Good Food Box Newsletter – October 15, 2025

BC Only: Michell’s Farm corn & carrots, BC org. applies, North Star org. beets, leeks, parsnips, org. mushrooms, Camas Farm org. garlic, Gatton Farm org. Spaghetti squash

Cultural: yams, org. onions, Michell’s Farm carrots, cabbage, cauliflower & zucchini, org. apples, North Star org. beets, Camas Farm org. garlic, oranges, Michell’s Farm zucchini

Standard Plus: yams, BC org. yellow pugly potatoes, onions, Michell’s Farm carrots, celery, grapes, oranges, beets, leeks, org. apples, garlic.

Standard: yams, BC org. yellow pugly potatoes, Michell’s Farm onions, celery & carrots, oranges, Nort Star org. beets, org. apples, org. bananas, Camas Farm org. garlic

Sustainable: org. yams, South Island Farm Hub org. Sugar pumpkin, beets carrots & pears, org. onions, Camas Farm org. garlic

Fruit: org. bananas, Islands West grapes, org. apples, pears, oranges

Staples: yams, org. BC yellow pugly potatoes, Michell’s Farm onions & carrots, oranges, org. apples, org. bananas, grapes, Casas Farm org. garlic

Snack: org. bananas, grapes, org. apples, pears, oranges

Nirvana Cakery has shared her Best Vegan Borscht – packed full of veggies to fill you up with the harvest bounty and feed your body delicious nutrients.

Don’t toss those North Star Organics beet tops. Save them until the end. Chop them thinly and toss them into the soup as it cooks for it’s final minutes or use them as a garnish.

Looking for dill, I’ve been finding it at the farmers markets and wonderfully fresh!

Too much dill left over from your Borscht recipe?

Here are two ways to preserve it in the freezer.

Click here.

Herbs left over from your weekend of cooking, eating and connecting with friends and family?

Don’t let them sit in your fridge until they need to head to the compost, save them for future meals with these tips shared by Little Miss Sunshine.

Anna Jone’s shares here Vegan Orange Buckwheat pancakes in the Guardian with tips if you can’t find vegan butter that browns.

I haven’t been able to find a vegan butter that browns, so if you are vegan, just melt your butter (do not take it to the brown stage) and use a non-dairy yoghurt. This batter makes a good savoury pancake too – just don’t add the orange zest and fill with savoury stuff (I go for egg, gruyere, greens and red chilli).

Prep 15 min, plus resting
Cook 15 min
Makes 6

50g butter, plus extra for frying
50g buckwheat flour
50g gluten-free flour or rice flour
1 unwaxed orange, zested then peeled and sliced
150ml any milk

To serve
100g natural yoghurt
50ml honey or maple syrup
50g toasted almonds, roughly chopped

Put the butter in a small saucepan, and melt on a medium heat for three to four minutes, until foamy, golden brown and smelling sweet. Pour into a bowl to stop it browning further, then leave to cool slightly.

Sift the flours into a bowl or jug, add the orange zest, then add the milk, little by little, until you have a smooth, thick batter. Now add 150ml cold water and whisk until everything is mixed, then leave to rest for 10-15 minutes, or even overnight, if you want to make them the next morning. Once you’re ready to make the crepes, add the cooled browned butter and combine.

Put a medium-sized, nonstick frying pan on a medium heat and add a little knob of butter to melt. Once the pan is hot, add a ladleful of batter and swirl it around so you have a thin, even layer. Cook for a minute, until crisp around the edges, then flip over to crisp up the other side.

Serve warm with a dollop of natural yoghurt, a drizzle of honey or syrup, some chopped nuts and sliced orange.

Find the recipe here.

Jackfruitful: The Clean Vegan shares their Creamy Potato and Celery, Leek soup. It’s the perfect recipe for these crisp, fall evenings to warm you up or make extra and take it for the next days lunch too.

Your celery and carrots come from Michell’s Farm this week.

Find this hearty, comforting recipe here.

It doesn’t need to be Thanksgiving to try Appeasing a Food Geeks Turmeric-Roasted Carrots and Leeks with Baby Kale and Yogurt. 

This post shares the science behind roasting and why it’s caramelization makes veggies so delicious.

Find the recipe here.

Got left overs? Chop up your North Star Organics leeks and Michell’s Farm carrots and add them to a Buddha bowl for the next lunch or dinner with quinoa, rice or noodles and your favourite green.

