In this Issue:

A Message from the Executive Director

Squash Festival

Winter Market

Market Survey Update

Market Buttons

100 Mile Diet

Community Events


 
 

Seasonal Produce


photo: Carole Henshall

Winter squash are planted at the same time as summer squash, but require a longer growing season. Their shells become hard as they mature, thus protecting the meaty flesh during long periods of storage when their starches turn into sugars, making them sweeter.

At the markets in October:

Apples, Artichokes, Basil, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Garlic, Green Beans, Green Onions, Hazelnuts, Herbs, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Parsnips, Pears, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes, Raspberries, Salad Greens, Shallots, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Winter Squash, Zucchini and more!

MONTHLY RAFFLES

Congratulations to September's lucky raffle winners!

One last raffle left for this season:
Nat Bailey Stadium: 
Oct 26

All proceeds benefit Your Local Farmers Market Society.

Members receive 2 free tickets to each draw.

A Message from the Executive Director

Growing up in southwestern Ontario, I remember my mother taking me and my little sister and brother to our local farmers’ market every Saturday morning. We would get up at 6a.m. and go to see what was in season, stock-up on meat for the freezer and locally-grown fruit and vegetables for the week, look at exhibits & curiosities and talk to farmers about how things were going. 

As children it was these trips to the farmers markets and to local farms over the years, that comprised our education about the seasons, farming, how and where food grows, the vagaries of fruit and vegetable production (and how much hard work it is!), food preserving or "putting food by" for the winter, hand-crafted arts and time-honoured traditional skills. We would go, sometimes with little or no money, because there was always something to see and to learn and people to meet. After all, this was our community, with all the very best it had to offer.

As YLFMS’ Executive Director, I am thrilled to be able to play an active role with Vancouver’s farmers markets and to work with our markets’ governing non-profit society on new programs and initiatives that strengthen local food security, agricultural sustainability and community-based economic development. I am honoured to be able to work with an incredible group of committed vendors, staff, board & committee members, City & Parks Board staff and officials, local funders, supporters in the business community and in our markets’ neighbourhoods. 

2005 has been a great season, complimented by new, very hard-working staff, 4 new board members and a new office location on Commercial Drive. What we have learned is that it takes a community to run a market.

Now, it is time to give thanks…

Three cheers and enormous thanks to Carole Henshall and Roberta LaQuaglia for their diligent, thoughtful and thorough approach to coordinating, managing and further developing each of our 3 unique neighbourhood markets. A big thanks, too, to our trusty on-site staff, Christi York, Beck Lamb, Lev Kramar, George Sali, Petr Kopet, Jessica Henry, and our very loyal and wonderful volunteers Penny Lim, Gretchen Grabow, Margaret Third, Vladimir Tsvasman and Cindy Molyneux. I’d also like to thank our board of directors and committee members for their energy, enthusiasm and commitment this season. To the 130 members who have joined us so far this year - thank you & welcome!

And, to all of you who come out, rain or shine, year after year, to support your local small-scale & family farmers, apiarists, ranchers, cheese-makers, bakers, orchardists, artists, nursery growers, fisher people and gourmet food makers. You are the reason our 3 farmers markets are becoming an institution here, in Vancouver. On behalf of our 150+ vendors, THANK YOU for another great season.

Finally, to you who cultivate, plant, harvest, herd, bake, design, blend, preserve, create, inform & entertain… to you who come from near and far, thank you for bringing to us the very best our community has to offer!

YLFMS’ staff and board are now beginning post-season evaluations, planning and development for next year, incorporating suggestions from vendors and results from 4 weeks of customer surveys. To stay in touch we’ll send e-newsletters through the winter and you can check-in at www.eatlocal.org for 2006 season information.

Warmest wishes to all this winter,

Tara McDonald
Executive Director
YLFMS
PS YLFMS’ Annual Winter Market at Heritage Hall in Vancouver is December 10th & 11th - see you there!


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Squash Festival - Nat Bailey Stadium October 19
Grill it, bake it, roast it, mash it, serve it for dinner, serve it for dessert. Squash are indeed utility players in the kitchen - ready to play a role in any dish. Some certainly are a little intimidating with their gnarly wrinkled and bumpy skin but don't be scared off by their hard exteriors for inside is sweet, rich flesh. You'll be so glad you didn't judge a book by its cover.

On Wednesday, October 19 the Nat Bailey Stadium Farmers Market will be awash with squash! Come down and check out the many and varied shapes, sizes and varieties of squash grown locally. We'll have recipes to share, facts to inform you and even some tastings. And while your perusing the squash, pick up a hot organic apple cider from the Market Tent - $1.50 with proceeds benefiting the market society.

Market Vendors October 19, 2005

Market Hours

East Vancouver and West End Farmers Markets - closed for the season - See you in 2006!

Still open:
Nat Bailey Stadium
30th Ave & Ontario St.
Wednesdays, 1pm - 6:30pm
Closes October 26
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Winter Market Posters Available to Print

Winter Market posters are now available to download here. Thank you for helping us spread the word!

