Vancouver Food Network

VanRidge Garden Club Meeting - January

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:21:19 -0800

On Monday, January 18th, VanRidge Garden Club will hold its January meeting.

The meeting starts at 10:00 a.m. followed by the program. After the meeting, usually lasting 30-45 minutes, the program is presented. The program usually last 30-60 minutes, depending on the subject, after which potluck lunch is enjoyed by all.

You are welcome to come for the entire meeting or just the program. You are also welcome to participate in the potluck lunch (bring a lunch item if you wish).

The program will be a workshop for planting seeds and rootings led by Jackie Johnson. This is a member participation workshop. Many will be preparing for planting for our May plant sale.

There is no fee but visitors are encouraged to also bring a lunch item if staying for the potluck lunch.

Location:
Pleasant View Church of the Nazarene
801 N.E. 194th Street
Ridgefield, Washington 98642
(Fairgrounds exit from I-5, north on Tenth Avenue to 194th Street)

Forum: Food Gardens in Neighborhoods

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:07:31 -0800

It is winter now but spring is coming, and it is time to start thinking about vegetable gardens.

To fill the need for more garden space and education about gardening, a forum to discuss local food garden options will be held at Luepke Center on Tuesday, January 12th.

The public is invited to a community forum to hear about the changes in the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department Community Garden Program and to discuss local food garden options. Discussion is planned to include changes to the community garden program and food gardens in neighborhood parks.

Representatives from the Growing Groceries Mentor Program (new from the Clark County Public Health Department), citizens who started the Rose Village Community Garden,

The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m., Jan. 12, at Luepke Center Community Room, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd.

Contact: Jane Tesner Kleiner, Parks Manager, (360) 619.1113

More information about the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department community and food garden program is available on the website at http://www.vanclarkparks-rec.org/. Click on "Community Gardens" under "Facilities & Locations.:

VanRidge Garden Club Meeting

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:58:28 -0800

On Monday, September 22nd, VanRidge Garden Club will hold its September meeting.

You are welcome to come for the entire meeting or just the program. You are also welcome to participate in the potluck lunch (bring a lunch item if you wish).

The program will be "Culinary Herbs."
- Harvesting, drying, preserving
- Herb hot and cold teas, oils and vinegars
- Herbs in jams, jellies, preserves, condiments
- Herbs in quick breads, muffins, desserts
- Herb wines
Plus a variety of tastings to whet your appetite to do your own thing.

There is no fee but visitors are encouraged to also bring a lunch item if staying for the potluck lunch.

Location:
Pleasant View Church of the Nazarene
801 N.E. 194th Street
Ridgefield, Washington 98642
(Fairgrounds exit from I-5, north on Tenth Avenue to 194th Street)

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms to speak in Portland

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:15:45 -0800

On August 13th, Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms in Virginia's Shenodah Valley will be speaking in Portland. Salatin's family owned completely organic farm is featured in Omnivore's Delight by Michael Pollan.

Portland's Hollywood Farmer's Market's website states Salatin "will be speaking on the importance of the plant-animal symbiosis to heal the landscape, the community and the eater." He will also discuss farmers markets and supporting local farmers by patronizing those markets.

When

Thursday, August 13 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Where

Friendship Masonic Center
5626 NE Alameda Street (located at 57th and NE Sandy Blvd.)
Parking is across the street on Alameda Street
The Masonic Center is serviced by bus lines #12 and #71

Cost

$25 includes pastries and beverage with proceeds benefitting Hollywood Farmers Market.

For more information

Ticket and event info http://www.hollywoodfarmersmarket.org/
Polyface Farms http://www.polyfacefarms.com/

Birthday BBQ - Pioneer Grange - 80 years

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:10:51 -0800

Pioneer Grange is celebrating its 80th Birthday this year.

Where: 3803 N.E. 199th Street, Ridgefield, WA

When: Saturday, July 25th, Noon to 3:00 p.m.

