Through the season, there will be a number of workshops offered to encourage everyone to become more involved in the local food system. The first workshop features Patrick Steiner of Stellar Seeds who will be covering the basics of container gardening and plant maintenance.
The plans for the garden have been changing rapidly as funding was not approved. At this point the garden will be an on line project. Volunteers will grow vegetables in different methods and document their experiences through pictures and writing. In this way the purpose of the garden will still be achieved.
Over the winter, the database of producers and processors has been revised and updated. It can be viewed here and downloaded for easy reference.
Eating more locally was the focus of the successful Eat Local Project. Shuswap Food Action with the support of partners like the City of Salmon Arm and Interior Health coordinated the 2006 project. Over nine months, many events were held to encourage the entire community to become involved in the local food system. Some of the resources developed for the project are available on this site.
- Feast on Local Flavours - Feast on Local Flavours Dinner was a sold out success. The evening was highlighted with food from local producers like; Highland Farms, Roots and Greens, Eagle River Organics, Wildflight Farm, Vale Farms, Little Red Hen Bakery, Granite Creek Estate Winery, Larch Hills Winery, Shuswap Coffee Co., Shuswap Infusions Tea, Shuswap Honey, Raginmund Mustard, and Crannog Brewery.
Rob Sengotta from Shuswap Chefs created an amazing feast which included local organic rack of lamb with a sweet rosemary mustard glaze and braised spring rhubarb tart. See full menu.
- SAGA opening - The ‘Creative Choices’ show was celebrated with an Eat Local opening. Four local chefs took the opportunity to work with local suppliers in creating a hors d’oveores platter. Local suppliers were assigned to each chef and all provided amazing taste sensations.
- Eat Local Mini-Store - The Salmon Arm Fall Fair Association partnered with the Eat Local Project to create a mini-store and food demonstration table for the fall fair. Pictures. The ‘Good For Everyone’ store was the official entry into the province wide Showcase of Agriculture competition. The store highlighted local products while Rob Sengotta demonstrated how these products could be used to make delectable meals. Click here for a PDF of Rob's recipes.
- Challenge - The Eat Local Challenge was one of the most popular events of the project. At the Salmon Arm Fall Fair the Eat Local Project challenged the community to eat locally for two months. Participants chose the percentage of local food they would include in their diet. Anywhere from 20% to 100% – and all levels were encouraged. At the end of the two months, the Eat Local Project invited the public to a free end of harvest celebration.
- Harvest Celebration – The final event of the Eat Local Project for 2006 was held at SAGA art gallery. Once again the culinary talents of Rob Sengotta were highlighted using all local ingredients.
Breastfeeding… the epitome of eating locally.
Funding was available to hire a lactation consultant to visit the Salmon Arm area once a month over the nine months of the project. She accommodated private consultations and gave talks to various groups such as public health nurses, hospital nurses and Mom & tot groups. In September she spoke at a Breastfeeding forum for professionals and mothers. Surprisingly, our community does not have a permanent position for a lactation consultant. Shuswap Food Action is working to find a more lasting solution to this need in our community.
The Chaotic kitchen program at the SASCU Downtown Activity Centre also benefited from the funding. Equipment was purchased to help sustain the program and better teach youth to prepare their own healthy food.
The Green Thumb Garden project will facilitate and assist in the building of raised bed backyard gardens for low income families and organizations serving these families. The set up will include raised beds, a trellis, soil, seeds, a composter and a handbook. The gardens will be built with volunteer labour from the community and youth groups who contribute community service time in our area. The “Growing Gardeners” handbook created by the Salmon Arm Good Food Box and Stellar Seeds will serve as an initial introduction to gardening, but for more long term success, mentorship will also be provided to the participants. This will facilitate the social aspect to the growing of food. In addition, all the gardeners will be asked to donate a percentage of their harvest back to organizations in need of food. We hope this will build confidence, self-reliance and a sense of community.
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