June 4, 2025 Good Food Box Newsletter

by Good Food Box | Jun 3, 2025 | news | 0 comments

Feature Farmer – Mason Street Farm

Shout out to the team @masonstreetfarm who are supplying our bagged Lettuce for the summer! Mason St farm is a quarter- acre urban farm in the heart of the City of Victoria. The farm has a focus on greens & many varieties of plant starts available through the nursery.

Checkout the farm stand & plant nursery at 1015 Balmoral Street & support your local urban farm!

#localfoodsystems #urbanfood #urbanfarm #smallscale #smallscalefarming #supportlocal #organicfarming

What’s in the bags this week?

Standard ($30.00): *BC early nugget potatoes, LE BC cucumbers, BC red pepper, org. Altualfo mango, cantaloupe, org. avocado, Northstar Organics *eggplant, Mason Street Farms org. lettuce mix

Standard Plus ($40.00): o *BC early nugget potatoes, BC red pepper, org. Altualfo mango, cantaloupe, BC LE cucumber, North Star Organics *tomato slicers, org. avocado, North Star Organics eggplant, Mason Street Farm org. *mixed greens

Sustainable ($40.00): Northstar Organics tomato slicers, eggplant, green kale, parsley, org. banana, org. avocado, *Littlest Acre org. *spinach

Cultural ($30.00): *BC early nugget potatoes, BC red pepper, North Star Organics *eggplant, BC cherry tomatoes, org. Altualfo mango, BC LE cucumber, Littlest Acre organic *spinach

Staples ($30.00): *BC early nugget potatoes, org. red cherry BC tomatoes, North Star Organics *short cucumber, cantaloupe, BC red pepper, org. banana, org. Altualfo mango, Littlest Acre org. *spinach

Fruit ($25.00): Pink Lady apples, org. red grapes, cantaloupe, BC strawberries

BC – Only ($30.00): BC early nugget potatoes, BC Cherry Red tomatoes, BC red pepper, BC LE cucumber, BC strawberries, Littlest Acre *org. spinach

*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!

With our bags filled with these delicious greens, it’s time to brush up on our salad dressing recipes. Making from scratch will not only save you money, taste fresher and won’t require preservatives – they will make your greens pop with even more flavour. How can that be? These greens are delicious and full of flavour on their own!! Check out the Taste of Life’s 7 different vinaigrette recipes here.

Greenku Recipes shares this hearty side or whole dinner (and definitely gluten free) mock pizza, Roasted Eggplant with Mozzarella, Cherry Tomatoes and Capers. You can find the recipe here. If you’re eating dairy free, try this with a vegan shredded cheese. If you find yourself with leftovers, slice up your eggplant and toss into a hearty soup, add to a garden salad, a wrap or even a sandwich with greens, shredded carrots and sprouts!

Thank You Berry Much shares this bursting with flavour, Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant with Tomatoes dish that can be used in multiple ways – served on toasted garlic bread with cream cheese and basil, as a side or tossed together with pasta. It tastes great served at room temperature or hot from the oven. Either way you’ll love it and it’s a quick prep meal, great for planning several meals if you cook in bulk. Find the recipe here.

This strawberry mango salad is sure to become a regular summer hit served with the ginger recipe you’ll find with this recipe or a poppy seed dressing. For an addition of protein try it topped with feta. You’ll find Anna Banana’s recipe here.

Find a poppy seed dressing recipe here. If you’re taking this on a picnic or eating in public, just a quick PSA, pack a toothpick or a toothbrush with you! Those poppy seeds have a way of getting stuck in awkward smiling positions. This combination is worth every awkward moment!

This Strawberry Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing is delicious and versatile. Toss with with mint and greens or spinach and hemp or sunflower seeds. Add a little red pepper if you’re in the mood. It’s a quick prep and addictive addition to the menu plan. You might find yourself sneaking to the fridge to nibble on the leftovers in the middle of the night before it makes it to your lunch bag for the next day! You can find this Cooking with Callie recipe here.

Let’s Get Growing…

The Healing City Soils program provides free soil testing to CRD growers and gatherers to evaluate whether there is heavy metal contamination in urbans soils. The soil testing results will be shared with each individual grower or gatherer along with resources to help interpret the results. We also compile the soil testing results in an anonymized and publicly available online map, with exact locations obscured to protect participants’ privacy.

