Upcoming Local Food Workshops

Guelph-Wellington Locavores, there are 4 interesting and inexpensive workshops coming up that you might be interested in. Hosted by Kristi Mahy, they will be held at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, which is located at 75 Cardigan St. in downtown Guelph. Kristi is a local food enthusiast with a background in farming. If you would like more information about the course (other than what I am going to provide below), or you would like to register for a workshop, please contact Kristi at 519-265-8448. She can also be reached by email at kritterbug@gmail.com.
The cost of each session varies but when I contacted Kristi, she said that the prices will range anywhere from $7-15. Personally, I'm excited about the fact that I can attend and afford all four. Hope to see you there!


Plenty in a Small Space: Your Backyard as Your Food Source
Tuesday Feb. 23, 7-9pm
*Learn how to grow your own food during the summer, including starting seedlings, making the best use of small spaces, help with seed selection and garden planning.

Preserving the Bounty of Harvest Time
Tues, Mar 16, 7-9pm
*Learn how to preserve local foods by canning, drying, freezing, burying, fermenting.

Making the Most of Fresh, Local Food
Tues, Apr. 6, 7-9pm
*Learn how to prepare your kitchen for local, whole food preparation, recipes and participatory cooking demo.

Harvesting the Wild Food and Herbs
Tues, May 4, 7-8pm
*Foraging wild food in the summer and fall; using local herbs for healing.

Guelph Wellington Local Food Presents: Source it Here!

I have found something that may interest locavores in the Guelph-Wellington County region. The group, Guelph Wellington Local Food, will be presenting a networking event entitled, Source it Here! The event will showcase local producers and is intended for farmers, chefs, food retailers, food-service and institutional providers, food processors, food distributors and caterers. Although I am none of the above, I will be in attendance. I'm hoping that it will be a valuable source of information and that I may continue to share this information with whoever is reading this blog.
Should you be interested in attending yourself, the event will take place at Loyala House at Ignatius Jesuit Centre- 5420 Hwy 6 North, just north of Guelph. There is a small fee of $15 per individual, or $25 per farm, business or organization (for up to 3 people).
You can register online at http://www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca/ or call 519-821-6638 ex 335 for more information. The registration deadline is tomorrow, so if you need to act quickly.

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer: A Review

I chose to review this book because it is yet another prime example of why we should be eating closer to the source. Enjoy!!

Always a touchy subject, Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals is yet another book which explores the dark underbelly of our food system. Before the birth of his son, like many of us, Safran Foer considered himself to be a part-time vegetarian at best. He knew there was sure what it was. His investigation took him to a stranger’s poultry farm, in the middle of the night, dressed in black. It saw him interviewing farmers, past and present, slaughterhouse workers, members of PETA, cattle ranchers, meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans. He even interviewed a vegetarian rancher.
What makes this book different is that it doesn’t have a specific agenda. That is to say, that it does not set out to guilt omnivores into giving up on steak. Meat eaters need not be afraid. Although Eating Animals is, ultimately, an argument for vegetarianism it is not Safran Foer’s only argument. He understands that a move towards global vegetarianism is altogether unrealistic. His fundamental argument is for a “wiser animal agriculture and more honourable omnivory”.
Arguably, what makes this book so interesting is its philosophical approach. Safran Foer includes persuasive arguments from individuals whose ideas are ordinarily in direct conflict with one another. While the differences in opinions do matter to their advocates, ultimately they are on common ground. When compared to arguments that defend factory farming, these differences become immaterial. Readers are not told what to think, nor are they judged on their decisions. They are merely asked to respond. Jonathan Safran Foer says that “not responding is a response – and we are equally responsible for what we don’t do”.
If you are going to read one book on the factory food system, make it this one. It is extremely well-researched and strongly written. It does not judge, nor preach. It is educational, well-balanced and insightful and, hopefully, it will change the way you eat forever.