What's Happening in March

Whether sun, rain, or snow, here are some of the things going on around the city (many of which will also keep you warm and dry). Why not check out a workshop or two while you wait for the new roster of Burnaby Food First workshops?

Homesteader's Emporium

Location: Homesteader's Emporium (649 East Hastings / Vancouver - map)
Cost: Starting from $7.50

Check out some of these workshops hosted by the Homesteader's Emporium! For times, details, and registration for individual workshops, visit their Workshops page: http://www.homesteadersemporium.ca/calendar/

Upcoming Workshops

March 2: Transylvanian Artisan Breads
March 4: Introduction to Bee Keeping
March 6: Fresh Homemade Sausage
March 8: Mason Bee Keeping
March 8: Bee School 2014 (8-session course)
March 9: Kimchi 101
March 9: Sauerkraut 101
March 16: Kombucha 101
March 16: Ginger Beer and Wild Herbal Sodas
March 19: Basic Homemade Tofu
March 23: Edible Mushroom Cultivation
March 26: Nut Milk and Nut Cheese
March 30: Transplanting Early Direct Sowing (1075 East Hastings Street / Vancouver - map)

Just Film Festival

Location: Langara College (100 West 49th Avenue / Vancouver - map)
Date: February 28 to March 2, 2014
Cost: From $15 to $35 (Discounts available for CoDev members, students, seniors, and low-income individuals)

Source: Just Film Festival

The Just Film Festival (formerly, the World Community Film Festival), hosted by CoDevelopment Canada, returns for another year with a collection of over 20 social justice and environmental documentaries -- covering issues from food and farming to sustainability and globalization.

For more information about the festival and this year's films or to buy advance tickets, visit their website.

Sally Ann's Healthy Eating Kitchen

Location: The Salvation Army (3213 Fraser Street / Vancouver - map)
Dates: March 6, 2014 to March 27, 2014, from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Cost: FREE

The second month-long course of five cycles, join up to learn about cooking skills, nutrition, grocery budgeting, food safety, and meal planning.

Registration is required. Visit the Grandview-Woodlands website here for more information.

Cedar Cottage Food Network Workshops

Location: Trout Lake Community Centre (3360 Victoria Drive / Vancouver - map)
Cost: From $5 to $15

The Cedar Cottage Food Network hosts cooking and food skills workshops at the Trout Lake Community Centre in East Vancouver that cover everything from grocery budgeting and meal planning to urban beekeeping and gardening.

Check out these cool workshops on this month!

Registration is required. For more details or to register, visit their Workshop page: http://cedarcottagefoodnetwork.wordpress.com/workshops/

March 11: Vietnamese Cooking
March 25: Composting 101

UBC Farm Workshops

Location: UBC Farm Kitchen (3461 Ross Drive / Vancouver - map)
Cost: From $30 to $45

The Growing Season Workshop Series aims to connect the local community with sustainability and life-skill experts through accessible and affordable workshops. The workshops are open to everyone, and the revenue generated from workshops supports both the presenters and continued workshop programming at the UBC Farm.

Some popular past workshops include cheese making, seed saving and plant breeding, food preservation by fermentation, and a traditional Maya cooking class.

Check out this month's workshops!

March 5: Seasonal Soups
March 11: Ginger Beer and Wild Herbal Sodas
March 18: Kombucha 101

Registration is required. For more information or to register, visit the UBC Farm Workshop website: http://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/community/workshops-short-courses/

Vancouver Winter Farmers' Market

Location: Nat Bailey Stadium, East Parking Lot (4601 Ontario Street / Vancouver - map)
Dates: November 2, 2013 to April 26, 2014 (Closed December 28)
Hours: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday

Thought the start of winter meant the end of locally grown and made goodies?

Continuing from last month, the winter market hosts over 60 vendors -- nearly as many as the three main Vancouver summer markets combined! -- offers a range of foods, from local produce to homemade chocolate and maple treats.

In an effort to reduce plastic use at the market, please bring your own shopping bags.

For more information on the market, including transportation and parking at the site, please visit their website: http://www.eatlocal.org/

What's Happening in February

Curious about what's going on this month? Look no further -- there's a host of things to do, from workshops and public discussions to food and film events!

Vancouver Winter Farmers' Market

Location: Nat Bailey Stadium, East Parking Lot (4601 Ontario Street / Vancouver - map)
Dates: November 3, 2012 to April 27, 2013 (Closed December 29)
Hours: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday

Thought the start of winter meant the end of locally grown and made goodies?

Continuing from last month, the winter market hosts over 60 vendors -- nearly as many as the three main Vancouver summer markets combined! -- offers a range of foods, from local produce to homemade chocolate and maple treats.

