Local Delicious

Hah! So I am NOT the only one itching to get into the garden! There is already a whole workshop series lined up…

Village Vancouver is pleased to present gardening workshops with Grant Watson of Gourmet Gardens. Grant is a former organic farmer and has been teaching gardening to adults and children since 2003. He also operates an edible landscaping business.

A full list of workshops with dates and locations is available on the Gourmet Gardens website, along with course descriptions. To register contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

Here’s a sampling of what’s in store:

Garden Planning and Preparation
This course will get you started in thinking about how to start a food garden, and taking the first important step of getting the beds ready for planting. A sound garden plan that takes all the key factors into consideration has a better chance of producing and winning your enthusiasm.

Food Crops: Selection & Care
So you’ve got a garden all ready for planting. What are you going to put in, and when should you start? This course will cover all the major groups of vegetable and fruit crops that grow well in our climate. We will also discuss the specific needs of plants in each category.

Soil Fertility and Plant Health Management
An extremely important topic in organic gardening is soil health and fertility. Healthy soil is a vibrant community. Learn how to be an ally, not an enemy of your soil. We’ll also cover some key techniques for promoting and protecting your annual and perennial food plants, as well as the ones that just look pretty, from disease and pests.

These days every time I walk by the community garden where my plot is located, I start feeling itchy. I know we’re all ramped up for the 2010 Winter Olympics and it’s only mid-February, but the crocuses are already in full bloom and we haven’t a stitch of snow on the local mountains (ironic, isn’t it?). That MUST mean it’s time to think about the garden!

If you’re getting all twitchy for a gardening fix, here are a couple of upcoming events at VanDusen Botanical Garden to get you ready for planting:

Seed Swap
Presented by the BC Master Gardeners Association, the annual Seedy Saturday is held in Floral Hall. A celebration of heritage varieties and organic gardening featuring more than 30 growers, seed companies and exhibitors and Heritage Seed Swap. There will be a variety of seed-inspired activities for the whole family. Admission by donation.

Saturday, February 27, 2010
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
5251 Oak Street at 37th Avenue
Vancouver, BC

Annual Manure Sale
Give your garden a spring tonic! Cost is $5 for a 20kg bag. For information and pre-orders email marcelfpichette@alumni.uottawa.ca.

Saturday, March 6, 2010
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
5251 Oak Street at 37th Avenue – Parking lot
Vancouver, BC

Rocky Mountain Flatbread is hosting three share-the-proceeds events with Farm Folk/City Folk on February 2, 9 and 16, 2010. Rocky Mountain Flatbread has long been a supporter of eating local — they source much of the ingredients for their menu from local farmers.

Fund raise painlessly while you enjoy local and delicious eats.

The Earthwise Society has brought Gaia College’s popular Organic Master Gardener Certification Course to its beautiful campus at Earthwise Garden and Farm in Boundary Bay, Tsawwassen. The session starts this Monday — quick, there’s still time if you’re interested.

Everyone is welcome. No previous experience required. Just come, learn and have fun. It is a practical experience-based course consisting of lectures and hands-on exercises. To receive a Certificate of Completion students must attend all sessions and complete and present a satisfactory assignment.

The sessions run Mondays and Thursdays starting Monday, January 25th. For more information about the course, contact the Earthwise Society directly.

Langara College, in concert with Village Vancouver, is hosting Fork in the Road, Cultivating Food and Community in Local Neighbourhoods this weekend, November 13 & 14. Participants to this workshop walk away with practical tools and ideas for involving friends and neighbours in local food issues and the inspiration to become involved in a neighbourhood food network.

Theatrical games and exercise are used to facilitate dialogue and personal change. Past participants have called these sessions, “Energizing”, “Fun”, “Mind-opening”, and “Empowering”.

Friday, November 13, 6:30 – 9:30pm and
Saturday, November 14, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (workshop includes both sessions)
Langara College
100 West 49 Avenue, Vancouver
$50 admission fee
Register: 604.323.5322
Bring your own lunch and food to share

For further information, contact Leslie Kemp at 604.323.5981

Do you plan to attend? Please leave a comment and let us know how it goes.

Celebrate the bounty of local tomatoes at this year’s Vancouver Farmers’ Market’s Tomato Festival. Rediscover the tomato and learn about varieties you never knew existed like the Green Pineapple (which has an excellent tropical fruit flavour with a hint of pineapple, believe it or not).

Festivals begin this weekend!

Saturday, August 22nd
9:00 – 2:00 pm
Trout Lake Market

Wednesday, August 26th
Main Street Market

Saturday, August 29th
9:00 – 2:00 pm
West End Market

Sunday, August 30th
10:00 – 2:00 pm
Kitsilano Market

Enjoy Tomato Festival activities, including:

• A beautiful display of the many tomato varieties grown by our farmers
• Free (and delicious) Tomato Recipes
• Tomato Tastings
• Kids crafts with a tomato theme
• Face painting for your little tomato
• Guest Chef Neil Taylor from Cibo Trattoria at the Trout Lake and West End Festivals

Do you plan to go? Leave a comment.