You are invited to the celebration, a free event for the whole community. Bring your family, friends and neighbors for a great afternoon filled with games and prizes.

Pioneer Grange rents their facility and there will be a drawing for a free grange rental in addition to the other prizes.

Food System Council Film Festival

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:49:18 -0800

This weekend gives two opportunities to screen three food films, free of charge.

The film festival is sponsored by The Clark County Food System Council. Contact for more information: WSU Extension, Sandra Brown at (360) 397-6060, browns@wsu.edu or Elspeth Durek at (360) 397-8000 ext. 7291.

Friday, July 17, at WSU Vancouver Lecture Hall 110 (Free)

6:00 p.m. “Ingredients” (preview)
6:45 p.m. “Good Food”

Saturday, July 18, Public Service Center, 6th Floor, 1300 Franklin, Vancouver (Free)

2:00 p.m. “Growing Awareness”
3:45 p.m. “Good Food”
5:00 p.m. “Ingredients” (preview)

About the Films

"Growing Awareness" is a Pacific Northwest film documentary which examines Community Supported Agriculture.
"Farmers share their views on the present reality of small-scale farming and its impact on farmers, consumers and the local community." (By J. Ajani)

"Good Food"
"Pacific Northwest farmers discuss how they are growing food more sustainably and how consumers and business are helping to build and sustain a healthy local food system." (By M. Young and M. Dworkin)

"Ingredients" (preview)
"Sneak preview of a new film about how restaurants and chefs are working to put good food on the table and supporting local farmers." (By B. Kimmel)

For more information

Good Food Movie Site

Growing Awareness Review

www.vancouver.wsu.edu

clarkfoodfarm.blogspot.com

Recipe: Zucchini Pasta

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:55:41 -0800

Zucchini season is upon us. Zucchini, a native of the Americas, is low in calories, contains Vitamins C, A and B6. It is a good source of folate, thiamin, and niacin and is a good source of dietary fiber. Young zucchini is desired for most dishes.

Zucchini pasta is one of many ways to prepare this fruit (yes, a fruit though, like tomatoes, we treat it as a vegetable). Young zucchini is desired for most dishes.

Zucchini Pasta

(Four servings)

Ingredients

2 pounds of zucchini (mix green and yellow if desired)
2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil)
Sea salt or kosker salt and freshly ground pepper (optional))
1/2 to 3/4 cup tomato sauce (optional))
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese per serving

Directions

Cut zucchini into lengthwise strips using vegetable peeler, rotating zucchini to get consistent size strips. Continue peeling until you reach the core. (Discard the core or use in another zucchini-related recipe.)

Saute half the zucchini (and salt to taste) in heated olive oil until strips are translucent and tender. Set aside and saute the second half. Place all zucchini together in one dish; salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese (and tomato sauce if desired).

Serve immediately.

For nutritional information:

www.organicfood.com.au

www.nutritiondata.com

www.peertrainer.com

New Farmers Market

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:51:53 -0800

Opening July 10th, Vancouver has a Friday evening Farmers Market

Friday Nights at the Market
5:00pm - 9:00pm

Fresh - Family - Fun!
Downtown - 6th & Esther St.

Following the Market there will be Movies at 9:00pm in the Park on these nights:

July 10th - Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3-D – PG
July 17th - The Goonies – PG

Vancouver Farmers Market

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:22:27 -0800

Vancouver Farmers Market is currently open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. featuring local farmers and many other types of vendors. Vancouver Farmers Market runs for 33 weeks so has a longer market season than many in our area.

Since starting as Market Master five years ago, Robert Ray has been using a different approach from most markets regarding booth alignment and displays. It seems to have worked well for the vendors and the customers. Ray’s favorite thing about the market is being outside with the community and says they have the best customers. When asked where the market is going in the future, Ray said he would like to see a better connection with the downtown businesses with perhaps a lane of vendors through Eighth Street making the market a big “L” on Esther and Eighth Streets. He has been working with the City Manager with that idea in mind.

