Happy New Year- January Markets

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope your holidays were filled with fun, family and food! Are you hoping to eat healthier in the New Year?
 Markets will resume as always, at Helping Spirit Lodge & Orchard Park on the 2nd Saturday of each month and at Brant Villa and Culloden Court on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

Come check out our January Markets. This Saturday we will be at our usual spots.

Helping Spirit Lodge-
3965 Dumfries Street near Kingsway Ave (right across from the Rona on the West side)
We will be there from 10-12

Orchard Park-
5988 Nanaimo St near E. 45th Ave
We will be there from 2-4 (plus there is a tasting kitchen with some delicious recipes being made!)

Here is what we are hoping to have at this week's markets:

From BC:
Gala Apples
Beets
Red Nugget Potatoes

Organic:
Bananas

From Elsewhere:
Hosui Pears
Navel Oranges
Broccoli
Carrots
Baby Bok Choy

Please come down and check it out.

** In other news**

If you are interested in food security, and community health and development please come to our Community Engagement Meeting on February 1st from 6:30-8 held at the Kensington library.(Parking is available). Space is limited so please email me if you plan on attending at tlccfoodsecurity@gmail.com. It will be a great opportunity to get to know your neighbours, network with others and to provide some input into what's going on in your community.

 

Winter Markets: December 10th and 17th

Happy December Everyone! The holidays are right around the corner. I love this season: warm clothes, frosty weather, festive music, but most of all I love the food. I love holiday baking- breads, cookies and pies; hearty soups and warm winter salads.

We have two markets coming up this weekend, and thankfully we will be indoors at both locations. Please take advantage of this great opportunity to shop in a warm and fun environment for incredibly beautiful and affordable produce.

Tomorrow morning (Dec 10th) from 10-12pm, we will be set up at Helping Spirit Lodge on Dumfries, just off of Kingsway. We will be indoors, but you'll have to come through the back parking lot. Keep your eyes open for our directional signs and the TLCC awnings.

Later on in the afternoon from 2-4pm we will be set up at Orchard Park inside at the Nancy Styles Hall located at the corner of 45th and Nanaimo. Again, look out for the awning and our signs if you can't find your way. At this location we have the wonderful tasting kitchen! Our kitchen crew will be putting together some beautiful dishes for you to sample showcasing the produce that we will be selling at our market. The tasters alone are enough reason to leave your home and come down to the market!

Here is an idea of what we are hoping to have at this week's markets:


Organic: Celery
Navel Oranges
Bananas

From BC:
Anjou Pears
Apples (golden delicious or braeburn)
Beets
Brown Crimini Mushrooms

From Elsewhere:
Onions
Yams
Cauliflower
Cantaloupe
Asparagus
Carrots

Please come down and celebrate the season, the holidays and food with us this weekend. We hope to see you there!

November 19th Market Updates

Well, we've finally experienced our first snowfall. Winter is officially here. Last week was very wet, cold and rainy, but we still saw lots of smiling faces excited to get some fresh food into their homes. Please bundle up and come out to this week's markets! We'll be indoors at both the Brant Villa and Culloden Court locations, so take comfort in that. It's also voting day, there will be a voting poll at Culloden Court alongside the market, so please exercise your voting rights, and take advantage of our great selection of fresh, affordable produce.

This is what we are hoping to have this week:

From BC
MacIntosh Apples, Gala Apples
Green Cabbage
Red Peppers
Tomatoes
Bosc Pears

Organic:
Bananas
From elsewhere:
Cantaloupes
Yams
Snap Peas
Hosui Pears
Chinese Mandarin Oranges
Red Grapes
Come check it out! Hope to see you all there!

Addresses:
Brant Villa, 2290 E. 25th Ave near the Nanaimo SkyTrain Station
Culloden Court, 1375 E. 47th Ave near Knight Street

November Updates

Happy November Everyone!

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the beautiful fall weather we've had so far. Lots has been going on with the TLCC Network and we have exciting news! We have finally found ourselves a place to call home. In the new year, the Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network will be moving into the brand new Trout Lake Community Centre on Victoria Drive. Keep in touch to hear about the happenings at the community centre! We are hoping to have some really wonderful workshops around cooking, canning and gardening!

In other news, the markets are running this month on Saturday, November 12th and on Saturday, November 19th. This Saturday (the 12th), we will be at Helping Spirit Lodge (Dumfries and Kingsway in the parking lot)  from 10-12 and then at Orchard Park (41st and Nanaimo in the Nancy Styles Hall) from 2-4. There will be tasting kitchens so come by; sample some recipes and get inspired for Winter cooking.

