HAMILTON EAT LOCAL SAYS:

"Nourishing Hamilton: Food, Faith and Our City"

2012-01-26T19:14:00.003-05:00

Click Here to see the Youtube trailer for Nourish Peterborough

FEBRUARY 2 "NOURISHING HAMILTON: Food, Faith and Our City", sponsored by Environment Hamilton’s Faith and the Common Good project and Canadian Organic Growers and hosted by theFRWY Coffee House

We will screen Nourish Peterborough, a homey documentary about some of the forward-thinking community food initiatives led by Peterborough people who care, as well as groups such as community gardens and non-profit projects such as Come Cook with Us and activist group Food Not Bombs. Also profiled in the film is the YMCA Peterborough’s “JustFood” program which strives to make high quality local organic produce available to all, regardless of a person’s level of income. Nourish Peterborough presents some heartwarming stories and some heartbreaking ones, too, but overall it is definitely inspiring!The film will be followed by a panel discussion of local organic heroes and as much community engagement as we can muster!

Panelists: Bill Wilcox - Community Gardening Expert, Pastor Loretta Jaunzarins - Grace Lutheran Church, Crystle Numan - Environment Hamilton, Mark and Tania Veenstra - Boar & Chick Farm

Moderator: Karen Burson - Environment Hamilton

FRWY coffee house (333 King Street East)
Free admission
A special organic vegan chili on the menu
Doors open at 6:30, film starts at 7pm, organic panel and q&a, 10pm close

"Nourishing Hamilton: Food, Faith and Our City" is a FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH event!

February Is Farm Month 2012

2012-01-23T12:52:00.027-05:00

EVENT LISTINGS

FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH 2012

We will screen Nourish Peterborough, a homey documentary about some of the forward-thinking community food initiatives led by Peterborough people who care, as well as groups such as community gardens and non-profit projects such as Come Cook with Us and activist group Food Not Bombs. Also profiled in the film is the YMCA Peterborough’s “JustFood” program which strives to make high quality local organic produce available to all, regardless of a person’s level of income. Nourish Peterborough presents some heartwarming stories and some heartbreaking ones, too, but overall it is definitely inspiring! The film will be followed by a panel discussion of local organic heroes and as much community engagement as we can muster!

FRWY coffee house (333 King Street East)
Free admission
A special organic vegan chili on the menu
Doors open at 6:30, film starts at 7pm, 10pm close

FEBRUARY 4 February Is Farm Month LAUNCH HOUR (noon - 1pm) with Hamilton Eat Local at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Kitchen. Fun, light refreshments and FIFM information will be served!!

FEBRUARY 10 FIFM Art Crawl Information Night and EH Open House We’re inviting local organic CSA farms to set up displays and get people signed up for 2012 shares. Not sure what a CSA is? Want more information about FIFM? Come on down! This event runs 7-9 pm.

FEBRUARY 18 The HOMEGROWN HOEDOWN @HOMEGROWN HAMILTON, 27 King William With local organic food and drink on their menu, this is the place where good food, live music and great friends collide! Headliner Laura Repo will bring her smart country pop style to the café along with some hometown favourites performing as well. Visit her website and you’ll be able to stream her new album, “Get Yourself Home”: http://laurarepo.ca/ Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm, with tickets $8 at the door. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales goes towards supporting Hamilton Eat Local's Operation Smoothie program.

FEBRUARY 25 COMMUNITY FOOD FESTIVAL (noon to 6pm) & FARM FAIR (10am to 4pm) sponsored by the Community Food Security Stakeholder Committee (CFSSC) and the Hamilton Farmers' Market

Spend some time with special guest, food writer Lynn Orgryzlo who will be selling and signing copies of her amazing new book, The Ontario Table, a fine resource that covers regions right across the province, including ours!! Community groups interested in food will have displays up to introduce their programs at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Community Kitchen. Nearby at Homegrown Hamilton, farm organizations will be there to meet you, so come on down and meet the farmers!

NOTE: Noon to 6pm for the Community Food Festival -- 10am to 6pm for the Farm Fair
Ontario Table book signing with Lynn Ogryzlo: time TBA
Free admission to both!

Drop in before or after your Rural Routes Farm Bus Tour, if you will be on the trip Juby has organized, visiting Ian Graham's Old 99 Farm.

FEBRUARY 25 RURAL ROUTES: Permaculture at Old 99 Farm – the newest in a series of our award-winning Farm Tours, led by Juby Lee of Hamilton Eat Local, a project of Environment Hamilton.

Farmer Ian Graham will lead a tour of his farm and answer questions about his sustainable farming methods. Tickets are: $7 for adults and $5 for seniors/children 12 and under, and will be sold at Homegrown Hamilton - 27 King William Street (former Bread & Roses Cafe).
Rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.
Cash only, please!

FEBRUARY 29 FOOD ‘N’ FARM DAY at MAC and our Third Annual Farmers' Forum An information and opportunities forum for students, faculty, staff and community members with a passion for food systems issues. Events will run from 10:30-4:00, exact sessions and locations on campus TBA. Watch for more details! Admission will be free!! Thanks to recent Mac grad Lynnette Hornung and Chris Krucker of Manorun Farm for organizing this informative day.

MARCH 1 FOOD & YOUTH DAY @ Parkview Seconday, for Parkview students, parents, teachers and guests only! Let us know if you’d like us to visit your school next year!

Other Great Community Food Events in February

FEBRUARY 4 - KNOW YOUR ROOTS Free Cooking Demo by The Eklectic Kitchen at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Community Kitchen, 11am

How do you eat local all-year round? It’s easy when you KNOW YOUR ROOTS! Let’s face it, imported strawberries, asparagus and other seasonal treasures are NOT “just as good” in the middle of winter. They can’t possibly match the freshness, variety, versatility and taste of locally grown underground goodness. How do you store root veggies, how can you cook them… and how do you enjoy them raw? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Join Karen for another fun cooking demonstration complete with quips, tips and delicious samples. Followed by the February Is Farm Month Launch Hour at noon.

FEBRUARY 18 - Seedy Saturday by Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN), 11- 4 pm at Ryerson United Church, 842 Main St. E.

Learn about local community gardens and organizations, get seeds through exchanges and vendors, attend workshops, meet other gardening enthusiasts, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes. Entrance by donation. Site fully accessible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT KAREN BURSON: kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org

FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH is back!

2012-01-03T17:25:00.002-05:00

Hamilton Eat Local is pleased to announce that FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH is coming soon!
Stay tuned for a month chock full of eat local events.

Locke Street Holdiay Market - THIS Saturday is their last day!

2011-12-13T07:22:00.002-05:00

Locke Street is having their LAST Holiday Market THIS Saturday Dec 17th.

10am-5pm 211 Locke Street S (Fenian Films)

FEATURING: local arts and crafts, holiday music, food and beverages PLUS! vendors from the Locke Street Farmers' Market.

Jerry's Berries will be selling frozen raspberries - while supplies last!

Richardsons Farm will be there selling their preserves, baked goodies, honey, maple syrup, sweet potatoes and apples!

Tool Drive at Parkview School

2011-12-07T18:07:00.003-05:00

The Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN) is holding a tool drive!

Wednesday, December 14^th from 6:00-9:00pm
Parkview Secondary School, located at 60 Balsam Avenue North in Hamilton.

The Network will be collecting new or gently used tools for community garden projects throughout Hamilton, including Oliver’s Garden Project and a Community Garden Tool Trailer.

The evening also will include a student talent show (starting at 6:30pm), light refreshments for sale and the sale of herbs and house plants to support the Growing Parkview Project. This project will be growing vegetable seedlings in the spring for distribution to community gardens.

An almost-winter recipe!

2011-12-05T10:07:00.002-05:00

This recipe comes from Foodland Ontario's great recipe database where you can find great ideas to make lots of great Ontario based meals!

Sweet Potato Apple Pancakes

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes
Cooking Time: 15 Minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (50 mL) packed brown sugar

1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder

1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon

1/2 tsp (2 mL) baking soda

1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

1 cup (250 mL) milk

2 eggs

1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla

3/4 cup (175 mL) mashed cooked Ontario Sweet Potatoes

1 Ontario Apple, cored and chopped

Shortening, for cooking

Ontario Maple Syrup

Preparation:

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In separate bowl, beat together milk, eggs and vanilla; stir in sweet potato. Add to dry ingredients; stir just until moistened. Stir in apple.
Using 1/4 cup (50 mL) batter for each pancake, spoon into lightly greased skillet over medium heat; cook until tops are bubbly and edges cooked. Turn and cook until golden. Serve immediately with maple syrup.

You are invited to....

2011-12-04T20:34:00.004-05:00

Environment Hamilton's "Festive Local Food and Frills Fair!"

Local farmers and producers are coming to our office building (22 Wilson St - Sonic Unyon Records) on Friday Dec 9th
7pm-9pm to sell their locally produced goodies.

Vendors include:
Cake and Loaf Bakery
Gathering Bliss
Homegrown Hamilton
Morden's Organic Farm
Parkside Highschool
VG Meats
Weir's Lane Lavender

As part of Environment Hamilton's Open House and James Street North Art Crawl.

Buy Local for the holidays!

Hamilton Eat Local-Slow Food Hamilton's 4th Annual HOLIDAY ECO SCHMOOZE!!

2011-11-28T15:23:00.000-05:00

Join us at 7pm when doors open! This year's featured film is the amazing and inspiring "NOURISH PETERBOROUGH", and it's our pleasure to have Emily Blondin-Doan, the director as our special guest!! This film was chosen for screening after meeting some of the amazing people and community food groups encountered at the recent BRING FOOD HOME food conference at Trent University in October.

The film will be followed by a panel of amazing local food activists (Clare Wagner of Green Venture, Theresa Phair of City of Hamilton Housing and Sapphire Singh, the coordinator of the new Hamilton Farmers' Market Community Kitchen) and a group discussion. It's amazing what can be achieved when we work (and eat) together. Refreshments and community will be served :-)

Only $5 (or $2 unwaged). Ticket info is coming soon but seating is definitely limited, so watch for news!

The City wants to ban Urban Chickens - what do you think?

2011-11-10T18:39:00.006-05:00

UPDATE: Its not too late to let your City Councillor know how you feel about urban chickens.
The council will debate the New Responsible Animal By-Laws on Jan. 12th.

The controversy surrounding urban chickens continues as the City will be meeting in regards to the new animal by-laws that includes not allowing urban chickens. If you can, come to this meeting to find out more.

(Also, write to your City Councillor and let them know how you feel about the ban on raising chickens within urban Hamilton).

Details on the meeting:
November 15, 2011 at 9:30 a.m
Hamilton City Hall
Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
71 Main Street West, Hamilton

All are welcome. Anyone wishing to make a presentation is required to pre-register.

Anyone interested in making a presentation on the "Updated Animal By-law for the Entire City of Hamilton" is asked to pre-register as a delegation by no later than 12:00 noon on Monday, November 14, 2011 by contacting:

Vanessa Robicheau
City Clerks' Office, 1st Floor, 71 Main Street West, Hamilton ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 2729
Email: Vanessa.Robicheau@hamilton.ca

Presentations are limited to 5 minutes.

Written submissions for inclusion in the meeting agenda are welcomed and will be accepted by e-mail or mail at the above noted address, or by fax 905-546-2095, until 12:00 noon on Monday, November 14, 2011.

For comments or questions regarding the revised By-law, contact either:

Sue O’Dwyer
Manager of Animal Services (Acting)
247 Dartnall Road, Hamilton ON L8W 3V9
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 2597
Email: Sue.O'Dwyer@hamilton.ca

or

Karen Edwards
Program Development Officer
247 Dartnall Road, Hamilton ON L8W 3V9
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 1789
Email: Karen.Edwards@hamilton.ca

Deets:
http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/PlanningEcDev/Divisions/ParkingBylawServices/AnimalControl/ByLawsDogOwners/AnimalControlBylaw.htm

Article in The Spec:
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/621513--back-yard-chicken-ban-ruffles-feathers

Just Food: The Right to Food Exhibition

2011-11-10T10:58:00.002-05:00

Starting November 25th, at the Worker' Art & Heritage Centre, there will be the Just Food: The Right to Food exhibition. It features Canadian and international artists exploring food access, security issues, and well as 'the right to food'. This exhibition is curated by the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Winnipeg. Karen Thiessen, whose work is featured in the show, will be doing a featured talk at the opening ceremonies.