Ray said Vancouver Farmers Market is extremely friendly and clean with close-in parking, and has become a community center on the weekend. Everyone seems to go to the market. He said there is a lot of synergy with business the best it has been in 20 years, up 70 percent from two years ago. More vendors are participating both Saturdays and Sundays, perhaps a sign of the times. The Sunday crowd of customers has responded by increasing though Saturday is still currently much larger.

Vancouver Farmers Market is important to the local economy; the money cycles locally with every dollar spent generating three dollars. Ray said this market alone contributes $2.5 million to our local economy with what the customers and vendors spend at the market and what they spend on the way to and from the market.

A potential addition to the market is a Friday night market with hours anticipated to be 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., it will allow customers to stop and shop for the weekend on the way home from work. Ray is also working with the Downtown Business Association for it to start its own market on Wednesday afternoons.

Contact

Vancouver Farmers Market
505 West Eighth Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 737-8298

For Further Information

www.VancouverFarmersMarket.com

6 Acre Farm, CSA

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:46:49 -0800

A charming little red and white storybook house used for shareholders to pick up their produce greets visitors who enter 6-Acre Farm in Camas. Owned and operated by Paula and Scott Korell, this is the second year for their CSA and the fourth year at this property though Paula has always had a garden. Providing shares to others seemed the way to go for them so they researched the idea and put together a business plan. Operating a CSA farm also gives a venue for their three children to participate in a very real way, making it truly a family-run business as the years pass. Some crops are grown in raised beds which are made primarily of lumber recycled from old barns. To help ensure pollination of the crops, they have two hives of honey bees to do that very important work.

Last year, they offered ten shares but decided to reduce offerings this second year to ensure the continued high quality. They are serving a total of 12 families with the seven and one-half shares this year with some families sharing a single share. More shares may be offered in future years but they are want to ensure "the balance stays good." Paula said, "Our contribution is to the health and well-being of our family and the community." Their food is grown naturally and offers the benefits not found in the grocery store in that it is fresh with the shareholder being able to visit the farm and see how their food is grown. Additionally, it is affordable to the average family.

The traditional foods found in most gardens are offered by 6 Acre Farm but with different varieties of those foods and some new items to add depth to the baskets. The 2009 season started the first of June and runs 16 weeks to the end of September. Eggs are also available for those who wish to purchase them.

Recipes and herbs included with shares help teach people to cook seasonally. Paula said that people's palates are numbed by the sugars and salts in our diet. Learning to cook seasonally and naturally can help reduce reliance on those unnatural additions common to our food and open an entire new eating and tasting experience while helping to improve health.

Paula stated the favorite part of being a CSA farmer is when the families come to get their produce. The children can play and run in the open space and visit the chickens as well as see how the food is grown. She laughs as she adds, "taking extra dirt with them."

Visitors are welcome, but please call for an appointment and driving directions.

Contact Information

6 Acre Farm, CSA
1036 S.E. 283rd Avenue
Camas, WA 98607
Paula and Scott Korell
(360) 834-7000
6acrefarm@comcast.net

For Further Information

Recipe: Garlic Scape Pesto

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:41:23 -0800

Recipe courtesy of Paula Korell of 6 Acre Farm

Ingredients

1/4 lb garlic scapes
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup Parmesan cheese
3 T. fresh lime juice

Directions

Puree in a food processor and toss with pasta/rice of choice or spread and toast on crusty bread.

Hmmm SO GOOD!!

Berry Season Begins w Sunrise Rotary Sale

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:47:56 -0800

For folks who cannot wait to get started on jams or shortcake, the Sunrise Rotary club of Vancouver is having its annual berry sale just now, with quantities of berries immediately available for souls who wish to get started on gluttony (or processing) straightaway. In addition to strawberries, raspberries and marionberries are also available this year. Fort Vancouver Lions are also taking orders for local strawberries through June 17, for delivery on June 20th.

