30 Days of Local Food – How Was It?

Editor’s Note: Don’t forget to turn in your 30-Day Food Challenge passports at Brambles by midnight tonight to be eligible for the great prizes to be drawn for this week. If you’ve got 12 stamps, you’re eligible for the grand prize. But, don’t let numbers deter you. Anyone who participated and turns in a passport [...]

Intergenerational Music Programs for Toddlers

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. Wow has this last month flown by. As we head into these last two days of the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge, enjoy a couple of great Brambles demos. Today, think dairy goodness as the folks from Island Farms are on hand at 11 a.m.
Don’t forget that, in order [...]

Twitter About #Realfood to Help Evergreen

Editor’s Note: First, the bad news. As Environment Canada is predicting a temp of 35 degrees today, we have decided to CANCEL our NeighbourWood Eats program. I can’t imagine learning how to can in this weather and we really don’t want to have kiddos getting sick out in the blistering sun.
So, we’ll get something scheduled [...]

Get Into Nature – Miracle Beach Nature House

Editor’s Note: Where could that second post from yesterday possibly have gone? The heat made my brain disintigrate into a pile of goo and my computer nearly melt down.
We’ll check out Saturday’s fun later this week.
Anyway, it’s time to chill out today with the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge and head over to [...]

Cougar and Bear Safety as a Family

Editor’s Note: Quick, rearrange your schedules, there is ALL KINDS OF CHEESE GOODNESS going on today as Natural Pastures Cheese Co. wraps up its month of cheese from around the world. Head on over to 635 McPhee Ave. in Courtenay for fantastic cooking demos at 11 a.m., Noon and 1 p.m. I know it’s killer [...]

Mom-P-Inc. – The Value of Time

Editor’s Note: Ah, movie day. Come inside and cool off at the Courtenay Museum today when we show the last movie in the Chew On This Film Series, “The World According to Monsanto.”
This amazing film takes a frank look at bio-engineering and its effect on the global food system and I encourage you to [...]

Out and About – Does Sunscreen Equal Prevention?

Editor’s Note: Beat the heat today out at ASH Berry Farm as Don and Louisa McClellan host the final Farm Event of the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge. This fun day is all about berries, pigs (brings your veggie scraps to feed them) and farm sprinklers.
It’s all from 10 a.m. to 2 [...]

Green-e-ology – Mis-Adventures In Canning

Editor’s Note: Good Morning! Thinking local grains today? Check out the Brambles Demo with True Grains Bakery at 11 a.m.
But, really, the big event of the week is tomorrow when Royston’s ASH Berry Farm hosts the final Farm Event of the 30-Day Challenge. It’s going to be hot. So, what better way to cool down [...]

8 Days, 4 Restaurants, Double Stamps to Eat Local

Editor’s note: Whoa, I hope it is a bit less sauna-like outside today – especially since the Comox Valley Regional District Compost Education Centre is hosting a fun afternoon open house as part of the Know Where Your Food Comes From tour. Drop by the centre between 1 and 7 p.m. to check out the [...]

Top Questions to Ask Producers About Local Food

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. Today we are out at Simms Park for NeighbourWood Eats and the Wednesday Farmers Market. Folks from the Comox Valley Regional District will be on hand teaching adults and kids alike about the food lifecycle and composting. So, come join us from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. over by the covered [...]

Foodie Crafts – Seashell Maracas

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. If you are looking for something fun to do in the local food universe today, be sure to head over to Brambles to meet the folks from Hazelmere Farms. Their unusual and tasty greens are a treat at any dinner table. The demo runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, as [...]

Store Review – Planet Kids Opens in Courtenay

Editor’s Note: Ah, cheese. GLORIOUS cheese. Natural Pastures Cheese Co. is hosting cheese making demos (and tastings) on the cheeses of Holland today at 11 a.m., Noon and 1 p.m. So, come out and discover the world of cheese, locally, at 635 McPhee in Courtenay.
Then, head right on over to Zen Zero in downtown Courtenay [...]

Happy Birthday Hanging Out

Good Morning. I love you guys. But, once a year I figure it’s OK to be entirely indulgent and take a day off (sort of).
So, I’m off to chow down on our traditional birthday pancake cake breakfast and go back to sleep.
We are showing the film Gardens of Destiny at 2 p.m. over at the [...]

Cookbooks That Renew Traditions

Editor’s Note: This afternoon is going to be AWESOME as Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge Featured Producer DeeKayTee Ranch hosts a fantastic farm tour event.
There will be some wagon riding, some animal checking out, a tour of their guest houses and gorgeous farm, demonstrations and more from 1 to 3 p.m. out [...]

Seafood to Avoid During Pregnancy

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday (I am sooooo happy). It’s date night at the 30-day Food Challenge HQ and we are off for an evening of adult conversation and some good food. The Great Escape, Bisque, Locals and Anderton Bistro-Pub are all hosting a great Friday night of local delights. So, make a reservation, round up [...]

Nature Journal – The Edible Forest

Editor’s Note: Today, join us out at Tannadice Farms, 3465 Burns Road (just off of Condensory Road), for a great farm tour as part of the the Know Where Your Food Comes From Tour and the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Challenge. Heather and Allan will be on hand from 1 to 2:30 p.m. taking [...]

