The Vancouver Native Health Society (VNHS) is selling 2 cookbooks as fundraisers for their food security projects. These books are:

The Elder’s of All Nations Cookbook (with diabetes friendly recipes and nutritional breakdown)

Nourishing the Community – Recipes and Stories from the VNHS Garden Project

These cookbooks include traditional (and non-traditional) Aboriginal recipes, shared by community members who participated in our projects.  These cookbooks are full of ideas for healthier recipes for community kitchens and cooking programs, as well as inspirational stories.

The cookbooks are $15 each or $25 for the set.

To order, please contact Sandra at 604-254-9949 or adapt.vnhs@gmail.com. Sorry, we are only able to accept cash or cheques at this time.

These books are a fundraiser for the Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Prevention and Teaching Program (ADAPT) of Vancouver Native Health Society.iety.

You are invited to Burnett Secondary’s

Green Gala

Throughout the past year, Richmond secondary schools participated in a wide range of environmental initiatives. This afternoon event showcases the projects, and celebrates the success stories!

Different schools will be making short summary presentations of their contributions. A light afternoon snack will be provided. In the spirit of being Green, we will strive to make this a zero waste event.

Anyone who was involved with sustainability projects in the district this year (students, parents, EA’s, teachers, administrators, managers, etc.) should enjoy this interesting event.

To ensure there will be enough food for everyone, please RVSP to Kevin Lyseng, by Monday afternoon, May 27.
(If applicable, please indicate your School of Building, and the number of people coming. Thanks.)

When: Wednesday, May 29, 3:30 – 5:30 pm.

Where: Burnett Secondary Theatre and Multi-purpose Room

Come hear a free talk on Ecology and Spirituality by Jora Young, M.S., Director of Conservation Action Training for a large nature conservation organization. She is the author of The Ecology of Hope, an influential work in sustainable communities.

Jora works around the globe developing conservation action plans to protect natural areas. She has a life-long interest in spirituality and meditation.

When: Saturday May 18, 7 pm
Where: Meditation & Ecology Centre, 11011 Shell Rd, Richmond

For further info / to register call:
Linda, 604-985-5840

Drop-ins are welcome

On Saturday May 4th, the Richmond Food Security Society added 14 new garden plots to our Steveston Community Garden, located at the South end of Railway Avenue and Moncton Street.

This was truly a community effort, as the new plots were built by RFSS staff and friends with the enthusiastic help of a very happy bunch of new gardeners who are just starting out. 

The garden site was prepared in advance by the City of Richmond, and Rod’s Building Supplies pitched in with construction materials and loaned us the tools needed to build the plots.

All the plots got built and most have now a small layer of soil. One plot got completed as the two families sharing it wouldn’t quit until it was done! We’d like to thank everyone for their contributions to this community venture.

With  beautiful spring weather upon us, we are looking forward to getting out in the gardens!  There is more information about the Steveston Community Garden and our other community gardens on the RFSS website.

Steveston Community Garden Location:

You are invited to a Community Forum on GMO food.

Dr. Thierry Vrain will be speaking to the environmental and health concerns with the widespread use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms, also know as GM foods).

Don’t know about the science? Well, come and have that explained by an expert.  Do you have any questions or concerns about GMOs? Bring them and have them addressed.  Come and learn what you are likely feeding your children.

About the Speaker

Dr.  Thierry Vrain was a genetic engineer/scientist in agricultural research, former head of Biotechnology at Canadian Government Summerland Research Station.  He believed in the promise of GMOs, that they would increase yields, increase nutritional content, reduce herbicide and pesticide use.  Since then, he has read a lot of the research being done abroad, and now understands the claims for GMOs are contradicted by recent findings, and that GMOs pose real risks to our health, and the environment.

Event details and Facebook page

When: June 5, 7-9 pm

Where: Northwood United Church, 8855 156 Street, Surrey, BC

THOUGHT4FOOD : A Three Evening Series

Check out this awesome sustainable foodie event!

On Tuesday May 21 (6-9pm), Copia will be presenting the second event in their dynamic THOUGHT4FOOD series, featuring innovators in the GVRD natural foodie scene.