Learn more at:

www.compost.bc.ca/get-involved/test-your-soil-quality/

Did you know our very own Fairfield Food Forest is a permaculture garden? This green space was designed intentionally to be a self-sufficient ecosystem

Learn how it all works with Shannon from FGCA at Fairfield Flourish Fest! Saturday June 7 11-3 Robert Porter Park

Check out all the other growing related workshops and opportunities at Fairfield Flourish Fest

https://fairfieldcommunity.ca/fairfield-flourish-fest/

Master Gardeners FREE Q&A at GARDENWORKS Saanich

Stop in and ask the Master Gardeners all your questions for a successful season —Thursday, June 19, July 17, August 21 11- 2 pm

GARDENWORKS Saanich 4290 Blenkinsop Road Victoria, BC V8X 2C4

No registration is required, free, just drop in when you can.

Pineapple weed, also known as wild chamomile (they’re cousins), is an aromatic wild “weed” that you can find in disturbed soils, usually right under your own feet on trails, sidewalks, and other high traffic areas.

As its common name suggests, this little herb has a fragrance and taste just like a pineapple!

Learn more about this edible weed here and how to use in your day to day life.

12 surprising medicinal uses of pineapple weed: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/pineappleweed.html

Connecting in Community

Coming up next week! Learn how to administer life saving Naloxone. Substance will be teaching us how to use Naloxone and everyone will get to take home a kit.

Wednesday June 11th
6pm – 7pm

In the North Park Community Association office! 701 Quadra Street (Enter through the courtyard next to Vinyl Envy.)

Fernfest is expanding this year – June 13, 14th 2025

Read more at the blog post below…

FernFest is expanding!

National Indigenous History Month & Indigenous Peoples Day June 2025

Learn more and find events here: https://www.indigenousbc.com/stories/national-indigenous-history-month-and-peoples-day/
Join CBC for a celebration of Indigenous film, workshops & programs in Victoria June 19-22 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/community/f1rst-a-celebration-of-indigenous-films-1.7544393
8 Ways to engage in truth and reconciliation: https://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/articles/8-ways-to-engage-in-truth-and-reconciliation/
Vancouver Island Regional Library Indigenous Resources and Virtual Author talk: https://virl.bc.ca/read-watch-listen/audience/indigenous/nihm/
In June watch Langham Court Theatre’s website for Reconciliation’s new production, “the Boy in the Treehouse” playing July 25-27

Know of other ways to engage this month, let us know.

Cinema of The Sea: Indigenous Waters, Orca Songs, Seaweed Dreams

Dive into an unforgettable evening of films exploring the deep connections between land, sea, and Indigenous knowledge.

Date: June 7, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Venue: The Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas St, Victoria, BC

Tickets: $5 (available at the door by Cash or online)

Co-hosted by :

British Columbia Environmental Film Festival (BCEFF)

Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators

BC Branch (NAME-BC)

Proudly sponsored by the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association (PSIA)

This event is part of Ocean Week Canada – Victoria.

Film Lineup + Live Q&As:

1. The Spirit Who Swims:

Directors: Bev Sellars & Garry Tutte

Runtime: 55:45

A love manifesto to salmon and a call to protect Indigenous waters.

Followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers .

2. Seaweed Chronicles:

Director: Madhav Bhargav

Runtime: 25:00

A heartfelt look at BC’s seaweed scene, from diving to farming and food.

Followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.

3. Call of the Orcas Director:

Jessica Plumb

Runtime: 18:00

A moving tribute to orca researcher Ken Balcomb, featuring Indigenous perspectives and orca calls.

Followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.

Outreach- World Ocean Day at Fisherman’s Wharf

The Royal BC Museum is out in the Community

Join the Learning and Engagement team at the 11th annual World Ocean Day Celebrations at Fisherman’s Wharf! Visit our booth for a hands-on experience with real museum specimens from natural history collection. Explore the incredible diversity of life along the coast, take part in engaging, ocean-themed activities, and learn more about the vital role the ocean plays in all our lives. Come connect with the ocean, ask questions, and discover how we can all play a part in protecting our the marine ecosystems around us.

