Organic Gardening Course at Little City Farm - 6 part series starting Jan 17!

Dates: 6 Wednesday evenings, Jan 17, 24, 31, Feb 14, 21, 28 (NO CLASS on Feb 7)
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm on each evening
Facilitator: Angie Koch, from Fertile Ground Farm
Class Location: Little City Farm, 508 Duke St W, Kitchener

REGISTER HERE NOW!

Are you serious about gaining more knowledge for developing a productive organic garden? Join us this winter for this very exciting 6 part intensive organic gardening course. 10 participants will have the opportunity to take part in this series, which will include 6 guided workshops, with opportunity for each participant to develop and complete an individual garden plan.


These classes will be facilitated by local organic farmer Angie Koch, from Fertile Ground Farm (located just west of Waterloo, near St. Agatha).  Angie has operated a market garden, CSA (community supported agriculture), for the past 10 years.  Her farm has grown to include a number of seasonal staff, interns, volunteers, as well as chickens, herb gardens, pollinator gardens, beehives, seed saving gardens, a greenhouse for seedlings, and more!  Angie is involved in Canadian Organic Growers, and the Ecological Farmers Association, as well as a part-time staff member at Seeds of Diversity.  This is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand from Angie's 10 years of organic farming experience!  Bring your notebook, your garden ideas, and your questions. 

View this short video to see Angie's beautiful organic farm!

Organic Gardening Course Outline:
Week 1: Seed and Seedling Starting - including basic plant botany
Week 2: Garden Planning Part One - succession planting for continuous harvest
Week 3: Garden Planning Part Two - using space effectively
Week 4: Soil Biology & Fertility - using organic methods
Week 5: Pest Management, Seed Saving, and Attracting Beneficial Insects
Week 6: Overflow, Q&A & Individual Garden Plans Wrap-Up - final developing, feedback and completion of individual garden plans

Please note: we need a minimum of 7 participants in order to offer this course.  We will notify you one week prior to the first class, to confirm details and what to bring along.

For more information about this course, and to register visit our course page here.

Wild apple bounty

The past few days have seen baskets and bins of apples piling up on our counters.  The wild apple harvest is on, and this year is proving to be an bountiful one.  We've taken to carrying extra bags with us everywhere we go, just in case we need to do some spontaneous foraging.  We, as a family, have gathered fruit from at least 10 different types of apple trees in various locations around town, all which are walkable or bikeable from our place.  There is such abundance hidden in the city, and I love sharing this experience with our daughter.  We often meet others who are also wild foraging, including a group yesterday who was picking wild apples for their annual cider-making event. 

I just love the different colours, textures and tastes - the red and white striped markings on the apples held in the hand below is especially pretty.  Our own big old apple tree is in it's fullest year yet.  Most of these apples we use for sauce, since they do have blemishes and are not long-keeping varieties - and occasionally there is a pie.  Mmmmmm, pie.   That makes today an exceptional day.

Homesteading Symposium!

Last weekend we held our first annual Homesteading Symposium here at Little City Farm!  It was a day-long event packed with 15 workshops to choose from, ranging through a variety of homesteading/sustainability skills including fibre arts, beekeeping, chicken keeping, herbal healing, home brewing, wild edibles, pasta making, yogurt making, natural building, and much more!  The day brought together nearly 40 people wishing to share and/or further their self-reliance skills. 

We are inspired to have met so many wonderful people, proud to know so many friends who are talented facilitators in the homesteading arts, and renewed in the belief that cities are places where we can rely on each other to actively create the kind of ecologically focused homes and communities we want to live in.  Here are just a few photos of the day...

