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 Community Development Education Society, will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Courtenay Museum on Fourth Street and Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay. Seating is limited and your food challenge passport serves your ticket to the show.
We had an incredible time out at our first Producer Event yesterday with Island View Lavender. About 50 families and couples came out to enjoy the warm breeze and soothing sea of purple. Check out the gem that they discovered, and you can too, all month long:
There’s not much sweeter to my ears than the breathlessness exclamation “Wow, I didn’t even know this place was here.”
That lovely sense of discovery quickly became the mantra as kids buzzed with the bumblebees amongst the waves of lavender and adults marveled a bit at this cottage garden in all of its glory.
Late June and early July are the hot times to hit the lavender fields and everyone who made the journey down to Union Bay was treated to a true experience. They left with handfuls of soothing scent, lavender jelly (gotta get those lavender gin and tonics going) and a feeling that when chomping down on a lavender truffle at Dark Side Chocolates or other lavender treats around town that they know where their food comes from.
The hit of the day, for the kids, was definitely the ice cream topped with lavender sauce – just like the bees love. They got to buzz around, search for lavender field fairies, smell, taste and check out the incredible birds that call the garden their home.
There were lots of big people who are thinking purple now too, headed home with piles of lavender plants in hopes that their garden would bring that undeniable vibe of ease and beauty so true to lavender.
With the garden right across from the water, we also got treated to some spectacular ocean views and lots of folks took the time to make a day out of their trip to Union Bay with walks along the beach at the Coal Hills and more.
You can head out to Island View Lavender all month and get a stamp in your passport. I recommend getting out there sooner rather than later as Kathleen begins to harvest in the next few weeks. Right now, it’s easy to get lost for a while in her lavender dream.
Sunday and lavender make for a very chill vibe around here. So, the question of the day is where is your favourite spot in the region to just chill out and what food do you always take along?
I’ve got a gorgeous vintage journal and some Comox Valley Harvest Cinnamon Sugared Rosehip soap from the Valley’s Botanical Soap Shop for a random commenter.
Heather won Robin Wheeler’s food security gem from yesterday’s discussion on processing food for Winter.
This giveaway is closed. Stacey landed the journal and some of that yummy soap.
Have a great Sunday!
The Eat Real. Eat Local 30-Day Challenge is Brought to You By:
Yesterday was wonderful. Island View Lavender is such a local gem. I will definitelty head back for more lavender (and poppies).
My favourite spot for chilling out is the beach. I have one quiet spot that I love, but the sand and surf lull me anywhere. Luckily, it’s easy to find awesome beaches in this valley of ours. My faves are Croteau Beach, Goose Spit (during the week) and Seal Bay.
A newly explored chill zone is Comox Lake. A short drive or cycle (for me) gets us a quiet beach, a great view and a refreshing swim. Plus, there are numerous spots around the lake to lay down the picnic blanket and just let the day go by.
Wasn’t all that lavender just pure bliss? And personally, I love that style of garden; a little here, a little there, something to make noise, something to catch the eye. Both our children were calmer than I’ve seen them in a long time – thanks perhaps to the calming effects of the lavender.
BUT – BIG THANK YOU Robin, not just for organising all this, but for taking that delightful photograph of my husband Jim and our daughter Emma (the worm goddess forever in our hearts) that sits atop this page. We’ll blast your blog off into Net space today, sharing with everyone.
A very heartfelt thank you.
We love taking a picnic to Airforce beach and chilling out. We also just tried the new food cart at Goose Spit Pescadoras and it was amazing! They try to use local products whenever they can and their Tannadice Farms pulled pork wrap and fish tacos were to die for!
Today’s hang out was the back yard! Cherries are the seasonal hit right now, but usually, if we are headed out it is more travel-able food. Crackers (homemade rock!), apples, juiceboxes and water.
The lavender garden was awesome yesterday. I was totally mesmerized by all the bees buzzing about! It is totally a place I wouldn’t have found otherwise. Thanks for scoping these places out for us Robin!
I like to hang out in the Compost Ed Centre in Campbell River and admire all the beautiful community gardens, look at the mountains and eat raspberries out of the garden, while the resident dog looks on with those BIG puppy dog eyes hoping for a snack!
We like to go where there’s water, whether it’s the beach, by the river or even at the waterpark. Right now we always have some garden peas on hand to munch on!