Each evening is designed to be equally educational and entertaining, bringing together thought leaders and industry disruptors who are changing the way that we eat for the better. Sponsored by Vancity, Choices Markets, Indigo Natural Products Management and Social Venture Institutes by Hollyhock, THOUGHT4FOOD is serving up an impressive mix of local food-related businesses and culinary creatives with a wide range of expertise that covers nearly every aspect of the food chain – from growing to preparing food, manufacturing and distributing, retailing and even turning it back into soil.  This is another zero-waste event with all leftovers going to feed downtown East-siders or composted by Bokoeco. Not only will you hear great stories and nuggets of wisdom from a wide range of food-related entrepreneurs, you’ll also enjoy some tasty snacks and appies, soda & beer, desserts and other healthy delights and be able to purchase some of your favourites to take home. Speakers: Ian Walker (Left Coast Naturals), Gordon Truscott (Indigo Natural Products Management), Ishkandar Ahmed (Choices Markets), Jennifer Martin (Sip Soda), Tyson Reimer (Woodlands Smokehouse Commissary), Peggy Speir (Frostbites), Saul Brown (Saul Good Gift Co). YouTube video of Thought4Food Part 1 Speakers, presented by Copia April 16, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgCsjt47k00&feature=youtu.be   Buy your tickets here:  Don’t forget – you get a 15% discount using the promo-code “lumina”.

• Thought4FOOD : 2 Event Package:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/377643
• Thought4FOOD Part 2 – May 21 : Secret Sauce Ingredients - From Recipe to Checkout Stand : http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/359083
• Thought4FOOD Part 3 – June 18 : Farm to Table - Building Strong Links in the Food Chain : http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/359167

Both events will be held at the Dodson Conference Centre, 25 East Hastings Street : 6 – 9pm Hope to see you there!

August Farm, Arts & Culinary Camp for Kids

Presented by the Centre for Arts, Ecology & Agriculture on Salt Spring Island

Our five-day farm camp for children ages 7-12 offers environmental literacy experiences through the exploration of a variety of habitats:

• By growing, harvesting, preparing and eating organic fruits and vegetables
• Feeding and caring for farm animals
• Through nature based art, using child-centered, fun activities

Each day, children will take part in farm chores such as collecting eggs, harvesting strawberries, digging potatoes, making compost, baking, cooking and eating from the farm. Afternoons are spent journaling, drawing, working with clay, and other artistic endeavors that interpret and express the farm experience.

Lunch preparation will be guided by a professional chef with experience teaching children about growing and cooking whole foods, culminating in a shared, field-to-plate, culinary experience.

This year’s camp director, Elke Van Breeman, is a wildlife artist and educator dedicated to environmental education and conservation. She has a BSc. in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry, and post-baccalaureate degree in Education from Vancouver Island University.  Elke has worked for a variety of non-profit wildlife conservation organizations, schools and community organizations and is thrilled to join us on Foxglove Farm this summer.

Visit Elke’s artist page: http://www.elkeswildlife.com/

Assisting at the farm camp in all matters culinary is Jacob Deacon-Evans. Jacob knows his way around the kitchens of some of Vancouver’s top restaurants, such as West, Cioppino’s and Bishop’s. Chef Jacob volunteers with Vancouver’s Growing Chefs! Chefs for Children’s Urban Agriculture program, and he is looking forward to sharing his talent and enthusiasm with kids at Foxglove Farm this summer.

Learn more about Growing Chefs!: http://www.growingchefs.ca/

For more information about the camp visit our website: www.foxglovefarmbc.ca

Monday, August 5 – Friday, August 9, 2013
9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily
Cost: $295 + $20 materials fee + applicable taxes (lunches included)

THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS

Current Research and Spiritual Wisdom

Dr. Mark Young, is Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. For more than 15 years he worked as a therapist in community mental health, college counseling centers, private practice and corrections. He is the author of five textbooks including the widely used techniques book, Learning the Art of Helping from Prentice Hall. Dr. Young is currently President of the Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling.  Last year, he won the Distinguished Mentor Award and was elected Fellow of the American Counseling Association. Mark has delivered workshops on spirituality and counseling across North America, Europe and Australia. In addition to his professional work, he has been a student of spirituality and practicing meditation for 40 years.

Please reply if you plan to come. Otherwise drop-ins are welcome.

Enlightened Living—FREE CLASS

FRIDAY MAY 17 – 7 PM

LOCATION:   Meditation & Ecology Centre
11011 Shell Rd (southwest corner of Steveston Hwy and Shell Rd), Richmond, BC

The Meditation & Ecology Centre is part of a world-wide network of meditation groups and spiritual centres sponsored by Science of Spirituality, a global non-profit, non-sectarian organization under the guidance of His Holiness Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj.

“We strive to better ourselves and our world through a spiritual way of living based on meditation, ethical values and regard for all life.”

6 Degrees of Innovation:
Celebrating Asian Change Makers

We are proud  to offer stories of success and transformation at this year’s Six Degrees of Innovation event.

Highlights of the event are:

• Speakers will share their stories of personal and professional transformation in a fast-paced presentation with topics ranging from art to agriculture, business to technology.
• After the discussion, there is a reception and short film on the history of Chinese farming.
• Finally, a light reception will allow participants the chance to meet these inspirational change makers.

This is a free event, so come check it out!