The Community EditionPIKNIK.SPOT PROVIDES LOCAL FOOD MAP
Piknik.spot is an online resource for those in Waterloo Region who want to eat locally and support small farmers, restaurants and other businesses. It provides a directory and map view of sources for locally grown or produced food. There are also listings of Community Supported Agriculture programs that help you support local farms.
The website was created by Laurie Varga and Geoff Whittington, a married couple based in Waterloo Region. Varga said they were inspired on a drive down Northfield Drive in Waterloo, where they saw many Mennonite-owned farms with little social media presence.
“We were both kind of excited, and I think that’s what kicked it off initially,” Varga said.
“[W]e want people who either produce, resell or incorporate local food in their activities. For example, they got Eby Manor, they produce cheese and milk and what have you,” Whittington said. “So, we’re going to include [businesses] that produce locally. Then we have businesses like the EcoCafe—they use the milk that Eby Manor produces…,” he said. New listings through the site are mostly acquired from Varga and Whittington driving around the region to look for new farms, finding businesses online and talking to people. However, users of the site can add their own listings that will be submitted for approval to be listed on the site.
“Businesses can claim their locations. They can add more relevant details and manage their own location, things like products they offer, and they can also communicate with [followers]…,” Varga said.
Varga is also a member of the advisory circle for a research project, Towards a Sustainable Food System for All, which focuses on food security and sovereignty in the region. Piknik.spot hopes that providing this directory will address these issues while also contributing to the local economy.
“We are so lucky here in Waterloo to have this rich environment for food production and so many small local farms contributing to our economy,” Whittington said.
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