In addition WAHC will present special screening of Yung Chang’s Earth to Mouth a 2002 film that explores life at Wing Fong Farms, a Chinese-Canadian owned farm near Newcastle, Ontario.Earth to Mouth is presented in conjunction with the third annual Hamilton edition of the Canadian Labour International Film Festival.

Hamilton Food Charter

2011-10-31T15:07:00.000-04:00

A city advisory committee, the Community Food Security Stakeholder Committee is setting out to write a food charter. This charter will creat a vision that will guide food policies in our city. And we want your imput.
We invision a food charter that will:
- promote healthy, safe, nutritious, and accessible food system
- support sustinance practices and promote the economic viability of our farmers
- support a just food system
- support a vibrant local food system
But we need to hear from you! Whast would you include in a Food Charter? Be part of creating a food charter for Hamilton. A Food Charter would help shape "A Healthy, Sustainable and Just Food System for the Community of Hamilton".

To contribute to the charter, register by calling 546-CITY (905-546-2489) for one of the six public consultations. Please identify any accessibility needs at the time.

A Halloween Recipe

2011-10-31T13:44:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Here is a recipe from Foodland Ontario that is sure to be enjoyed by all.

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffin Squares

Chock full of cranberries and pumpkin flavour, these moist orange-spiked squares are ideal for dessert or weekend breakfast treats. Tuck one or two into packed lunches for a treat kids will love.

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes
Cooking Time: 30 to 40 Minutes
Servings: 15 squares or 12 muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp (15 mL) pumpkin pie spice
2-1/2 tsp (12 mL) baking powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
3/4 cup (175 mL) chopped fresh Ontario Cranberries
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped walnuts
1 egg
2/3 cup (120 mL) packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (125 mL) orange juice
1/2 cup (125 mL) milk
1/4 cup (50 mL) vegetable oil
1 tbsp (15 mL) grated orange rind
3/4 cup (175 mL) cooked Ontario Pumpkin purée

Topping:

3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (25 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (2 mL) pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp (15 mL) butter, softened

Preparation:

Topping:
In bowl, combine sugar, flour, pumpkin pie spice and butter; set aside.
In large bowl stir together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir in cranberries and walnuts.
In separate bowl, beat egg; mix in brown sugar, orange juice, milk, oil and orange rind. Blend in pumpkin purée. Pour over flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Spoon into greased 8-inch (2 L) square cake pan. Sprinkle with topping.
Bake in 375ºF (190ºC) oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Run knife around edges to loosen. Turn out onto wire rack and let cool. Cut into squares. (Alternatively spoon batter into 12 large greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling to top. Sprinkle with topping. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until firm to the touch.) Serve warm or at room temperature.

10th Anniversary Celebration

2011-10-31T13:37:00.001-04:00

   Here at EH everything is just starting to quite down after our 10th Anniversary Celebration. It was a very eventful evening filled with bidding on the silent auction, listening to great music from both Sarah Harmer and Dawn & Marra, and of course eating the wonderful food that was prepared for us. Thanks go out to Chef & Wife for all of their delicious hors d'oeuvres that were distributed through out the night. Another thanks go out to our refreshment suppliers Steamwhistle brewery and Puddicombes. There was a great deal of people that volunteered through out the night that are all greatly appriciated.
   The evening started out very smooth, and before we knew it everything was under way. People mingled as the found their seats, or browsed the silent auction. There was lots to see in the silent auction, and all of the items went very nicely. Through out the evening we saw speeches, watched a video, and ate delicious desserts and cake. Sarah Harmer did an amazing job, and over all the evening was a great success.
   Thank you to everyone who supported and came out to celebrate with us!

Mmm Apple Sauce

2011-10-27T17:22:00.003-04:00

Monday afternoon we headed over to Fortino's in the Eastgate Mall, and used their wonderful community room to make apple sauce. We didn't get a great turnout, but we still had fun. The apples we used came from Dundurn Castle and they tasted great! We use about ten pounds of apples, that turned into great sauce!

Local meat producer and processor is connecting with Hamilton FoodShare THIS Saturday as part of their grand opening

2011-10-19T17:16:00.003-04:00

Local meat producer / processor VG Meats has expanded and has decided to call Stoney Creek its second home. They have been in Simcoe for 40 years and the three brothers are celebrating their Grand Opening of their second location THIS Saturday October 22nd.

As part of their storefront launch, Ontario Heritage Meats will be there and offering various tasting of their products and the first ones to walk into the store on Saturday will get a chance to take home VG Meats homemade sausages.

DEETS:
Saturday October 22nd,
9am-6pm
131 Upper Centennial Parkway at Highland Road.

Here an email from one of the owners, Cory Van Groningen

"We're having an opening on Saturday in Stoney Creek. One of the main things going on is that we're asking people to come in and sign our guestbook. For every signature, we will be donating ground beef to the Hamilton Food Share. Our idea is that we would rather give meat to the food bank than wasting paper on printing and distributing flyers.

We're hoping that the day is so successful that we can continue to work with the Hamilton Food Share all year long!

the event is Saturday October 22nd from 9 am to 6 pm. The address is 131 Upper Centennial Parkway at Highland Road, Stoney Creek."

Check out this youtube video: http://bit.ly/qZE58w
For more information, check out
http://www.vgmeats.ca/

Rural Routes goes to Simpler Thyme Organic Farm for the last tour of the year

2011-10-15T14:36:00.005-04:00

Ann plays "Guess that Green?" with participants.

Ann (in the black hat) talks about their 25 acre maple syrup bush and challenges and successes.

The day was chilly and wet but that did not stop Rural Routes participants from enjoying a guided tour of Simpler Thyme Organic Farm (near Freelton).

Learning from Ann, Bill and Charles is always a treat, and they never give the same tour twice! (We know from experience :)

We learned about their passive greenhouse that grows the coolest things (we are not going to tell, as we strongly encourage folks to go to Simpler Thyme and find out all the impressive things that they do), their maple syrup bush and their veggie garden (complete with trees).

One of the concerns Ann bought up was with their 25 acre maple syrup bush. Tapping time is when the daytime temperature is 6 degrees C and the nighttime temperature is minus 6 degrees C. While 2011 had these temperatures, previous years have not been as successful. Ann suspects that ideal temperatures are going to harder to come by and therefore affect maple syrup production in the near future.

While we learned about some challenges that farmers face, Ann focused our attention on successes and plans for the future - including planting native trees and keeping the forest close to her garden (actually growing trees IN her garden) as she argues that forests bring a lot of benefits to the soil and environment in general.

We were offered homemade bread (with swiss chard as the secret ingredient) and hot soup -perfect fare for a fall day. It was delicious!

This Rural Routes is the last tour of the year (as far as we can tell). Check in for 2012 bus tours.

Thank yous:
Smart Commute Hamilton
Homegrown Hamilton for selling our tickets
Hamilton Street Railway

All the farms that we have visited in 2011:
Black Walnut Lane
Murphy's Country Produce
Shearlea Acres
The Boar and Chick
Simpler Thyme Organic Farm

Thanks to our volunteers who come out and help us out with the logistics of the day.

And of course, last but definitely not least, thank you to everyone who has come out to our tours! Its been a pleasure to share these farm tours with you all.

Rural Routes will be back in 2012.

Rural Routes and Neighbour to Neighbour Centre go to Lindley's Farm Market

2011-10-11T17:53:00.003-04:00

What a great Thanksgiving Saturday!

Rural Routes participants from Neighbour to Neighbour Centre spent the morning last Saturday at Lindley's Farm Market in Ancaster. Joe, the farmer treated us to their corn maze (this year, featuring Ontario Foodland Symbol - check out their corn maze photos here).

The group picked pumpkins and spent time at the on-site farm market.

Big thank you to Neighbour to Neighbour organizer, Sara, as well as Darlene (and William). This Rural Routes was supported by the Hamilton Community Foundation - thank you to them!

Our next public Rural Routes is heading to Simpler Thyme Organic Farm, near Dundas. Rain or Shine (fingers crossed we have shine!) with farmers, Ann and Charles, leading us - it is sure to be a great tour!

Fruit Tree Projects

2011-10-06T13:56:00.002-04:00

When the time has come to prepare for the winter season, and farmers need a little help rounding up the last of their produce the Hamilton Fruit Tree is at the ready! The Hamilton Fruit Tree is a variety of volunteers that go to farms, or orchards in the Hamilton area that need help to finish up the season. When harvesting at a farm, the pickings go to the Hamilton Food Share, and if not there, always to another food bank. To find out more information, or if you want to get involved please check out the Hamilton Fruit Tree Project Blog.Along the sames lines at the Hamilton Fruit Tree Project is Not Far From The Tree, a group based out of Toronto that also aides in picking whenever there is an abundance of local fruit. The harvest that Not Farm From The Tree picks is splitted up into thirds. One third to the tree owner, one third to to volunteers, and one third is distriuted by bicycle to a foodbank, shelter, or community kitchen.Another fruit tree organization is the Halton Fruit Tree Project a third of the Growing and Sharing Food in Halton project. This project is to increase local harvest availability for the people of Milton.

Bring Food Conference

2011-10-05T15:54:00.001-04:00

Bring Food Home brings together those who are sowing these seeds across Ontario to share successes, gain skills, and collaborate. This action-focused event will generate new ideas and connections and will move us towards a brighter food future.This year's Bring Food Home Conference at Trent University, on the 27th-29th of October, is three days of hands on workshops, keynote speakers, action planning sessions, and more, all based around Preparing the Ground for a Sustainable Food System. The workshops will be directed at new and experienced farmers that cover the followning topics: CSA Mini School, Intro to SPIN (Small Plot INtensive ) Farming, Crop Planning for Organic Vegetable Growers, Grazing 101, and Buying and Selling Organic Field Crops. Keynote Speakers include: Raj Patel, Mark Winnie, Jeanette Longfield, Dawn Morrison, and Jon Steinman. For more information and registration you can visit the Bring Food Home Website.

Farmer's Markets Fall Update

2011-10-05T15:29:00.004-04:00

As the fall is setting in the Farmer's Markets we have around town will be finishing up for the winter. Here are the closing dates of some of the markets we have around our city.Ancaster Farmers' Market: October 5th,Binbrook Farmers' Market: End of October,Dundas Farmers' Market: October 27th,Locke Street Farmers' Market: October 28th, and Mountain Farmers' Market: November 5th.Hurry out to get some of Hamilton's great local food for the winter!

Food author, Lynn Ogryzlo at the Ancaster Farmers' Market in one weeks time!

2011-09-14T22:05:00.002-04:00

Wed Sept 21st,3-5pm,272 Wilson St E (St John Anglican Church),Ogryzlo's newest book, The Ontario Table, is a farm resource, culinary travel guide and a beautiful cookbook. But it goes further as Ogryzlo has also issued ‘The Ontario Table $10 Challenge” arguing that if every household spent $10 on local food each week, it would mean a 2.4 billion dollar annual influx into our provincial economy.Her book will be available for sale.

Rural Routes goes to The Boar and Chick!

2011-09-11T15:04:00.001-04:00

The sun was shining, the pigs and piglets were lounging, and Tania (the farmer) led us through their beautiful farm. Rural Routes spent our September trip at The Boar and Chick, Troy, ON that specialize in wild boar and free run eggs.

We learned about their Berkeshire pigs that were much larger then we anticipated and were led around to their beaver pond. It was a great day!

Thank you to Tania of The Boar and Chick for hosting us and thank you to Tracy at San-Barr Farms who helped out as well. We had a great time!Get tickets for the October trip to Simpler Thyme Organic Farm - Sat Oct 15th!www.environmenthamilton.org for more information.

Author Lynn Ogryzlo will be at Ancaster Farmers' Market! Wed Sept 21st!

2011-08-31T12:34:00.001-04:00

We are absolutely thrilled to announce renowned author, Lynn Ogryzlo is coming to Ancaster with her new book - The Ontario Table. More then a cookbook, Lynn challenges us to the "$10 a week challenge" - If every household in Ontario spent $10 a week on local food and wine, we’d have $2.4 billion in our economy at the end of the year. Thats one year! Think of what local farmers and producers could do with that kind of support and investment! We invite you to join us on Wednesday September 21st from 3-5pm for a meet and greet and book signing with Lynn! Ancaster Farmers' Market is located at 272 Wilson Street East. (behind St John's Anglican Church.