WINTER MARKET POSTER
(this is a PDF file)


Market Memberships
There is still time to become a member of Your Local Farmers Market Society. Memberships are valid until April 2006.

Memberships support the operations of our 3 farmers markets, help us continue to work for BC farmers and to plan for the future of the markets and the society. Sign up at any market or mail in our online form. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read this file.

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Tenth Annual Winter Market

Your Local Farmers Market Society Winter Market
December 10 & 11, 2005
10am - 5pm both days
Heritage Hall, (Main Street and 15th Avenue) Vancouver

Market members get free admission and front of the line access - show your membership cards at the door.

The roster for the eagerly anticipated Winter Market has been announced. This year we're looking forward to the best market yet and hope to see you all there. Vendors are chosen from our Summer market roster as well as some Winter Market only special appearances. There will be something for everyone and each day is different so come both Saturday and Sunday. More information on the Winter Market in next month's e-bits.

Saturday, December 10

Sunday, December 11

Ambercott Acres Mellon Glass Anne's Preserves Lotus Miyashita*
Arila Apiary Midnight Goddess Preserves Arila Apiary Lowland Herb Farm
Bad Girl Chocolates Moonstruck Organic Cheese Bean Boy Magick Metal
Bean Boy Morningstar Herbals Big Don's Pickles Maison Cote
Big Don's Pickles Nancy Esworthy Design Christine's Dog Cookies McLennan Creek Dairy
Blackberry Hill Naturally Sweet Connie Wright Medisea Catering
Carole's Country Kitchen Optical Confections* Cottonsocks Press Moonstruck Organic Cheese
Cascadia Soap Peggy Collins* Crooked Garden Mystic Marbles*
Cottonsocks Press Poplar Grove Arbour Deni's Delights Optical Confections*
Crazy Monkey Cookies Rae Maté Douglas Kennedy Images Pacific Fusion
Don Asperin* Ramble Jamble Earthly Creatures* Poplar Studio*
Earthly Creatures* Rise Artisan Bakery Everything Under the Sun Pro Art Glass
Edible Gardens Silvia Dotto Company, The Gailan Ngan Pottery Rae Maté
Expressions of Joy* Summer Design Studio Golda's Pesto Rose Hip
Golda's Pesto Sunshine Coast Natural Gift Co. Goldwing Ostrich Products Ruby and Lulu
Goldwing Ostrich Products Suzanne Nairne Contemporary Jewellery Granola King Shiny Monkey Tien*
Harvey's Orchards Tanya Mitchell Pottery Greenhill Acres Small Pleasures
Holy Crow Designs Tea Time Harvey's Orchards Something Sweet
Hot Chick Spice Co. Valentine Farm* Iron Maiden Seafoods Stonewear
Joan Tayler Design Vienna Treasures Jane's Honey Bees Sunshine Coast Natural Gift Co.
Jupiter's Essential Oils* Vlad's Apiary Jay Springs Lamb TNT Truffles*
Klippers Organic Acres Whistler Cooks Fine Foods Jupiter's Essential Oils* Water Witch Herbs
Lavender Dreams* Wildish Wear Kamu Klayworks Wood Elements*
Little House Creations Woven by Yoriko Klippers Organic Acres Woven by Yoriko
Little Qualicum Cheeseworks Knead Some Dough Zaftig Designs
Lotus Miyashita*   Langley Organic Growers  
Lowland Herb Farm   Lavender Dreams*  
McLennan Creek Dairy   Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
* Winter Market only


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Reuse Plastic Bags Survey Results
Plastic Bag Recycling at the Market
Bring your clean plastic bags in good shape to the market and drop them off in our newly created plastic bag bins. Then, those who need bags (or who forgot their cloth bags at home) can use these ones, instead of taking new ones at vendor stalls. Its a small way we can help reduce the amount of new plastic used in the market.

Did you get to fill out our shopper survey at the market in September? We received great response at all three markets and would like to share with you a little of what we learned this time around:

Organic produce continued to be a strong draw for shoppers. The wide selection of locally produced goods also ranked high as people's main motivation for attending the markets. 

Here's what you think we should add or have more of at the markets:
Even more organic produce
Baked goods made with alternative sweeteners and grains
More meat, especially poultry
More eggs
Ready to eat food - a place to have lunch or a snack while shopping
More entertainment
We'll be using these and other suggestions as we develop the farmers markets and recruit new vendors for the coming season.

At all 3 markets you said that you would be interested in purchasing market-branded cloth shopping bags. This off-season we'll be working on creating a market shopping bag and are hoping for it to debut at the Winter Market. 

You also said that you'd like to see more special event days and more educational content at the markets. We're planning now for 2006 and are looking forward to bringing you a season full of education and fun. Stay tuned to e-bits and our website to keep up to date.

If you have a suggestion for us, let us know at info@eatlocal.org

Seasonal Recipe

Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan Cheese

One 4 to 5 lb spaghetti squash
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan 
1 tsp pepper 
1 tbsp minced fresh basil or parsley

1. Pierce squash in several places. Place on baking pan & bake about 1 - 1 1/2 hours at 375 C. Using potholders, squeeze squash to test for doneness. Its ready when it gives slightly under pressure. Remove & cool.

