Delicious, Nutritious Holiday Giving

Join Burnaby Food First Tomorrow, Sun. Dec. 4

Free Workshop, Children Welcome

Doing More with your Bread Basket

Doing More with your Bread Basket

What: Learn what to do with your leftover bread, pita, tortilla & rolls
When: Monday, October 17th, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Where: Tommy Douglas Branch, Burnaby Public Library
Cost: FREE
Registration Required:
Contact Meghan by e-mail: burnabyfoodfirst@gmail.com, or phone: 604-209-2404

Burnaby Village Market Mondays and Bee Workshop

Burnaby Food First has two FREE events coming up!

Market Mondays at Burnaby Village Museum

Monday, May 18
11:00 am - 4:30 pm
Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Avenue / Burnaby - map)

Join Burnaby Food First at the Burnaby Village Museum on Victoria Day! Drop by for some of our activities, find out more about our free events and workshops, and learn about food security in Burnaby.

Market Mondays at Burnaby Village Museum feature unique vendors featuring locally made products. It is a gathering place for the communities where people can learn about Burnaby's history and explore a variety of artisan and handmade items.

For more information on Market Mondays, visit the Burnaby Village Museum page here.

Bee Workshop

Monday, June 1
6:30 pm - 8:15 pm
Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Join been enthusiasts Jaycee Clarkson and Marika van Reeuwyk and learn how to welcome bees into gardening spaces of all types!

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

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Enjoy Burnaby Food First workshops? Want to get involved as a volunteer?

Check out all the great ways you can get involved. All are welcome, and we'd love to have you on board! For more information, send us an email.

Tommy Douglas Library 5th Anniversary Celebration

Burnaby Public Library, one of our organization members, is hosting their 5th anniversary celebration for the Tommy Douglas branch!

Tommy Douglas Library 5th Anniversary Celebration

Location: Burnaby Public Library, Tommy Douglas Branch (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)
Time: Saturday, November 22, 2014 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Join library staff for hands-on activities for all ages, musical presentations, and cake and prizes.

There will also be a special sushi making presentation by Teen Librarian Rachel Yaroshuk in partnership with Burnaby Food First at 12:00 pm. The sushi making demonstration will be a drop-in event, but space will be limited.

Registration is not required.

Art of Drying and Storing Foods

Art of Drying and Storing Foods

Tuesday, October 7
6:30 pm - 8:15 pm
Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Save the goodness of summer! Learn how to dry and store your own food at home. Led by Chef Andrea Potter.
 
**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

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Enjoy Burnaby Food First workshops? Want to get involved as a volunteer?

Check out all the great ways you can get involved. All are welcome, and we'd love to have you on board! For more information, send us an email.

Upcoming Workshops: Food Gardening and Canning

Burnaby Food First is pleased to present another FREE community workshop (funded by Vancity)!

Winter Container Food Gardening - Getting a Head Start

Monday, August 25
6:30 pm - 8:15 pm
Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Join Athenaise Guertin to get a head start and learn how to grow food in winter! No gardening experience necessary.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Introduction to Canning

Wednesday, September 3
6:30 pm - 8:15 pm
Burnaby Community Services Kitchen (2055 Rosser Avenue / 1 1/2 blocks from Brentwood Skytrain Station - map)

Join master canner Alice Macpherson to learn how to can your own fruit. This is a hands-on workshop, and you will get to take home a jar of what you have canned!

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Note: Parking is limited at this location. Please consider biking or taking transit.

Enjoy Burnaby Food First workshops? Want to get involved as a volunteer?

Check out all the great ways you can get involved. All are welcome, and we'd love to have you on board! For more information, send us an email.

Upcoming Workshops: Whole Fruit Canning and Container Food Gardening

Burnaby Food First is pleased to present two more FREE community workshops (funded by Vancity).

Whole Fruit Canning

Thursday, August 7
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Cranberry Commons (4272 Albert Street / Burnaby - map)

Joyce Cameron will show you how to prepare and can fresh fruit. This is a hands-on workshop, and you will get to take home a jar of what you have canned!

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Winter Container Food Gardening - Getting a Head Start

Tuesday, August 12
6:30 pm - 8:15 pm
Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Join Kayla Gagne to get a head start and learn how to grow food in winter! No gardening experience is necessary.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**


Enjoy Burnaby Food First workshops? Want to get involved as a volunteer?

Check out all the great ways you can get involved. All are welcome, and we'd love to have you on board! For more information, send us an email.

Container Food Gardening Workshop

Burnaby Food First is pleased to present another FREE workshop in partnership with the Burnaby Public Library and funded by Vancity.