Two days, three trips, and lots of corn

2011-08-08T13:31:00.010-04:00

Hamilton Eat Local made the most of Cornfest at Shearlea Acres this past weekend! With a public Rural Routes trip Saturday morning, a trip Saturday afternoon with members of the Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) program and a trip Sunday with the Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, more than 100 people took an HSR bus out to the Lynden, ON farm.

The rain held off while we got a tour of the grounds. The 80-acre property holds a wide variety of fruits and veggies. Farmer Kevin Clugston showed off his crops and equipment while he explained how daily operations work at Shearlea. We then stopped to visit the family's miniature horse and Silkie chickens before heading to the farm store for all-you-can-eat free corn and other treats.

At the farm store, the kids in particular enjoyed the chance to fill their shopping bags. Some of the freshly picked produce was new to them, so they were excited to bring home new dinner ideas. Once shopping was done, there were places to sit and take in the countryside air and an outdoor play place for the kids to enjoy before boarding the bus and returning home. Special thanks to Hamilton Community Foundation for their support, so that we are able to offer Rural Routes to organizations such as the Kiwanis Club and CATCH. Thank you to Shearlea Acres for their time, offering us tasty fruit and cake, and donating some of their popping corn for the kids.

There are two scheduled Rural Routes trip remaining - the Boar and Chick Farm on Saturday September 10th. Enjoy a family day meeting farmers Tania and Mark. NEW! Sat October 15th tour is heading to Simpler Thyme Organic Farm. For more information visit www.environmenthamilton.org and click on "Rural Routes"

Neighbour to Neighbour takes a trip to Simpler Thyme

2011-08-02T10:05:00.007-04:00

Members of the Neighbour to Neighbour community centre, with the support of Hamilton Community Foundation and Hamilton Eat Local, enjoyed a trip to Simpler Thyme Organic Farm on July 30th. The curious and energetic group was given a tour by farmer Ann Lanigan, who offered a unique look into life in one of Hamilton’s rural communities.

As she showed us some of the more than 250 varieties of fruits and vegetables she grows, the group learned that Ann’s work at Simpler Thyme was a labour of love. When she moved out to the Freelton area from downtown Hamilton 25 years ago, she didn’t plan on farming, she explained. Now, she has volunteers from across the world who are there helping her grow and harvest.

First, she talked with us about concerns facing farmers in Ontario, as well as her efforts to eat a completely local diet. She then led us through her garden, where she challenged us to identify the various plants. With the help of one member of Neighbour to Neighbour, she even discovered a new variety in her garden. Then, in the forested half of the 50-acre farm, she described the hard work that goes into harvesting maple syrup from the trees in a traditional and sustainable way.

At the greenhouse of Bill Orosz, who owns half of Simpler Thyme, Ann showed us the various natural methods (from thick plastic to geothermal technologies) that the building uses to simulate a warmer climate. In the greenhouse, Bill has grown bananas, papayas and other tropical fruits. We then stopped by to see Ann’s pigs and chickens before heading back to her home for refreshments and market shopping.

The adventure with Neighbour to Neighbour is one of five trips for Hamilton community centres that Hamilton Eat Local is helping to organize this summer and fall. Be sure to get your tickets for Hamilton Eat Local's Rural Routes tours, which are open to the public.

Farmers' Market Update

2011-08-02T09:40:00.001-04:00

Now in the heat of summer, to keep your fridge stocked with fresh, local fruits, veggies and other products from Hamilton's farmers' markets!

Ancaster Farmers' Market is one of the city’s largest and most scenic outdoor markets, open every Wednesday from 3-7pm until the first week of October. Come by for live music every week, and to visit market mascots Benni the pygmy goat and Frank the giant rabbit! The market is located at St. John's Anglican Church, 272 Wilson Street East (corner of Halson St), in the Ancaster Heritage Village.

Binbrook Farmers' Market is open Saturday mornings from 8am to noon at the Binbrook Fairgrounds (2600 Regional Road #56). It's sponsored by the Binbrook Agricultural Society, which is gearing up for its 157th Binbrook Fair from September 16th-18th.

Downtown Farmers' Market underwent renovations over the winter and was reopened in Jackson Square (York Blvd side) in February. Its hours are Tuesdays 7am-6pm, Thursdays 7am-6pm, Fridays 8am-6pm and Saturdays 6am-6pm. In addition to its themed cooking classes, Saturdays at the market feature Kids in the Kitchen (10-10:30am), the Market Fresh Cooking Demonstration (11-11:30am) and live entertainment every other weekend in the market food court.

Dundas Farmers' Market is located in Municipal Parking Lot 7D at Hatt Street and Miller’s Lane and is open every Thursday from 3-7pm until October 27th.

Locke Street Farmers' Market is back for a second year, open every Thursday from 3-7pm at 211 Locke Street South (Fenian Films parking lot - across the street from Locke Street Bakery). The market will run until the end of October.

Makers' Market, open outside Christ’s Church Cathedral (252 James Street North), is in its fifth season. Browse art, photography, jewellery, clothing, gifts and accessories made by local and independent artists. It’s open on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm, and during Art Crawl on the second Friday of every month.

McMaster Farm Stand was started last year as a project of the McMaster Students Union, and is back for another season, having celebrated its grand opening for the year on July 13th. It will be open two days a week, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30am to 3pm. The farm stand will feature deals on in-season produce. It is located on the McMaster campus, across from University Hall and in front of the Nina de Villers Memorial Garden.

Mountain Farmers' Market has a wide selection, friendly people and a great view of the city! It’s open every Saturday from 7am to 1pm until late October. It’s located at 19 Viewpoint Avenue, just off Concession Street.

Ottawa Street Farmers' Market is open year 'round, Fridays and Saturdays from 7am-3pm at 204 Ottawa Street North. The market is gearing up for "Sew Hungry: Food Truck Rally 2011" on Ottawa Street. The big event will take place on Friday, September 16th, 2011. Keep an eye on the market's Facebook page for details.

Master Gardeners at the Ottawa St Market

2011-07-20T10:49:00.004-04:00

With so much heat and so little rain, it's a challenging time for backyard gardeners. Luckily for you, Master Gardeners will be at the Ottawa Street Market this Saturday, July 23! They'll be available to answer your questions and give you tips from 8am to 12pm. Don't miss out!

For those of you that come by, look for the Environment Hamilton table, where we'll be distributing the brand new, 2011 version of the Passport to Hamilton adventure maps, along with the Hamilton Farm Map and Directory and other EH materials.

See you Saturday!

Rural Routes takes home agri-innovation award

2011-07-12T12:56:00.006-04:00

Check out the video below on the recent Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence ceremony, at which Rural Routes was named an award winner! Karen Burson, who accepted the award for her work on last year's series of local farm tours, appears around 2:25.

In case you missed the coverage in the Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton Eat Local was a regional winner at the agri-award ceremony on June 24. MPP Ted McMeekin presented the set of awards on behalf of the Ontario government for the winners' efforts to strengthen the province's farming industry.

Congrats to Karen and to the whole Rural Routes team!

Rural Routes heads to Murphy's Country Produce

2011-07-11T10:19:00.005-04:00

The sky was clear, the air was fresh and the strawberries were ripe for the picking at Saturday’s Rural Routes trip to Murphy’s Country Produce in Binbrook.

The July 9^th adventure was the first of the summer in Environment Hamilton’s series of bus trips to local farms, and it was a great success! Brian Murphy, his daughter Megan and the friendly staff at Murphy’s invited the 40 of us to harvest from fresh and plentiful fields of strawberries, raspberries, sweet peas and fava beans.

Some spent an hour and a half filling their baskets in the fields, while others took some time to enjoy the beautiful day in the shade. Before leaving the farm, everyone stopped at the market to buy whatever they had missed during the pick, or to pick up some cherries and strawberry jam.

Many thanks are due to Smart Commute and HSR for their support.

Be sure to get your tickets soon for our next trips! On August 6^th, we’re heading to Shearlea Acres in Lynden for their eighth annual Corn Fest! The Boar and Chick Farm in Troy, which specializes in meat, will be the destination for the September 10^th trip. An October trip is also in the works, though details are to be determined.

Rural Routes is back!

2011-06-27T15:13:00.008-04:00

Get your tickets for this year’s series of bus trips to local farms! A great family outing! It’s a great chance to learn about the people and places that grow and raise your local foods. We’ve got three trips planned for the summer, with one in the works for October.

Saturday, July 9^th: Murphy’s Country Produce

Saturday, August 6^th: Shearlea Acres Farm Market

Saturday, September 10^th: The Boar and Chick Farm (see free range animals)

October: Trip to be announced

Tickets are on sale at Bread and Roses Café (27 King William Street, off James Street North). An adult ticket costs $7 and a child/senior ticket costs $5. On the day of the trip, meet at the Hamilton GO Centre (36 Hunter Street East) at 10 a.m., where we’ll board a chartered HSR bus and head to the farm. The farm visit will offer an opportunity to hear from the farmers, shop at the on-farm market and, in some cases, participate in an activity. Expect to arrive back at the GO Centre by 1:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Juby at jlee@environmenthamilton.org, or call the Environment Hamilton office at 905-549-0900.

Locke Street Farmers Market presents .... Taste of Locke

2011-06-08T09:46:00.000-04:00

Taste of Locke

Thursday, June 9th, 6-8pm, at Fenian Films (211 Locke St S)

Locke Street Farmers’ Market is celebrating its second season by partnering with Locke Street restaurants and shops to bring you a Taste of Locke.

Come enjoy live music and samples featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients from the Market farmers. Try samples from Cheese Shoppe on Locke, Earth to Table Bread Bar, Forrat’s Chocolates, Goodness Me!, Il Fiasco, Chuck’s Burger Bar, and The Courtyard while exploring Locke Street. Return every Thursday between 3 and 7pm to stock up on fresh, local foods from the Market.
Learn more at lsfm.wordpress.com. Tickets are $15 and are available for advance purchase at Cheese Shoppe on Locke and Earth to Table Bread Bar.
Space is limited, so get your tickets soon!

Feed the Dream! Support Student Nutrition Programs

2011-06-06T08:41:00.002-04:00

Did you know that 1 out of 4 children in Hamilton live in poverty?
Over 23,000 students receive breakfast / lunch / snack at their local school / community centre daily.

Help support these programs:

Hamilton Partners in Nutrition Presents:

Feed the Dream

in support of student nutrition programs.
Saturday June 18th
Discovery Centre
57 Discovery Drive

Auction: $30 / person
Auction and Cruise $50 / person

11:30am boarding
12:30pm cruise departs
3pm auction starts

TICKETS on SALE NOW.

feedthedream.eventbrite.com
905-522-1148 ext 0.
sprc@sprc.hamilton.on.ca

Extra produce in your garden? Become part of West Hamilton Produce Cooperative Exchange!

2011-05-27T12:18:00.002-04:00

There is an exciting new food exchange happening! West Hamilton Produce Cooperative Exchange between gardeners
is getting started and looking for backyard gardeners interested in exchanging their produce for other goodies!

This is a way for backyard veggie gardeners to share their surplus garden produce with other local gardeners and receive some of the tasty treats from other people’s gardens. This model has been used with huge success in the southern US (North East Los Angeles)and the woman who started the original co-op there 2 years ago now has over 200 members.

There is lots more info about West Hamilton Produce Coop on their blog: westhamiltonproducecooperative.blogspot.com.

For more information, please contact Karen McLaughlin at westhamiltonproducecooperative(at)gmail(dot)com

Mountain Market is up and running - starting THIS Saturday!

2011-05-11T16:40:00.000-04:00

With Spring in the air (finally!) the first seasonal farmers market of 2011 is open!
Hamilton Mountain Farmers Market will be open THIS Saturday May 14th from 7am - 1pm.

This market will be open until late October.

19 Viewpoint Avenue (just off Concession Street).

Farmers that will be present on opening day:
Robinsons Farm
Drummond Farm
Simpler Thyme Organic Farm
Farm Fresh COuntry Market
Trembling Aspens Herb Farm
Richardsons Farm

Products available on opening day include: apples, field greens, hot house tomatoes and cucumbers, fiddleheads, honey and more!

