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 are so many great events left to come.

NeighbourWood Eats events continue on Wednesday with a VERY COOL Winter gardening project for families. We are going to learn what to plant, how to plant it and when to plant it from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Simms Park. We found a great spot over by the BBQ area. So, come join us for some great learning with the Comox Valley Growers and Seed Savers.

Tina out at Seeds Market in Cumberland is also hosting a fun open house including a free demo of Vancouver Island-made Iced Tea and salves from Clayouquot Botanicals, with trained herbalist Carmen Bell on hand to answer questions about her products, free snacks to try from local food producers, word search and other games available for kids (and adults) to test their knowledge about how far food travels, a display and information about the local products that we carry as well as info about the farms that we support as well as 10% off of newest edition of Vancouver Island Foodies book by Elizabeth Levinson “An Edible Journey – Exploring the Islands’ Fine Food, Farms and Vineyards.”

There’s a great Farm Tour and Open House out at Tannadice Farms on Thursday. This fun afternoon from 1 to 2:30 p.m. gives you a peek into a working farm and the place where a WHOLE LOT of the pork we eat locally comes from. Tannadice is out at 3465 Burns Road in Courtenay. Take Condensory Road out to Burns, make a left and follow the road to the farm!

Restaurant events at Anderton Bistro-Pub, The Great Escape, Bisque and Locals-Food From The Heart of the Island continue. Lunch and dinner with a local flair, nice.

Get geared up for Saturday and get ready for pure farm fun as Featured Producer DeeKayTee Ranch (amazing beef) takes families on a tour – wagon rides, animals, farm tours and more, 1 to 3 p.m., 6301 Headquarters Road, Courtenay. They are in the running for a yummy and an absolutely fabulous crew. So, get on out there and enjoy!

Each one of these great events take you on another local food adventure and gets you one stamp closer to the $1,000 grand prize.

Yay for local…and congratulations to Linda Barfoot!