wise. The cooler weather has been a good thing in terms of sparking the algae growth. When the weather stays on the cooler side, there is not as much visable algae in the lake.

Lake Erie Algae Bloom
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