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Northstar Organics, found in Central Saanich, are featuring several items in our bags again this week with organic spinach, lettuce, arugula and cucumbers. If you’ve got a hankering for more of their produce you can find them at Moss Street and Esquimalt Farmers Market.
What’s in the bags this week?
Standard ($30.00): small nugget BC potatoes, yams, org. Pink Lady apples, org. bananas, Altaulfo mangoes, Northstar Organics *long cucumber and *salad mix
Standard Plus ($40.00): small nugget BC potatoes, yams, org. Pink Lady apples, org. bananas, Altaulafo mangoes, Michells brassica flowers and leeks, Northstar Organics *long cucumber, *chives and *arugula, Harvest &Share *basil
Sustainable ($40.00): org. yams, *org. onions, Littlest Acre *Komatsuma, org. BC Pink Lady apples, Northstar Organic long cucumber and arugula, org. banana, Harvest & Share basil
Staples ($30.00): small nugget BC potatoes, org. Pink Lady apples, org. bananas, The Plot *org. sprouting broccoli, Northstar Organic *long cucumber and spinach
Fruit ($25.00): org. BC Pink Lady apples, Navel oranges, Altualfo mangoes, org. Medjool dates, org. bananas, pears
BC – Only ($30.00): small nugget potatoes, org. Pink Lady apples, Northstar organic *cucumber, Michells *brassica flowers and leeks, Northstar Organics *arugula and chives, basil
*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!
Garlic Roasted Yam Arugula Salad, from Reluctant Entertainer is one of those flexible salad, easily swapped for beets and balsamic or Butternut and Brussel Sprouts. The peppery flavour of Northstar Organics arugula, with it’s antioxidant properties provides a great addition to a spring reset. Check out other benefits of arugula here. Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe.
Komatsuna and Scrambled Egg Stir-Fry, shared by Oishi Washoku Recipes is a quick and easy breakfast or addition to a bento box. Heck, this would make a scrumptious dinner too. Komatsuna (from Littlest Acre) means “greens of Komatsu,” or Japanese spinach. It’s a cold weather green and could be a hardy consideration to plant this summer as you ready for your winter garden. It can be added to stir fry, soups, pickled and the younger leaves can be added to salads.
If you can’t get Komatsuna for this recipe it can be substituted with bok choi, kale, chard or any other leafy green, including spinach.
Dal Palak Spinach Dal is prefect for a get together or any day of the week and a great way to also use up last weeks cilantro if you still have some in your fridge. You can eat it alone, with rice or bread, or you can add some Indian roasted cabbage. Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe.
Northstar Organics spinach is packed full of nutrients, read more about the benefits here. Most can add it daily to their diets with great benefits but did you know there are some conditions where you should use caution? Read here about the cautions for those prone to kidney stones or on blood thinners. It’s also high on the histamine chart for those avoiding high histamines. For those who can’t eat it, fresh spinach makes a delicious gift for a neighbour or friend.
Arugula salad with couscous will make a quick meal using Northstar Organics cucumber and arugula up as a meal, lunch left overs or as a side – add sunflower or pumpkin seeds for an extra crunch of protein. Substituting the couscous with quinoa will add another layer of protein. It’ll also be good with pasta or other grains. Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe.
Save money in the kitchen
Brown bananas? – Sounds like banana bread time… An overripe avocado? – It’s guac potential…Veggies looking sad? – How about some soup…Let’s get creative and keep food out of the bin!
Collect free seedlings from one of our partner organizations
Get growing and happy gardening!
Limits per household apply. Some locations will have soil-building materials available. Free seedlings are meant for those facing barriers to growing their own food. Learn more and find a date near you at victoria.ca/getgrowing
Potting up peppers for the Spring Plant Sale on May 10th at 1202 Yukon St.
The Spring Organic Plant Sale features local farmers offering a wide variety of organically grown vegetable, flower and herb seedlings to get you off to a successful start this growing season.
What you can look forward to:
• The largest selection of organically grown heirloom tomato varieties all in one place for easy shopping
• Organically grown vegetable starts from arugula to zucchini
• Native plants for your low maintenance garden
• Perennial edibles like berry bushes and other fruiting shrubs
• Medicinal herbs like English lavender, chamomile and yarrow
• Culinary herbs like Genovese basil, dill and chives
• Companion plants like marigolds, sweet cicely and comfrey
Join us and the Capital Regional District for Live Green workshops!
Seedling starting is a simple process, but there are a few things that can go wrong if you don’t know what’s going on.
We’ve made this simple guide to help you determine what may be going on with your seedlings! Click on the photo for the FB link or find them on Instagram.
Connecting in Community.
Jazzy Junk from Granny’s Trunk: A 25-household garage sale. The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa are raising money to go toward the Stephen Lewis Foundation to support grandmothers in Africa. St. Peter’s Anglican Church parking lot. Sat. April 26. 9am-1pm.
