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We visited the Surrey Urban Farmers Market this evening, and I have to say, we were pleasantly surprised! LOTS of cheap organic produce from Abbotsford (there were still heirloom tomatoes 10 minutes before closing...insane!), beautiful Surrey-made honey, organic bison meat, a giant bread selection, and vegan baked goodies to boot! Obviously some of these are not 100-mile, but they're still great!

(an orange tomato, not a pale red one.)

I think I've been selling suburban farmers markets a little short, assuming that all the quality is reserved for the city. A big thing I'll get from this deal is really appreciating where I live, and what's available ridiculously close to me. I could quite reasonably ride my bike to several farms (well, my bike wouldn't make it, but it could be done), and I'm quite giddy at now being forced to open my eyes and look around me. Here's to a month of wonder! Good luck, everyone!

P.S. Totally had pizza and beer tonight. A last meal of sorts.

Strawberries or Avocados?

I am also quite excited to start this journey!

I have a feeling that I am not going to be able to be as strict as I would like to be but I like the rule that if you cannot find it local it must be organic.

When I go to the store I always eye the avocado's. They look so fresh and yummy but alas they are from mexico...far far away.

One of my co-workers was very excited to tell me that he could get mandarin oranges from peru. It shocked me that he was happy about this. If you feel at times that there is a lack of fruit in our region or you wish you could make some amazing guacamole think of all the berries that are in season.

My husband and I picked strawberries last week on Westham Island. We went to emma lea farms(http://www.emmaleafarms.com/) and thoroughly enjoyed picking three pails of strawberries. We then proceeded to make jam and enjoy fresh strawberries for the rest of the week. So when in doubt remember that we live in a region that has fresh strawberries waiting to be picked. I encourage you to check it out!

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Seasonal charty goodness! I have one printed and on the fridge for easy use.

From Get Local BC: http://getlocalbc-org.ffcfprojects.ca/files/Seasonal_Chart_4_2010.pdf

From 100 Mile Diet: http://100milediet.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/seasonchart.pdf

Keep in mind that the Okanagan is outside our 100-mile radius, so if you're looking to be strict, you'll have to get closer.

Well, off to whip up the first of two hodgepodge dinners made of everything in the fridge that comes from afar...

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Local grainy goodness! From what I understand, their flours are 100-mile friendly, although it will be great to more about the whole deal. They also sell several other grains, as well as legumes. While most are not from within 100 miles of Vancouver, they are from sustainable farms as close by as possible, which is a good start! Anita's is sold at Choices and Capers, etc.

Also...THE FLOUR PEDDLER! If you get the chance at your farmer's market, BUY! A few products are grown in the Okanagan, but everything else (Metchosin, Agassiz...) is within 100 miles.

Anyone know more on this subject?

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Welcome to our little blog! Please share your knowledge, questions, photos, finds, recipes, complaints, random epiphanies, and so on. I think this will make our food adventure a little easier, and infinitely more fun! I plan to put as much of myself into this challenge as possible, so as to get as much as possible out of it, so I will probably be posting a whole bunch of things here; hopefully you will too!

For anyone who may have stumbled across this blog and wishes to join in, please do! We'd love to hear about the challenge as experienced by as many people as possible, in any region of the world! Contact me with your email address so I can add you as a contributor.

A few resources:
- The book by fellow Vancouverites Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon
- The related website
- This site is link city, especially for the Lower Mainland.


Check out the sidebar for our version of the Rules, and let me know if you'd like to make any tweaks. I hope you're as excited about this as I am!

-Jennifer