Here is the list of goods we are expecting to have at this week's markets:
Local:
BC Gala Apples
BC Bosc Pears
BC Red Peppers
BC Winter Squash (butternut)

Organic:
Bananas from South America

From elsewhere:

Cantaloupes
Sweet Potatoes
Green Leaf Lettuce
Red Peppers
Broccoli

I hope to see you all there!  Have a great weekend.

October Updates

Hey Everyone! Happy Harvest Season! I love this season to enjoy delicious crisp BC apples, baked squash and mashed sweet potatoes! There is lots going on this month and for the fall season. Read on to find about food-related events happening within the community and around Vancouver and of course to check out what will be at this week’s markets, tasting kitchens and workshops!

At this week’s pocket markets:

This week’s markets are taking place at Helping Spirit Lodge (3965 Dumfries St-near Kingsway) from 10-12pm and at Orchard Park (5988 Nanaimo St-near 41st Ave) from 2-4pm. We’ll be having tasting kitchens at both of these locations and also a very special fall stew making workshop at Helping Spirit Lodge- email me if you are interested! It’s free and everyone is welcome! It’s a great way to learn about new ways to cook and integrate lots of different types of food into your diet!
email: tlccfoodsecurity@gmail.com

Here is what we are expecting to have at this week’s markets:

From BC:
Ambrosia Apples
Cauliflower
Romaine Lettuce
Spinach

Organic:
Baby Carrots- from Washington
Bananas- from South America

From Elsewhere:
Chinese Mandarins
Yams- from California
Black Plums-from California

Hope to see everyone out there. Remember if you haven’t yet bought tokens- you can buy them at Orchard Park, Brant Villa, Culloden Court, Helping Spirit Lodge, South Van Neighbourhood House, Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House or the Warehouse. Also, cash sales are available at all the markets for a small mark-up. Open to everyone, come check it out!



Events and happenings for October


FALL STEW MAKING WORKSHOP

October 8th 10-12 at Helping Spirit Lodge

Engage in a hands-on- learning approach to cooking new things. This month’s workshop will feature learning how to make a fall harvest stew! Come check it out.

Contact Aja for more information:
604-816-6769
tlccfoodsecurity@gmail.com



COMMUNITY KITCHEN LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS

During this workshop you will have the opportunity to find out more about community kitchens, different ways a group can work and how you can lead or start a community kitchen. Learn the history of the community kitchen movement and the effect it has had around the province. Hear about the different kitchen models that run successfully in our communities. Experience a community kitchen first hand! Lunch will be provided.

Dates/Times: Choose from one of the following dates:
Thurs, Oct 13, 2011, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm, Thurs, June 7, 2011, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Location: Vancouver Food Bank, 1150 Raymur Ave.
Cost: $45.00 (lunch provided)
To register: Contact Darlene Tanaka, at 604-216-2325 or darlenet@foodbank.bc.ca or

FRUIT TREE HARVEST CELEBRATION AND FILM SCREENING OF THE “QUEEN OF THE SUN: WHAT THE BEES ARE TELLING US?”

The Vancouver Fruit Tree Project and the Grandview Woodland Food Connection invite you to an end of harvest celebration and special film screening. Come learn about our efforts to harvest urban fruit. Meet others interested in local food security. Information tables, door prizes, silent auction, snacks.

Film Screening: QUEEN OF THE SUN: What Are the Bees Telling Us? (2011) examines the dire global bee crisis through the eyes of biodynamic beekeepers, scientists, farmers, and philosophers. This engaging, alarming and ultimately uplifting film weaves together a dramatic story that uncovers the problems and solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.

Britannia Community Centre, Upstairs Canuck Family Education Centre (next to Grandview Park)
1661 Napier St
Friday October 14, 5 – 10pm. Film Screening 7pm
By donation
Information: 604-718-5895

FIRST STEPS TO PREVENTION

(Vancouver Coastal Health)- A fun and interactive prevention program for individuals at risk for chronic conditions who are ready to make Healthy Lifestyle Changes- including Healthy Eating!

Dates: Oct 20, Oct 27 and Nov3 – from 5:30-7:30 at South Community Health Centre (6405 Knight Street- Knight and 49th)

Call 604-267-4430 to register!



CHECK OUT THE SHARED HARVEST NEWSLETTERS

Shared Harvest Canada lets you find locally produced food or donate food to those in need. It's like an online farmers' market and food-bank rolled into one.

http://sharedharvestbc.blogspot.com/2011/09/shared-harvest-sept-2011-newsletter.html