Let’s celebrate the ocean together! June 8 11 am – 4 pm FREE Fisherman’s Warf. Check out the numerous free and low cost events at the museum this month celebrating PRIDE month and Ocean’s week. Click here to find more events.

Get hands-on with real ocean touch tanks full of fascinating marine creatures, learn about ocean science, marine life, and how we can protect our blue planet through interactive displays, educational activities, and ocean-themed fun for the whole family.

Get tickets and more information here.

Embark on an unforgettable journey beneath the waves at Tillicum Centre, for a fun and educational afternoon exploring the wonders of the ocean.

Meet the experts from Greater Victoria Public Library, Ocean Networks Canada, Seaquaria from World Fisheries Trust AND MORE!

Schedule:

Storytime & ocean button making with the Greater Victoria Public Library
School House Teaching Supplies selling ocean themed books & activities
Penninsula Streams will have a Colquitz River Watershed Model
Seaquaria will have live touch tanks with crabs, sea stars and sea sponges
Ocean Networks Canada will have ocean sound recordings to listen to and other activities!

Whether you’re a curious kid or an ocean enthusiast, there’s something for everyone. Admission is free — come dive into the adventure!

LOCATION: Tillicum Centre Upper Level near Western Coast Insurance/Winners

** There will also be a pontential of being featured on our social media channels via photos and video**

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!

Victoria Pride Society is so happy to have events in both June and July this year! Make sure these are all in your calendar

Big Gay Dog Walk: June 1, 2025, 3:30pm. Banfield Park.

TODAY

Youth Queer Prom: June 12, 2025, 7:30pm. Kwench

Memorial Drag Ball Game: July 1, 2025, 12:00pm. Vic West Park.

Pride in the World: July 3rd, 2025, 6:30pm. Lecture Theatre at Victoria Conference Centre. Tickets available now: https://www.eventbrite.ca/…/victoria-pride-in-the-word…

Victoria Pride Parade: July 6th, 2025. (Details coming!)

Pride Festival in the Park: July 6th, 2025, 11am. Macdonald Park.

See you at 3:30pm today at Banfield Park to kick off the Pride festivities with the Big Gay Dog Walk!

Get ready for family fun and rainbows under the sun at the fourth annual Saanich Pride in the Park!

Featuring a variety of live entertainment, games and activities, info booths, and food trucks, this family-friendly event is a great way for all ages to celebrate Pride Month.

June 11 from 5:30 to 8pm Beckwith Park, 857 Beckwith Ave
Learn more at saanich.ca/PrideInThePark

The Oaklands Sunset Market is Looking for Volunteers!

When: Wednesdays, July 9-Aug 27

Where: Oaklands Community Centre & Belmont Avenue

The Sunset Market features over 50 local vendors, food trucks, and live music every Wednesday night. Be on the lookout for theme days, special events, and fun surprises throughout the market season. The Market includes local farmers, makers, artisans, performers, and a small beer garden.

We are looking for volunteer support with:

Set Up Team roles (2:30-4:30pm)

Market Team roles (4:00-8:30pm)

Clean Up Team (8:00-9:30pm)

Market Volunteers not only benefit by giving back to community, supporting farmers and local artisans, and bringing joy to the neighbourhood, they also get “Market Bucks” each volunteer shift!

Does your Community Group or Organization look for volunteer opportunities to give back to community? We are looking for groups to “sponsor” the OSM through a group volunteer day (2:30-4:30pm)! Groups that volunteer at the Market will be recognized as OSM sponsors, their information displayed at the market and shared on the website.

Tell your friends! Sign up as a individual or a community group: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx…

Learn more about the Sunset Market: sunsetmarket.org

Queer Community Dinner is looking for kitchen volunteers to help with serving and kitchen clean up

Hang out with great folks, eat delicious food, and support your favourite community dinner program!

We need your help to keep this great program going!

Click the link here fill out a volunteer application or email community@oaklandsca.com! https://oaklands.life/volunteer

#queercommunitydinner #queeryyj #volunteeryyj #queervolunteer

← Older Posts