Container Food Gardening

Thursday, April 17
6:30 pm - 8:15 pm
Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Get ready to grow! Learn to grow vegetables in pots. Great for apartments and small spaces, and you get to take home a starter pot!

Led by Barbara Coward and Sharon Hanna, author of The Book of Kale and Kale and Friends.

Everyone is welcome. Free but space is limited!

*REGISTRATION CLOSED* 

This workshop is now full. Stay tuned for new workshop announcements!

Next 'Sewing for Food Security' Meeting

Sewing volunteers for The Apron Project are invited to attend a meeting:

Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway - map) on Tuesday, January 21 starting at 7:00 pm.

See you there!

One of our Apron Volunteers hard at work!
Credit: Rebekah Mahaffey

More Sewing Volunteers Needed for our Apron Project!

Want to help Sew for Food Security?

The next meeting of The Apron Project Sewing Circle is Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 pm at the Tommy Douglas Library. Bring your ideas and any fabric you may have that is suitable for sewing aprons.

Don't have fabric? Come anyway, and we will provide the fabric and thread!

People of all ages, including Antonietta Gabriele, aged 82 (see photo below!), are sewing aprons to raise funds for Burnaby Food First to do our work in food security. All funds earned will be used to provide free education workshops and fund other Burnaby Food First projects.

Antonietta Gabriele, one of our volunteers!
Credit: Maria Finamore

Can't sew or don't have time, but have used or new fabric? Fabric may be dropped off at the South Burnaby or Brentwood Branches of VanCity or at the Tommy Douglas Library.

Winter Container Gardening Workshop

Burnaby Food First is pleased to present our first long-awaited fall community workshop!

Winter Container Food Gardening

Tuesday, September 24
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

In this winter container food gardening for beginners workshop, participants will learn how to grow food such as lettuces, kale, and mustards in a container using seeds and low-cost supplies.

We will focus on important winter food gardening tips that make it possible to enjoy fresh, healthy food from your container garden throughout the winter season.

Participants will plant and take home their own winter food garden container! All supplies will be provided.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Nova is a visual storyteller who helps good people do cool things. As a BC artist, graphic designer, and permaculturalist, she believes in helping others by inspiring neighbours and communities to come together through the connection of nature, place-making, and food. Nova is a member of the Burnaby Food First Gardening Committee and the Fraser Valley Permaculture Guild; she also works with a local organic farmer and can be found at farmers' markets selling local veggies.

Leanne Zmud is a certified Permaculture Designer and enthusiastic gardener who is passionate about promoting food security. Her interest in sustainable food systems and community engagement was sparked as she focused on urban planning while completing her geography degree at Simon Fraser University. She works with Burnaby Food First to promote food security, participates in community gardens in addition to her home gardening endeavours, and can be found working at the various farmers' markets. Leanne believes “Plant happiness; Spaces into places”.

The Art of Drying and Seed Saving: Spots Still Left!

There are still spots left in the upcoming Burnaby Food First workshops!

Art of Drying and Storing Foods

Tuesday, September 10

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Learn how to prepare and store dried fruits and vegetables, as well as how to make your own fruit leather! This will be a demonstration-style workshop.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Andrea Potter is a Red Seal Chef and a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. She teaches whole-foods cooking classes and also offers nutrition counselling. She is passionate about the benefits of whole, local and slow foods. For more information on Andrea Potter, visit her website: http://wholefoodscooking.ca/.

Burnaby Seed Saving Workshop

Tuesday, September 17

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Learn the basics of how to start saving and storing seeds. Saving seeds saves you money, helps biodiversity, and lets you keep growing the variety of plants that you know work for you.

If you have seeds you have saved, bring them to share and trade! This will be a demonstration-style workshop.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Cylia Taryse Wong, who helped create the Cedar Cottage Seedsaving Collective (a seed bank) in 2011, is a Gaia College organic master gardener, certified permaculturist, and member of two Vancouver community gardens and Copley Commons Orchard. She brings her hands-on knowledge and experience with community gardening and seed saving to this workshop.

Up, Up, and Away!

Burnaby Nature House presents Nature that Floats, Flies, and Soars

Burnaby Food First wanted to let you know about a great family program coming soon at a
Burnaby library near you!

Join 'Up, Up, and Away!' to discover fun and interesting animal facts followed by an activity or craft! This program features a guest speaker from Metro Vancouver's Burnaby Lake Nature House.

This is a free, drop-in program for children ages 5 - 12. Parents are advised to accompany children aged 10 and under.

