Shop the wild festival Oct 3&4

Market open 10 am to 4 pm each day

For the last two years I’ve wanted to attend the shop the wild festival but for one reason or another I’ve missed it. This year we are going as I’m going to be out there picking apples in the morning. The shop the wild festival is a free event (always nice!) and according to the website there are over 35 exhibitors who will be providing “wild mushrooms, jams and syrups, alder smoked salmon, natural body care products, eco-furniture, native plants, artisan wood products” and more! There will be a interesting lunch (see menu) available from 11.30 to 3pm both days. There will also be talks on mushroom identification, Forest Herbal Walks with Folk herbalist Sheila Wray who will be taking people through the forest at Royal Roads University. For more details check out the website: http://buybcwild.com/2009-exhibitors

Opening & exhibition: Monday’s ninth annual Photo Contest

Monday mag has recently announced the winners of their amateur photo contest. You can see the pics here: http://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/arresting-images/ The opening receiption is tonight. Details of the opening reception and exhibition:

Monday’s Annual Photo Contest
Opening reception 6-9 p.m.
Friday, September 11
Show runs to Wednesday, September 23
10 am-5 pm Monday-Friday
Community Arts Council Gallery,
G6-1001 Douglas (at Fort)
381-2787 • info@cacgv.ca

Victoria Arts & Culture Fair

This Sunday at the Victoria conference centre you can find out about many of the arts and cultures organizations in our fair city for FREE. You can find out more about their schedules for the upcoming season and find about about entrance or ticket costs. Sounds like a great way to learn more about the variety of arts and culture on in this city.

http://www.vicacf.ca/index.html

Visit sunwing farms!

Tomato, basil and ricotta salad

Sun Wing farms, growers of fabulous tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers a( and a few other things) will be closing for the winter in a bit over a month. If you get a chance I’d suggest heading out there and picking up a selection of their lovely tomatoes for some late summer salads. Find out more about sunwing at: http://www.sunwingtomatoes.ca/

Some cucumber and tomato salad recipes (based on NY times 101 salad ideas)

Cube watermelon and combine with tomato chunks, basil and basic vinaigrette.

Mix wedges of tomatoes and peaches, add slivers of red onion, a few red-pepper flakes and cilantro. Dress with olive oil and lime or lemon juice.

Slice cucumbers thin, toss with red onions and salt, then let sit for 20 to 60 minutes. Rinse, dry, dress with cider vinegar mixed with Dijon mustard; no oil necessary.

Cook whole grape tomatoes in olive oil over high heat until they brown lightly, sprinkling with curry powder. Cool a bit, then toss with chopped arugula, loads of chopped mint and lime juice.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/18/5-farmers-markets/

pick blackberries!

I love picking blackberries and there are tonnes of good picking spots on the Island. (UVic campus, out around Hatley castle and Royal Roads). I find that – despite the thorns ! – its a very relaxing way to spend a few hours on a sunny afternoon. It is also fun to make a day out of it. Sometimes we pack a picnic and bringing along a few friends.  There are lots of ways to use blackberries. Add them to fruit smoothies, add them to natural yogurt or your morning cereal, or make blackberry pies or jam. Or here are some more unusual ways to use blackberries:

Spiked blackberry lemonade

3 lemons

4 cups blackberries

1 cup berry sugar

1 cup ice cold water

2 cans soda water

2/3 cup gin or vodka

Add juiced lemons,  berries, ¾ cup sugar and 1 cup water to blender. Blend until pureed. Taste and blend in remaining sugar if necessary. Strain berry mixture through a fine sieve into a pitcher, add vodka (or gin) if using. Put in the refrigerator to cool. Add soda water just prior to serving

Blackberry mouse

2 c. packed fresh blackberries

1 envelope. unflavored gelatin

2 tbsp. cold water

1/3 c. plus 2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1/4 c. water

2 egg whites

1-1/2 c. whipping cream

Blackberries for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Puree blackberries in a food processor or blender. Strain through a fine strainer to remove seeds. Soften gelatin in 2 tablespoons cold water. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, place blackberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Mix into gelatin mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold into berry mixture. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold into berries. Pour mousse into 4 to 6 individual serving glasses, or a decorative bowl. Garnish with fresh blackberries if desired. Chill in refrigerator for 3 hours or until ready to serve.

