I came to Newfoundland for the first time just over four years ago. I can still vividly recall taking the ferry across from Nova Scotia in the late winter, listening to the groaning sounds of the ice around the boat. Within two months of arriving I made my first trip to Bonne Bay, a remote fjord on the west coast of the island. I went to learn about the food system and fisheries in the region as part of a PhD program I was beginning at Memorial University that fall.
Maple syrup conjures up images of towering arboretums in places like Quebec or Vermont, but it’s a little known secret that the rugged and hardy maple trees of Newfoundland make darn fine maple syrup. With nothing more than a half dozen maple trees, some old salt beef containers and a handful of 25 cent metal tree taps, you’re good to go and can expect to end up with over a dozen bottles of hand made maple syrup.
Spectacular vistas, whales breaching, ice bergs floating by, and a foragers paradise. We are blessed with many wilderness areas that offer abundant edible plants. I rarely go on a hike without stopping to have a little taste of this or that. In this post, I will touch upon some of the edibles currently available in our wonderful wilderness.
Thanks to the listing from Seeds of Diversity, I was able to locate a gentleman in Newfoundland who has a great deal of experience growing a wide variety of potatoes here. Last week, I recieved by my set of samples from George, and here's what my benefactor told me about the varieties:
Red Dutch: A very dry, yellow flesh red from Holland in the 1940’s. An excellent potato. Late maturing.
Northern White: A white flesh variety, from Quebec apparently, from the early 1900’s. Very high yield. Good taste.
Food Day Canada is a chance for all Canadians to join hands in one massive celebration in praise of our farmers and fishers; our chefs and researchers…and, above all, our home cooks. Get Involved! You can head to one of our enthusiastic Food Day Canada restaurants to enjoy an unequaled repast or you can plan your own party!
Choices For Youth held the official opening of the New Leaf Community Garden on Thursday, June 27th. Choices For Youth, located on Carter’s Hill Rd. in downtown St. John’s, provides safe housing and support to at-risk youth. The garden, located behind the Choices for Youth building, was started in 2012 to provide food and education opportunities for youth. Youth residents at Choices for Youth have been involved in the garden’s design and care since it started, and food grown in the community garden last year was used to serve meals to over 50 youth per day. The garden was funded in part by Eastern Health’s Community Development Fund, Thrive CYN and The Automotive Recyclers Association of Atlantic Canada. Representatives from Eastern Health and the Provincial Government were on hand for the opening, and the Minister of Health and Community Services, Susan Sullivan, did the ribbon cutting. The landscaping work that you can see in the pictures was donated by Sean Russell of Russell Landscaping and Design. Other community volunteers also contributed to the garden.
It was pouring rain so the opening was held inside, but I went out and took some pictures of their beautiful garden anyway. It might look grey and wet, but the rain is good for the plants!
The Green for Life Community Award is a new award category, and in January 2014 the national awards presentation will be held here in St. John's. Landscape NL will be announcing a provincial winner at the Atlantic Green Forum on October 21 and that winner will then be nominated for the national award. Please consider nominating a green initiative that you have taken on or are aware of in your community.
We are pleased to announce that the NL organic and ecological agricultural sector has (possibly in record time) completed a strategic plan for the sector! The process started on February 14 & 15, when industry representatives gathered for a successful strategic planning session, facilitated by professional Ken Kavanagh. Over the course of the two days, fifteen farmers (and a few non-farmers) from across the large province (including one representative from Labrador!) offered their insight, inspiration and ideas to shape the future of the organic and ecological farming community in NL.