Greening of Detroit

We had guests staying at our B&B this past weekend who were taking a short respite from their active community work.  As we asked them a little more about their work, it turned out they are heavily involved in community gardening and urban agriculture in Detroit, part of an amazing story of a city that is slowly regenerating itself through vast numbers of volunteers and community members tackling the job of greening vacant lots, turning them into food producing gardens.  There are over 1200 community gardens in Detroit, food being grown for homes, soup kitchens, and for sale at local farmers markets.  There are educational workshops, free soil samples (testing for lead, heavy metals, and other soil conditions), help on building raised beds, seed and seedling distribution, and many other resources available to get new urban farmers off to a positive start!  This is probably the largest urban agriculture program in any one city in North America.  We were honoured to host our guests, hear more about these initiatives, and watch a beautiful photo slideshow of the gardens and farmers markets that have been established.  For more details on this major urban agriculture movement see Greening of Detroit.

New book: City Farmer, by Lorraine Johnson

Attention city farmers!  An exciting new book on the topic of urban farming in Canada - just published this summer - is now available for purchase.  This book, City Farmer, was written by Lorraine Johnson of Toronto.  It is an inspiring, hopeful testament to the value (social, economic, environmental) of growing food in our cities, and the unique ways that people across our country are doing so!   We had done a brief interview with Lorriane, but were not sure that any of our story would be included - we are very pleased to see a small mention regarding Little City Farm in this book.  Thank you Lorraine. 

Seedfolks & inspiring urban gardeneres

 I read a great little story in the news yesterday about a 72 year old senior who is growing rice in an empty lot near his apartment building in Windsor.  He has grown the rice as a test plot to see if it can thrive in Canada, using seed rice sent from his sister in China.  Apparently the rice has had ideal conditions this year, enough heat and humidity, but water he needs to supplement by carrying down 6 plastic bottles of water from his apartment each day.  He is going to harvest about 2 kg of rice this year, and will save it all as seed for a larger crop next year.  He tidies up the garbage in the lot in exchange for being able to use the growing space.

This inspirational story reminded me of an amazing tiny 34 page book called Seedfolks.  This book, written for children, tells the multiple stories of isolated individuals living in a large urban city (Cleveland, Ohio), who eventually forge relationships through a "guerilla" type community garden started by a young girl in a vacant overgrown lot.  I have given many many copies of this book away to visitors and friends, as this is a wonderful story of hope and how to enact change by taking many small steps to build something large and powerful.

The rice growing story in Windsor also made me think of various important truths related to urban agriculture:

1) gardens don't have to be large to have a great impact
2) you are never too old (or young) to start gardening
3) starting a garden does not need a lot of money or capital, just ideas and commitment
4) there are abundant growing spaces in our cities, even if they might be unlikely ones, that should be utilized
5) sometimes it just takes some creativity, initiative and bravery to get a worthwhile project going
6)  there is much to be learned from the diverse community members in our cities, taking the example of gardening many newcomers have often been farming/gardening in their home countries and have vast knowledge to share

Opportunities for Action - urban agriculture symposium coming up Nov 20 in Guelph

Opportunities for Action: An Urban Agriculture Symposium

There is an urban agriculture symposium being organized in Guelph for Fri, Nov 20 - above is the poster, below is the invitation letter:

Dear Urban Aggies and Friends of Urban Agriculture, Municipal planners, Community and Backyard Gardeners, Environmentalists, Business entrepreneurs, Student’s, Academics, Social innovators, Government officials, Farmers, engaged citizens and local food supporters;

On Friday November 20th 2009 Backyard Bounty and the University of Guelph will be hosting the first symposium on urban agriculture in Guelph. Opportunities for Action: An Urban Agriculture Symposium will bring together the movers and shakers in the Urban Agriculture scene. The Symposium aims to not only inspire action but address key issues and provide connections that enable the Urban Agriculture movement to advance.

The morning will start with a keynote presentation from Dr. Karen Landman who will inspire us with stories of her summer tour of urban agriculture projects across North America. A panel discussion will follow that brings together experience and ideas from those near and far working in the field of urban agriculture. During the afternoon participants will take part in an interactive facilitation process to identify common barriers, seek feasible solutions and set achievable actions. A local lunch and snacks will be provided.

In partnership with Guelph-Wellington Local Food Initiative, City of Guelph Healthy Landscapes project, The Organic Conference, Chris Jess and his army of Locavores. We invite you to join us!

