After reading 'In Defense of Food' I have been inspired to change my diet for the better. As the author says: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants". Avoid processed foods and ingredients you can't pronounce. Eat foods your great grandmother would recognize and be able to make.

There is a new farmers market in Vancouver at Station Street, near the Main Street SkyTrain Station on Wednesdays from 3 to 7pm. The site is a gem, with Thornton Park on one side and the stately Pacific Central Station on the other. You can get there by bus train, bike, foot and automobile.

Everything for sale there is of course local.

This most urban of Vancouver's farmers markets, is one of the locations for the BC Association of Farmers Markets' Coupon Project which helps low-income pregnant women and low income families with children to access fresh local BC produce. Vancouver Farmers Markets has been involved since the start of this project in 2007.

To reach out to those DTES residents who may not be part of the coupon program, VFM has created the Station Street Hospitality Tent where neighbours can sit, talk and enjoy some local fruit and vegetables while they're at the market. A monthly sponsorship of this tent is availble. To learn more contact the VFM office: info(a)eatlocal.org.

Local food shouldn't be a luxury. It is so good and right that fresh BC produce is now available for everyone in this downtown neighbourhood.

Vancity has been a long time supporter of the Vancouver Farmers Markets (since 1995!) and their Head office and local branch is just on the other side of Main St. Come down to the market on opening day, Wednesday June 10th, visit the Vancity tent, show your membership card and receive a free Vancity shopping bag.

See you there.

Smart Growth BC is working in partnership with health professionals, land use planners, developers, peer organizations, and multiple levels of government to promote the the building of communities that make “healthy choices, the easy choices.”   These are neighbourhoods that make it easy, attainable, even attractive to get regular physical exercise, connect with neighbours, eat healthy food, and more!

A 5 year goal:
1. Invite others to grow harvest eat play (you're invited!)
2. Grow harvest eat play (organically) in my small space
3. Inspire others in my community (i.e. strata complex, 140+ units) to grow harvest eat play too
4. Inspire others in local community (many stratas - townhouse jungle) to grow harvest eat play
4. Create community garden
5. Include family, especially 2-year old son, in all of the above

A big goal for the New Year is to create as many new community gardens in the city as possible! There is SO much demand, and the new Parks Board seems like it's on board. I do volunteer work as the community gardens coordinator with the Vancouver Public Space Network, and we're working hard with community groups across the city to get people planting.

It's about time I stopped getting all my tomatoes at Safeway!