All February, there will also be a Food Truck Festival at the farmers' market.

In an effort to reduce plastic use at the market, please bring your own shopping bags.

For more information on the market, including transportation and parking at the site, please visit their website: http://www.eatlocal.org/

Philosophers' Café: Governing Food Portions

Location: Surrey Public Library (10350 University Drive / Surrey - map)
Date: February 5, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Cost: FREE -- Note that this café is for teens only

New York City recently banned the sale of oversized soda drinks -- do you agree or disagree with the ban? Do you think the government should have control over food portions? What about in a school environment?

Philosophers’ Café is a series of informal public discussions in libraries, cafés, and restaurants throughout Metro Vancouver. The cafés, which are open to everyone, have brought dialogue and discussion to thousands of people who are interested in exploring issues from the absurd to the sublime.

For more information about this public discussion, visit the event website.

You can find out more about the Philosophers’ Café here.

Philosophers' Café: Climate Change

Location: Nature's Garden Organic Deli (8968 University High Street / Burnaby - map)
Date: February 6, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Cost: FREE

What are the solutions for our environmental crises? With the increased visibility of climate change, we know that something is wrong with the planet -- but what are we doing to remedy it?

Philosophers’ Café is a series of informal public discussions in libraries, cafés, and restaurants throughout Metro Vancouver. The cafés, which are open to everyone, have brought dialogue and discussion to thousands of people who are interested in exploring issues from the absurd to the sublime.

For more information about this public discussion, visit the event website.

You can find out more about the Philosophers’ Cafe here.

Sprouting

Location: Hastings Community Centre (3096 East Hastings / Vancouver - map)
Date: February 12, 2013, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Cost: $8

Part of the Seasons of Food workshop series, instructor Jill Whitelaw will demonstrate how to sprout mung beans, alfalfa, sunflower seeds, and lentils for optimal nutrition and freshness.

For more information or to register, visit the Hastings Community Centre website: https://pbregister.vancouver.ca/

Note that child- and infant-minding are also available for this one-day class. Register early, because spots are limited.

Baking Bread From Around the World

Location: Collingwood Neighbourhood House (5288 Joyce Street / Vancouver - map)
Date: February 13, 2013, from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Cost: Call to inquire

Join other foodies for an evening of bread making!

The Renfrew-Collingwood Food Security Institute has a new line-up of workshops for winter and spring. For more information, visit their website: http://rcfsi.blogspot.ca/2013/01/new-schedule.html

Registration is required. Space is limited! To register, send an email or call (604) 435-0323, or visit their website for more information.

One week's notice is required for child-minding and translation services.

12th Annual World Community Film Festival

Location: Langara College (100 West 49th Avenue / Vancouver - map)
Date: February 15 to 17, 2013
Cost: From $15 to $30 (Discounts available for CoDev members, students, seniors, and low-income individuals)

The World Community Film Festival, hosted by CoDevelopment Canada, returns for another year with a collection of over 40 social justice and environmental documentaries -- covering issues from food and farming to sustainability and labour issues.

For more information about the festival and this year's films or to buy advance tickets, visit their website.

Canning Rhubarb Jam

Location: Hastings Community Centre (3096 East Hastings / Vancouver - map)
Date: February 19, 2013, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Cost: $8

Part of the Seasons of Food workshop series, instructor Melody Kurt will lead participants through the process of making jam. Each person will also take home a jar or two of delicious rhubarb jam!

For more information or to register, visit the Hastings Community Centre website: https://pbregister.vancouver.ca/

Note that child- and infant-minding are also available for this one-day class. Register early, because spots are limited.

Seed Saving and Basic Plant Breeding

Location: Hastings Community Centre (3096 East Hastings / Vancouver - map)
Date: February 19, 2013, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $35

Part of the Seasons of Food workshop series, instructor Grant Watson will cover different strategies that plants use to reproduce, as well as how to use this information to effectively select, harvest, and store your own seeds, with an emphasis on annual food crops.

It is strongly suggested that participants take "Botany for Gardeners" prior to this workshop.

For more information or to register, visit the Hastings Community Centre website: https://pbregister.vancouver.ca/

Native Edibles (Gardening)

Location: Hastings Community Centre (3096 East Hastings / Vancouver - map)
Date: February 26, 2013, from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Cost: $8

Join Grant Watson to learn which greens can be started early indoors. After, take a walk through the teaching garden and beyond to find some native edible plants and then sit down together for a mid-winter salad lunch.

For more information or to register, visit the Hastings Community Centre website: https://pbregister.vancouver.ca/

Note that child- and infant-minding are also available for this one-day class. Register early, because spots are limited.