August 2015 Newsletter

Oct 23, 2015

Fresh from Fresh Roots

If we all do a little, we can do a lot.

In the era of the internet, it is totally possible to start a movement with just one person.  The social media hashtag is both a call to action and the action itself. Check out the Eat.Think.Vote campaign for a great example.  And while it’s possible for some to #changetheworld in that way, it is hard for me.

Yes, I was in that photo for #donthaveonemillion and yes, I posted my #KMFace, but while I know that there is power in statements and publicly supporting the issues that I care about – I truly wonder if I can do that much good while taking a short coffee break or hitting ‘like’ while on the beach.  I wonder if doing good can be so easy.

This month, 35 volunteers came out to David Thompson Secondary for the first “Big Help” to prepare the market garden for the school season: weeding, preparing growing beds, turning compost, and moving woodchips.  And they came because they wanted to do something; to make some impact.  Each bed was weeded, the kale freed from a chickweed strangle; the dandelions were finally uprooted.  And while we didn’t end hunger or poverty or injustice that evening – we worked together.  And that’s the start of making a difference.

If we all do a little we can do a lot.

I’m inspired by the work of volunteers, showing up and lending a hand. And it’s no difference for any of the large issues that we face on a daily basis: hunger, racism, poverty.  It’s the showing up that is so critical – and maybe doing it online is a start. I imagine what would happen if we all did a little, and made one action towards change.  We would do a lot.  So whether it’s online or on garden remember that anything is possible, you just need enough people pitching in.

If we all did a little to support Good Food For All – I wonder how much we’d be able to achieve.  So come and join us.  We’ve got another Big Help on August 27th at Van Tech Secondary, learn more and lend a hand.

With a fistful of sunshine and deep gratitude for your contributions,

Marc 
Co-Executive Director, Fresh Roots

Farmer’s Log

Continue to follow along with Intern Jenny through her thoughts and adventures on the blog!  This month she reflects on food as identity and the limitations and opportunities of the notion, and draws storylines from the humble turnip and green bean.  Interspersed with lots of snapshots of the farms in all their summer glory!

SOYL Youth Programming Wraps Up

SOYL 1 celebrated the end of our program last week with a delicious potluck meal, music, gift presentations, and a cheque from the Telus Community Board presented by Joanne Curry. Thank you as well to Discovery Organics for donating weekly vegetables for the youth to explore new foods, and to Telus for their significant contribution to the program. Congrats SOYL 1 youth on a wonderful six weeks!

It’s time to Eat Think and Vote, Vancouver!

The Vancouver Food Policy Council and partners are co-producing a Food Secure Canada Eat, Think, Vote event on September 22. Eat, Think, Vote is FSC’s national campaign to make food an election issue in the upcoming federal election. You can learn more about it here. The event will invite candidates from all political parties to answer questions and have dialogue with the audience on a national food policy over shared food. Fresh Roots will be in attendance and would love for you to join us!

Learn from the Schoolyard Farms

In 2013, the Real Estate Foundation of BC awarded us a grant to develop a case study for the Vancouver Technical Secondary School and David Thompson Secondary School Schoolyard Market Gardens. After two years of tremendous learning and growth – you can find the case study here, sharing our learnings of what it takes to grow food in small, public places, in collaboration with the Vancouver School Board, students, neighbours, and the community at large.

Read More

The Big Help Round 2

The schoolyard farms need your help to get ready for school and to fight off some serious weeds!
Join us for round two this Thursday, August 27th from 5-8:30pm at Van Tech Secondary schoolyard farm for an evening of gardening, gettin’ dirty and kicking some grass!
Bring yourself, a bottle of water and your friends. Once there, you’ll find delicious snacks, cheesy veggie jokes and the joy of making friends while farming! Afterwards, we’ll all head for some well-deserved dinner nearby.
Please RSVP on Facebook or by emailing volunteer@freshroots.ca. Come for the whole evening or just a couple hours; this is the most fun schoolwork you’ll ever do!

Craving some of the best veggies in town? Learn where to find our food!

MERCATO FARMERS MARKET

  • Where: 3075 Slocan St, Vancouver
  • When: Every third Friday of the month. Upcoming markets are Friday, September 18th and Friday, October 16th.

FALL SALAD BOX PROGRAM

  • What: Receive a weekly supply of what is growing in our schoolyard gardens. Click here for more information about the program.
  • Where: You pick up your Salad Box once a week from one of the following locations:
    • David Thompson (1755 E 55th Ave, Vancouver): Every Tuesday from 2:00pm-5:00pm
    • Italian Cultural Centre (3075 Slocan St, Vancouver): Every Wednesday from 5:00pm-6:30pm
  • How: Sign up here to jump on board the Fall Box Program. The onboarding process takes 1 week and we will take $15 off of your membership price for each box that you miss.

FOOD IN THE HOOD

  • What: Do your grocery shopping online! Every week you could receive an email from us with a list of what is growing in the field and the cost of each item. Email us back with what you would like to order and we will harvest it just for you.
  • Where: The veggies that we pick for you can be picked up at the Italian Cultural Centre (3075 Slocan St, Vancouver) on Wednesdays from 5:00pm-6:30pm.
  • How: Send an email to food@freshroots.ca and let us know that you would like to be added to the Food in the Hood email list!

GROCERY STORES

  • East End Food Co-op: 1034 Commercial Dr, Vancouver
  • Organic Acres Market: 3603 Main St, Vancouver

Sunshine Salad Dressing

Looking to make your salads irresistible? Look no further than this dressing:
3/4 cup tahini
2 cloves of Fresh Roots garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons balsamic or apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup water

Blend, mix or shake all ingredients together. Enjoy!