Please register at:

www.backyardbounty.ca

Shannon Lee Stirling

Project Co-ordinator

Backyard Bounty

info@backyardbounty.ca

See below for schedule of the day’s events and rates!

Opportunities For Action: An Urban Agriculture Symposium

This Symposium has arisen out of a need to bring together and build the capacity of the Urban Agriculture movement. Those in attendance will meet with like-minded people and leaders in the field. They will share ideas and make connections with others involved in urban agriculture. The afternoon’s facilitated process, with allow for interaction between various sectors of the movement, and form a dialogue to help better understand and develop collaborative solutions.

Conference Schedule

8:30am -Registration

9am - Keynote Dr; Karen Landman will speak about her recent North American tour of Urban Agriculture Projects

10:15 - Panel –How Can We Move Urban Agriculture Forward?

Experts that will be joining us include:

Paul Winstanley is an urban farmer from Victoria, British Columbia who has been raising chickens and growing food in the city for 8 years.

Katherine Pigott has worked at Region of Waterloo Public Health since March 2000. A key part of her role has been the development of a comprehensive local food systems planning approach in Waterloo Region as Manager of the Healthy Communities and Policy Team. Katherine has over twenty years experience in community based program development, planning, and systems change that has spanned economic development, health promotion and environmental planning.

Katherine is an avid cyclist, distance runner and gardener and lives in downtown Kitchener. She serves of the Board of Directors of the Association of Health Centres of Ontario and on the Steering Committee of Food Secure Canada.

Tracey Tomlik formerly a student of the University of Guelph, now resides on the East coast. She will return to share with us an Urban Perma-culture plan she has designed for the city of Guelph.

More presenters and information to come!!!

Noon- Lunch & networking

One of the most valuable parts of a conference is the connection’s made, so we are planning a long lunch to provide room for this. We are also in the lovely arboretum setting and encourage you to enjoy walk about, you may even spot GCOUF (Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming)!

1:30- Interactive Facilitation Process

We are working with a group of students from the University of Guelph to develop an interactive facilitation process that will empower individuals to work as a team! Participants will have the chance to connect with both those that are working in similar capacities and also those with which they may share compatible goals. We will discuss our various projects, resources, experiences and methods. The aim of the process will be to seek ways we can all cooperate to meet our goals and the larger goal of seeing progress in the field of Urban Agriculture!

4:30- Closing remarks

Rates:

Early bird before November 1^st

Industry, Academic, government: $90 includes keynote

Producers and Other: $20 includes keynote

Keynote only: $10

After November 1^st

Industry, Academic, government: $100

Producers and Other: $25

Final registration date Nov 13^th

Symposium Fee (Circle One):

Early Bird Before Nov 1st	After Nov 1st
Industry, Academic, government: $90	Industry, Academic, government: $100
Producers and Other: $20	Producers and Other: $25
Keynote only $10	Keynote only $15

Final registration date Nov 13th !!!!!!!

Cheques payable to University of Guelph.

Please Mail registration and payment to:

c/o Beth Livingstone

Crop Science Building

University of Guelph

Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1

Questions regarding registration: blivings@uoguelph.ca or 519-824-4120 ext 52783

Questions regarding symposium www.backyardbounty.ca or 519-803-2539

100-Mile Desserts: Summer Birthday Cake and Urban Homesteading discussions

Today was our daughter's first birthday! We had a typical homesteading day full of projects (harvesting herbs, shelling peas, preparing for canning pickles, packaging soaps, working on our strawbale house in preparation for plaster work starting this weekend!), but we tried to make time for all her favourite activities - crawling in the grass looking for bugs, clover flowers and dandelions, picking raspberries to nibble, feeding the chickens and gathering the eggs, helping pull weeds, digging in the dirt and planting new seeds...and then taking time to decorate this 100-mile birthday cake. It was decorated with cream cheese-maple icing (no sugar), heart nuts grown in Niagara, and edible flowers and berries from our garden - and it was greatly enjoyed by all of us!

