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 ascending
NEO AgBio CARE Projects
9 years 9 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO Candies   9 years 2 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
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
Buckeye ISA

With support from a WKKF grant, Ohio State University is supporting the formation of a network of small scale producers who produce, aggregate and

4 years 10 months Casey Hoy Request group membership
 
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort ascending
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
Baer Farms Dairy Products

Provide Local Dairy products for 

sustainable

natural

 

10 years 3 months cbaer 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
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort ascending
Corn Crop Destruction

To reduce and eventually eliminate the destruction of corn stalks due to wind destruction.

7 years 3 months Mark Mittiga Request group membership
Director of Market Development

Founded in 1972, BFG Supply has a long history of serving the Green Industry including professional growers, lawn & garden centers, landscapers

1 year 9 months jfarinacci@bfgs... Request group membership
Common Interest GroupsCreate A Common Interest Group

CIG Dashboard

Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort ascending
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
SLOW MONEY NEO (Cleveland and Beyond)

SLOW MONEY NEO CONNECTS INVESTORS LOCALLY WITH LOCAL FOOD ENTREPRENUERS TO BRING DOLLARS FROM WALL STREET TO MAIN STREET, INVESTING IN FOOD, FARMS,

4 years 12 months janlitt Subscribe to group
Regional, National and International Partners

The Regional, National and International Partners working group is specifically for our colleagues from outside of Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania

4 years 12 months Casey Hoy Subscribe to group
Dismantling Structural Racism in the Food System   4 years 12 months Casey Hoy Subscribe to group
Food Desert issues in Urban and Rural Communities

Food Deserts have been identified  as a real issue impacting both urban and rural communities.

4 years 12 months Megan Shoenfelt Subscribe to group
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort ascending
LFS Storytellers

The mission of this group is to tell stories about local food efforts, issues, opportunities, and entrepreneurs.

4 years 12 months Ross MacDonald Subscribe to group
Scalable Perennial Polyculture

This project is an attempt to provide an alternative to annual monoculture farming.

4 years 12 months patrick.oconell Subscribe to group
Advance Cuyahoga County Agriculture

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

4 years 12 months Morgan Taggart Subscribe to group
Advance Stark County Agriculture

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

4 years 12 months Michelle Spain 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

Forums Dashboard

No active topics.

Post Post Message Posted In
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
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
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?
waterloo iowa
by Brian Gwin on Thu, 2016-09-08 13:51

waterloo iowa

What age would you retire?