Wednesday, August 14th / 2:00 - 3:30pm
Tommy Douglas Library

Thursday, August 15th / 1:00 - 2:30pm
McGill Branch Library

He's looking forward to meeting you!
Source: Burnaby Public Library

Thank you to Metro Vancouver's Burnaby Nature House for providing the guest speaker. VisitMetro Vancouver Regional Parks' Facebook pagefor more information about Burnaby Nature House.

Upcoming Food First Workshops: Bee-Keeping and Pickling

Burnaby Food First is pleased to present two more FREE community workshops!

Introduction to Bee-Keeping

Tuesday, May 28
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Source: Josh Gitalis

Under certain conditions, the City of Burnaby allows residents to keep bees. Come and learn how to start your own hive and how to plant your garden for pollinators. The workshop is led by Janice Bobic, a Burnaby community member and bee-keeping expert -- and also includes a honey tasting!

This workshop will be demonstration-style and is offered in partnership with the Burnaby Public Library.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Janice Bobic is a Burnaby bee expert who also owns and operates My Father's Garden, a Burnaby-based small business focusing on local artisan food production.

Secrets of Pickling

Wednesday, May 29
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Newcomers Centre (7009 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Source: Serious Eats

Join master chef Andrea Potter and learn how to make your own pickled foods using fermentation. Take home samples! We will be fermenting fresh local radishes from Urban Digs Farm in Burnaby.

This workshop will be hands-on and is funded by VanCity. 

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Andrea Potter is a Red Seal Chef and a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. She teaches whole-foods cooking classes and also offers nutrition counselling. She is passionate about the benefits of whole, local and slow foods. For more information on Andrea Potter, visit her website: http://wholefoodscooking.ca/.

What's Happening in May

The weather is getting warmer and flowers are in bloom -- it's time to get outside and enjoy all the cool events going on around the city! Whether you're looking to try your hand at gardening or want to get the first look at the farmers' market harvests, there's plenty going on this month.

Artisan Farmers' Markets

Lonsdale Quay
Location: Lonsdale Quay, East Plaza (123 Carrie Cates Court / North Vancouver - map)
Dates: May 4, 2013 to October 26, 2013
Hours: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each Saturday

Burnaby Market
Location: Burnaby City Hall, North Parking Lot (4949 Canada Way / Burnaby - map)
Dates: May 4, 2013 to October 26, 2013
Hours: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday

Ambleside Market
Location: West Vancouver Police Station, Parking Lot (13th and 14th Street and Bellevue Avenue / West Vancouver - map)
Dates: May 5, 2013 to October 27, 2013
Hours: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each Sunday

Find a great selection of conventional and organic foods, from fresh produce to prepared food and handmade products. There's everything from jam, honey, and salsa to berries and greens!

The markets also host a book exchange, reading area, and activities table and live music.

In an effort to reduce plastic use, please bring your own plastic or reusable shopping bags.

For more information on these markets, including monthly market events, visit the Artisan Farmers' Markets website: http://www.artisanmarkets.ca/

Aquaponics: Sustainable Fish from Your Own Backyard

Location: To be disclosed
Date: May 4, 2013, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Cost: $8.25

Join Shaun Mavronicola for a practical workshop on how to produce organic vegetables and fresh fish in just one sustainable, closed-loop system all in your backyard.

Note that this is an outdoor workshop, so be sure to dress for the weather, rain or shine!

Space is limited, and registration is required.

For more information or to register, visit the workshop page: http://www.northshorerecycling.ca/

The Book of Kale

Location: Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)
Date: May 5, 2013, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Cost: FREE (Registration required)

Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense greens out there -- but many people may not know that they should be eating it or just don't know how delicious it can be.

Author Sharon Hanna (The Book of Kale) will be at the Library to discuss her best-selling cookbook, a garden-to-kitchen guide that gives readers all they need to know to grow and cook this amazing, versatile veggie.

Books will also be available for purchase at the event for $25.00.

Registration is required, and space is limited. For more information or to register, visit the event website: http://www.bpl.bc.ca/events/the-book-of-kale

Need inspiration? Check out this recipe for easy Kale Chips.

Vancouver Farmers' Markets

Trout Lake Market
Location: John Hendry Park, North Parking Lot (East 13th Avenue @ Lakewood and Templeton / Vancouver - map)
Dates: May 11, 2013 to October 19, 2013
Hours: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday

Kitsilano Market
Location: Kitsilano Community Centre, Parking Lot (2690 Larch Street / Vancouver - map)
Dates: May 12, 2013 to October 20, 2013
Hours: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each Sunday

Vendors include farmers, fishers, artisans, food preparers, and more! The markets this year will also feature a great list of events and activities, as well as the upcoming Fun With Food stations, getting people of all ages involved in food literacy education. Click here for more information on events at the markets.