2. Heat a saucepan over heat, pour in olive oil. Add garlic and cook until tender about 5 min.

3. When cool enough to handle, cut squasg in half lengthwise & scoop out seeds and stringy portions. Using a fork, pull pulp from shell in long strands and add them to the warm garlic oil. 

4. Toss squash strands gently with pepper, salt and cheese. Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with basil or parsley. Serve immediately.

Serves 6.		 Buttons Support the Market
Show your support for the farmers markets - pick up your eatlocal.org button at the Nat Bailey Stadium Market until October 26. Buttons are $1 each and come in several designs including tomato, apple, peach, blueberry and plain yellow, green or black.

You can also choose from a Riley Park, West End or East Van button if you'd like to advertise your favourite market location.

Choose one or collect them all!
 
 
Have you tried the 100 mile Diet?
How hard could it be to eat a diet consisting only of foods grown or produced within 100 mile radius of Vancouver? Two local writers decided to find out.

In March 2005 Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon embarked on a what they called The 100 mile diet. In a series of articles (8 so far) you can follow James and Alisa's progress, struggles, temptations and triumphs! www.thetyee.ca

Not sure if you can do a whole year? Why not try a 100 mile lunch or potluck? Challenge friends and family to bring dishes made entirely from local ingredients. Or, how about switching your snack from an orange or banana to a local apple or pear? Small changes in your food buying decisions can make a difference when multiplied daily, weekly, monthly and on and on. Tell a friend - it all helps!
----------------
October 17, 8 am - 9 am, 3rd floor City Hall, City Councilors “100 Mile Diet” Breakfast Challenge & Mayor’s Proclamation of “World Food Week in Vancouver”.
Join Vancouver City Councilors as they choose between breakfast items grown close to home or those shipped in from thousands of miles away. Armed with Food Miles “currency”, the big question is who will be able to stay within their Food Miles budget and feel they’ve had enough to start the day. Just one cup of coffee, which travels up to 3000 miles to get to us, could prevent any one of them from enjoying the feasts of our local fields.

For more World Food Week events go here> City of Vancouver Food Policy

Articles for E-bits
E-bits is YLFMS’ monthly on-line newsletter, reaching over 1,000 supporters of the Farmers’ markets in Vancouver. If you would like to submit an article relevant to our readers on topics such as local food systems, farming issues, food preparation, food issues, recipes, sustainable agriculture, land preservation, arts and crafts production and community economic development please contact Tara at tara@eatlocal.org. Only articles pertaining to the overall goals and mission of the organization will be considered for submission. The next issue of e-bits will be out in mid-November Submission deadline: November 5, 2005.

______________________________
Newsletter Archive

Miss a past issue of e-bits? Get caught up:

June 2005

July 2005

August 2005

September 2005

 

Community Events

Community Kitchens Equipment Drive - October 15 - November 15
Finding yourself with excess kitchen equipment now that you've upgraded or moved? That extra stuff you're not using can do a whole lot of good in someone else's hands. Donate it to the Vancouver Community Kitchen Project and you can be sure they'll be used and appreciated. For more information, check out this info sheet . And in addition to the warm feeling you'll get from contributing to a good cause, you'll also be entered in a draw to win a $100.00 gift certificate to The Fish House in Stanley Park. Finally a good reason to clean out those cupboards!

Michael Ableman - Fields of Plenty - November 16
A farmer’s journey in search of real food and the people who grow it - November 16 Alice MacKay Room from 7:30 to 9:30 PM Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library (350 West Georgia). Admission is Free. Info: www.necessaryvoices.org

Michael Ableman is the founder of the Center for Urban Agriculture, an education center and working organic farm in southern California that has become an international model for small scale and urban agriculture. His books include From the Good Earth and On Good Land.

Plant a Row ~ Grow a Row Program
Here's something to think about as you plan your 2006 gardens or as you harvest the last of your fall veggies.

The Plant a Row ~ Grow a Row program invites local gardeners to grow an extra row of vegetables, for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and Neighbourhood Houses in Vancouver. Whether your vegetable garden is large or small, add an additional row, bed or pot and plant something extra. If you have extra fruit or vegetables, earmark them for donation as well. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. 

Garden fresh produce donated to Neighbourhood Houses will go directly into their pre-school, after-school, youth, single parent, immigrant and senior programs. Food donated to the churches will be donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and sent to agencies preparing meals for the hungry. Your contribution makes a difference! 

Produce can be taken to a drop-off site in your area. To find a location near you, visit www.vancouver.ca/foodpolicy and click on "Current Initiatives"

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e-bits is compiled by 
Roberta LaQuaglia		  


Your Local Farmers Market Society
1163 Commercial Dr, #2, Vancouver, BC  V5L 3X3
info@eatlocal.org www.eatlocal.org
604-879-FARM (3276)
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