Massaged kale with blackberries salad

Massage kale with olive oil and salt to break it down. Sprinkle blackberries, pumpkin seeds and some shaved pecorino or crumbled goat cheese on top. Serve immediately!

Earth day film festival 21-22 April

Tomorrow is earth day. Open cinema, VIDEA and the Sierra Club of BC
are presenting the Annual EARTH DAY FILM FESTIVAL FRIEND & FUNDRAISER. Entry is free. For more details see:

http://www.harbourliving.ca/event/open-cinema-presents-2nd-annual-earth-day-film-festival

26th Annual Swiftsure Breakfast – May 23rd Clover Point

The Swiftsure International Yacht race is an annual event that can be watched from Clover point. This year the Fairfield Community association is holding a breakfast which will include yummy Bubby Rose baked goods. If the fine weather keeps up this should be a fun morning event.You can find more details about the race at:

http://www.swiftsure.org/
You can find more details about the breakfast at:

http://www.fairfieldcommunity.ca/events/ssb.html

Oak Bay artist’s studios walk

Free art walks at Okay Bay this weekend. The website tells us:

Recreation Oak Bay is proud to announce the 10th semi-annual show of fine arts in Oak Bay this April 18 and 19. Many of Oak Bay’s established and emerging artists will use their homes and studios as backdrops to display the products of their creativity in a variety of original watercolour, acrylic, oil, fibre, photographic, woodcut, glass and pottery creations. This juried tour, which is produced by Recreation Oak Bay, will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, from noon to 4:30 p.m. The two-day special event is free to the public. Brochures with artist descriptions and a tour map are available at www.recreation.oakbay.ca in early April. Brochures are also available at the Oak Bay Recreation Centres, the Oak Bay Municipal Hall and the Oak Bay Library as well as at local businesses on Estevan and Oak Bay Avenue and through participating artists prior to the show. For more information call Recreation Oak Bay at 250-370-7129.

My favorite was the weaving at Jean Betts (no. 13 on the art walk). She has a range of scarves and bags from the quirky, to bright and contemporary to simple and classic.

Seventh Annual Fairfield Artists Studio Tour April 24&25

Tour — April 25 & 26 from 11 – 4 p.m.
Gala Opening — Friday April 24, 7-9 p.m. (Garry Oak Room, 1335 Thurlow Road)

This walking tour will let you see inside the private studios of 50 artists living in Fairfield. You can see pictures of their artwork on this site: http://www.galendavison.com/fast_2009.htm

There will also be group shows Saturday April 25th and Sunday April 26th – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  at:

• Fairfield Community Association, 1330 Fairfield Road
• Garry Oak Room, 1335 Thurlow Road
• Fairfield United Church, 1303 Fairfield Road
• Fairfield New Horizon, 380 Cook Street

Opening celebration and group show

Friday April 24th, 7 p.m. in the Garry Oak Room – 1335 Thurlow Road

Both tour and group show are FREE to the public!

Compost education centre 6th Annual Organic Plant Sale

It’s hard to say that things have been slowly warming up here in Victoria. The weather has been very capricious. Despite this people are heading back out to their gardens and there are an increasing number of garden and plant sales around town. This May the compost education centre is holding an organic plant swap/sale. Details on their website tell us:

Our 6th Annual Organic Plant Sale will be taking place on Saturday May 9th from 10am-1pm. This year’s event is shaping up to be our biggest and most exciting plant sale yet. We are offering free workshops on soil health, growing tomatoes and a culinary education course with local food educators Terralicious. In addition to this great complimentary education we will have live music to keep our plant sale vendors and visitors entertained. Another very fantastic addition to this year’s event is the Fernwood Coffee Company. They will have a booth set up for visitors to enjoy coffee and treats while everyone is busily planning out their garden!

details: http://www.compost.bc.ca/newsandevents/newsandevents.htm