Today we also had a visit from a student in the distance education Food Security certificate program at Ryerson University. She was doing an interview with us for her final paper on urban agriculture. It was interesting to talk to her about the course, and for us to reflect on how and why our homestead has evolved, what obstacles we've encountered along the way, what kind of production we do here, and where we see ourselves going with future projects. This past weekend we had facilitated two workshops at the Hillside Festival on "urban homesteading: sustainable living in the city", which also both generated excellent conversation with participants and a huge turn-out (more than 50 people total!). We feel lucky to get to talk about the homesteading life, and continue to be encouraged by the ideas and suggestions of others who we meet.

Some homesteads/urban agriculture initiatives that have inspired us include:
- Path to Freedom (Pasadena, CA)
- Rhizome Collective (Austin, TX)
- Fairview Gardens Farm & Centre for Urban Agriculture (Santa Barbara)
- City Farmer (Vancouver, BC)
- urban agriculture in general in Portland, OR (especially city chickens and fruit harvest)
- Life Cycles (Victoria, BC)
- FoodShare (Toronto, ON)

Spring is in the air (today)

We couldn't believe it was March 6th! The weather was incredible today, alternating between warm gusts of wind, sunny patches, and the occasional glimmer of a rain cloud. We even saw someone walk by wearing a tank top (ok, that was probably pushing the season just a little bit)...

So, with all our snow basically melted, the chickens were having a hey-day free ranging in our yard finding bits of grass and leftover garden greens, and climbing all over our compost bins. While Greg was fixing the screening on the hen house I spread out a clean pile of straw, of which we have plenty leftover from our house addition, and the hens were clucking away excitedly as they scratched for grains and the possibility of finding a few bugs. They make such loyal garden companions, and express such happy sounds, that it really is hard to be annoyed at them for constantly being underfoot! With no tree cover to the front yard at this time of year, it becomes very apparent that we have hens for any passerby who takes just a minute to slow down and peer through our wooden fence. I happened to look out the front porch window, and saw a couple with young son walking up our path and watching the hens. What a great opportunity to meet new neighbours, so I went out to say hello and found out they live a few blocks away. By now, we know of about 10 other households in K-W who have hens, and we hope to keep hearing of others who join the ranks of city chicken keepers - keeping hens builds community spirit, brings joy to many (anyone watching the silly hens during their constant antics can't help but smile), supports fresh extremely local food, etc etc... I'd love to get a duck and am working on Greg to get his support for this idea. Duck eggs are divine - we had one from our farmer friend Brenda last season, and ducks are not as hard on the garden as the chickens are.

All our basil, other herbs and early brassica seedlings have now sprouted. Even the stevia (at $5 for literally 5 seeds!) has come up. These few stevia plants will be prized possessions this year. I won't be forgetting to bring these precious plants in for the winter. Although I've been sprouting edible greens for us to eat all winter, the concept of sprouted seedlings that we are intending to grow into mature plants is a whole new satisfying level. We have wrapped a plastic sheet around our grow rack, and the heat is now around 25-30 C in there. It's like a mini sauna and we need to constantly keep up the watering so the tiny seedlings don't dry out. Last year we used an old plastic shower curtain, and it worked just as well. Will post photos shortly...

Herbal Shares at Little City Farm

We're excited to offer the local herbal shares again this year. This is a similar model to the vegetable CSA (community supported agriculture) which is becoming more common in most North American cities, as people are striving to eat more locally and support small farms nearby.

The herbal share offers locally grown herbs made into herbal preparations (teas, tinctures, salves, bug-spray, cough syrup, soap), with several choices for members to customize their share to the needs of their household. The package provides a simple remedy kit for use during the winter months, and each product has clear instructions as to proper use. We grow most of the herbs at Little City Farm, and we are dedicated to organic practices including maintaining fertile soil, using organic seed, and organic pest management practices. We are also members of Canadian Organic Growers and Seeds of Diversity, and teach herbal workshops throughout the season. We believe in passing on this herbal knowledge to our community so it's not lost - one of our models is "let food by your medicine, and medicine be your food", and so try to teach ways to incorporate herbs and wild edibles into our every day meals and living.

