Update on Madrona Farm campaign
Submitted by Ramona Scott
As of January 9, 2009, the Friends of Madrona Farm have dug deep and raised $300,000. This first instalment is a big step towards the purchase of Madrona Farm and its eventual protection by TLC The Land Conservancy who will ensure local food production and ecological values forever. Read more...
Canada, farmers and payment for ecological goods and services
Article published in Canadian Farm Manager - Giving credit to where it's due, December 16, 2008
It's been a long time coming, but there are signs that paying farmers to care for the environment is an idea whose time has come...Bryan Gilvesy, a former tobacco farmer who now raises longhorn cattle, predicts that giving farmers a hand in preserving the environment will have significant economic implications for rural Canada, and benefits for the whole country in the years and decades ahead. Click here to read the full article.
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Food security courses and workshops
Upcoming workshops at ALM farm
Click here to read about upcoming spring and summer workshops at ALM farm. Topics incude Grow Amazing Tomatoes, Plant Propagation, the Winter Garden and Seed Saving.
Four Courses at UVic on sustainable food
Click here to read about continuing studies courses at UVic covering the topics introduction to sustainable gastronomy, introduction to food culture, coffee talk and exploring local foods
Spring courses at Gaia College: New courses plus old favourites
Click here to read about the spring lineup of courses offered by Gaia College. Topics include growing food in the city, plant knowledge for organic gardeners, organic master gardener course, plus soil and turf management
Growing an edible plant business and zero mile diet
Growing an edible plant business is a 10-month entrepreneurial training programme - a business approach to increasing local food security with Carolyn Herriot. Click here for details. Zero mile diet: 12 steps to sustainable home grown food production - an organic approach to greater food self suffiency. Click here for course details.
Westshore Centre for Learning and Training: Food & Landscape: Urban & Backyard Gardening
Upcoming courses at Westshore centre will dive into topics such as Backyard Composting: Preparing for Summer Planting, Growing From Seeds - Getting a Good Start, Planning Your Vegetable Garden – Year Round, and Growing Food in Small Spaces. Read more...
New certificate program: Sustainable Local Food for All Canadians
St. Lawrence College in Kingston recently announced a new distance education certificate program in Sustainable Local Food for All Canadians. Visit their website for details.
Online Food Security Resources
Submitted by Monty Crisp
Read about the online continuing education courses recommended by a member of the local food security community. Read more...
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Community Announcements and Submissions
Seedy Saturday, February 21 2009
Submitted by Pat McGuire
16th Annual SEEDY SATURDAY hosted by the James Bay Market Society
10am - 4pm, Victoria Conference Centre. Admission $7, under 12 free.
Highlights of the day include seeds, plants, small fruits, garden products, seed exchange, Master Gardeners, film, displays, free speaker presentations, kids' activity room. Keynote speakers: Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seeds (Oregon) and noted Vancouver florist Thomas Hobbs. Read more...
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Island Chefs' Collaborative Local Food Festival, May 31, 2009
Submitted by Jacques Forest
The Island Chefs' Collaborative is proud to announce the annual Local Food Festival on Sunday 31st of
May from 12pm to 4pm at Fort Rodd Hill Historic Site.
Come celebrate Vancouver Island food, the people that bring it to us and the many
organizations that promote sustainable agriculture, green living and community
involvement. It’s a combination tasting and educational event not to be missed. Click here for details.
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City of Colwood's GO LOCAL Tomato Challenge
Submitted by Cindy Moyer
Over 200 people took part in the City of
Colwood’s GO LOCAL Tomato Challenge, growing organic
heritage variety tomatoes. We had fun with food, and took to talking about
what we were eating; sharing simple stories of our lessons learned at work
in the soil. A group of folks became more connected with the food they
were eating, and in the process a little more connected with people in their
community and themselves. They are taking quiet and simple climate
action, creating a healthier future. You can, too. If you want to learn more about what you can do
to take personal climate action on the West Shore, contact the West Shore Chamber of Commerce
at 250.478.1130 or send an email to: climateaction@westshore.bc.ca.
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A Call for Papers on Ecological & Cultural Restoration of Food Species & Their Management Traditions
Submitted by Dennis Martinez, Co-chair Indigenous Peoples' Restoration Network (IPRN)
We are seeking full-length articles and restoration notes for a special issue of Ecological Restoration on the theory and practice of community-based ecological and cultural restoration of food. We are interested in the restoration and management of plants and animals prehistorically or historically used for food that have suffered declines. Read more...
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Garden Institute of BC GIS Heritage Crops Database
Submitted by Sharon Rempel
The Garden Institute of B.C. (www.tgibc.org), based in Victoria, BC is working on a GIS database to help match heritage varieties of crops with the story of the food, the historic climate data and quality of food produced. We also have worked in documenting the story that goes with the seed; see Seed Words project and BOB on our website. TGIBC is new to the region but 10 years old in Canada. People may want to explore DIG - Diversity in Gardens, a free download on our site and also under 'books' at www.grassrootsolutions.com
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Events
Click here to see a calendar of food related events going on in the region.
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Local Foods Recipe: Roasted Buttercup Squash with Garlic and Rosemary
There are still local farm squash for sale: they are one of the winter keepers, and are heatlhy and delicious.
Submitted by Robin Tunnicliffe
Buttercup squash is the blocky green type that looks like a curling stone. It's my favourite because its dense, dry flesh melds well with savoury oil. This recipe is from Tina Baynes, my friend and farming mentor.
1 buttercup squash, halved with seeds removed
4 tablespoons of butter
4 cloves of garlic, peeled
2 sprigs of rosemary
Preheat the oven to 350 ºF. Place the squash halves, cut side up on a baking tray. Put a generous pat of butter into the cavity of each half and rub some of it into the cut surfaces of the squash. Put the garlic cloves and rosemary into the cavities as well. Roast at 350ºF until tender. If the top starts to brown too much, cover with foil. The rosemary and garlic should be wonderfully fragrant and delciously deep fried in the butter. Cut into quarters and serve.
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