***
Wednesday June 15th: Ancaster Market is open!

The Ancaster Farmer's market is celebrating their second season. Think local. Think fresh. The market is located on a lovely open green space adjacent to the rail trail. Great access for biking and walking with links to the Bruce trail, Hamilton Conservation and numerous waterfalls. The wonderful vendors offer a lovely variety of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, breads, honey, flowers, plants and more. Ample parking is available, but you are encouraged to bike, walk, rollerblade or even skateboard. Every Wednesday from 3pm to 7pm starting June 15 2011 until October 05, 2011. You are invited to come out and have a visit and wander around our Heritage village core.

Ancaster Farmers Market
every Wednesday
June 15 2011 - October 05 2011
3pm - 7pm

Location
St.John's Anglican Church (behind the church on St. John's Green)
272 Wilson Street East (corner of Halson St)
Ancaster, ON, L9G 2B9
Canada
Phone:289-239-7828

Upcoming Events

2011-05-05T15:25:00.000-04:00

Sat. May 7th: OTTAWA STREET FARMERS MARKET "MOTHERS DAY WEEKEND"

Ottawa Street Farmers Market is celebrating Mothers this Saturday May 7th from 10am-2pm.
Bring your mom to the market for a special live musical performance by "The Cardinal Newman Highschool Glee Club" and Plant a Pansy for your mom. Market staff will be helping kids plant their FREE pansies in pots to give to their moms.
The market is located at 204 Ottawa Street North. The market is open Friday and Saturday, year round from 7am-3pm.
For more information, contact info(at)ottawastreetfarmers.com

***

Thur May 12th: ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL (St. Augustine School, Dundas, ON)

Thursday May 12,
Doors open at 6pm, first film starts at 6:30pm.
St. Augustine School, 25 Alma St, Dundas, ON.

Two award winning presentations:
"Bag It: Is your life too plastic?" We see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up to us and what we can do about it.
Recommended for grades 4-12

"...And this is my garden." In the small town of Northern Manitoba, two school teachers are empowering their students with the knowledge, disclipine and skill to grow their own food in backyard gardens.
Recommended for grades 1-4

Free Admission
All welcome
Suggested donation $2 for individuals
$5 for families and / or canned goods.
Proceeds to benefit Dundas Community Food Bank and Good Shepherd Services.

PLUS! Community Shared Agriculture Exhibits and Prizes from ManoRun Organic Farm and Plan B Organic Farm.

****

THUR MAY 12th: HALTON FOOD COUNCIL's "SETTING OUR PRIORITIES" EVENT: (please note the May 9th registration deadline)

You are invited to:
The Halton Food Council's "Setting our Priorities" Forum
GET INFORMED!...GET INSPIRED!....GET INVOLVED!
Thursday May 12th from 8:30-1:30pm. Burlington, ON

St. Christopher's Anglican Church
662 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario

Learn more about community food and farm issues in Halton
Participate in creating local solutions
Help us set priorities for action

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

farmers
local food advocates
community nutrition program workers
food bank workers and food security advocates
dietitians
food distributors
anyone interested in making healthy food for all a reality for Halton

SPEAKERS

Karen Burson, Project Manager, Hamilton Eat Local, Environment Hamilton

Dr. Samina Raja, Urban and Regional Planner involved with Food Security Planning and Community Health, University of Buffalo

Halton Food Council - Members will share results of our community food assessment and will join the speakers in a panel discussion about what we can do in Halton.

YOU! - We want to hear your thoughts and priorities on community food and farming in Halton.

There is no cost to attendees for the day.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Limited seating is available so please RSVP by May 9, 2011 by requesting a ticket.
Send this announcement on to others who may be interested in attending.
Thank you to Halton Region Health Department for funding this event.
Phone 905-825-6000 ext. 7887
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1561489457

For the 2nd year in a row Hamilton Eat Local declares FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH!

2011-02-16T14:49:00.008-05:00

We invite you to take part in an exciting assortment of community-based events celebrating a range of issues and adventures in our vibrant local food scene.

Wednesday Feb 23rd - FRWY cafe - 333 King Street East - 7pm. BEN HEWITT! Author of the successful The Town That Food Saved, about hard-on-it’s-luck Harwick Vermont and how it’s new story captured the imagination of readers across the country. Hewitt’s memorable book examines how some of its citizens saw the development of a sustainable locally-based food economy as a powerful economic and social opportunity to bring lasting prosperity to a town that had seen better days. In partnership with: Greening our Local Economy, Beasley Neighbourhood Association and support from Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Friday February 25, 5:30 pm. FOOD & FILM FESTIVAL at FENIAN FILM - 211 Locke Street South Great food movies King Corn, The Real Dirt on Farmer John and local short feature films; locavore pizzas and more made fresh for our event by Earth to Table Bread Bar and local wines available for purchase for only $15 per person. Proceeds will support Hamilton Eat Local's "Operation Smoothie" and the Locke Street Farmers Market.

Saturday Feb 26th - 10:30am - RURAL ROUTES @ Black Walnut Lane Farm. Join us for a rugged outdoor adventure at the height of lambing season! The bus will depart @ 10:30am sharp from the Bread & Roses Café (27 King William Street) on Saturday February 26 (where you can buy advance tickets to avoid disappointment, since last year’s trips sold out!) and the bus returns to the Hamilton Farmers Market at 12:30. Tickets include the bus trips and delicious samples of Black Walnut Lane lamb products: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for kids. Presented by Hamilton Eat Local and Smart Commute.

For more information check out Environment Hamilton's website:
www.environmenthamilton.org

Parkview Health Fair

2010-12-14T11:29:00.000-05:00

In November the Operation Smoothie Interns took to the streets to gather information for Operation Smoothie and our first event was the Parkview Secondary School Health Fair.

Along with several other health and nutrition groups, we set up a table in the school gym to help educate students on the importance of healthy, nutritious and local food. Meanwhile, we had students complete surveys to gauge their interest in a project like Operation Smoothie.

The response was overwhelming. Kids love smoothies, and most would even be willing to try a smoothie with vegetables in it. And for kids who really love their veggies, we brought along a giant carrot suit...

That's right! A giant carrot suit! Everyone loved it (including intern Rebbecca), and we gave away some pretty cool prizes for everyone who was brave enough to try it on and consent to having their picture posted online for all the world to see.

If you put on the carrot suit, but can't find your picture here, you can see the rest of them at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=259250&id=506649175&l=92232797a0

Operation Smoothie!

2010-12-14T11:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome, new recruits, to OPERATION SMOOTHIE.

Operation Smoothie is a stand alone program run by Hamilton Eat Local. We are working with Hamilton Partners in Nutrition to help provide healthy and nutritious breakfast smoothies to Breakfast Clubs of Canada affiliated elementary schools. Our goal is to introduce the kids of Hamilton to locally grown and produced food through our delicious smoothies.

Join Operation Smoothie today!!!

In the coming weeks we will be posting more info about Operation Smoothie,smoothie recipes, videos and updates on the project for our breafast club kids to read.

Stay tuned for more Operation Smoothie updates!

FRESH Screening This Friday!!!

2010-12-06T22:22:00.001-05:00

COME TO THE SPECIAL FRESH SCREENING ON ART CRAWL NIGHT......
Friday December 10 - Sky Dragon Centre @ 27 King William.

This Friday December 10th, Hamilton Eat Local will be screening the documentary Fresh at Sky Dragon Cafe @27 King William.

Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the screening will begin at 7pm. Following the film there will be discussion led by local organic farmer Chris Krucker of ManoRun Farms. Krucker is an active voice in the local, organic and community supported agriculture (CSA) movements.

Read more about his big ideas in the Hamilton Spec:
http://www.downtowndundas.ca/File/Spec_article_Krucker.pdf

The evening wraps up at around 9pm, so theres plenty of time for you to enjoy Artcrawl. Light refreshments will be provided. There is a 5$ (or PWYC) admission fee which will go towards funding Eat Local's new initiative, Operation Smoothie.

About FRESH:

With the current onslaught of documentaries and books describing the food industry evils, Ana Sofia Joanes “Fresh” has a different outlook. Driven towards practical solutions, the movie “Fresh” looks at industrial farming’s effect on our soil, health and livestock. While the film is more folksy in tone than the recent “Food, Inc.” (NY Times), it still provides lots of hard evidence about the current food industry. Featuring food activists like Joel Salatin, Will Allen and Michael Pollan this 70-minute film should fill the audience with the inspiration and knowledge to promote change within the current food model.

For more information about FRESH, check out the website @
http://www.freshthemovie.com/

Hope to see you all there!

Rural Routes Food Day Celebration Photos

2010-10-27T17:00:00.005-04:00

Katrina Simmons, Hamilton Spectator "Eat Local" Columnist was the guest speaker.

Everyone was given a chance to buy some local food en route at the Plan B Organic Farm.

Free range chickens were running everywhere.

Litter-less lunch made by Bread and Roses Cafe, in compostable packaging was eaten at the Plan B Farm.

Three-month internships with Hamilton Eat Local are back!!!

2010-10-20T13:13:00.004-04:00

Hamilton Eat Local is hiring two Three-month Interns, November 15 to February 15

YMCA YOUTH ECO INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
This position is being funded through the Youth Eco Internship Program (YEIP). This program places unemployed people aged 15 to 30 from diverse backgrounds into paid internship opportunities within the non-profit and community services sector in Canada with a focus on the environment. These positions, offered in a wide range of organizations, will help young Canadians learn the skills required to gain and sustain future employment within the sector.

This project is a collaboration between the YMCA and YWCA Canada, with funding provided by the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The YEIP encourages applicants from visible minority, Aboriginal, immigrant, refugee and traditionally marginalized communities to apply, and is committed to providing employment supports wherever possible.

Applicants must be 15 to 30 years of age to qualify. Applicants must also be accepted by the YEIP once the hiring decision has been made. Only those selected for an interview by the project manager will be contacted regarding their application, with interviews taking place at the office of Environment Hamilton.

The two 3-month interns would visit selected breakfast, early morning meal and snack programs that are part of Hamilton Partners In Nutrition (HPIN’s) group of 120 child and youth nutrition programs. After a period of orientation and training, the two interns will be demonstrate easy smoothie-making techniques and serve samples to the predominantly elementary school-aged youths who participate in these programs.

Interns will also:

Act as support staff to take part in Hamilton Eat Local’s public events
Help with presentations, such as film screenings of food related films across the city
Offer presentations to interested stakeholders, supporting our work with HPIN and other initiatives
Collaborate on writing a smoothie handbook for city-wide distribution
Other tasks in support of Hamilton Eat Local’s new “Operation Smoothie”
Interns will report to the Project Manager and will also need to submit progress reports to the YEIP on a regular basis

For more information about Hamilton Eat Local please visit:

http://environmenthamilton.org/view/page/eat_local

Applicants are asked to submit resumes only (2 pages maximum) to the Project Manager:

kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org

Resumes must be received by Friday November 5, 2010 to be eligible. Queries should be sent only to the above e-mail address. Please do not call the Project Manager or the Environment Hamilton office about this job posting.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the availability of these internships is entirely contingent on the successful raising of funds for the operating costs of Operation Smoothie. Successful candidates would be notified on or before Friday November 12, 2010.

Rural Routes World Food Day Celebration

2010-10-12T15:25:00.005-04:00

This Saturday, October 16, Rural Routes has planned a day of exciting local food activities to mark the World Food Organization’s annual World Food Day (this year’s annual theme is “United Against Hunger”). The event starts at the Bread & Roses Cafe/Sky Dragon Centre with an Organic Fair Trade Coffee Roasting Demonstration at 10 am, before being taken away on a bus at 11 am, from outside Sky Dragon Center (location here). The first stop on the bus will be the Plan B Organic Farm, where “Eat Local” columnist for the Hamilton Spectator Katrina Simmons will give a presentation. This will be followed by a couple activities around the farm. After Plan B, the route will continue to Lindley’s Farm and Market. Here you will get and opportunity to visit the corn maze for free, or just walk around participating in other activities (some might have additional costs) and do some shopping at the store. The bus will return to the Bread & Roses Cafe around 4pm. The trip will include a light lunch.