Here are more details about the 2009 Herbal Shares - we are currently taking registrations:

Local Herbal Medicine Share 2009

We all know the value in supporting local food.

Now, consider supporting local natural herbals!

Participate in the Little City Farm herb project this season by purchasing a home herbal medicine share. Shares are purchased in the spring, which allows us to know how many herbs to grow & harvest throughout the season. The completed herbal kit is delivered to you in the fall. All herbs are grown with natural and organic methods, and harvested at the peak of their season by hand. Herbal preparations are made carefully, by hand, in small batches. Each local herbal medicine share includes seven natural preparations that will enhance the well-being of you and your family. Instructions included will answer questions about how to use each product.

What’s included in your local herbal share:

· 1 package Loose-Leaf Herbal Tea (aprox. 40 grams – makes about 10 pots of tea) – Please select one of the following:

___Winter Flu Fighter (including hops, mullein, fennel, sage & coltsfoot for coughs, colds and sore throats)

___After Dinner Tea (including peppermint & fennel for aiding the digestive system)

___Less Stress Tea (including lemon balm & chamomile for calming nervous system, aiding sleep)

___Womens’ Tea (including nettle & raspberry leaf, rich in iron & calcium, & for aiding PMS)

· 2 oz. bottle of Herbal Tincture – Please select one of the following:

___Rosehip Tincture (for colds, flu & aiding arthritic conditions)

___Lemon Balm Tincture (for aiding sleep, nervousness & anxiety)

___Red Raspberry Leaf Tincture (for toning women’s reproductive & hormonal system)

___Echinacea Tincture (for colds, flu & boosting the immune system)

· 4 oz. jar All-Purpose Healing Salve (including calendula & comfrey for healing cuts, wounds, scrapes, burns)
· 4 oz. bottle of Natural Bug Off Spray (with citronella, lemon & rosemary for warding off pesky mosquitoes)
· 1 oz. bottle of Migraine Wonder Oil (including lavender & rosemary for alleviating migraines & headaches)
· 2 oz. bottle of Sage Cough Syrup (for soothing coughs & sore throats)

· 1 large bar Calendula Soap (renowned for soothing dry skin, gentle soap that’s safe for children)

Payment & Delivery:
· Order your share by April 30, 2009 by contacting Karin at: homesteadherbal@yahoo.ca
· Cost is $75/share, paid by cash or cheque at time of ordering. 100% Barter for BW Members
· Receive your local home herbal medicine kit by end of September 2009
· For delivery/shipping please add $10. Free shipping if picked up at Little City Farm, Kitchener.

To Order & How to Pay:
Send this order form to: 508 Duke Street W, Kitchener, ON N2H 3Y8 / email: homesteadherbal@yahoo.ca
Please make cheques payable to Karin Kliewer.

Karin Kliewer of Homestead Herbals is a certified Master Herbalist. She believes in the "community herbalist" model, using locally-grown medicinal plants from her own gardens to share herbal knowledge with her local community.

New Workshop Series for 2009 - Urban Homesteading!

Urban Homesteading Workshop Series 2009

Little City Farm is a small-scale urban homestead and eco bed & breakfast in Kitchener, Ontario. We are dedicated to promoting urban agriculture, basic homesteading skills, and hands-on sustainable living in the city.

All workshops listed for 2009 will be held at Little City Farm, 508 Duke St. W, Kitchener.

Each workshop costs $20/person (family rate available). REGISTER AT: info@littlecityfarm.ca / OR call 519-575-9174

Fermented Foods – February 21, 1-3 pm – with Jackie McMillan (pre-registration required)

Let your taste buds tingle! Discussion will cover background on fermenting foods, how and why to ferment foods, health benefits, and a spectacular taste testing of various lactic acid ferments. Workshop participants will prepare colourful multi-vegetable sauerkraut as part of this interactive session. Jackie recently completed an intensive week-long workshop on Fermentation, Food Culturing & Medicine Making at the Algonquin Tea Company.

