The real dirt on volunteering

Market Crew Orientations!

Do you enjoy working in a fun, high energy environment?  Are you enthusiastic about local produce? Do you want to get involved with the local food system? If so, consider volunteering at our Saturday Farm Markets. We have organized an orientation which will introduce interested folks to what volunteering at the market is all about. At the orientation you will learn the history of the markets, the different volunteering positions available and the basic skills to help your volunteer shifts run smoothly.

This orientation will also give you an opportunity to meet and mingle with other volunteers. We look forward to a great crew in 2011! *Please register for your session at one of the two links below.*

• Sat, May 21st, 3-4:30pm: http://marketorienationmay21.eventbrite.com/
• Sat, June 4th, 11am-12:30pm: http://june4marketorientation.eventbrite.com/

General Volunteer Orientations

Volunteer orientations are a great chance to learn more about the Farm and various UBC Farm volunteer programs; discover which program piques your interest and how to get involved. We require all new volunteers to attend an orientation. Meet outside the Farm Centre (the building with the brown roof). No need to register, just show up for the session that works for you. Upcoming orientations are scheduled for:

• Saturday May 21st 2pm-3pm
• Friday May 27th 3pm-4pm
• Saturday June 4th 10am-11am
• Saturday June 11^th, 10am-11am

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Wednesday Walkabout, May 19th

What the farm looks like this week!

Onion transplanting by practicum students

Asparagus pushing to the light

It’s hard to tell which of the hops is taller!

Integrational Learning Landed Project students planting potatos

The last of muddy puddles as the sun rays shine on the farm

Blossoms to welcome all who stop by

At the orchard- Liberty variety

New “budding buds”

A robin hides in the trees

Beds of beans between school tours

More blossoms

Growing strawberries at the greenhouse

Making rows for planting

A breakthrough for the radishes

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Sunny expressions at Joy of Feeding

The event organizers are still catching their breath from all of the hubbub, but it’s clear that attendees at the UBC Farm’s Joy of Feeding fundraiser this past Sunday were enjoying themselves.  The slightly grey, overcast weather seemed to make no difference to the folks who came out to taste scrumptious dishes cooked by 15 moms of various heritage, and there were plenty of fun, hands-on activities for younger audiences as well.

Joy of Feeding was organized by (moms) Mary MacKay of Terra Breads, Meeru Dhalwala of Vij’s, and Amy Robertson, past Chair of the Vancouver Farmers Market, along with UBC Farm Programs Manager Amy Frye, Choices Markets Nutrition Operations Manager Nicole Fetterly, and UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems staff members Marcia Thomson and Bobbie Duvall. While providing a venue to share cultural foods and encourage people to cook with unprocessed, local ingredients, the event was a fundraiser for the UBC Farm and its children’s programs.

Thanks to everyone who attended, and to all of the volunteers and moms who helped to make the event such a success!

Joy of Feeding moms and event organizers gather briefly before the crowds started streaming in.

A group of enthusiastic volunteers arrived for a misty, early morning Sunday shift at the farm to help set up the event. Our Marketing Assistant even showed up on her day off!

UBC Farm Academic Director Dr. Andrew Riseman pauses mid-step in a Hot Tarsus Hummus delivery.

The UBC Farm heritage orchard, which was initiated as part of a student Directed Study, was looking prettier than at any other time of year.

Amy Frye and Amy Robertson, event organizers extraordinaire!

Centre for Sustainable Food Systems Director Mark Bomford shares an anecdote about the value of moms teaching their children how to grow food.

Ayako Archer (right) served mushroom Gyoza, which she enjoys preparing with her husband and three children.

Andrew Archer (18) frying some delicious Gyoza.

Intergenerational Landed Learning Project Coordinator Stacy Friedman was hosting some excellent bee-related activities for the event’s younger audience.

Georgie Riha and her family confer on the slicing of Czech Kolach.

Manyara Rinomhota, her son Joshua and booth neighbour Kari Marken relax before the event. Take a closer peek at the green sticks inside the beautiful flower bouquet!

Serving sadza nyama neMuriwo, a Zimbabwean cornmeal mash with greens and beef stew, to grateful attendees.

Two lovely ladies from Whole Foods, one of the event sponsors.

Assessing the earthworm situation.

Peggy August, Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts students and company from the Urban Aboriginal Community Kitchen Garden Project.

Jocelyn dishing up some salmon burgers from Peggy’s recipe.

People were almost magnetically drawn to these Brigadeiro (Brazilian chocolate balls), and some had to return multiple times!

Nina de Souza Jensen and her son were pleased to satisfy people’s cocoa cravings.

Meeru Dhalwala of Vij’s and Rangoli’s takes some time for an interview.

CBC TV/Radio Host George Stroumboulopoulos stopping to chat with Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala.

Kusum Vij and her granddaughter dishing up scrumptious Pav Bhaji (mixed vegetables with fried, white bun) for Mary, her friend, and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.

Sauteeting some chard by the cherry blossoms for a vegetarian chili.

Melina Buckley shared this West Coast delight of baked blueberry-pecan French toast with blueberry syrup.

Bobbie Duvall of UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems keeps dry! Fortunately, there was essentially no rain during the event itself.

UBC students showing off Joy of Feeding booklets with recipes and biographies from all of the moms.

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Only four more days until Joy of Feeding!

Joy of Feeding is an important fundraiser for the UBC Farm and its children’s programs, and there are only four more days until the exciting event!

Celebrate and enjoy comfort foods created and cooked from the heart. Fifteen Canadian moms of various heritages will share their cuisines, stories and cultures at this community cooking event organized by (moms) Meeru Dhalwala of Vij’s and Mary MacKay of Terra Breads.

Date: Sunday, May 15th, 2011, 1:00-4:00 pm

Location: UBC Farm, 6182 South Campus Road (see website for directions).

Tickets: Tickets are $50 and include a recipe book with each mom’s story and family recipe. One child under 12 is free per paid ticket; tickets for additional children ages 6-11 are $25 (available online only). Children under 6 are free. Tickets can be purchased at Rangoli, Lower Mainland Choices Markets, or online. Visit www.joyoffeeding.com for details.

Also, check out this clip of Meeru Dhalwala of Vij’s and Rangoli explaining the concept of Joy of Feeding on Urban Rush:

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Flatbread Frenzy!

Participants at Chef Andrea Potter’s “Flatbread Frenzy” UBC Farm Growing Season workshop went home today with a plate full of nutritional knowledge, vegan, gluten-free cooking skills and luscious French socca! In addition to being a Chef, Andrea Potter is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN).  Her workshops tend focus on whole foods, and incorporating fermented and sprouted foods in one’s diet. You can find out about her upcoming workshops on the Rooted Nutrition blog: http://rootednutrition.wordpress.com/

Thanks very much to our neighbours at Tapestry for sharing their demonstration kitchen for this workshop!

Chef Andrea Potter stirs ratatouille to accompany socca, a chickpea-based French flatbread.

Lycopene lusciousness! Sundried tomatoes with red and yellow peppers.

Kayla demonstrates how to fry dosas in unrefined coconut oil.

Participants learning the nutritional principles and hands-on skills of making dosas from fermented grains. Surprisingly easy, and oh-so tasty!

Vegan, gluten-free dosa made from fermented brown rice and red lentils with masala potato stuffing.

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