Tickets can be purchased at the Bread & Roses Café for $10 each, or $8 for seniors and $5 for children (Cash Only). The bus will be going in rain or shine, so dress appropriately and remember to bring your own shopping bag (s).

100-mile Thanksgiving Dinner

2010-10-08T09:21:00.010-04:00

There does not seem to be anything that is more in the thanksgiving spirit than having a locally sourced feast. For the second year in a row, McMaster’s Outdoor Club held the 100 Mile Thanksgiving Dinner at the Red Door Church. Hannah Webb and other members of the Outdoor Club put together a massive meal that consisted of: five locally raised turkeys, home made gravy and stuffing, potatoes, beets, carrots, green beans, cranberry sauce all finished with some delicious apple crumble. While Plan B Organic Farms helped source some delicious vegetables, the seasonings were surprisingly subdued. However, even with no pepper, citrus or vinegar, the dinner was delicious and creative.

Based so close to the university campus, most of the hungry participants were McMaster students and faculty, which led to some new friendships and interesting discussion about all areas around food. Before the dinner started a short guest presentation helped set the mood while everyone sat around with rumbling stomachs. Once the food came out, there was a horde surrounding the table trying to quickly grab as much food as possible. As the time progressed, people would continue to return for seconds, thirds and even fourths. There was so much food that everyone was waddling home, looking fully satisfied and a little sleepy.

The "100 mile" concept describes a lifestyle of eating and purchasing food that has only been raised, grown and processed within 100 miles. The term "100-Mile Diet" started with a couple, who were journalists in Vancouver. They decided to spend a year eating only food that was grown, harvested and processed within 100 miles of where they live. They were fed up with the idea that most food travels between 1500-2500 miles, and as such the book, The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating was created. During the year they wrote about the experience, interactions with friends and their own state of mind. It has become a cult novel in Canada and among international foodies, with a big following and people hosting events like this 100 Mile Thanksgiving Dinner.

Ottawa Street Farmers' Market first ever Apple Pie contest

2010-09-30T12:02:00.003-04:00

Local amateur pie making enthusiasts gathered to present their freshly baked pies, made with local apples on Saturday September 25th to be judged at Ottawa Street Farmers' Market first ever Apple Pie contest. One of the rules was that apples had to be purchased from the farmers' market.
The judges were Jeff Crump, Executive Chef for Ancaster Mill (on the far right), Brenda Fletcher of Fletcher Fruit Farm (in the baseball cap), Councillor Sam Merulla (to the left) and teen Mitchell Despinic.
Congratulations to Sandy Robinson for baking the winning apple pie. She won a basket of fresh apples and a Limoncello gift certificate. It was a close contest, as all the pies were tasty!
We look forward to next year's contest!

Ottawa Street Farmers' Market holds its first ever Apple Pie Baking Contest!

2010-09-13T22:14:00.003-04:00

On Saturday Sept. 25, 2010 show off your skills at the first annual OSFM apple-pie
baking contest.
Join us in front of the market office at 11:00 a.m. as our judges sample the entries and decide whose pie will go home with the coveted First Prize!

Want to enter the bake off? Entry forms and contest rules are available at all apple vendors at the Ottawa Street Farmers’ Market.
Contact Caroline Merritt, Market Manager at: (905) 297-5250 or email: info@ottawastreetfarmers.com
204 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton.
www.ottawastreetfarmers.com
The market is open every Friday and Saturday, 7-3, year round

Amazing opportunity: Hamilton Eat Local is now hiring TWO Three-month Interns!

2010-08-31T23:40:00.005-04:00

Hamilton Eat Local is now hiring two Three-month Interns

Full-time - November 15 to February 15

YOUTH ECO INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

This position is being funded through the Youth Eco Internship Program (YEIP). This program places unemployed people aged 15 to 30 from diverse backgrounds into paid internship opportunities within the non-profit and community services sector in Canada with a focus on the environment. These positions, offered in a wide range of organizations, will help young Canadians learn the skills required to gain and sustain future employment within the sector.

This project is a collaboration between the YMCA and YWCA Canada, with funding provided by the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The YEIP encourages applicants from visible minority, Aboriginal, immigrant, refugee and traditionally marginalized communities to apply, and is committed to providing employment supports wherever possible.

Applicants must be 15 to 30 years of age to qualify. Applicants must also be accepted by the YEIP once the hiring decision has been made. Only those selected for an interview by the project manager will be contacted regarding their application, with interviews taking place at the office of Environment Hamilton in late September.

The two 3-month interns would visit selected breakfast, early morning meal and snack programs that are part of Hamilton Partners In Nutrition (HPIN’s) group of 120 child and youth nutrition programs. After a period of orientation and training, the two interns will be demonstrate easy smoothie-making techniques and serve samples to the predominantly elementary school-aged youths who participate in these programs.

Interns will also:

Act as support staff to take part in Hamilton Eat Local’s public events

Help with presentations, such as film screenings of food related films across the city

Offer presentations to interested stakeholders, supporting our work with HPIN and other initiatives

Collaborate on writing a smoothie handbook for city-wide distribution

Other tasks in support of Hamilton Eat Local’s new “Operation Smoothie”

Interns will report to Project Manager and will also need to submit progress reports to the YEIP on a regular basis

For more information about Hamilton Eat Local please visit:

http://environmenthamilton.org/view/page/eat_local

Applicants are asked to submit resumes only (2 pages maximum) to the Project Manager:

kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org

Resumes must be received by Friday November 5, 2010 to be eligible. Queries should be sent only to the above e-mail address. Please do not call the Project Manager or the Environment Hamilton office about this job posting.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the availability of these internships is entirely contingent on the successful raising of funds for the operating costs of Operation Smoothie. Successful candidates would be notified on or before Friday November 12, 2010.

Earth to Table Bread Bar now open on Locke Street!

2010-08-17T12:07:00.000-04:00

Opening at long last is the Earth to Table Bread Bar on Locke Street, near Aberdeen. The collaboration between Executive Chef Jeff Crump and Pastry Chef Bettina Schorman of the Ancaster Mill is an oasis of cool on a street that has a culinary scene that features a growing local food presence. Red Fife wheat loaves, delectable and buttery pastries, and pizza is on its way. Check out the goodies and remember: good ingredients matter!

In case you missed it...

2010-08-17T10:14:00.008-04:00

Saturday's Cultivating Community event at the Hamilton Mountain Farmers' Market was a great success! The highlight of the day was the series of cooking demonstrations by private chef Wayne Baker. Using ingredients that could be found at the Mountain Market (with a few minor exceptions), he prepared three delicious dishes. The appetizer was a light and tasty Insalata Caprese. For the main course, Wayne prepared the vegetarian form of a Nova Scotia classic, Hodgepodge. Dessert was Fruit Foster - a warm fruit sauce spooned over ice cream.

Here are the recipes Wayne handed out:

APPETIZER

Insalata Caprese

2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced
2 sprigs fresh basil
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tbsp. salted capers (optional)
¼ lb. pitted black olives (optional)
1 container brocconcini or a round mozzarella, about ½ kg (1 lb.), sliced

Slice the tomatoes into rounds about 1.25 cm. (½“) and put them on a platter/plate. The tomato slices can be as thick or as thin as desired. Wash and remove the leaves from the basil stems and place whole over the tomato slices (if necessary more than one leaf can be placed on the tomato slice to cover the slice). Slice the brocconcini/mozzarella into rounds about the same thickness as the tomato slices and lay them over the basil leaves (the cheese should also be about the same size as the tomato slice, so piece together, if necessary). If using the capers and/or the sliced olives, sprinkle over the top. Season with salt and pepper, then drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top. Serve at room temperature. Can be made ahead of time and put covered into the refrigerator and removed about 15 minutes before serving to get to room temperature. This is the appetizer recipe, but if you wanted to serve this as a side salad it could be layered with the largest slices on the bottom and each layer a little smaller (3 layers would be fine) or 3 slices on a plate in a triangle formation per serving.
Serves 6.

VEGETARIAN MAIN DISH

Hodgepodge

1 cup each (choose all or selected vegetables) fresh green beans, trimmed and snapped; fresh yellow beans, trimmed and snapped; baby carrots or sliced larger carrots; diced turnip; broccoli spears; cauliflower florets; baby onions or cutup regular sized onions; brussel sprouts; baby corn cobs. Should end up with about 8 cups of vegetables, increase selected vegetables to 1½ cups to equal at least 8 cups over all.
2 cups baby new potatoes or cut-up larger potatoes
1 – 2 cups water
6 tbsp. butter/margarine
½ cup half & half
salt and pepper, to taste

All the vegetables should be roughly the same size, cut to size if necessary. Place the selected vegetables in a large pot with enough water to have about 2.5 cm. (1”) deep. If regular carrots and turnip are used they should be cooked 10 minutes before the rest of the vegetables are added. Lightly salt the water, bring to a boil and cook covered over low heat for 20-30 minutes. Add the potatoes, return to a boil and cook covered for about another 20-30 minutes depending on the desired firmness of the vegetables. A little more water may be required. Stir in butter/margarine and half & half (regular, 1% or 2% milk can be used, if desired). Cook for a few more minutes for the vegetables to absorb some of the butter/margarine and half & half. Remove from heat and serve hot. Serves 6-8

DESSERT

Fruit Foster

¼ cup (1/8 lb.) butter
¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tbsp. orange juice concentrate
4 cups ripe fresh fruit (choose any combination of sliced peaches; sliced pears; sliced apples, plums halved or quartered; strawberries, halved or quartered; whole raspberries; whole blueberries; whole blackberries,
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1 tsp. pure vanilla flavouring
About 2 tbsp. dark rum or brandy, optional (rum flavouring can be used instead)

In a 10” to 12” frying pan over high heat, stir butter and brown sugar until bubbling vigorously. Add cinnamon, orange juice concentrate and fruit; turn fruit often with a spatula until sauce is boiling again and fruit is hot, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and just before serving add the vanilla and rum flavouring stirring well. Scoop ice cream equally into four bowls. ** Optional** - just before serving add the rum or brandy and light and shake pan until flame dies. If not choosing the flambéé option, add the rum or brandy just before serving, mixing well. Spoon fruit and sauce over ice cream.

The Mountain Market, located just off Concession St at 19 Viewpoint Ave, will be open every Saturday from 7am to 1:30pm until early November. Be sure to stop by to pick up your ingredients and to re-stock on fresh, local produce, as well as other delicious and healthy items.

For more information on Wayne and his cooking services, check out his Cooking Is Fun and Easy website at www.cookingisfunandeasy.ca.

Up to our ears in corn!

2010-08-09T12:54:00.009-04:00

Hamilton Eat Local was at the Ottawa Street Market last Saturday, to join in celebrating the 2010 corn and peach harvest! There was a great turnout, and besides the variety of fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to choose from, market-goers also got the chance to enter a draw for a big basket of produce, sample fresh corn, pick up some farm maps and recipes, and try out some peach cobbler muffins, courtesy of Caroline, the market manager! The market is open on Fridays and Saturdays year round at 204 Ottawa Street North, from 7am - 3pm. They always have some great, seasonal festivities going on, so be sure to check them out this weekend!

Big Event at the Mountain Farmers' Market!

2010-08-05T15:14:00.003-04:00

To thank its customers, recognize its vendors, and celebrate the consumption of locally grown and produced food, the Hamilton Mountain Farmers’ Market will host its “Cultivating Community” event on Saturday, August 14th from 9am to 12pm, though the market will be open from 7am to 1:30pm.

This is the market’s premier event for the summer, and will feature live cooking demonstrations, raffles, games, and plenty of information for customers. The event will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about the production and use of local foods and, of course, buy locally grown and produced goods.

The Mountain Market is located in the parking lot across from Sacred Heart Church at 19 Viewpoint Ave., just off Concession St. between Upper Wentworth and Upper Sherman. It will be open every Saturday from 7am to 1:30pm until early November.

Hope to see you there!

NAME: Cultivating Community –

A Day of Celebration at the Mountain Farmers’ Market

LOCATION: Corner of Viewpoint Ave. & Mountain Park Ave.

