Do you know what you're eating?

Think St. John's (and Newfoundland in general) is a barren wasteland unable to sustain even the smallest of homegrown produce or food activism? Think again!

There is a local group in St. John's called FEASt (Food Education Action St. John's). From their website, they are "a working collective of individuals and organizations taking action on local, sustainable food issues. Formed in Fall 2007, FEASt is a volunteer-run initiative affiliated to the provincial Food Security Network with almost 300 listserv members currently."

St. John's Safer Soil Project was created by Lori Heath to educate people about the problem of toxins in local soil. A 2003 study showed high lead levels in St. John's soil and this scared a lot of people off backyard gardening. The Safer Soil Project aims to educate about soil testing, growing in raised beds, and using container gardening techniques. More about the project can be found in this Scope article.

Here's more on gardening in lead-laden soil.

The Community Garden Alliance just held their AGM (June 28, 2009) where concerned individuals met to discuss local gardening needs, learn about organic growing, and enjoy some great grub. The Alliance's best-known project is the Rabbittown Community Garden which is an urban garden devoted to community-based organic growing and sharing.

Memorial University's Botanical Gardens has a huge variety of resources regarding local food growing, composting, harvesting, etc. The garden staff offer free lunchtime lectures, composting workshops, and in August there will be an edible plant hike which promises to be very educational and fun.

The Newfoundland Horticultural Society is also a wealth of information for budding gardeners. The group meets every Tuesday evening during the fall, winter and spring months at St. David's Church Hall on Elizabeth Ave. You can learn from other gardeners, take part in workshops, participate in "bring and buy" sales, and receive their newsletter. The Society's annual vegetable sale is coming up in September.

So what are you waiting for? Get involved in a community garden project or start growing your own food! For some extra encouragement, here are some links from the NL Environment Network:
Conservation Corps of Newfoundland
Environmental Conservation Commission
Food Security Network
MUN's Sustainability Centre
Oxfam Canada

First light

This post isn't so much about food as it is about St. John's and Canada Day celebrations. If you're in town and not busy at 5am you really should make the trek to Signal Hill for the Canada Day sunrise celebration. Everyone should do this at least once in their lives and many make it a annual tradition. You will be amongst the first to see the sun rise in Canada.

Once the sun is up you can take an equally-traditional trek back down Signal Hill and have breakfast. What a way to start the day!

Here are the City of St. John's celebrations schedule for July 1, 2009:

4:00 am
Metrobus shuttle begins from the Bell Aliant Building Parking Lot, Fort William to Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada

6:00 am
Official Ceremony begins for Happy Birthday Canada!

Here is a food-related item: you can have some birthday cake and Central Dairies products.

10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cape Spear and Signal Hill National Historic Sites Open House

Celebrate Canada Day all day long at both National Historic Sites of Canada. Admission is free, cake, face-painting, games, scavenger hunts, prizes, guided tours and lots of fun for everyone!

Confederation Building Lobby (begins at 12:30 pm)

Afternoon entertainment featuring:

12:30 pm - Fergus Brown O'Byrne
1:00 pm - Cake Cutting
1:30 pm - Sharing our Cultures
1:45 pm - Celtic Fiddlers
2:15 pm - Sharing our Cultures
2:30 pm - Petty Rogues

*Afternoon events are free with a donation of a non-perishable food product or toonie for Bridges to Hope.

Free cake and Central Dairies milk

Face painting until 4:00 pm; Red Rocket Amusements, St. John's Regional Fire Department's Fire Truck, tattoo parlour, Rovers Search and Rescue Display, flags and seedlings and more!


FAMILY FUN
Confederation Hill

1:00pm 2:00pm & 3:00pm - Tours of the House of Assembly Confederation Building)

Eurest Dining and food stations throughout the day!

Outdoor Stage (Rain Venue: Cafeteria)

Afternoon entertainment featuring special appearance and presentation of Captain Bob Bartlett.

12:15 pm - Host: Fergus O'Byrne
12:30 pm - Celtic Fiddlers
1:00 pm - Sharing our Cultures
1:15 pm - Overview of Capt. Bob Bartlett Celebrations
Jim Payne & Fergus O'Byrne
1:45 pm - Sharing our Cultures
2:00 pm - Mary Barry
2:25 pm - Sharing our Cultures
2:35 pm - Multi-National Choir "New Canadian Voices"
2:55 pm - Sharing our Cultures
3:10 pm - The Square Knot Dancers
3:35 pm - Connemara
4:10 pm - St. John's Multicultural and Folk Arts Council presentation


FIREWORKS
Quidi Vidi Lake
10:00 pm

Scheduled for blast off at 10:00 pm, but within the hour should weather conditions not be ideal.

June Food Events

Sunday marks the official start of summer, but things are heating up in St. John's and it's already feeling like that time of year.

Join the City of St. John's for cupcakes Friday June 19 9am-4:30pm at the Visitor Information Centre 348 Water St. and celebrate the City's birthday!

The City also has a lunch time music series ever Wednesday. Check out their website for times.

The St. John's farmers' market is ongoing throughout the summer every Saturday morning at the Lion's Club Bonaventure Ave.

Auntie Crae’s Band plays at the cafe on Water St., no purchase necessary, every Tuesday at noon.

Green Drinks: An informal get together for those who work, volunteer or have an interest in environment & conservation related issues, 7pm-9pm, no cover, The Ship (Last Wednesday of month)

The Teddy Bear Picnic is happening Friday June 26 from 11:30am-2pm at the Arts and Culture Centre (lawn).

Have a food event? Let me know!

Keep it Local

I visited the 18th annual Manufactured Right Here exhibition this past weekend at the Remax Centre. It's always encouraging to see the growing list of products made here in our province. Ours is a place in the world where it can be difficult to get certain products (such as fresh produce as an example) due to transportation issues and other headaches. It was great to see the number of products and services coming from our own backyards.

I saw lots of locally-made items from clothing to windows; from cabinets to milk and other food items.

Here is an excerpt from an online address given by the Newfoundland and Labrador Vice-President of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters:
"Buying locally-made goods means investment in our economy, and it means employment for all regions of our province. Every $1 of manufacturing output in Newfoundland & Labrador it generates $2.54 in total economic activity – the largest economic multiplier of any sector! For every $110,000 worth of product made here, we directly create one full-time job, and another one and half spin-off jobs.

But there are many other good reasons to buy locally-made products, in addition to the social and economic benefit to the community. Many are food products – so they are fresher, more flavourful, and reflect local trends in tastes. Large products, like furniture and mattresses often have reduced transportation costs, because they are made here. If you need after sales support, training or service, being close counts. Many of our products are unique – you just won’t find them elsewhere."

Just found: a blog about local NL products!

For eats downtown

Devour Downtown Restaurant Week

If you want to start the summer season early, and discover some new hot dining spots downtown, check out the St. John's Downtown Development Commission's Devour Downtown event. During this week (ends May 2), eighteen restaurants are offering their foodie delights for cheap and cheerful prices. You can sample a new restaurant, or rediscover a favorite, for $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner.

Diners do not need any coupons or tickets. Just bring your appetites to one of the partnering joints. There are limited menus to choose from, but each spot offers several options if you want to take advantage of this deal.

Check out the website for more info and a list of places to chow for cheap.

As a bonus, customers can enter Devour Downtown gifts and passes to the upcoming Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival July 15-19.