Melting Beets with Feta & Pistachios (use pumpkin or sunflower seeds if allergic to nuts)

I couldn’t say it better than Eatingwell.com has here and this is a great way to use up your North Star Organics beets: “Roasting beets and then adding liquid boosts flavor on the outside and creates a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Crumbled feta cheese and pistachios top these sweet and savory beets for a delicious and easy side dish. Red, golden or Chioggia beets will work well here. No matter which you choose, the orange juice and zest will make them pop.”

Find the recipe here.

This Curried Carrot & Leek Soup with Michell’s Farm carrots and North Star Organics leeks is sure to warm you up.

Find the recipe here.

Maple Orange Glazed Roasted Carrots & Parsnips smell and taste like autumn.

Easily swap these veggies with other root veg, like add or sub with yams from Michell’s Farm.

Find the recipe here.

Sweet Apple Cinnamon Yam Bake – It’s almost a desert!

In fact it’s indulgent and one of those recipes you reserve for once in a while and live without regret (unless you’re diabetic, this isn’t for you!)

Find the recipe here.

Check out the offerings at Crystal Pool & Recreation Centre – For more information contact the rec centre directly 

Winter Moth Banding
Beacon Hill Park

Sat, Oct 18 2-3pm FREE OR Thurs, Oct 23 1-2pm FREE
Are your favourite trees and shrubs being eaten each spring by little green caterpillars? These are Winter Moths, and soon they’ll be eyeing up trees for their winter homes. Join City of Victoria Parks staff to learn how to protect your trees with bands of sticky adhesive applied in the fall, and reduce the need for pesticides in the spring. Garry oak, maple, fruit trees, basswood, ash, blueberry, poplar and other trees and shrubs can all benefit from banding. This is a great opportunity to learn from knowledgeable Parks staff! Meeting location and accessibility details will be emailed to registered participants prior to the program.

Raising Backyard Poultry Info Session
Crystal Pool – Brereton Room
52620
Sun, Oct 19 10am-12pm $15
Have you ever wanted to raise your own chickens or ducks and eat deliciously fresh eggs every morning? Not sure what that would entail or how to go about finding out? Look no further, and come to Crystal Pool for a backyard poultry info session, where we’ll cover how to care for chickens and ducks in an urban environment, important things to think about, and how to get started! You might even get to meet a chicken….

Introduction to Mushroom Identification
Crystal Pool – Brereton Room
52630
Wed, Oct 22 6:30-8:30pm $25
Curious about identifying mushrooms? Wanting to learn more about mycology? Join this indoor classroom session to build your knowledge on the fungal kingdom and start on your journey of identifying fungi!

Coffee Tasting with Indigenous Roots Coffee Company
Crystal Pool – Brereton Room
52686
Sat, Nov 1 10-11:30am $10-$20
Join co-founders of Indigenous Roots Coffee Company, Natasha and Kear, in a fun coffee tasting event. Natasha and Kear will be sharing their coffee journey and vision for their new social enterprise while drinking coffee together. The session will highlight the amazing work Indigenous partners are doing, such as Geronimo Canoe Club and XAXE TENEW Sacred Land Society. Participants will get to know each other, the facilitators, and sip four unique specialty coffee blends during this immersive workshop!

Selecting Fruit Trees & Berries for Your Home Garden
Crystal Pool – Brereton Room
52694
Sat, Nov 1 1-4pm $25
Growing your own fruit can be incredibly rewarding. Victoria’s sub-Mediterranean climate makes it possible to grow everything from apples, pears and plums to figs, olives and lemons. But, choosing the wrong tree for your site and growing conditions often leads to unhealthy trees, negligible crops, and years of frustration. What’s an aspiring fruit grower to do?

Circular Economy Speaker Series: Food Systems

Back by popular demand! Join local experts and leaders for presentations, a panel discussion and tastings of locally sourced food and beverages.

Explore practical ways to divert food waste from the landfill, discover why a circular food system is important for climate resilience and learn how to support the innovative work of local food organizations and businesses.

 Monday, Nov. 10, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
 Ambrosia Banquet Hall (638 Fisgard St.)

This free event filled up quickly last time, so don’t wait to reserve your spot!

Learn more here.

In this documentary, landscape architect Louis De Jaeger outlines how food forests can save the earth from suffocation, resuscitate communities, make agriculture sustainable, reverse global warming and still produce an abundance of food.