Hamilton, ON

DATE: Saturday, August 14, 2010

9:00am to 12:00pm

Eat Local at the North Hamilton Community Health Centre Children's Breakfast Club

2010-07-28T14:42:00.014-04:00

Many of the 96,000 Hamiltonians living in poverty are children. In the most crucial development stages of their lives, they do not have access to the nutritious sustenance that is required for healthy physical and mental growth, or social development. By contrast, breakfast programs not only ensure that children are well-fed before school in the morning; they also provide a positive space for learning and interaction. They are a key part of giving young students the best opportunity possible to benefit from their education and childhood years.

At St. Luke’s Anglican Parish Hall in Hamilton’s North End, students of Benetto Elementary School frequent a program run by the North Hamilton Community Health Centre. In a diverse and welcoming environment, they are offered fresh fruit, homemade muffins baked fresh by volunteers, cereal and sometimes even smoothies before heading to class. Parent and community volunteers, as well as a surprisingly rare paid coordinator of the program, usually arrive at 7am to allow students to eat and play at a relaxed and enjoyable pace.

Student Nutrition Programs (SNPs) in Hamilton rely on this sort of community support. The City of Hamilton, unlike Toronto, does not match the meagre funding provided for SNPs by the Ontario government through the Ministry of Child and Youth Services. If Hamilton is serious about striving to be “the best place to raise a child,” it needs to step up and offer its support.

Hamilton Eat Local wishes to lend a hand in offering locally grown fresh food offerings to students of various backgrounds and cultures. Fruit and dairy that’s grown and gathered in the Hamilton area will go into Operation Smoothie, one of the newest emerging SNP-oriented initiatives of Eat Local. To learn more or get involved with the project, please contact Karen Burson at kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org.

Local Vegetable Garden Tours by Project Harvest

2010-07-27T15:15:00.007-04:00

You are invited to the Project Harvest Vegetable Garden Tour in Hamilton! On Sunday, August 29^th, enjoy an open house-style tour of six vegetable gardens across the city. For a $10 donation, drop by any or all of the locations between 10:00am and 4:00pm to see the unique and inspiring features of each garden.

The garden locations are as follows.

1. See what growing up is like.

Paul and Sandra’s: 64 Barclay St

Between King St West and Main St West turn on to Paisley Ave South, then onto Barclay St

2. See an intelligent use of small space.

Rita Bailey: 84 Pearl St South

Travelling East on Main St, take the first right after Locke St. 84 Pearl St is at the corner of Pearl and Jackson St West. Enter the garden from Jackson St.

3. See what a joint effort can produce.

Hill Street Community Garden: Hill St, half a block east of Dundurn

Travelling south on Dundurn St past Main St West, turn left on Hill St, which is just south of the railway overpass.

4. See an urban garden in the heart of the city.

Sapphire Singh: 73 Stapleton Ave

From Barton St East, turn north on Kenilworth. Take the first left at McAnulty Blvd, and then the first right at Stapleton Ave.

5. See large beds, solar panels, windmill for electricity, cistern for rainwater.

Marjorie and Cecil Cooke: 15 Lister Ave

From Upper James and Rymal Rd, go east on Rymal one block, turn right on Ryckmans, and right on Lister Ave.

6. See large award-winning rustic country garden, heritage plants, xeriscaping.

Beth Powell: 440 Concession 1 Rd, R.R. #1, Canfield

Take Hwy 56. 10 Miles south of Binbrook, turn left on Concession Rd 1, and Beth’s property is the third laneway on the right.

Project Harvest works in seven Guatemalan communities to develop and apply an integrated horticultural method, allowing campesino families to enjoy more nutritious and self-sufficient ways of finding food. Visit www.projectharvest.org to learn more.

For more information, please contact Rita Bailey by phone at 905-525-1198, or by email at ruby101@sympatico.ca.

Berry (in) Kind!

2010-07-27T10:40:00.007-04:00

The Fruit Tree Project and Hamilton Eat Local came together recently, and both projects gained a new appreciation for the time and care invested in berry picking, as they harvested juicy yet very fragile raspberries from Jerry's Berries Raspberry Farm in Copetown this week! As the raspberry season comes to an end, Jerry and Glenda welcomed staff and volunteers onto their farm to pick berries for an upcoming student breakfast initiative. We came away with litres of the tender, bright, sweet fruit which will be frozen and used in developing this tasty addition to breakfast programs in the coming school year. Thanks to our volunteers who braved the heat and armies of beetles to glean the fields, and much gratitude to Jerry's Berries for their generous donation of fruit to the development of our new program!

Locke Street Farmers' Market Grand Opening

2010-06-23T13:02:00.000-04:00

Locke Street Farmers' Market Grand Opening

2010-06-23T12:54:00.000-04:00

All aboard! Rural Routes helps city folks discover their roots

2010-06-23T12:19:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all who made our first Rural Routes tour a success! Despite rainy skies and the threat of thunderstorms, 55 people filled an articulated HSR bus on June 12^th, selling-out our trip to ManoRun Organic Farm. Between bread-baking in the woodfire oven, visiting the barn animals and picking up some fresh produce to take home, participants got the chance to meet farmer Chris Krucker and learn about how their food is grown.

Many thanks to Chris and Denise from ManoRun Organic Farm and, of course, Hamilton Eat Local's partners in this endevor: the HSR, Hamilton Smart Commute and Tourism Hamilton.

If you missed this tour, do not fret! There are still 3 more trips happening this summer. Up next is Mordern's Organic Farm Store on July 10^th. Followed by Puddicombe Estate Farm and Winery, and Carluke Orchards on August 21^st and September 11^th, respectively. Tickets are already getting scooped up, so stop by the Bread and Roses Cafe to get yours! The cost is only $5 per person or $2 for children and seniors, which includes a small cup of organic fair trade coffee served before we depart that is roasted in-house at the cafe (not local but very fresh) -- so be sure to come early! We board at 1pm sharp. For more details please visit: http://cms1.smartcommute.ca/hamilton/ruralroutes .

The Dundas Farmers Market kicks off the 2010 season

2010-06-21T14:46:00.005-04:00

The reopening of the Dundas Farmer’s Market on June 17 was a great success! Vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, baked goods, herbs, jam and honey gathered at the corner of Miller’s Lane and Hatt Street, behind the Dundas public library, where crowds flowed in to enjoy foods grown, raised and prepared locally.
Under clear and sunny skies, shoppers could buy products from gluten-free baking to wild boar, as well as plenty of organic produce. At the Hamilton Eat Local table, market-goers picked up their Hamilton Farm Map and Directory, in which they could learn about close to 70 farms and vendors in and around the city. Some of the directory’s locations had booths at the market, including ManoRun Organic Farm, Plan ‘B’ Organic Farm and La Primavera Farms.
The Dundas Farmers market will operate every Thursday from 3-7pm until October 28. As the weeks roll by, offers will change with the season, so be sure to stop by and see what’s fresh!

Farm Fresh!

2010-06-07T10:35:00.009-04:00

Last Thursday, for the second year in a row, Hamilton Eat Local joined Judy Musitano from Farm Fresh Country Market at the annual ecomarket at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington. Judy came packed with a van full of freshly picked local foods and we served up our 2010 Farm Map and Directory next to her beautiful display. Hundreds of Environment Canada employees passed by our tables and, wowed by the colourful arrangement, took the opportunity to pick up some fresh vegetables and farm maps!

Thanks to Cheryl Tinson and the Burling Green Team for inviting us back to the ecomarket this year, and to Judy Musitano for her tireless promotion of Ontario grown food. Check out her year 'round retail location at 390 Barton Street (at Millen Road) in Stoney Creek, or look for her at the Hamilton Moutain and Ancaster Farmers Markets.

Coming to a farm near you...

2010-06-02T09:55:00.003-04:00

Hamilton Eat Local, in partnership with Tourism Hamilton, Smart Commute and the HSR, is happy to present Rural Routes: a monthly bus excursion to a Hamilton area farm. We'll visit 4 farms throughout the summer, each with their own on-site activity and market stand:

June 12th: ManoRun Organic Farm

July 10th: Morden's Organic Farm Store

August 21st: Puddicombe Estate Farm and Winery

September 11th: Carluke Orchards

Each trip departs at 1:00 pm from the Bread and Roses Cafe in downtown Hamilton, and returns at 3:30. And it's just $5 for adults and $2 for children and seniors! Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Bread and Roses Cafe.

We'll keep you posted as the wheel's start rolling, but for more information in the meantime, check out Smart Commute Hamilton for more details!

Be a “Locavore” or “Locke-a-Vore” - Locke Street South Welcomes Hamilton's Newest Farmers' Market!

2010-05-28T23:20:00.002-04:00

Locke Street is buzzing with anticipation of Hamilton’s newest Farmers’ Market. Local farmers and producers will be selling their vegetables, fruits, meat and bread to the neighbourhoods around Locke Street.

WHAT: Grand Opening of the Locke Street Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Thursday June 17, 2010
from 3pm-7pm

WHERE: Located in the parking lot next to Fenian Films located at 211 Locke Street South.

WHY: Delivered from the farmer’s fields to the heart of Locke Street, families young and old will be able to access the freshest of locally grown products. The farms are local, sustainable and managed by families who care for their land and their animals.

The term “Locavore” was developed a few years ago to capture what it means to support local and sustainable food systems. While chatting with local farmers, Tom Ratcliffe of Melrose United Church was inspired to say, “Be a Locke-a-Vore”. And so it will be that the people of the Locke St. neighbourhoods will have a unique opportunity this summer to be a “Locke-a-Vore”.

The Locke Street Farmers’ Market will be every Thursdays from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. beginning June 17, 2010.
List of farmers and food producers include:
Black Walnut Lane - Ron and Adele Service, Millgrove, 905-689-0698 (lamb and beef)
Earth To Table Bakery : Bettina Schormann, Hamilton, 905-516-2362 (bread)
Hay Seed Organic Farm: Jessica Andrews, Bennet Deakin, Kalvis Auzins, Brantford,
519-758-0327 (vegetables)
ManoRun Organic Farm: Chris Krucker, Copetown, 905-648-9608 (vegetables)
Summer Hill Farm : Mark and Tania Veenstra, Waterdown, 905-689-2796 (wild Boar)

-30-
For questions? Contact Adele Service from Black Walnut Lane at 905-689-0698
Chris Krucker from ManoRun Organic Farm at 905-648-9608

The Farm Map Launch - a GRAND success!

2010-05-19T12:12:00.004-04:00

On Friday May 14th, 22 Wilson Street was the place to be! Hundreds came out to celebrate the release of the new Hamilton Farm Map at Environment Hamilton's new home. As part of the May James Street North Art Crawl, crawlers: sampled local VQA wines (and Puddicombe's fruit wine) presented by the fabulous Sommelier, Karen La Vigne; everyone checked out Eat Local's first ever photo exhibit of the local farms on our map and enjoyed the sounds of musicians Dan Medakovic and Willy Mudenge. The launch was a two-in-one event as Environment Hamilton flung open ithe doors to welcome Art Crawl participants to our new home. Local visual artist, Louisa Kratka was creating a hands-on display as part of the Good Neighbour Campaign. Thank you to everyone that came out to show their support.

Juby Lee, this year’s Farm Map Manager would like to thank the following for their support: our funders; City of Hamilton and Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.
And the following for their support in the new map: Conserver's Society, designer Tor Lukasik-Foss, volunteer superstar - Sarah Kam, Caroline Merritt and Ottawa Street Farmers Market, Morden's Organic Farm Store for their tasty donation of butter and jams, Puddicombe's for donating some of their amazing wines, Sommelier Karen LaVigne , musicians Willy Mudenge and Dan Medakovic, artist Louisa Kratka, summer interns from the City of Hamilton - Megan and Dave, and last but not least, Environment Hamilton.

New Farm Map at two markets - and this is just the beginning!

2010-05-19T12:03:00.002-04:00

Mountain Farmers' Market opens its doors for 2010!
The brand new farm maps were at the Mountain Farmers Market Grand Opening and talk about starting off with a bang! Local goodies such as apples, rhubarb, maple syrup and wine jellies were displayed and many eaters came out to buy from their farmers. Friends gathered over hot, fresh coffee and hot dogs to catch up on the latest news and many left happy with their re-usable bags foodstuff overflowing with locally produced foods. The market is open every Saturday from now to the first week of November from 7am-1:30pm and is located at 19 Viewpoint Avenue. Go early as seasonal highlights like asparagus are snapped up quickly.