Strong History of Berries in Southwest Washington

With its seeds on the outside of its fleshy hypanthium, the strawberry is a delightful food, and every local knows that the most flavorful berries are from nearby. Tender flesh and natural sweetness cannot be shipped hundreds of miles and survive.

Strawberries have long been a staple of Clark County agriculture, and residents over forty can often remember the early-morning busses that would collect schoolchildren and other works for the fields of Erickson and others, when Fruit Valley was an obvious name. The rich soils deposited by the Missoula Floods provided a moist medium to grow berries, which could then be processed into jams and other products for distribution throughout the year. Strawberry season, however, usually begins around the first of June, with commercial harvest before the "u-pick" season.

Although it doesn't match the pleasure of getting out with the family to pick berries directly, bulk sales by civic organizations such as the Lions and Rotary provide a quick and simple way for folks to jumpstart the eating season, while providing a slightly better profit margin for growers than conventional bulk sales to processors.

How Bulk Sales Work

Like other civic organizations, Sunrise Rotary of Vancouver takes advance orders for produce in quantity, then delivers it on a specific day at various "drop points," much as a CSA might. Berries come pre-cleaned and ready to use, with sizes this year from Rotary Club Sunrise as follows:

Fifteen-pound bucket(s) of STRAWBERRIES at $30 per bucket
"Convenience packs" of six three-pound buckets STRAWBERRIES for $38
Thirty-pound bucket(s) of STRAWBERRIES for $44 per bucket

Fifteen-pound buckets of MARIONBERRIES for $30
Fifteen-pound buckets of RASPBERRIES for $45

Strawberries are normally available mid-June, with cane berries (raspberries and marionberries) in the first week or two of July. Fortunately for us, though, the berries get to decide when they are ready, with proceeds going to fund various community programs.

2009 Pickup Locations

Fisher's Landing @ Beacock Music, 1420 SE 163rd Ave, 98683
The Heights @ the corner of MacArthur and East Mill Plain, 98661
Downtown @ Red Lion parking lot at The Quay, 100 Columbia St, 98660
Orchards @ Minuteman Press, 10705 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, 98662
Hazel Dell @ Alpine Auto Repair, 7631 NE Highway 99, 98665
Portland @ Lloyd Center, Corner of NE 13th Avenue & Multnomah, 97232

For Further Information

Vancouver Sunrise Rotary

Post Office Box 1734
Vancouver WA 98668

http://VancouverSunriseRotary.org

Download a PDF order form online, telephone (360) 281-0053 or fax orders to (360) 750-4404.

Woodland-grown strawberries are also available from the Fort Vancouver Lions, (360) 281-6766

VanRidge Garden Club Plant Sale

Thu, 14 May 2009 16:18:13 -0800

Many garden clubs hold plant sales each year to fund their public service projects. This weekend, VanRidge Garden Club is holding their plant sale. The project funded by this plant sale is an annual scholarship at Clark College.

Friday May 15, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday May 16, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Pleasant View Church
801 N.E. 194th Street
Ridgefield, WA

Exit at the 179th Street Exit from I-5, proceed north on 10th Avenue (on east side of I-5, parallel to I-5). Turn west (toward freeway) at 194th Street.

Plants are grown by garden club members.

Plants for sale include:

Veggies, herbs, berries, and grapes

Tomatoes - multiple varieties, primarily heirlooms
Red Runner Beans
Swiss Chard
Curly Kale
Lettuce
Chives
Shallots
Chinese Stir-fry Cabbage
Brussel sprouts
Cucumbers
Zucchini
Sweet Banana
Jalapeno Peppers
Horse Radish
Cicely
Rosemary
Tarragon
Gold Oregano
Bergamot sage
Sweet Woodruff
Cat Mint
Orange Mint
Spearmint
Angelica
Fever Few
Cornation Gold Yarrow
Raspberries
Grapes

Ornamental plants

Bishops
Hosta
Emerald Gaiety
Pink Violet
Wood Hyacinth
Forget-Me-Not
Nastursiums
Siberian Iris
Lady's Mantle
Pink Nettle
Bleeding Heart
Sedum
Horehound
Ground Covers
Ivy - Varigated
Pine Trees

Garden Seeds

Fox Glove
Curly Kale
Sweet William
Delphinium
Kale
Sparky Marigold

Garden art including birdhouses and bird feeders

And more!!!