This film takes you on a trip through the secret gardens of food forest pioneers. From urban jungles to healing projects in psychiatric institutions. Because nature appears to be the best healer for the social, psychological and ecological scars that people have caused. If we give nature’s resilience a chance, together we can create a new Eden. In fact, pieces of this new paradise are already visible.

Learn more here.

Are you looking to access farmland, or curious about sharing your land with a farmer? Come out to the upcoming Land Sharing Workshop in Duncan on November 8th, hosted by Young Agrarians. Ari (Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands Land Matcher) will guide you through a self-assessment activity to help you create an action plan for your own land sharing journey. You’ll leave the workshop with the knowledge, resources and connections needed to turn your plan into reality!

DATE: Saturday, November 8th, 2025 • 1-4pm PT

LOCATION: Quw’utsun Territory. Duncan, BC

Registration is free. Grab your spot here:
https://youngagrarians.org/events/nov-8-2025-land-sharing-duncan-bc/

You can also find the link at @youngagrarians link in bio on Instagram!

#bclandmatchingprogram #bclmp #growbc #bcagri #vancouverislandland

Beyond the Curb: Upcoming Pop-Up Recycling Event

Victoria’s Beyond the Curb pilot program continues to make disposing of hard-to-recycle items easier for residents. In addition to regular weekend drop-offs at the Hub (1234 Yates St.), the City is hosting a special one-day pop-up event.

 Victoria West Community Centre
 Sat. Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Items accepted:

• Flexible plastic

• White and coloured foam

• Small appliances and electronics

• Textiles and home furnishings (pop-up ONLY; must be clean and in working condition)
• Learn more here.

Coming up! Join us for a celebration of fall traditions! This cozy afternoon at North Perk Cafe will feature pumpkin carving, a costume swap, s’more making, hot drinks and more. This inclusive, family and pet-friendly event brings together neighbours of all ages to connect, share, and celebrate the season.
Sunday October 26th
1-4pm
2150 Quadra Street -Make Space North Park
(Drop off costume donations North Perk Café on Tuesday October 14th or Tuesday October 21st from 8-5pm)

Finding commonality through connection – one conversation at a time.

Join us Saturday, October 18th at 2:15 pm at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Place (1330 Fairfield Rd) for a one hour PLATONIC conversation.

What is it?
It’s an opportunity to share a one-off, one-hour, platonic conversation with a complete stranger. A chance to learn about – and from – someone who could potentially have a very different lived experience than your own. It’s a way to build community and increase our collective social health here in Victoria. Meet a Stranger is part of the larger “Open to Conversation” social movement run by West Coast Speaks Health Society to make talking to strangers fun again.

How does it work?
When you walk in the door at 2.15, we will ask you to put your name in a jar. At 2.30 we will do a brief introduction and then we will pair people at random by drawing the names from the jars. Conversations then happen from 2.30-3.30. If you’re the shy type, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! We have conversational prompts to get you started. It’s also important to remember that everyone in the room has come to talk to a stranger – more specifically, they’ve come to talk to you. This means everyone in that room is open to conversation.

Please be there by 2:15pm. Participants arriving late may not be able to join.

Why are we capping the number of people attending?
We host these events at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Place, and therefore have limited inside space available. Often, people will head outside in the sunshine and enjoy their conversations in the front garden of the community center. We set a limit on the number of RSVPs on Meetup based on the amount of inside space available. If you’re on the waitlist, and willing to chat outside if there’s no space inside, then please feel free to come along anyway!

Feedback:
We would love to hear about your experience. Grab a paper and pen and fill out a feedback survey after the event, to help us understand your experience better and improve future events. Your feedback helps us grow.

Release:
We are facilitating these gatherings to contribute to building a healthy community in which we get to know other community members regardless of their age, gender, or social background. By agreeing to participate, you understand the risks involved and you do not hold Carrie, Jason, or West Coast Speaks Health Society responsible for any harm that might arise.

For more information on Meet a Stranger, check out our website.

Climate Friendly Home How-To Webinars

Join upcoming webinars hosted by the Home Energy Navigator, a free program that support homeowners through retrofits.

What is House-As-A-System?, Oct. 23, noon-1 p.m.

Matching Motivations to Upgrades, Nov. 20, noon-1 p.m.