Ottawa Street Farmers Market presents "Customer Appreciation Day"
To thank the loyal patrons of Ottawa Street Farmers' Market, everyone was treated to Customer Appreciation Event. Councillor Sam Merulla was on site to personally thank everyone (and hand out coffee!). The new farm map was also being distributed to an enthusiastic crowd. The market is open all year round, every Friday to Saturday from 7am-3pm and it located at 204 Ottawa Street North. For more info check out their website: www.ottawastreetfarmers.com

Mark your calendars! The 4th edition of the Hamilton Farm Map will be launching Friday May 14th!

2010-04-27T19:53:00.003-04:00

You are invited to the launch of the 2010-2011 Hamilton Farm Map AND EH's Open House during Friday May 14th James Street North Art Crawl.

Our new landlords at Sonic Unyon Records (22 Wilson Street) are letting Environment Hamilton take over the building (for the night at least).

On the first floor, come see a photo exhibit of farms on the new Hamilton Eat Local map.

On the second floor, sample some VQA wines (Vinter's Quality Alliance) with sommelier Karen LaVigne of Selections de La Vigne, and taste the difference compared to international blends. Light refreshments will be provided - as local as possible of course!

On the third floor, EH is featuring local, multi-talented artist, Louisa Kratka.
And find out what EH is up to for the summer and beyond!

What: EH Open House and farm map launch for the new 2010-2011 Hamilton Farm Map and Directory.
Where: 7pm-9pm on Friday May 14th at 22 Wilson Street (Wilson and Hughson) in the Sonic Unyon building.
Why: Local farms. Local wines. Local artists. Local activists - need we say more?

Food Sovereignty? Is it too late?

2010-04-21T16:25:00.003-04:00

You’re invited to the 2010 AGM of the Annual General Meeting of the Hamilton Diocesan Council for Development and Peace

Guest Speaker Alvaro Venturelli from Plan B Organics
Alvaro will address the changes in agriculture from a historical perspective and how they have resulted in the Farm Income Crisis.

Related issues of Sustainable Agriculture, Organics and Freedom of Choice will also be discussed.

WHEN: Saturday, May 8, 2010
WHERE: Canadian Martyrs Church, 38 Emerson Street, Hamilton,
Ontario L8S 2X3,
Registration: 9:30 a.m. START TIME: 9:45 a.m. LUNCH TIME: 12:15 pm.

For more information: Barbara Bishop barbbishop@sympatico.ca Tel.519.826.0385
A LIGHT LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED - ALL WELCOME - FREE EVENT

Plan B’s web site:
www.planborganicfarms.ca

FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH! in Hamilton

2010-01-28T22:17:00.001-05:00

“FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH!” BRINGS TALK OF THE FUTURE OF FOOD AND FARMING TO THE TABLE
An incredible selection of community-based events bridges Hamilton’s urban-rural divide with workshops, a film screening, locally grown food and more!
(Hamilton, ON) – Hamilton Eat Local, an ongoing project of Environment Hamilton, invites you to be part of the growing local food movement, as we explore issues of sustainability, access and more when “FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH” in Hamilton.

Farmers, city folks and food enthusiasts of all kinds will gather at a series of events hosted by Hamilton Eat Local and other community organizations this month, in an attempt to raise awareness of the growingly complex and complicated issues surrounding food security.

“With the success of movies like Super-size Me and Food Inc., it is becoming increasingly clear that people really do care about the quality of their food and where it comes from”, nods Karen Burson, Project Manager of Hamilton Eat Local. And that kind of awareness has created the kind of interest in food that we haven’t seen in years, she suggests. “Finally people are starting to ask me: what is food security, why is it important and how can I help?”

FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH!

A Local Food Awareness Campaign – Detailed Event Listings

Here is a list of events that will be linked to Hamilton Eat Local via publicity and coordination efforts (as well as with Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, The National Farmers’ Union, and other community partners):

Saturday February 6
Environment and the Future of Farming Fundraiser: A Hunger for Change in Haiti
Bread & Roses Café, 7-10 pm

• Dinner & Discsussion Night at the Bread & Roses Cafe

• Join Hamilton Eat Local for the "FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH" launch event. Original Bread & Roses Chef Karen Burson teams up with current Chef Marg Ann Roorda to cook up a deluxe, Haitian-inspired menu using the surprising abundance of locally grown ingredients that are available even in this coldest month of the year.

• A volunteer-driven event, this evening's proceeds will be directed towards Heifer Canada International's Haitian rebuilding efforts.

• Tickets cost $40 per person, only $35 on or before February 5. Please book in advance: kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org.

Saturday February 13A Farmer's Forum: The Future of Food in Hamilton
Sky Dragon Centre, 2 - 4 pm

• This will be a co-presentation of Hamilton Eat Local and the National Farmers' Union, featuring a keynote speaker, a small panel, and a group discussion afterwards. The local NFU chapter anticipates that about 30 farmers would be likely to attend, and I can anticipate about 30 non-farming citizens would make up our target of 60 participants. Free of charge. Refreshments will be provided between the forum and the film screening.

Screening of the hit documentary film Food Inc.
Sky Dragon Centre, 4 - 6 pm

• Screening hosted by Mike Schreiner, Green Party of Ontario -- free screening of this talked-about feature-length documentary. As they say on the film’s official website: you’ll never look at dinner the same way:

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.

From: http://www.takepart.com/foodinc

Friday February 19
Free Gardening Workshop presented by Dundas in Transition
Dundas Town Hall, 7:30 pm

• "Get Your Veggies Growing" will be presented by Chris Krucker of Manorun Farm, Russ Ohrt of Backyard Harvest, Connie Dam-Byl of William Dam Seeds. This is an opportunity for those interested in increasing their food independence and turning "food miles" into "food feet". The workshop is aimed mainly at beginners and will focus on getting your soil and seeds ready and planted at the right time through the growing season.

Sunday February 21 and Monday February 22
Green Solutions Marketplace at the Upwind Downwind Conference
Hamilton Convention Centre

• Hamilton Eat Local will have a display booth for both days, co-presenting a local food-inspired raw food gourmet demonstration by Bread & Roses Café Chef Marg Ann Roorda on Sunday; and promoting Hamilton Partners In Nutrition’s work coordinating Student Nutrition Programs on Monday; this is a free event.

Hamilton and Area CSA Fair

• Local farm organizations will be able to directly market their programs courtesy of Hamilton Eat Local to patrons of the Green Solutions Marketplace; free event.

Monday February 16
Hamilton Partners In Nutrition (HPIN) presents… PANCAKE FEST!
Bread & Roses Café at the Sky Dragon Centre, 10 am – 6pm

• Come celebrate a world of pancake traditions from around the globe… and do it with locally sourced ingredients! This all-day fundraiser is going to be into a delicious celebration of good nutrition and good fun as integral parts of successful Student Nutrition Programs (SNPs). Only $10 to support a great cause! Special rates will be available for students and seniors.

Saturday February 27
From Market Garden to Tasting Table – Cellaring Winter Vegetables
Dundurn Castle

• A multi-dimensional look at the history as well as the modern-day relevance of traditional cellared vegetables: how they are grown, stored and preserved; presented by Dundurn’s Heritage Gardener Simon Taylor, Chris Krucker of ManoRun Farm, and Karen Burson of Hamilton Eat Local. Includes a delicious tasting session at the end of the workshops. Dundurn Castle is charging $25.

For more information contact Karen Burson at kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org

Coming soon: Downtown Localicious 2009 - Hamilton's Fresh-tival of Flavour!

2009-09-09T17:20:00.002-04:00

Join us for the LOCALICIOUS LAUNCH PARTY: Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 7 - 10 p.m.

Lincoln Alexander Centre at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

150 King St. E.

Hamilton, Ontario

Guests will enjoy local samples from the best downtown Hamilton restaurants, a local winery and brewery, local music from Mike Trebilcock's CHOIR DEETS, and a chance to see and hear rising culinary superstar and region's leading localvores Executive Chef JEFF CRUMP and Pastry Chef BETTINA SCHORMANN of the Ancaster Old Mill. Jeff and Bettina will perform a culinary demonstration from their new book "EARTH TO TABLE", which is being launched next week and guests can pre-order their copy of this exceptional book at a discount and have both sign their copy personally at the Downtown Localicious 2009 Launch Event.

Proceeds from this event will in part support HAMILTON PARTNERS IN NUTRITION (HPIN), a partnership of community agencies and community members that supports and facilitates local student nutrition programs for children in Hamilton. A portion of books sales will help support SLOW FOOD HAMILTON, a convivium of Slow Food celebrating the pleasures of the table and promoting the value of food that is ”good clean and fair”.

Tickets are $20 plus applicable taxes and can be purchased by visiting http://tickets.lincolnalexanderlive.com/ ; there will be tickets at the box office starting at 6pm on the night of the event, and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

Downtown Localicious 2009 is a 10-day celebration of Hamilton’s downtown restaurants and Hamilton’s remarkable agricultural heritage. From Friday, September 18th to Sunday, September 27th, restaurant-lovers can taste their favorite local foods prepared by some of Hamilton’s finest restaurants.

A lunchtime special and a 3-course dinner menu will be offered at the 12 participating restaurants at the following rates:

$10, $15 or $20 lunch specials

$20, $30 or $40 prix fixe dinner menus

For more information please visit http://www.localicious.info/ or call the Downtown Hamilton BIA at 905-523-1646.

--

Visit "The Delicious Dozen", our Downtown Localicious 2009 Restaurants
Reservations for dinner are recommended!

Acclamation - 191 James North 905 523-7269

al Centro Paninoteca & Pizzeria - 24 King St. E. 905 524-2444

Boo's Bistro & Wine Bar - 164 James St. S. 905 296-7598

Bread & Roses Cafe - 27 King William 905 777-8102

Brownies Downtown - 275 King St. E. 905 526-6047

Capri Ristorante Italiano - 25 John St. N. 905 525-7811

Dalina's Egyptian & Mediterranean Cuisine - 49 King William 905 522-6252

Incognito Restaurant &Wine Bar - 93 John St. S 905 296-5832

La Piazza Allegra - 180 James St. S. 905 777-8970

Saffron Mediterranean Restaurant & Wine Bar at Crowne Plaza Hotel -

150 King St. E. 905 528-3451

Slainte's Irish Pub 33 Bowen St 905 528-8000

The London Tap House - 31 John St. N 289 396-8779

*** visit www.localicious.info for information and tickets ***

Tapestry Bistro Summer Beerfest

2009-08-11T12:15:00.008-04:00

Personally, I cannot think of better things summer brings us than crisp beer and succulent fruits. And I know I’m not the only one because Tapestry Bistro’s first-ever Summer Beerfest is featuring FRUIT BEERS!!

The event is happening on this Saturday, August 15^th, 4-8pm. There will be food pairings for the beers on hand as well as live acoustic music during the event! And if that is not tempting enough, this beerfest will feature some beers crafted solely for this event.

Tickets are $50 plus tax and is available at the door or by reservation (905-481-2166). Last Bistro Beerfest was sold out so reservation might be the method to go.

And finally the part you’ve all been waiting for—this list of Ontario Craft Beers participating in the 1^st Bistro Summer Beerfest:

-Churchkey

-Cameron’s

-F&M

-Grand River

-Great Lakes

-Amsterdam

Hope to see everyone there,

Sarah

Preserving the Art of Preservation

2009-07-28T16:44:00.007-04:00

If we want to capture a sight, we take pictures.

If we want to capture a sound, we record it.

But what happens when we want to capture a taste?

We preserve it of course! Preserving foods has been an essential technique for good eating for countless centuries and it's an especially good way to be sure that you can 'eat local' all year 'round. But at the same time, food preservation skills are something that we’ve recently begun to lose. Perhaps it is because we have no time, perhaps it is because of all the imports and convenience foods available, or perhaps, it is simply that we cannot remember how or never learned in the first place.

Hamilton Eat Local believes than now more than ever we’ve come to a complete disconnect with our food – not knowing how it should actually taste or how to obtain food that is good for both us and the environment. Amidst such melancholy though, there is hope: we can re-learn, if we so please.

Like any other skill, learning the art of preservation takes time, but once you learn the basics it gets easier, and more interesting. Start with making jam or canning tomatoes; these are simple to ways to start that do not require much equipment. Opening up a homemade jar of strawberry jam in January is like a tasty trip back in time to last June. When you’ve put up your year’s stock of assorted jams and tomato sauce, move on to pickling. Who doesn’t crave the texture and tang of pickled beets mid-winter?

