Vision
To provide a knowledge sharing tool for anyone interested in studying and/or engaging with food. It is hoped that a community (from within and beyond Concordia) will build up around the database to collectively improve and expand on the resource and glossary lists.
Purpose
The aim of the database is to encourage collaboration among those engaged in food studies, food production and food activism and to help them find resources more quickly and efficiently, with the possibility of shedding light on research directions or information that might not previously have been considered. It is also a place where food studies collaborators can keep a working list of resources in an easily accessible and organized format.
Construction
Both the database and the glossary were created using Zoho creator, an easy-to-use and highly efficient program that allows users to search, sort, and add items directly on the embedded version.
Structure
Below is a list of categories contained in the database. Resources on the database are grouped in this way to give you an idea of what kind of information can be found through the links. Here's the tricky part: many of the sites are multi-faceted and could fall under more than one category. For example, an organization might have their own blog, publications, educational resources, and social media. So, in an attempt to get around this issue, separate pages from the same site are sometimes listed on the database under separate categories. So, if you find a source that interests you, but is not in the category that you are looking for, poke around. If you find a page worth listing, add it yourself! It will be greatly appreciated.
Also important to note is that sites listed are not solely Canadian. This is because some projects, organizations, and networks are such great examples of the way things could be done, that they just couldn't be left out...
Associations
Since associations are a meeting point for professionals in the field, they provide useful and reliable information. Also, you could join the association that relates to your field (or sign up for their newsletter) to stay in the loop about when and where conferences are taking place.
Blogs
There are so many blogs about food! Bloggers are great for posting current information about a specific aspect of a subject, or instructions about things like gardening, or telling their own interesting food stories. Subscribe to the RSS feed of the blog that relates most to your field of interest for a constant flow of enjoyable and interesting reading material.
Books
... are great. If you are a Concordia student, some of these books will be at the revamped Hive's new Resource Library -- Coming Soon!
Databases
There is so much information about food out there that this database has links to other databases!
Documentaries
Most of these documentaries have been produced in the last five years -- symbolic of the immense growth of the food movement. Watching them is a great way to learn without trying to hard! And of course, they are usually quite visually pleasing too.
Educational Resources
But, aren't all the resources on the database educational? Yes, that's true. But a lot of these resources are about educating others about food, or integrating food into education. Alright, so some of them may be in the wrong place -- this was one of the "I don't know where to put this options." Again, let us know in the Feedback form under comments or suggestions if you think something is misplaced.
Instructionals
Here you will find practical knowledge about things like raising bees, gardening techniques, and building a chicken coop. The best way to learn is to do!
Interest Groups
These groups are strong advocates of policy reform. They can provide really useful up-to-date information.
Journals
... are great for finding academic articles.
Networks
So many more organizations concerned with food have been founded over the past ten years and now they are joining together and reaching out to us to join them. The food movement is growing... fast.
Newsletters
Keep up-to-date!
Online News (+video)
These are two separate sections. There's a lot going on in the news concerning food.
Organizations
There are so many around the world! They are the heart of the food movement.
Policy
The title of this category seems out of place amongst the others (it's more of a topic than a category), but it has been included because this is such an important area of research. We've got the bottom-up going, now we need the top-down to cooperate.
Printables
Great for educating others.
Programs
These provide learning opportunities or examples of curriculum.
Projects
Great examples to work from.
Publications
These are nice combinations of printables and educational resources in one.
References
This could be the wrong category title, but these are good sites to refer to to find local food.
Social Media
These short and sweet videos represent the food movement at work in people-from-all-over's lives.
Social Networking Connections
This might seem like a funny category to have on here. But this is the information age and "liking" or "following" organizations or bloggers on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are fantastic ways to stay in the loop without even trying. Also, "sharing" posts by these organizations will help them get more visibility and will give your "friends" the opportunity to connect with them.
Tools
There are some wonderfully innovative online tools that can help you discover and measure things like how much water or energy the meal you just ate consumed -- useful for making informed decisions.
University Farms
Important research and innovations are happening here.
Websites
These sites need a home! Suggest where they belong in the feedback form.