Starting Seedlings at Home – March 21, 1-3 pm – with Angie Koch from Fertile Ground CSA – Note cost: $5/person

It’s time to get the garden started! Enjoy a few hours with your hands in the dirt, learning about how and when to start various seeds, germination success, transplanting, soil mixes, organic techniques, where to purchase seeds, and more. Participants will take home sample seedlings for their own garden. Sponsored by Farmers Growing Farmers, a program of Everdale Organic Farm and Environmental Learning Centre. Angie Koch is a local organic farmer with Fertile Ground CSA and is also a vendor at the Kitchener Market. www.fertilegroundcsa.com

Beyond Band-Aids: A Homeopathic Approach to First Aid – April 18, 1-3 pm - with Rachel VandenBerg

Looking to stock your first aid kit with natural remedies that work? Look no further! In this workshop you will learn the basics of homeopathic prescribing including how to select and dose appropriate homeopathic remedies. Focus is on the most common remedies in a summer first aid kit. Rachel VandenBerg is a licensed naturopathic doctor with an additional specialty in classical homeopathy. She practices at Healing Path Centre for Natural Medicine in uptown Waterloo. www.healingpathcentre.com

7^th Annual Organic Seedling Sale – Free Event! – May 23, 9 am-12 noon

Join us at Little City Farm as we host our 7^th Annual Organic Seedling Sale! Find organic and heirloom varieties of vegetables & herbs ready for planting. Specializing in heirloom tomato varieties. This is a free event. Seedlings cost $2-$3/each.

Natural Twig & Willow Construction – June 20, 1-3 pm - with Alfred Rempel and Robbert Kramer

Learn to build simple beautiful structures using natural materials that can be sourced in your own backyard! During this hands-on workshop we will be building a low wattle fence/arbour using locally grown willow, dogwood, grapevine and Manitoba maple. Also info on coppicing, living fences, and other forms of natural construction.

Plant Sensory Awareness – June 27, 1-3 pm – with Heather Cain

During this workshop, we will use a number of techniques to awaken our senses, connect to our intuition and deepen our ability to perceive the world around us. Then we will explore the garden, tuning into the intelligence and spirit of the plants that grow there. Plants and all nature beings have wisdom and healing to share, if we are willing to learn how to listen. Bring an open mind and dress for the weather!

Making Herbal Salves & Tinctures – July 11, 10 am- 12 noon – with Karin Kliewer (pre-registration required)

Learn to make simple herbal home remedies! Salves & tinctures allow us to extract and preserve the many beneficial properties of herbs. During this workshop we will harvest organic calendula to make a simple skin salve, and discuss various ways to make tinctured extractions. Workshop will also cover general tips on growing, drying and storing herbs. All materials provided. Participants take home samples. Karin Kliewer operates Homestead Herbals creating natural soaps & organic herbal products. Herbs used are grown organically at Little City Farm. www.littlecityfarm.ca/herbals

All about Fruit Trees – July 18, 1-3 pm - With Anna-Maria Schulteis

Fresh fruit picked in season from your own backyard! From planting to tending, pruning to harvest, in this workshop you will learn which fruit trees grow best in our climate and organic methods for maintaining healthy trees. Also information on how to get involved as volunteers with the local Fruit Tree Project, harvesting fruit from abandoned trees in our city.

Herbs for Women’s Health – August 8, 10 am-12 noon – With Karin Kliewer (pre-registration required)
In this workshop we will be discussing a variety of useful herbs for women's health that can be grown/wildcrafted locally - including red raspberry leaf, red clover, nettle, yarrow and more. We will be making & tasting several herbal infusions, and covering tips on wildcrafting, growing, harvesting, drying and storing herbs. Karin Kliewer operates Homestead Herbals creating natural soaps & organic herbal products. Herbs used are grown organically at Little City Farm. www.littlecityfarm.ca/herbals

Seed Saving Basics – September 19, 1-3 pm – with Bob Wildfong from Seeds of Diversity

Saving seeds & knowing how to grow our own food may be some of the most important skills we can have, as food prices rise and crop diversity declines. Attend this workshop to learn proper techniques for collecting seeds from your own garden this season, from beans to tomatoes, herbs to flowers. Proceeds from this workshop go to Seeds of Diversity, Canada’s Heritage Seed Program. More info at: www.seeds.ca.

