Good Food Box Newsletter September 17, 2025
Do you follow the Good Food Box on social media?
Learn more about our farmers and supporters, find extra recipes in our reels, get up to date info.
Find us here: https://www.facebook.com/goodfoodbox/ and here: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodfoodbox/
What's in your bag?
BC Only: Littlest Acre org. yellow onions, BC org. Yellow Pugly potatoes, Gatton Farm org. spaghetti squash, tomatoes and beans, Giving Garden org. pears, *South Island Farm org. apples, cherry tomatoes & cilantro, eggplant, garlic
Cultural: Littlest Acre org. yellow onions, BC org. Yellow Pugly potatoes, Michell’s carrots, corn & kale, org. Mango, Giving Garden org. pears & apples, Gatton Farm org. tomatoes, *South Island Farm Hub org. cherry tomatoes, eggplant, garlic
Staples: Littlest Acre org. yellow onions, Michell’s cauliflower & carrots, BC org. Yellow Pugly potatoes, org. mango, Giving Garden org. apples, org. banana, Gatton Farm org. tomatoes & beans, South Island Farm Hub org. cherry tomatoes, org. *garlic
Standard Plus: Littlest Acre org. yellow onions, Michell’s carrots & corn, BC org. Yellow Pugly potatoes, org. mango, Giving Garden org. pears, Gatton Farm org. spaghetti squash, tomatoes & beans, South Island Farm Hub org. apples, org. bananas, South Island Farm Hub org. *cherry tomatoes, eggplant, cilantro, garlic
Standard: Littlest Acre org. yellow onions, Michell’s carrots & corn, BC org. Yellow Pugly potatoes, Giving Garden org. pears, South Island Farm Hub org. *apples & org. *cherry tomatoes, org. bananas, Gatton Farm org. beans, *garlic, *cilantro
Sustainable: Littlest Acre org. yellow onions, Michell’s carrots & corn, BC org. Yellow Pugly potatoes, Giving Garden org. pears & pears, org. mango, org. bananas, Gatton Farm org. beans & tomatoes, South Island Farm Hub org. *cherry tomatoes & *bok choy, org. *cilantro, Camas Farm org. garlic
Fruit: org. bananas, org. mango, cantaloupe, South Island Farm Hub org. apples, org. *pears
Snack: Michell’s carrots, org. banana, cantaloupe, South Island Farm Hub cherry tomatoes, apples, pears, org. *apples, Giving Garden org. pears & apples
Wet weather reminder:
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!
Refreshing Tacos with Mango Salsa is the perfect meal to use up your GFB contents for a meal you can use the left overs for lunch or the salsa for snacking through the day. If saving for left overs, be sure to store each component of this meal separately so your tacos don’t become soggy.
Mollys Home Guide suggests avoiding this mistake: to avoid ”
dry, overcooked meat – to keep it juicy, cook the chicken just until it reaches 165°F and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. When preparing the mango salsa, using overripe mangoes can make it too mushy, so choose ones that are slightly firm but give a little when pressed. For the avocado crema, timing is crucial – make it just before serving to prevent browning, or if you need to prepare it ahead, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and add an extra squeeze of lime juice to maintain its fresh green color. A common mistake with the spice blend is adding it all at once – instead, season the chicken generously at the start, then taste and adjust the seasonings right before serving to ensure the flavors really pop.”
Learn more and find the recipe here.
Will there be a local green sauce show down?
Many are debating who makes the infamous green sauce better – The Root Cellar or Thrifty Foods…or maybe you?
Here are two recipes shared on Victoria Buzz recently. Find the post here.
Recipe #1:
1 cup plain yogurt 1 bunch Cilantro – (about 1 cup packed, tender stems ok) finely chopped
Oh Snap Macros shares their Mango Corn Salsa. It’s perfect with fish, salads, tacos, or on your favourite nacho recipe.
Notes they share:
Be sure to finely slice the onions and measure cilantro pre-chopped and loosely packed. For a hint of heat, add a little jalapeno pepper. Find the recipe here.
Eggplant can seem like one of those mystery vegetables that sometimes hides in the veggie drawer rather then turn into culinary delights that are just waiting for you to try, like this Easy Greek Style Eggplant by Cocinainspirardora. You can find the recipe here.
Craving Chow Mein but wanting a lighter, healthier version?
Best Recipe Box shares a zucchini noodle chow mien recipe too, check out the link to both recipes here.
This is one of those recipes that you can make almost entirely with your own garden or local farm ingredients. I could eat this every day!
The Pioneer Woman shares an old way of freezing pears here using the salt method…and you can use this method for apples too. They’ll be fresh for pies, or tossing into curry’s for the next 6 months.
