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 descending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Food as Economic Development

Build economies using food and ag.

7 years 5 months admintest Request group membership
Food Processing Technologies Center

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

9 years 2 months Brian Gwin 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 3 weeks Casey Hoy Request group membership
Midwest Food Innovation Network

To enhance collaboration among Commercial Kitchens, Kitchen Incubators and Food Hubs in Northeast Ohio.

9 years 11 months Brian Gwin Test Request group membership
NEO AgBio CARE Projects
9 years 8 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Namesort descending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Food as Economic Development

Build economies using food and ag.

7 years 5 months admintest Request group membership
 
Group Namesort descending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Food Processing Technologies Center

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

9 years 2 months Brian Gwin 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 3 weeks Casey Hoy Request group membership
Midwest Food Innovation Network

To enhance collaboration among Commercial Kitchens, Kitchen Incubators and Food Hubs in Northeast Ohio.

9 years 11 months Brian Gwin Test Request group membership
NEO AgBio CARE Projects
9 years 8 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Common Interest GroupsCreate A Common Interest Group

CIG Dashboard

Group Namesort descending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Advance Summit County Agriculture

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

4 years 11 months Darwin Kelsey Subscribe to group
Advance Wayne County Agriculture

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

4 years 11 months rcrider Subscribe to group
Ag Success Team of Wayne County   4 years 11 months Kylee Terwilliger Subscribe to group
Akron Grows Community Gardening   4 years 11 months ellsworth.2@osu.edu Subscribe to group
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 11 months AppStaple Subscribe to group
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Namesort descending Description Last Updated Creator Subscription
Advance Summit County Agriculture

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

4 years 11 months Darwin Kelsey Subscribe to group
Advance Wayne County Agriculture

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

4 years 11 months rcrider Subscribe to group
Ag Success Team of Wayne County   4 years 11 months Kylee Terwilliger Subscribe to group
Akron Grows Community Gardening   4 years 11 months ellsworth.2@osu.edu Subscribe to group
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 11 months AppStaple 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
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
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?