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.

Upcoming Workshops: Canning, Dehydrating, and Seed Saving

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

Whole Fruit Canning: The Joy of Sweet and Sour Fruit

Wednesday, August 21

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Cranberry Commons (4272 Albert Street / Burnaby - map)

Credit: Sofi Martinez

Learn with Karen DarWoon how to can local, fresh whole fruit in a sweet and sour style. You get a jar to take home with you! This will be a hands-on workshop.

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Karen DarWoon is a personal chef and former Board Member of the Richmond Sharing Farm Society who is passionate about urban farming and the fun of food!

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.

Rescheduled: Burnaby Seed Saving Workshop

Hey Burnaby!

The upcoming Burnaby Seed Saving Workshop is being rescheduled from May 14 to a date in the early fall to be announced soon. 

Apologies for the change -- but we look forward to seeing you at one of our other upcoming workshops. 

Credit: Richard Thomas via Photopin (cc)

What is seed saving about?

Seed saving is the practice of saving seeds or other reproductive material from vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers for use from year to year for annuals and nuts, tree fruits, and berries from perennials and trees. It is one of the oldest methods for maintaining farms and gardens.

Why seed saving?

Whether you're a novice or a more skilled gardener, if you're looking for ways to maintain your garden over the seasons, seed saving is one of the easiest and affordable ways to extend the life of your plants. Join us and learn how to save and store seeds -- and if you happen to have some seeds saved, bring them along to share and trade with others!

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!

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.