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/

Source: Grandview-Woodlands
Food Connection

18th Annual Stone Soup Festival

Location: Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier Street / Vancouver - map)
Date: May 11, 2013, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Cost: FREE

The Festival is a celebration of food, art, environment, and community, including a food market, local artists, community groups, talks and workshops, live music, and a host of other activities. Join others and celebrate the diversity of food in the neighbourhood and the importance of food and the environment to the culture of the community.

For details on the Festival, visit http://gwfoodconnection.wordpress.com/events/

Patio Veggies

Location: John Braithwaite Community Centre (145 West 1st Street / North Vancouver - map)
Date: May 14, 2013, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Cost: $8.25

Limited space but want to grow your own food? Join Heather Johnstone to learn all about container gardening.

Space is limited, and registration is required.

For more information or to register, visit the workshop page: http://www.northshorerecycling.ca/

Food and Diabetes

Location: Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier Street / Vancouver - map)
Date: May 30, 2013, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: $15

While genetic factors play a role in susceptibility to diabetes, environmental factors are often required to bring upon its onset.

Come learn how to prevent and cope with diabetes naturally through food and lifestyle choices, and walk away with the knowledge and tools to identify healthy food options and avoid poor food choices. Get recipe ideas, meal plans, information on helpful herbs and supplements, and tips on addressing related lifestyle factors.

For more information on this and other workshops and events by Grandview-Woodlands Food Connection, or to register, visit their Workshops page: http://gwfoodconnection.wordpress.com/workshops/

Upcoming Food First Events

Burnaby Food First is pleased to present two more FREE community workshops!

Wild Spring Plants You Can Eat!
Walking and Eating Tour

Monday, May 13
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Meeting Location: Highest point in the SFU Academic Quadrangle Courtyard. Walk the pathway that runs through the Academic Quadrangle to the knoll. The knoll is the small hill in the middle of the square quadrangle building (map).

Source: The Land Conservancy (Photo: J. Rastogi)

Come join Alexander McNaughton for a nature-walk while we learn about the wonderful wild edible plants hiding in Burnaby Mountain! You will also get to taste some pre-picked and prepared edible plants.

Wear shoes you can walk in and bring a bag and a water bottle. We will go rain or shine so bring your raincoat in case of rain.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Alexander McNaughton has had his hands in the earth since the very beginning. Now living in Vancouver, Alexander has been consumed by a love affair with wild and local food. His true passion lies in sharing the joy of real food with folks of all ages. Expect to find him in the deep woods with gangs of small children hunting for edible mushrooms or haunting farmers markets with a wooden wine crate filled to the brim on his shoulder.

Promotional Flyer: Wild Spring Plants Walking Tour

Burnaby Seed Saving Workshop

Tuesday, May 14

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Source: Local Delicious

Learn the basics of how to get started saving and storing seeds.

Saving seeds

• saves you money
• helps biodiversity

If you have seeds you have saved, bring them to share and trade!

**RESCHEDULED**

Promotional Flyer: Burnaby Seed Saving Workshop

See you there!

Ice Cream Making Workshop

Burnaby Food First is pleased to present another FREE Community Workshop! This workshop will be demonstration-style.

Homemade Ice Cream

Tuesday, January 29
6:00 pm - 7:15 pm

Tommy Douglas Library (7311 Kingsway / Burnaby - map)

Source: 52 Scoops 

Led by self-declared "food nerd", Karin Hung, this workshop will introduce you to the basics of making your own ice cream using whole, local ingredients. Karin will demonstrate how to make ice cream both with a machine and by hand. There will also be tastings and door prizes. 

For more information on Karin, visit http://52scoops.com.   

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

See you there!

Workshop Review: Healthy Holiday Baking

Thank you for coming out to our Healthy Holiday Baking workshop this month!

Returning baker Scott Bernstein, from our Easy Bread Making workshop,  showed us how to incorporate honey into shortbread and honey cake with caramelized pears.

Scott making the final touches on the Honey Cake.
Credit: Magnolia Lim

Participants at the workshop also learned a bit about making substitutions in baking to accommodate diet restrictions.

Honey shortbread out for sampling!
Credit: Magnolia Lim

We learned lots that evening, and thank you to all participants who helped make the workshop a success.

Keen participants watching the demonstration.
Credit: Magnolia Lim

Keep an eye on the blog for information on workshops in the next year! We have some great ideas and will be announcing them soon.

For copies of the recipes used in this workshop, please visit our Recipe page:

Honey Cake with Caramelized Pears
Honey Shortbread