Introduction Thanks for picking up the community oven ‘getting started’ guide. This document goes through the process that was used to start the Front Street Community Oven in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. It outlines planning considerations, how to get support for oven projects, how to encourage community involvement, and other important details. The latest draft of the Front Street Community Oven Operations Manual, as of June 19, 2020, is also available for you for free. Front Street Oven Model Overview ● Volunteers always operate the oven; it is not open for the public to use on their own. ● Open ovens on Saturdays, from 12pm-3pm, for all members of the community; other bookings of the oven are done online. ● Bookings cost money. We operate on a sliding scale to accommodate different income levels; those who can pay more are encouraged to do so. ● Whenever the oven is up and running, it is open for the public to use. ● It is all inclusive and is open to everyone. We design the space and all processes around using the oven to be a safe environment, with no discrimination. ● The oven operates on the Town of Wolfville’s land, so therefore has an official agreement in which to operate. ● It is designed to be a social enterprise, a non-profit with the goal of paying a coordinator and revenues to cover operating expenses. ● Created and run by a non-profit board, registered through Nova Scotia joint stocks registry. Our Process 1. Sketch out the idea; create a compelling argument in 2-pager to show community partners, funders etc. 2. Figure out where the barriers are and what sort of opportunities exist by making a list then talking to members of the community. 3. Approach the Town of Wolfville about the idea and what would it take to get something like this off of the ground and on town land. 4. Start developing relationships. Town of Wolfville, Wolfville Business Development Corporation (WBDC), Farmers’ Market, Acadia University (student projects), etc. 5. Figure out who we need to make it work: Architect, engineer, builders, community builders, fundraiser etc. 6. General oven and building design to create a budget; start fundraising process. 7. Develop the language around the project and create values statements: Why it is important, how it can work, and why it matters. 8. Go public. Start spreading the word and get people excited about the project. Visited Farmers’ Market community booth as a way to connect with the community. 9. Gather team to create a board and create working groups. (We would have done this earlier if we were to do it again). 10. Get everything lined up to start building the oven. We ended up building the oven without a shelter first so that we could get it in use right away in which to get exposure and garner more support. 11. Started open ovens and taking bookings. 3
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