homestead inspiration

There is nothing like fresh oysters on the fire...

On a recent trip to my favourite gulf island- I stayed with my friends Kristy & Allan, Coco & Basha. For the past 3 years, I have watched them transform their parcel of land from a de-stumped pile of dirt into a ecotastic homestead. Their home & lives are worthy of several posts. Sustainable and rich with goodness, their lives are worthy of a blog itself- but here are a few morsels about my trip.

Although their home & farm are off the grid, solar power fuels all that is needed. This is inspiration; they have a fridge, freezer, oven, hot water and power tools running and there is energy to spare.



What is not caught from the sea or off the land- is foraged or pulled from the garden. (there are grocery store trips too). Their garden is an epic mater piece, enough to sustain them (produce wise) for the season. Potatoes bursting from tire (apparently its warmer in there), peas, squash, greens, tomatoes, cucumber, you name it! Herbs, berries, fruit & olive trees colour the landscapes too. New this year are the chickens- Coco took me to gather eggs in the morning.



On the eve on my stay we ventured down to the bay and plucked a few oysters from the ocean. We savoured them with gratitude & (with lemon juice & hot sauce).

Season's treasures..

Here in Vancouver, there are few things that should not be missed out on. All are best fresh and for a very short window. Take Advantage!

1. Salmon berries (Stanley park, The Endowment lands, Seymour river trail)
2. Asparagus (Hannah Brook Farm, trout lake farmers market, Saturday 9-2)
3. Rhubarb(Hannah Brook Farm, trout lake farmers market, Saturday 9-2)
4. Morel mushrooms (picked by hand- and sold at Hannah Brook Farm's stall, trout lake farmers market, Saturday 9-2)
5. Fresh greens (any vendor at the farmers market- added flowers are a nice touch)





(Steak from Home on the Range farm, new potatoes, morels and fresh salad from Hannah Brooke farms)


P.S 1 week until deliveries start from the CSA Nathan Creek Organics (dont miss out)

The Farmer's Market Santa Monica LA

So this is where most of our grocery store food comes from...



Santa Monica has an incredible farmers market. On a Sunday morning you can find the Main market a bustle with people, performers, ponies, surf boards and local folk enjoying the fruits of their land. While here I found & bought ripe & supple avocados, juicy oranges, tender strawberries and ripe cherries.

As well, turely finding ANYTHING here is possible due to length of their growing season and climate! There was also a diverse non produce compliment to the market...eggs, milk, butter, meat, (you name it)& tonnes of delicious food vendors. OHHH and masala chai to die for!

LA has a history in the green revolution & was a trail blazer in bringing back farmers market, click here to read more.

Latest visit to Nathan Creek Organic farm....

The farm is looking incredible. My friend Lesley, my dog Indy and I went to Langley to check out what was happening. We explored the budding garlic patch, the raspberry bushes,the greenhouse, the tree fort and the chicken coop. Indy explored a giant pile of rotting vegetable matter. But we call came home exhausted and excited for the growing season.

Nathan Creek Organic farm is still looking for members- sign up for a share soon!!

Diversifying Vancouver street food...FINALLY.

Appetite for change- GLOBE & MAIL

Street meat and diversity, together at last!!

This weekends article from the Globe & Mail shares Gregor Robinson's inspiration and interest in having Vancouver branch out and diversity our street food.

Which has long been an interest in mine.

Along the streets of Portland one walks past vendors cooking up and selling cuisine from around the globe: Ethiopian, German, Thai, Mexican...as well as donuts, smoothies, ice cream YOU NAME IT.

Gregor states, “Cities like Portland are way ahead for us on this, so we’re looking hard at how to catch up and make sure we have great food offerings on our streets,” said Mr. Robertson, whose résumé includes developing his own line of food products, the Happy Planet line of organic juices and smoothies. The Oregon city, he added, “has made it possible for a lot of different types of food to be available on the street, and let the market determine what happens, and I think they’re seeing good success from that.”

Visit Portland's food cart website

Who is as excited as me??