Celebrate the apple season

Spartan apple sorbet

making apple rings from spartans: notice the pink flecks!

local apples

selection of apples picked locally

Apple season is in full swing and we are thoroughly enjoying it.  I used to think that I disliked apples. The slightly dry and powdery texture and watery taste I experienced did nothing for me. But a trip to the Edmonton farmers markets a few years ago transformed my opinions. I realized that what I HATE is the apples sold at large chain grocery stores. Since that revelation I have happily discovered more apple delights. As a volunteer fruit picker with the Lifecycles fruit tree project I have picked giant apples (perfect for apple butter), winter banana apples (also perfect for sauce or apple butter or apple rings), small tart crab apples (perfect for blackberry and apple preserve),  spartans with  pink flecked white flesh (perfect for munching, sauce or sorbet)  and many more wondrous varieties. Apple celebrations continue this Sunday Sep 27 at Sea Cider: http://harbourliving.ca/event/apple-day/

Salt Spring Island Fall Fair

Cake decorating

Fall vegetables

Fall fair chicken wings

Last weekend we checked out the Sooke Fall fair. It took me back to my childhood years living in the country. There was the baking and the knitting, some of it beautiful but much of it in colours and styles that, well let me just say I would never pick. There were pale yellow cardigans, patchwork jackets in all shades of purple and mauve, and pale pink acrylic adult toques. Um. Then there was the pumpkins and zucchinis which were fascinating in their shapes and sizes.  And of course there was music and chickens, and preserves and music. This coming weekend we are checking out the Salt Spring Fall Fair which I’ve been told is a lot of fun. Apparently there is: “a Zucchini race; pies are lined up with little bites taken out of them (jury reports); and pigs are running around with prizes attached to their bums.” Who could miss that?! For all the details see:

http://www.saltspringmarket.com/salt_spring_island/fallfair.htm

Check out a fall fair!

This is the month to attend some old style country, agricultural fairs. This labour day long weekennd Saanich is holding its fall fair (see http://www.saanichfair.ca/ for details). Sooke is holding their fall fair on Sep 12 & 13th fair (see http://www.sookefallfair.ca/). The Sooke fair took me back to my childhood years living in the country. There was the baking and the knitting, some of it beautiful but much of it in colours and styles that, well let me just say I would never pick. There were pale yellow cardigans, patchwork jackets in all shades of purple and mauve, and pale pink acrylic adult toques. Um. Then there was the pumpkins and zucchinis which were fascinating in their shapes and sizes.  And of course there was music and chickens, and preserves and music. This coming weekend we are checking out the Salt Spring Fall Fair which I’ve been told is a lot of fun. Apparently there is: “a Zucchini race; pies are lined up with little bites taken out of them (jury reports); and pigs are running around with prizes attached to their bums.” Who could miss that?! For all the details see:

http://www.saltspringmarket.com/salt_spring_island/fallfair.htm

On the same weekend is the Luxton Fall Fair which is apparently the oldest fair on the island. To find out all the details check out their website (Sep 18, 18 -20 http://www.luxtonfair.ca/).

Celebrate the ‘velo’

Did you know Victoria was the biking capital of Canada? Apparently it is. Coming up later this August there is a festival to celebrate biking culture. Check out all the details: http://www.velovictoria.com/what.html

Galiano Wine Festival: 8 August

The beautiful Galiano Island is hosting a white festival this Saturday 8 August to benefit the local Health Care Society. Tickets are $30.00.  More details:

http://galianowinefestival.com/

A humorous take on white people’s love for wine brought to you by stuff white people like: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/25/24-wine/

Victoria Symphony Splash

This Sunday (2 Aug) is the Victoria Symphony Splash This is another event that I’ve always wanted to check out. it sounds wonderful. Classical music in the harbour in the summer. Unfortunately there is always something else on for us. This time it is the arrival of my mother in law. Check out all details on the VSS at:

http://victoriasymphony.ca/concerts/splash/index.html

THE ROAD TO CANTERBURY- ends Aug 1

The guys who did Grimm Tales last year are this year doing The Road to Canterbury which they describe as a”modern-day re-imagining of The Canturbury Tales (by Grimm Tales author Sebastien Archibald).” The play takes place in Mt. Douglas Park and the audience follows the cast around the park as they tell five re-imaginings of The Canturbury Tales.  This play is extremely well done and very, very funny. I would thoroughly recommend going to see it. It ends Aug 1 so hurry! All details are at:

http://www.itsazoo.org/home.htm

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

2008 Victoria Local Food Festival.

There is lots of activities going on as part of the Victoria local food festival.

http://www.victorialocalfoodfest.ca/

Here’s a small selection of the activities:

Beekeeper Hive Tour

Location: 1451 Grant St.

07:00 pm

Come for a guided tour of beehives by local beekeeper John Defayette. 1451 Grant St. (between Stanley and Belmont) 7pm. Please pre-register by emailing info@victorialocalfoodfest.ca

Lifecycle’s Fruit Tree Picking

Location: TBA. Contact: fruittree (at) lifecyclesproject.ca to sign up for this event!

05:30 pm

Pick backyard fruit with a team leader or become one yourself. Harvest fruit from private trees that would otherwise go to waste. All pickings are listed online (www.lifecyclesproject.ca) where locavores can sign up as a volunteer and get a password in order to access the pick database.
Volunteers are then entitled to keep 25% of the fruit and leave 25% with the homeowner; the rest is then distributed to Food Banks and Community Centers.

Jazz in Beacon Hill Park

If you’re looking something relaxing to do in the sun this coming Saturday afternoon you might want to check out Jazz in the park at the Cameron Bandshell in the Beacon Kill part. This series will finish at the end of August so now is the time to check it out.