Making Natural Waldorf-Inspired Dolls – October 24, 1-3 pm – with Amaryah deGroot (pre-registration required)

Learn to make simple dolls from natural materials such as wool, cotton and silk. In the tradition of Waldorf education, these cuddly dolls inspire children’s creativity and fantasy. Their neutral features help to develop a child’s imagination to see the doll laugh, cry, sleep, etc. Participants will work on their own doll throughout the workshop. All materials provided. Amaryah makes reconstructed clothing and toys from reclaimed wool sweaters with her business Sew Oiseau. www.sewoiseau.com

Spinning Wool & Other Natural Fibres – November 7, 1-3 pm – with Nicole Ethier
Workshop details to be confirmed – contact info@littlecityfarm.ca.

Intro to Soap Making – November 14, 1-3 pm – with Karin Kliewer (pre-registration required)

Make beautiful, natural handmade soaps just in time to give as gifts this Christmas. Join local herbalist & soap maker, Karin Kliewer, to learn the simple art of traditional cold-process soap making. This is a busy hands-on workshop where participants will be asked to bring a variety of supplies to create their own soap. Organic herbs and basic essential oils will be supplied. List of supplies will be emailed upon registration.

Living Foods: Sprouting for Winter – November 21, 1-3 pm – with Karin Kliewer (pre-registration required)

It only takes a few minutes per day to reap the great rewards to sprouted “living” foods. Sprouted foods add tremendous health & vitality to your meals, and provide an inexpensive source of fresh local greens during the winter months. Learn simple ways to incorporate sprouted seeds, grains, beans and nuts into your diet. We will sample and share recipes for microgreens, sunflower sprouts, and wheatgrass, as well as sprouted “cheese”, sprouted milk, sprouted breads, and even sprouted dessert! Participants each take home a sprouting starter kit.

CBC Radio - Dispatches Vignettes on Local Food Sovereignity Yemen, Uganda, India, Zanzibar, Italy

Great radio show tonight on Dispatches (CBC), featuring vignettes about local food movements, food security and food sovereignity around the globe. Includes a segment on the fight to save seeds by small farmers in India, a country whose government is considering implementing a law that would not allow farmers to save their own seeds and instead force them to purchase from large corporations such as Monsanto and Cargill. Vandana Shiva is especially eloquent (as always) in her words, as she passionately speaks about using the "two planks" that Ghandi left them - self-organizing and non-violent resistance to unjust laws. She speaks of her work at the Navdanya Centre (www.navdanya.org) in India, which is a research centre for technology, science and ecology and has a mission to "protect nature and people's rights to knowledge, biodiversity, water and food". The urban agriculture movement in sub-Saharan Africa is also incredibly inspiring. It is estimated there are more than 800,000 million urban farmers globally! More and more people are turning to urban agriculture as food is scarce or food prices are on the rise in cities. Urban agriculture becomes both a way to feed themselves and their families, as well as earn income from selling at local markets.

To hear complete podcast go to: www.cbc.ca/dispatches (search Dec 22/28)

CBC Radio - Dispatches

December 22/28, 2008

The trouble with qat: Yemen's favorite afternoon narcotic is costing the country its water supply as Yemenis literally chew their way into drought.

Why roadside gardens may be sub-Saharan Africa's first line of defense against food shortages.

In India, angry farmers prepare to defy a government proposal to throw away their seeds.

The women of the surf in Zanzibar, where a bold attempt to build an economy out of seaweed is starting to wilt.

And the cesarinas strike back: a home-cooking movement tries to right the culinary wrongs masquerading as Italian cuisine.