A couple years ago I was actively involved in the fight to save Formosa Farm from being paved. We lost. The Pitt Meadows municipal government along with the same characters involved in the first travesty, are now trying to put in the second road that I mention in this chapter […] Read More
I’m doing another summer tour series, breaking out of my own neighbourhood this time. Eating it Up in the West End Sat. June 12, 10am to 12noon What is edible landscaping? Are back alleys and school grounds potential food production sites? How does a farmers’ market fit into a neighbourhood? […] Read More
This is the second interview I did along my neighbourhood “gauntlet”. Danny was the first. “Is McDonald’s ok for you?” Ken asks. “Sure,” I say. Secretly quite happy I have an excuse to indulge in their french fries. We park Jersey Cow outside with Ken’s backpack. Jersey Cow is a […] Read More
Everyday I walk a gauntlet of outstretched hands, from the homeless to the non-profits, everyone is looking for a handout. I never know what to do. Give, not give, buy food for them, ignore. Meanwhile I too am struggling to survive in this so-called affluent neighbourhood. When I was working […] Read More
I wrote this little piece for my parents on their 50th anniversary. They are celebrating their 58th this weekend. My brothers have since dropped their immunity necklaces, but mine remains firmly clasped. Eight years later, the question I pose still seems relevant: Is there any adventure more challenging than a […] Read More
As a child, Steve Easterbrook and a friend paid regular visits to a neighbour up the street in rural Burnaby; the sometimes grumpy old man had an aviary. In spite of being a grump, he let the kids hang around and showed them the ropes. He raised traditional heritage breeds […] Read More
First David Hunter closed their doors. My garden centre. All of my gardens for the last couple decades have been stocked mainly from that store. Thankfully there are a couple smaller west side garden stores; Earthrise and the Natural Gardener stock some select plants and seeds. But I have to […] Read More
My sister-in-law, Lelani Galley is a cake designer. She never had an Easy Bake Oven. Instead, she began baking in a real oven at the age of ten. She has been creating and handcrafting special occasion cakes for 25 years now. She’s won awards and praise from critics, clients and […] Read More
A couple years ago I took my nephew to the Tomato Festival at Covert Farms in Oliver, BC. The whole day focused on the tomato; there were crazy games like tomato pitch and putt, tomato catapult and tomato toss. There was an Iron Chef competition – “ of course they […] Read More
A couple years ago I was planning an Okanagan farm tour that never actually happened. The full, mystifying, political and perhaps even mystical story is in my new book. During that time, I connected with Lisa McIntosh from Urban Harvest, a produce delivery company. She recommended some great places to […] Read More