Even when the harvest is over and it's cold outside, there are still ways to continue eating locally throughout the winter. Our friends over at Farm Folk City Folk have some awesome suggestions.
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| Credit: Magnolia Lim |
Why Eat Locally?
Eating food grown and raised locally is fundamental to the creation of a sustainable food system. It decreases the impact our lifestyle choices have on the environment, keeps money in our local economy, and builds community. By planting winter gardens, storing and preserving our harvest when it is abundant, and celebrating what's "in season", eating locally year round is possible.
Harvest Preservation
Preservation techniques halt ripening and prevent spoilage so our favourite flavours may be enjoyed beyond their seasonal availability.
Home canning is a traditional method of food preservation. There are two methods that are suitable to safely preserve a seasonal harvest.
- Hot water bath canning
uses boiling water to sterilize food and kill micro-organisms. Suitable for high acid foods like fruits and tomatoes with a pH below 4.5.
- Pressure canning is suitable for high and low acid foods. Low acid foods have a greater potential to grow botulism and so require higher temperatures to be preserved safely.
Want to get your hands on fresh organic produce but worried about the cost? Interested in supporting local farmers?
The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model allows consumers to deal directly with the producers of their food, eliminating the middle person, and in turn supplies them with fresh, local food. The reciprocal relationship between consumer and farmer promotes learning and sharing and allows greater control over what and how we eat.
Participants pay to enroll according to set terms, and their financial contribution is invested into the farm. Though CSA members share in the risks of farming, they also reap the benefits of a bountiful harvest.
Common Ground Community Garden is a fully sustainable Burnaby-based CSA farm tucked away just off North Fraser Way and, while not yet certified organic, Common Ground is committed to using organic farming methods. The farm uses integrated pest management (IPM) and cover crops as replacements for pesticides and herbicides.
For each week that is paid for, a basket of fresh produce is delivered to your neighbourhood drop-off site, beginning in late June and extending into late October. If potential members are not able to commit to a full season share, or cannot get through a whole basket of vegetables within a week, they can still buy weekly shares, paid one week in advance of delivery. A weekly share costs $32, while a 20-week share costs $500 or $640, depending on whether members choose a small or large box. That breaks down to $25 to $32 a week for groceries!
Want to try it out in advance of the 2013 season? There are a couple more weeks left in October, so be sure to check it out!
For more information on Common Ground Community Garden or to enroll, visit their website: http://www.cgorganicfarm.com/
Curious about other CSAs in the Lower Mainland and beyond? For a (non-exhaustive) list of participating farms in the province, visit http://www.farmfolkcityfolk.ca/
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