The next progression is towards pressure canning, a technique used in preserving low-acid foods, such as meats, seafood, and vegetables. Low-acid foods such as these require specialized equipment which allows processing to reach temperatures and sterilizing capabilities far beyond the simpler boiling-water bath method used for more acidic foods.

At last, the final step in 'preserving the art of preservation' is to spread it! Let your children get involved, share jam recipes with your friends, invite neighbors to can with you, organize workshops, become a part of food advocacy groups such as Hamilton Eat Local and Slow Food Hamilton—do your part in re-establishing our connection with locally grown food and all its glory.

Spec's Hamilton Eat Local Feature

2009-07-27T16:44:00.002-04:00

The Hamilton Spectator is preparing to run an Eat Local feature again on August 8th and 15th to help continue promoting the concept as well as give an opportunity for famers whose crops were not available earlier to participate. Any parties interested in advertising on this feature can contact Paul Glendenning, Advertising Consultant for The Hamilton Spectator. Listed below is the contact information as well as the advertising rates.

--
Paul Glendenning
Advertising Consultant for The Hamilton Spectator
Phone: 905-526-3224
Fax: 905-522-1696
Email: pglendenning@thespec.com

--
2” x 2.5” full colour ads for $199 total for both days (or $99 each)

Full colour Banners for $499 each ($999 for both days)
Other sizes are possible!

Special Eat Local Farm Package for only $425 (Regular price for the 1” Classified ad alone is $454.50)
2” full colour ad in both days of the feature
PLUS : 1” display ad in our Classified Farm Fresh Products section for 30 days in the Spectator & 5 weeks in the Ancaster News, Dundas Star, Mountain News and Stoney Creek News
Other sizes are possible!

We're jamming -- I wanna jam it with you, and we hope you'll start jamming, too!

2009-07-27T14:33:00.007-04:00

The Hamilton Fruit Tree Project had its first canning workshop last Thursday and boil did it go well! We made jam from sour cherries picked from our very own Fruit Tree Project. It was the perfect introduction to canning and preserving, needing no more than fruit, a stockpot, canning tongs, and copious amounts of sugar!The Hamilton Fruit Tree Project and OPIRG PEAS will continue to offer canning and preserving workshops throughout the summer. Each workshop’s focus will depend on the fruits and vegetables in season -- another reason to look forward to our August crop!!!

An Announcement from Ancaster

2009-07-17T16:59:00.003-04:00

For nearly two hundred years, Ancaster has been a strong and vibrant farming community.

The Ancaster Farmers Market Management Group is bringing the farm community back to the Ancaster heritage village core.

Every Wednesday until Thanksgiving, local farmers will be selling their produce on Wilson Street.

We believe a community central Farmers’ Market making fresh, local, naturally grown produce available will give added reason to walk to the Village Core to mingle and shop. Its central location means that local residents can decrease their dependency on cars.

We will increase the size of the market based on demand and are prepared to move the site to accommodate growth. Currently, we have produce from the Heart’s Content Organic Farmstead and the The V Spot vegan bakery, Fresh cut flowers from La Primavera Farms, Naturally raised chickens & certified organic chickens from Fenwood Farms , as well as a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables from Berry Fresh Farms available on a weekly basis. We also have local honey and beeswax candles from the Pomegranate Trading Company and Happy Harvest Breads. We have new vendors coming in on a weekly basis and hope to add musical entertainment provided by the young local Annie Shaw at next weeks market

The Market will be open one day a week on Wednesdays starting at 3:00 p.m and closing at 7:00 p.m. from Mid-June to Thanksgiving..

For more information please call Leah Higens at 289 239 9069 or write to info@ancasterbia.com.

Chef's Night Out: Local Food -- Local Heroes

2009-07-03T11:05:00.009-04:00

On the evening of Sunday, June 28th farmers put down their pitchforks and chefs their spatulas. They headed over to the The Bright Room on the third floor of The Staircase Theatre for Hamilton Eat Local’s and Slow Food Hamilton's first-ever “Chef’s Night Out: Local Food -- Local Heroes” event. Guests were greeted with live acoustic music by singer-songwriter and guitarist, Ian Reid. Locavore Chef Sam Robertson served up free range Omani spiced chicken skewers, deliciously home-cut French fries, cucumber chips with dip, bite size hamburgers, their famous "bread and spreads", and delicate little pots of crème brûlée for our guests to taste and admire. Complementing these finger foods were beverages served by Daniel Speck of Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery and Jason and Rachel Hofing of Red Hill Coffee Trade.

The documentary film Tableland showed real-life examples of a vision many of our guests share. Tableland focused on food systems where little stands between the farmers planting their seeds, the chefs garnishing their dishes, and the diners enjoying the fruits of their joint labours.

Excited and inspired, our panel discussion consisting of Jeff Crump of Ancaster Old Mill, Chris Krucker of ManoRun Organic Farm, Daniel Speck of Henry of Pelham, and Barbara Ramsay-Orr of Hamilton Magazine began a discussion on how field-to-table can become a greater reality here in Hamilton. In next to no time, the entire room joined in the discussion: farmers recommended strategies that have worked for them, chefs offered their concerns, and the current larger, more dominant food systems were called into question.

The panel was introduced by Lori Stahlbrand, founder and president of Local Food Plus, and Slow Food Niagara's Karen LaVigne, of Selections de la Vigne introduced the film and brought along copies available for sale (which sold out!). Hamilton Eat Local's new "Local Food Resource Guide for Chefs" is now available, just contact Project Manager Karen Burson for your copy: kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org.

Special thanks go out to William Dam Seeds, Red Hill Coffee Trade, Sherlea Acres, and the Ottawa St. Farmers Market for providing market bags full of local goodies and assorted local food resources for our guests to take home. As well, thank you to Joanne Feddes of LaPrimavera Farms who’s fresh local delphiniums were complemented by many.

“Chef’s Night Out” was funded by Friends of The Greenbelt Foundation (www.greenbelt.ca) with the intention of providing these two influential contributors of our food culture an opportunity to meet, share, and re-create.

The Dundas Farmers Market opening was a big hit!

2009-06-22T19:25:00.004-04:00

Consumers who were delighted by the re-opening of the former town's traditional market lined up for fresh berries, local meats, produce and baked goods. Cloudy overcast skies did not stop eager eaters from coming in droves to see what delicious goodies were available. Hamilton Eat Local handed out maps and chatted with the diverse range of vendors and farmers - most are currently listed on our Hamilton Eat Local Farm map.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Leona Dombrowsky the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Councillor Robert Pasuta, HWFA President Roy Shuker, members of the Dundas Downtown BIA, Ted McMeekin MPP, Caroline Merritt (Market Manager of the Ottawa Street Farmers Market) were all present to celebrate with the Dundas community. The Dundas Farmers Market is located behind the public library and it is open from 3-7pm
on thursdays until the end of October.

Rain on the parade... or should I say garden party?

2009-06-20T12:51:00.002-04:00

"Slow Food Hamilton's Old Fashioned Strawberries and Ice Cream Summer Solstice Garden Party at Whitehern on Father's Day 2009" will not take place this fathers' day. Stay tuned for a new date!

With regrets,

*karen b, Slow Food Hamilton

Read about this upcoming event in The Hamilton Spectator : http://thespec.com/go/food/article/581463

ECO MARKET at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters

2009-06-08T15:22:00.003-04:00

“Are you going to be here everyday?”

That seemed to be the recurring question asked when representatives of Hamilton Eat Local joined Judy MacDonald from Farm Fresh Country Market at the Burlington Green Team's annual Ecomarket. The Ecomarket is held annually during Environment Week, in the auditorium of the Canadian Center for Inland Waters (CCIW) on Lakeshore Rd.

Judy had two long tables full of fresh produce from local farmers to sell and plenty of delicious recipe ideas. She literally brought the farm-to-table freshness of market shopping to the workplace, which coincides with this year’s market theme of Living Green. Everyone was pleased to get their grocery shopping done during their lunch break! An average of 800 employees pass through there during their workday from Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Thanks to Cheryl Tinson and the Burlington Green Team for organizing the event, and inviting us to join in your effort to make a difference. Also thanks to Judy for being such a great promoter and provider of fresh local produce. Visit the Farm Fresh Country Market in Stoney Creek (390 Barton – Barton and Millen Rd)) to get your local produce all year round, and look for Judy at the Hamilton Mountain Farmers Market on Saturdays in the Sacred Heart Church parking lot (Viewpoint and Mountain Park Avenue)

Hamiltonians Growing Good Food ...and Healthy Students!

2009-06-05T23:16:00.015-04:00

Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation hosts "Farms to Cafeterias" at Tapestry Bistro

The foundation hosted a tasty little reception last week not just to celebrate Ontario Greenbelt-grown food, but to talk to key decision-makers about why local food procurement is something that our city should bite into.

Burkhard Mausberg, President of Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation acted as the master of ceremonies that afternoon. Ward 14 Councillor Robert Pasuta was on hand to introduce Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who spoke of the importance of local purchasing by municipalities -- particularly when it comes to food. Local food dynamo, former CBC Journalist, and author Lori Stahlbrand leads the way in Ontario as President of Local Food Plus (LFP), and organization dedicated to promoting local food that is also ethical and sustainable through its certification and guidance, which is targeted to large food purchasers and the farms that wish to supply them. Last but certainly not least, Dr. Lynda Lukasik, Executive Director of Environment Hamilton spoke about her organization's successful record of increasing public awareness of these issues, as well as noting the work of Hamilton Eat Local in helping people take the next step: getting their hands on the region's agricultural goodies!

Speakers cited local economic benefits, green jobs, fresher and healthier food, and the resilience of our local food supply as being just some of the reasons why it pays to ensure that our local institutions of learning use their enormous purchasing power to support our community -- and that includes farms.

The event took place at one of Hamilton Eat Local's favourite locavore establishments, Tapestry Bistro. Chef Sam Robertson served up a delicious and creative range of fresh and healthy appetizers and snacks -- well, as long as you went easy on the lovely homemade strawberry custard tarts....which was very, very difficult!

Guest such as Ward 2 Councillor Brian McHattie, representatives of both the Hamilton District Public School Board and the Hamilton Catholic District School Board, food services staff from Redeemer University College, Liz Millar of Hamilton Partners in Nutrition (HPIN), Vicki Edwards of City of Hamilton Public Health and the Community Food Security Stakeholders Committee (CFSSC), representatives of Peel Region's eco-school pros EcoSource, McMaster campus food activists, the Hamilton Wentworth Federation of Agriculture (HWFA), Chris Krucker and Denise Trigatti of ManoRun Farm and many others enjoyed the good eats and the good news about the many benefits of local food to 'student bodies'. Thank you very much to all who attended, as Hamilton Eat Local continues to help the cause in any way that it can.

Photos courtesy of Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation

Join us at the Ottawa Street Farmers Market second season celebration!

2009-05-27T11:54:00.008-04:00

Hamilton Eat Local will be at the Ottawa Street Farmers Market - 204 Ottawa Street - when they unveil their newly designed and installed street sign this Friday May 29th, 2009. The festivities will start at 10am. If you have not checked out the market, now is the time! Come for some treats, then admire and purchase the tasty local food from local farmers and other food producers. This market is open year round, Fridays and Saturdays, rain or shine, 7am-3pm. For more information on the market, visit: www.ottawastreetfarmers.com

Over the weekend....

2009-05-25T09:27:00.005-04:00

Hamilton Eat Local had a fantastic weekend handing out maps at the 4th Annual Tastes of Downtown and participating in the "Container Gardening" activity at the Festival Of Hearts.
The weather was perfect for both these events. Over 200 people came out to the walking tour of "Tastes of Downtown" to sample dishes from different downtown restaurants.

Hamilton Eat Local got our hands dirty at the "Festival of Hearts" helping kids and adults alike planting cherry tomatoes. We were thrilled to see Zsuzsi there to help plant with the kids. She shone as usual!

Thanks to the Margo Hebert of Tastes of Downtown and to Marilynne Kennedy, the organizer of Festival of Hearts, for inviting Hamilton Eat Local to take part. See you next year!