A Yummy Time at the Feast of Fields
Saturday, 18 September 2010 12:44
Hi all, I went, it was a lot of fun. It was cold and windy for the first two hours, when they were serving hot food and desserts. The food stalls and information booths were all enclosed in white large tents, so good protection from the elements! Then it rained afterwards. I brought my wife and three sons with me. Not easy to get my boys to eat the organic food, but they liked some of it such as the bison smoked meat sandwich! As well as the lamb tacos with grated organic cheese and chopped clover. The way it works is that you come in with your previously purchased tickets (children 12 years and under are free) and wait in line for them to wrap bands around the wrists of the adults. Then, you pick up ceramic plates and metal utensils and napkins (great idea to save food waste!) and pick different selections of food. Trying to remember all the dishes now, but there were gourmet mushroom soup, ratatouille, mushroom vegan burgers, Indian style chicken in sauce with basmati rice, and so on. For desserts were homemade chocolate chip cookies, watermelon, ginger maple leaf shape cookies, yogurt and berry layered parfaits, and jam filled squares. There were also interesting booths serving the public such as Bullfrog Power, Canadian Organic Growers, Rainbow Heritage Gardens, Dobson's Beef, Little Stream Organic Bakery, and so on. An expert on organic nutrition and dietary medicine also spoke on how one can easily adapt a lifestyle to life much more healthy. For example, I learned about different types of sugars that can replace the typical cane-derived white sugar, such as one that is made from birch bark! I would definitely recommend this food festival for next year!
Save the Beaver Pond!
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 09:41
What a beautiful evening as I took my three young kids to see the Beaver Pond, still in a largely unspoiled state. They all found dozens of frogs and tadpoles, as they walked along the water! I remember when I grew up in Kanata, and there weren't even any homes close to it at the time, just more forest. The horse r iding stable (no longer there) was about a ten minute walk away. Although there are still some houses on the west side, it still looks fabulous. I remember skating there in the winter too, and we had to clear out the snow on top ourselves. The aboriginal ceremony tonight organized by the Coalition to Save the South March Highlands was heartfelt. I sincerely hope the developers will change their minds!
Books and Movies to Recommend!
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 00:00
I just finished watching a documentary called "No Impact Man" and it sure is interesting! I wonder how I could adapt to that version of ecological lifestyle - no electricity, no packaging, no cars, and no transit! I am doing just fine with the "local food" lifestyle, but how would I get to work downtown without public transit? I will also look into buying specialized ecological bags for my fruit and vegetables, to replace the small clear plastic bags. I already use canvas bags for all my groceries. Refreshing to think of more ways we can contribute to the environment!
I also finished, two months ago, reading, "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie. Eye-opening as to how many toxic chemicals they are in our household! Will check into buying shower curtains that are made of cloth, if any exist!
Another great documentary to watch is titled Imax Under the Sea by Warner Bros Pictures, which seems so imaginative and fantastic that one is tempted to think it was produced with computer graphics! But this is way better than anything we can ever create ourselves. Filmed in Imax, the creatures of the deep seem to change colour slightly very second!
Also enjoyed my latest trip to the Kanata Farmers Market, always enjoyed that bread vendor which always has lineups! Last week I saw - at 8 in the morning - a lineup of at least 20 people! They have yummy almond squares and raspberry scones, as well as freshly baked thick crust bread in different flavours - dill, rosemary, cheddar cheese, and so on.