We freeze sliced apples, pears, peppers, onions, garlic together after roasting them with a bit of olive oil and apple cider vinegar. We freeze in 1-2 cut portions and later defrost these smaller portions and pan fry before tossing with salad greens, including winter greens. We’ll often add quinoa for an extra boost of protein. It makes a filling, flavourful salad.
It’s that season and most of us are tightening our budgeting belts. Whip up this recipe by Mama Sweet & Spice and make your own less expensive treats.
Homemade PUMPKIN SPICE BLENDS
2 tablespoons cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
Mix everything and store in an airtight container. Use for baking or in drinks or lattes. Enjoy!
Let's get growing...and eating!
Get tickets here and find other workshops even closer to home.
We have hired local artist, Taylor Pannell @kelpbiter and to create public art on the exterior of the CEC and on our demonstration site. We are conducting a survey t ensure that the community is consulted. We are working to create a warm, welcoming, approachable environment for all City residents to come and spend time relaxing in the gardens. Fill out the survey
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx…
Fall is the perfect time to give your garden some love 
— without hauling armloads to the compost pile. In this 2-minute video, Christina Cook, Gaia College instructor, shows how easy chop and drop mulching can be.
Instead of wasting nutrients, simply cut back your perennials and let them decompose right where they grew — feeding the soil, saving time, and creating free mulch for next season. What some might call “messy,” we call smart, sustainable gardening.
Watch Christina’s demo and read our latest blog to learn how to try chop and drop mulching in your own garden this fall: https://gaiacollege.ca/ecotips/13540368
Build a Habitat Tripod for Birds & Pollinators (U.S. Native Edition)
A tripod like this offers food, shelter, and protection—all in one natural feature. Perfect for creating a thriving, wildlife-friendly U.S. garden year-round! 
Connecting in Community
Date: Sun Sept 21
Time: 11:30am-1:30pm
Location: Beacon Hill Park
Date: Sunday, September 21Time: 12-4pmLocation: Robert Porter Park
This year, we have 50+ vendors, food trucks, exciting live performances, and more! You won’t want to miss it!
Shoutout to our sponsors Engel & Völkers Vancouver Island, Pizzeria Prima Strada, and Sunset Market And Floral for supporting this beloved commnuity festival.
Get your tickets here.
Pizza and Paint-Your-Own Pottery offers a unique combination of delicious, freshly made pizza and the opportunity to paint or glaze your own bisqueware from a selection of our studio wares. Enjoy a fun, hands-on experience suitable for all ages and skill levels. Participants are guided on the basics of glazing by an experienced ceramics instructor and Fruity Resident.
Entry is available with a sliding scale entry fee. We suggest an entry amount of 40$ to support our goals for those without financial or other hardships, including generational. The fee includes 1-2 items crafted by our residents and a selection of glazes and underglazes to choose from. Funds go directly to our studio improvement budget.
Entry is capped at 30 people and the event tickets will close at this time.
Pizza and alcohol is provided at an additional cost at the venue. Pizza is handmade and freshly baked by Miche Cafe. Vegetarian pizza is available.
Tickets are non-transferable and refundable up until September 20th, 11:59 PST.
This event is being hosted in tandem with Miche Cafe and Fruity Ceramics Studio.
This event is running on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 6-8:30 pm at Miche Cafe, 734 Aldebury St Unit 101,
Esquimalt. Parking is available on-site and on-street.
Fruity Studio was established in 2018 in founder Kaela’s basement, and has since grown to a collective of 16 current resident artists, all with the shared principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are proud to support the local LGBTQIA+ community whenever possible, and proud to be woman-run and queer-centric.
Miche is a wife & husband-run business established in 2019. Miche is generously donating their time, material costs, and labour to the event; we are very grateful for their support. Visit michecafe.ca for additional information and to stop by and try their delicious homemade goods.
Join us for our community-led yoga sessions taught by Christin Choma. At age 70, Christin is combining her decades of teaching experience and her new-found passion for yoga to provide free sessions to the community. This program is designed for all levels will offer mindful movement, breathwork, and connection. Open to all experience levels.*
Interested? Register by emailing us at communityprograms@fernwoodnrg.ca. Limited spaces are available!
Day: Mondays
Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Duration: October 20 – December 8
Where: Studio – Fernwood Community Centre, 1240 Gladstone Avenue
Who: Everyone welcome
Type: Fernwood NH Program
Registration required, Free
*Please note: Participants must be able to get on and off the floor independently.
We invite folks of all ages to join this free intergenerational art drop-in! Connect, create collaborative art, and share stories. No art experience needed — just bring your imagination! This is a welcoming space to express yourself, connect with others, and contribute to a collective artwork that celebrates our community. Snacks and art supplies provided.
Day: Thursdays
Time: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Duration: September 4 – December 12
Where: Studio – Fernwood Community Centre, 1240 Gladstone Avenue
Who: Everyone welcome
Type: Fernwood NH Program
Drop-in, free
Looking forward to seeing you and playing music with you