Family Eats – A Day of Local Food Meals

Editor’s Note: Good morning. There are some seriously exciting events going on today as a part of the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge. Join us out at Simms Park near the Kiwanis BBQ for NeighbourWood Eats where families gather for a potluck lunch and are learning how to Winter garden with the Comox [...]

Foodie Crafts – Homemade Dyes

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. It’s time for a mid-week meal as part of the 30-Day Food Challenge. I think I may try to talk the hubby into sneaking off to Bisque with me this afternoon. Locals and Anderton Bistro-Pub are open today too.
I’ve been cooking up a storm at home these last few weeks [...]

And The Winner Is…

After registration wrapped up on Friday we validated entries and did a random draw for the winner of the first of a whole whack of prizes.
Everyone who has registered was eligible for this $250 gift basket full of local food goodies and the winner is …
Linda Barfoot!
We’re only 12 days into the challenge and there [...]

Product Review – Local Cloth Sandwich Bags

Editor’s Note: If you are in some serious need of inspiration to leave the house today after a fabulously hot weekend jamming at MusicFest (I was so tired I went to bed at 8 p.m. last night), I have one – cheese, of the French kind.
Natural Pastures Cheese Co. is having its second cheese tour [...]

Getaways – The Mini Comox Valley Wine Tour

Editor’s Note: As a part of the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge, you can cool off at the Courtenay Museum at 2 p.m. today with the showing (in partnership with World Community Development Education Society) of Deborah Koons Garcia’s The Future of Food. It’s a great film on food security that is sure [...]

5 Chefs, A Week of Local Family Fun & Food

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. It’s an amazing weekend to mix food and funk as you get your local eating groove on at MusicFest. While you are down at the Exhibition Grounds, make sure to hit the Comox Valley Farmers Market today as the 30-Day Food Challenge will be out there – aprons on and recipes [...]

Dr. Amy Wells – Pesticides Effect on Kids

Editor’s Note: Good Morning! Today is the last day to get yourself registered for the 30-Day Challenge. Whether you make it to one or all of the events, registering means you get cool bonus material AND get a chance at all kinds of prizes. We are registering people live at Brambles from Noon to 6 [...]

Food Through the Generations

Editor’s Note: Bite-Sized Specialty Foods is going to be at Brambles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. There is some serious yumminess going on, so I would head in the direction of downtown Courtenay and check it out.
I would also like to encourage you to take some time out at Noon today and attend [...]

Six Local Food Gems to Check Out

Editors Note: Today we are headed out to the Wednesday Farmers Market at Simms Park in Courtenay for the first of four NeighbourWood Eats events as part of the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge. Bring a picnic (including a dish to share) and join in near the band stand as kids get to [...]

Foodie Crafts – Homemade Stickers

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Today is kind of chill in the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge universe. So, if you are thinking local, make some plans for a leisurely lunch or dinner at Anderton Bistro-Pub, The Great Escape, Bisque (I think we are headed that direction) or Locals.
A lovely meal is the [...]

Live Green at MusicFest

Enough about food for a few minutes.
I just wanted to take a moment this afternoon to take a peek inside some major coolness at Vancouver Island MusicFest which, if you haven’t scored tickets already, is this weekend. So, get on it.

Our Big Earth Media Co. and a handful of other great organizations are Living Green [...]

Bambu Disposable Plates

Editor’s Note: Oh, Summer rains. They are so refreshing. While Mother Nature is giving us little cool down today, it’s the perfect time to hit two of the hottest event on the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge.
Natural Pastures Cheese Company kicks off its Featured Producer events with the first of its Taste The [...]

A Great Day In Union Bay & a Foodie Film Today

Good morning. Another hot, sticky Summer day means that it’s the perfect time to sneak away this afternoon to catch the first in our Chew On This Film Series – Nick Versteeg’s Island On The Edge. Check out the trailer for this fantastic Vancouver Island film on food security HERE.
The showing, in partnership with World [...]

Learning to Make Summer’s Bounty Last

Editor’s Note: Today is a BIG day in the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge Universe.
Besides the obvious continuation of date night at one of our featured restaurants, you can go check out Island View Lavender right on the Old Island Highway in Union Bay. Kathleen will be hosting a lavender extravaganza from [...]

Eat Local, Comox Valley – The Locavores at Locals

Editor’s Note: Locals – Food from the Heart of the Island is a Featured Restaurant in the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge. You can earn a stamp and cast your vote for the 2009 Yummy Awards at Locals as well as Bisque, The Great Escape and Anderton Bistro-Pub throughout the month.
If you [...]

SPROUTS – Family Greenhouse

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Thinking local food today is all about date night. Get on the horn to grandma or the babysitter and plan for a great evening of local food at Bisque, Anderton Bistro-Pub, The Great Escape (I am so in the mood for Indian food) or Locals-Food From the Heart of the Island [...]

Eat Local, Comox Valley – Day One

Good morning and welcome to Day 1 of the Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge. We will be here all month bringing you the ins and outs of local food.
TODAY’S LOCAL FOOD FUN:
- Plan a lunch or dinner at Locals-Food from the Heart of the Island, Anderton Bistro-Pub, The Great Escape or Bisque and [...]

Canada = Community = Family-Friendly Local Food Guide

Editor’s Note: The Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Food Challenge officially kicks off tomorrow morning! If you have your passport and haven’t registered, get on it! You have to be registered to be eligible for prizes and you get access to lots of local eating info when you do so. Click HERE for the registration [...]