Save the Date!
A Community Association Land Use Committee (CALUC) meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 23rd, at 6:30 PM in the First Met Church Gymnasium (934 Balmoral Road) to discuss the proposed development at 930-934 Balmoral Road and 1701 Quadra Street.
Aryze Developments will present their application, followed by a Q&A session where attendees can ask questions and provide feedback. You can also submit your feedback through the online form on the City of Victoria’s development tracker.
Join us to learn more and share your input on this future development in your neighbourhood!
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: First Met Church Gymnasium, 934 Balmoral Road
NEW! Queer-for-Queer Workshop:
Gardening for Renters
Date: May 11, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Where: Oswald Park Community Garden
Cost: Sliding Scale, $10-$25; no one turned away for lack of funds
In this workshop we will discuss a range of topics: beginner friendly gardening, soil science basics, where to find free supplies, local ecology, how to keep your landlord happy, and more! The goal is to help make gardening more accessible to renters who may not know where to begin, or need some help problem-solving. Whether you want to grow some veggies to keep your grocery bill down, or grow some flowers to make your space more enjoyable, there’s something for everyone in this workshop. We will also be making seed starts for participants to take home, thanks to seed donations from @rakeandradish and @satinflowernurseries!
Instructors: Iris (she/her)
Stay tuned for more great workshops from queer and trans community!
What do you really need in an emergency? Victoria Fire Department Emergency Management Community Liaison Doug Clarke brings unforgettable enthusiasm to emergency preparedness, educating and entertaining audiences every step of the way. Spend a power hour-and-a-half with Doug in this Community Emergency Preparedness Workshop and head home ready to make your plan, build your emergency kit and connect with your community.
Most of Victoria is safe from tsunamis. Even if you’re in the hazard zone, safety is usually a block or two away.
Learn about Victoria’s tsunami hazard zone so you’re ready to respond quickly and safely at victoriaready.ca
Seniors are invited to enjoy social time with neighbours and the opportunity to make new friends over a light, freshly prepared lunch.
Please join us! New faces and returning participants always welcome. Staying connected with others is an easy and vital way to maintain our well-being as we age.
This group is a support to seniors age 65+ who may be experiencing health concerns, isolation or depression, and seeks to encourage friendships and connections outside the group meeting times.
Free – donations welcome but not expected ($0-5).
To register or for more info:
Email: askus@jbcp.bc.ca
Phone: 250-388-7844, Ext 0
See you soon!
James Bay Community Project is a charitable non-profit organization. We are part of the Coalition of Neighbourhood Houses that offer a continuum of supports & services to all residents across the capital region.
Neighbourhood houses help to ensure children, youth, individuals, families & seniors have access programs within their local neighbourhoods or nearby communities.
If you have any questions about our services or are in need, please get in touch:
Northstar Organics, found in Central Saanich, are featuring several items in our bags again this week with organic spinach, lettuce, arugula and cucumbers. If you’ve got a hankering for more of their produce you can find them at Moss Street and Esquimalt Farmers Market.
Garlic Roasted Yam Arugula Salad, from Reluctant Entertainer is one of those flexible salad, easily swapped for beets and balsamic or Butternut and Brussel Sprouts. The peppery flavour of Northstar Organics arugula, with it’s antioxidant properties provides a great addition to a spring reset. Check out other benefits of arugula here. Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe.
Komatsuna and Scrambled Egg Stir-Fry, shared by Oishi Washoku Recipes is a quick and easy breakfast or addition to a bento box. Heck, this would make a scrumptious dinner too. Komatsuna (from Littlest Acre) means “greens of Komatsu,” or Japanese spinach. It’s a cold weather green and could be a hardy consideration to plant this summer as you ready for your winter garden. It can be added to stir fry, soups, pickled and the younger leaves can be added to salads.
Dal Palak Spinach Dal is prefect for a get together or any day of the week and a great way to also use up last weeks cilantro if you still have some in your fridge. You can eat it alone, with rice or bread, or you can add some Indian roasted cabbage. Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe.
Arugula salad with couscous will make a quick meal using Northstar Organics cucumber and arugula up as a meal, lunch left overs or as a side – add sunflower or pumpkin seeds for an extra crunch of protein. Substituting the couscous with quinoa will add another layer of protein. It’ll also be good with pasta or other grains. Click on the photo to go directly to the recipe.
Brown bananas? – Sounds like banana bread time… An overripe avocado? – It’s guac potential…Veggies looking sad? – How about some soup…Let’s get creative and keep food out of the bin!
Mark your calendars for #StopFoodWasteDay on April 30
Reduce your waste! Learn how to live sustainably with monthly tips and resources delivered to your inbox with the David Suzuki Foundation.
Get Growing, Victoria! is coming to your neighbourhood.