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, Mother's Day Saturday

Tue, 05 May 2009 06:00:00 -0800

The "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive is this Saturday, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Held each year on the Saturday before Mother's Day, it is one of the largest food drives in Clark County, and key to stocking many emergency food pantries and food banks. Simply put out a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox, and

How To Help

The idea could not be simpler. Help the hungry without leaving your home.

Place bags of non-perishable food items next to your mailbox
Your letter carriers and volunteer helpers will pick them up

If you forget about the drive early in the day you can also bring non-perishable foods down to the Daniels Street Post Office at 1200 Daniels Street on your way to the Vancouver Farmer's Market. Thank you for your help.

For Further Information

http://www.helpstampouthunger.com

Honey House Farms, Inc.

Mon, 04 May 2009 06:53:01 -0800

Fifteen years ago, Clarence and Marge Herz visited Marge’s family in Wisconsin where her cousins are third generation beekeepers. After returning home, when Clarence told Marge they were going to start beekeeping, she “thought he was nuts” but believed in his vision. Clarence had a truck for sale which he traded for cash and bee hives. That was the beginning of something that evolved into a very successful honey business which consists of eighty percent wholesale sales. The remaining honey and all of the honey-related products are sold directly to the customers.

In the beginning, Clarence worked with longtime Clark County beekeeper Jim Wiemer who was his mentor until Wiemer’s retirement when Wiemer also sent many of his customers to Clarence. Sadly, Clarence died earlier this year, but their son, Steve, has “jumped in” to take care of some of what Clarence did and has added more to the business. Honey House Farms have always limited their business to family and one helper and do not seek commercial work; the customers find them. Honey House Farms sells to a large variety of customers including produce markets, feed stores, a dog food store, farmers markets, and health food stores.

The honey is all natural and local with two exceptions. They purchase coast wildflower honey for those customers who have a taste for that and have one eastern Washington honey supplier they occasionally use. All other honey is produced in southwest Washington area, primarily Clark County. Honey House Farms no longer keeps bees and uses as its chief supplier a local commercial beekeeper from whom they purchase honey by the barrel for processing.

Marge, who is Women’s Chairman for Clark Cowlitz Chapter of Washington Farm Bureau, said honey is a “great product, a perfect product, bacteria will not grow” in it. She said that everything from the hive is healthy, the propolis (called Russian penicillin), royal jelly, bee pollen, the honey and even the wax. Many people purchase the Ambrosia (one of Weimer’s recipes) believing it is helpful in fighting allergies.

When Honey House Farms started branching out into products, the first tried was sauces by daughter Karen. A local restaurant bought those first sauces and found customers were taking the containers of sauce so made arrangements to offer bottles for sale which was very successful. Jams were also tried and very popular. Then they started offering many other honey products as well as beeswax candles, soaps, jelly, syrups, lotions, etc. Marge said, “We have a lot of fun with the honey, the beeswax, anything that comes out of the hive ...” Marge’s favorite part of the business is the responses from the customers, everything is so welcomed with both the honey and the additional products. Customers have reported to her that they have sent honey and gifts to at least 46 states. Julie Wing, who works closely with Marge, also uses her clay-making skills for handmade bee-related gift items. Several times during the year, Honey House Farms, located in downtown Hockinson, has special events including an open house with a gift shop during the Christmas season. Visitors are welcome at prescheduled times; it is a working shop so call first if you would like to visit.

Contact Information

Honey House Farms, Inc.

Marge Herz

(360) 892-2875

honeyhouse@netzero.net