Draftproofing & DIY, Jan. 22, noon-1 p.m.

After the Retrofit, Feb. 19, noon-1 p.m.

Register online today! Learn more here.

Prevent Fires: Charge Your EVs, E-Bikes and E-Scooters Safely

Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home is the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2025 (Oct. 5-11).

Lithium-ion batteries power our phones, laptops, e-bikes, EVs and more, but if damaged or overcharged, they can overheat, catch fire or even explode.

Stay safe and prevent fires with three simple steps:

 Buy only safety-certified products.
 Charge devices safely.
 Recycle batteries responsibly.

Learn more here.

Need to brush up on your English speaking skills?

Join the Esquimalt Neighbourhood House every Tuesday from 5 – 6:30 pm.

Finding commonality through connection – one conversation at a time.

Join us Saturday, October 18th at 2:15 pm at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Place (1330 Fairfield Rd) for a one hour PLATONIC conversation.

What is it?
It’s an opportunity to share a one-off, one-hour, platonic conversation with a complete stranger. A chance to learn about – and from – someone who could potentially have a very different lived experience than your own. It’s a way to build community and increase our collective social health here in Victoria. Meet a Stranger is part of the larger “Open to Conversation” social movement run by West Coast Speaks Health Society to make talking to strangers fun again.

How does it work?
When you walk in the door at 2.15, we will ask you to put your name in a jar. At 2.30 we will do a brief introduction and then we will pair people at random by drawing the names from the jars. Conversations then happen from 2.30-3.30. If you’re the shy type, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! We have conversational prompts to get you started. It’s also important to remember that everyone in the room has come to talk to a stranger – more specifically, they’ve come to talk to you. This means everyone in that room is open to conversation.

Please be there by 2:15pm. Participants arriving late may not be able to join.

Why are we capping the number of people attending?
We host these events at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Place, and therefore have limited inside space available. Often, people will head outside in the sunshine and enjoy their conversations in the front garden of the community center. We set a limit on the number of RSVPs on Meetup based on the amount of inside space available. If you’re on the waitlist, and willing to chat outside if there’s no space inside, then please feel free to come along anyway!

Feedback:
We would love to hear about your experience. Grab a paper and pen and fill out a feedback survey after the event, to help us understand your experience better and improve future events. Your feedback helps us grow.

Release:
We are facilitating these gatherings to contribute to building a healthy community in which we get to know other community members regardless of their age, gender, or social background. By agreeing to participate, you understand the risks involved and you do not hold Carrie, Jason, or West Coast Speaks Health Society responsible for any harm that might arise.

For more information on Meet a Stranger, check out our website.

You are invited to our Día de Muertos Party with Dignidad Migrante on November 2, 2025!
We will honour life, memory, and culture at this special community gathering. Join us Sunday, November 2, 3:00 – 6:00pm, Fernwood Community Centre Gym, 1240 Gladstone Avenue. Everyone Welcome!
This celebration is a collaboration between Fernwood Neighbourhood House and Dignidad Migrante, bringing together neighbours of all backgrounds to share in this meaningful Mexican tradition. We’ll have music, food, a colourful altar, and activities — a vibrant space to celebrate loved ones who are no longer with us and to connect with one another. This event is a space to share stories, traditions, and resources that support trade immigrants and newcomers and build bridges across cultures. All are welcome to bring a photo or offering for the community altar. Come celebrate culture, memory, and community with us.

Facilitated by a compassionate trained volunteer from Family Caregivers of British Columbia, this support group meets twice a month at the Quadra Community Centre. We understand that caring for a loved one with an illness, disability, or age-related condition can be both challenging and isolating. This gathering is a welcoming and safe space where you can share your experiences, find emotional support, and exchange practical advice with others who truly understand what you’re going through.

During our meetings, we include educational discussions along with opportunities to connect with others in the community. We prioritize confidentiality, ensuring a safe environment for everyone. There’s no pressure to attend regularly, and it’s completely free to participate.

Our mission is to help caregivers feel less alone, enhance their mental well-being, and discover new coping strategies to navigate these tough times. We warmly welcome new members and look forward to supporting each other on this journey.

Drop-In’s Welcome!
1st and 3rd Monday of every Month
2:30 – 4 PM
Quadra Island Community Centre | Room #2
970 W Rd, Quathiaski Cove

For more information, contact:
250-285-2255
hkquadracircle@gmail.com