Next pick-up: Wednesday, Apr 23 | Order by Saturday, Apr 19 for pick-up on Wednesday, Apr 23
Next pick-up: Wednesday, Apr 23 | Order by Saturday, Apr 19 for pick-up on Wednesday, Apr 23
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April 16, 2025 Good Food Box

by | Apr 15, 2025 | news | 0 comments

Feature Farmer 

The Plot Market Garden is a small-scale regenerative vegetable farm offering quality produce to Greater Victoria through our farmers choice box, at grocery stores, and in select restaurants. It’s owned and operated by Emily Harris and Tyler Browne on WSÁNEĆ Territory (Saanich). They started growing vegetables at their home plot in 2018 on just 1/4 acre and now farm 2 acres at two different locations in Saanich with a small team. They’re goal is to produce delicious, quality vegetables grown with love using regenerative agriculture practices. Their vegetables are seasonally available direct-to-consumer through South Island Farm hub for delivery or pick-up and at our red farm stand on Oldfield Rd. We also wholesale to select restaurants and grocery stores, including all of the red barns, old farm market, and urban grocer…and, of course, provide produce for the Good Food Box program. Thank you for supporting our small-scale farm!
This week The Plot Market Garden is providing us with Sprouting broccoli.

North Star Organic Farm is providing us with cucumbers this week, just in time for the long weekend and ready to remind us it’s spring with each bite!  Here’s a quick appy, Herbed Cucumber Bites shared by Diva di Cucina, that you can serve guests or keep to enjoy all for yourself. Click on the photo for the direct link to the recipe.

 

 

Green Onion crackers, provided by FED Urban Ag again this week, make this savory cracker an easy snack all by themselves or with a dip…maybe a green onion dip? Adding sesame seeds enhances the flavour with a “nutty” layer.

 

 

 

bon appetit has shared this delightful spring recipe, Asparagus, Green Onion, Cucumber & Herb Salad – a perfect addition to a spring holiday weekend dinner or brunch. Click on the photo for a direct link to the recipe.

*You can substitute the asparagus with The Plot Market Garden’s sprouting broccoli. 

 

 

Vegan, Paleo, gluten free and delicious. This is perfect on the side of your main or topping your main, as in, steak, burger, Buddha bowl, etc.

Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe link shared by Julias Album.

 

 

 

 

Easy Stuffed Mushrooms with Herbs;  the Cremini mushrooms provided by South Island Farm Hub, would make a great addition to an appy platter or a light lunch. The recipe is simple and doesn’t require a lot of time to make. Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe.

 

 

 

 

What’s in the bags this week?

Standard ($30.00): org. BC potatoes, org. yams, org. bananas, org. BC apples, oranges, org. BC Crimini mushrooms, org* green onions, org. * sprouting broccoli

Standard Plus ($40.00): org. BC potatoes, org. yams, org. bananas, org. BC apples, oranges, org. BC Crimini mushrooms, org* green onions, org. * sprouting broccoli, org. * cucumber, org. * parsley, 

Sustainable ($40.00): org. BC potatoes, org. yams, org. BC onions, org. BC apples, org. BC Crimini mushrooms, org. * sprouting broccoli, org. * cucumber, org. * cilantro, org. *braising greens

Cultural ($30.00):  org. yams, org. BC Crimini mushrooms, org. * sprouting broccoli, org. bananas, org. * cilantro, org. *tatsoi

Staples ($30.00): org. BC potatoes, org. bananas, org. BC onions, org. BC apples, oranges, org. * sprouting broccoli, org. * cucumber

Fruit ($25.00): org. bananas, org. strawberries, org. mango, org. BC apples, oranges

BC – Only ($30.00): org. BC potatoes, org. apples, org. BC Crimini mushrooms, org. * sprouting broccoli, org. * cucumber, org. * cilantro, org. *braising greens

*local, BC, organic

***Note: Some items may change due to circumstances out of our control but the value of the box will always remain the same.

Wet Weather Reminder — Bring your cloth bags or totes! Don’t forget to bring along your reusable grocery bags or totes to avoid the soggy demise of our paper bags if you’ll be hitting the elements on the way home. Even just getting to the car during this soggy season could be lethal for your produce — we want it to make it all the way home — not playing a game of 10 pin on the sidewalk!

Get Growing…

Save the date. Mark Your Calendar. Get Growing, Victoria! is coming to your neighbourhood soon. https://www.victoria.ca/parks-recreation/growing-city/get-growing-victoria

Embracing Ancient Wisdom: The Olla Irrigation System for Sustainable Gardening

Benefits of Olla Irrigation:
Water Conservation: Saves up to 70% of water compared to traditional irrigation.
Low Maintenance: Refill every few days based on plant needs.
Healthier Plants: Deep root growth and stronger plants.
Reduced Weeds: Only nearby plants get water, limiting weed growth.
Eco-Friendly: Natural materials and water-efficient.
How to Implement the Olla System:
1. Choose the Right Olla: Use an unglazed clay pot or buy a pre-made olla.
2. Bury the Olla: Bury it up to its neck near plants.
3. Fill with Water: Add water to slowly hydrate plant roots.
4. Cover the Olla: Use a lid or rock to prevent evaporation.
5. Refill as Needed: Check every few days and refill when necessary.
Ideal Uses:
Raised beds: Great for urban gardens.
Flower and vegetable beds: Keeps plants healthy.
Containers: Perfect for self-watering planters.
The Olla system is a smart, sustainable choice for any garden, offering an easy way to conserve water and nurture your plants.

The Cottage Peach provides directions to make Ollas’ for $5 or less. Click here.

Check out our free online Live Green learning series! Discover all about supporting your yard and garden with environmentally friendly practices. Sign up now at crd.ca/events

 

 

 

This Earth Day, we are hosting an online webinar to share the story of Earthub, along with the exciting collection services offered in Ottawa. Get inspired by the 750,000 items your communities have diverted for reuse and learn how we can expand our collections with your participation. Earth Day is all about coming together as a community and making every day Earth Day 🌎
Registration is now open on our website under the “Workshops & Webinars” section @ www.earthhub.ca  We look forward to seeing you there!

 

5 fun things to do in the Greater Victoria this Easter long weekend: click here.

Check out the events in April, including this coming weekend: https://allevents.in/victoria/april 

Saanich Earth Day Festival, April 19, 2025 Click here.

Join us for Community Movie Nights! BEANS

On Thursday, April 17 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the Fernwood Community Centre, we’re kicking off our Community Movie Nights — a new Thursday evening series featuring films that spark conversations on social and community issues.
**Check back for announcements of more films in the coming weeks.
 This week’s film: Beans is a coming-of-age story, inspired by co-writer/director Tracey Deer’s own experience as a 12-year-old Mohawk girl who had to grow up fast during the 1990 Oka Crisis, a 78-day armed stand-off between the Quebec/Canadian governments and the Mohawk who were peacefully protesting a golf course expansion that would desecrate their burial ground. Free admission, popcorn included!
Watch For future screenings where the movie will be followed by a casual discussion led by local facilitators — a chance to reflect, connect, and maybe even get inspired to create our own community film right here in Fernwood.
Got questions or ideas? Reach out at christian.c@fernwoodnrg.ca — we’d love to hear from you!

INaturalists: Connecting people and nature

Ready to explore the wonders of nature while contributing to science? Join us for a hands-on workshop and discover the power of iNaturalist.org!
During the workshop, we will:
 Guide you through features, uploading etiquette, and tips for taking identifiable photos.
 Help you set up the app on your phone and explore real-life examples.
 Friday, April 25 from 2-3pm Urban Learning Garden

 

Connecting in Community

Looking for something to do this long weekend? Join #crdParks naturalists for a couple of self-guided walks! One walk is all about birding and the other all about plants.

On Saturday, drop by anytime between 11am-2pm at Aylard Farm, East Sooke Regional Park, or, on Sunday, drop by anytime between 10am-1pm at Francis/King Regional Park. Or come to both!

Both are on wheelchair and stroller friendly trails and will have naturalists present to answer questions.

Check out our website at crd.ca/events for more details!

Join us for this family fun event to celebrate Easter and spring time! Easter Egg-Stravagana tickets go on sale Saturday, March 15th. Drop in anytime between 9am and 12pm for crafts, kids activities, snacks, easter egg hunts, and bunny education with Amy’s Bunny Barn! Egg hunts start at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30. Join in any hunt that suit your schedule and enjoy the other activities before or after. Amy’s bunny barn will be there with adoptable bunnies to teach kids how to care for a rabbit responsibly. This is NOT an adoption event. Click on the picture to find the link to get tickets.

Looking for other Easter weekend activities and events? Check this out: https://www.lamppostvictoria.com/experience-the-city/easter-weekend-in-victoria 

 

Join us on April 24th for our next Youth Night!
To register, please call or text Andrea at 250-216-3240 or DM us on Instagram @enh.youth

 

 

 

Join Allison Douglas-Tourner from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., April 17th, 2025, at Russell Books, to share the joys of poetry on International Haiku Day and pick a poem from the “poet-tree.”
Allison Douglas-Tourner has spent most of her life in Victoria, and so its landscapes have inspired many of the poems in Sticks and Bones. See you on April 17th!
Share the joy of haiku and pick a poem from the “poet tree.”