The 3rd Annual 100-Mile Diet Fund-Raising Banquet and Auction for the British Columbia Earthwise Garden & Farm Society is enthusiatically focusing their efforts to support children’s garden programs and high school sustainable agriculture for Grade 12 students. In 2009, the gala celebration was held on Friday October 16 at Beach Grove Golf Course in Tsawwassen British Columbia Canada. Along with delicious food, more than 100 guests enjoyed lively entertainment and an auction of local, green, healthwise, sustainable items.
Businesses such as wellness and yoga centers, bike shops, artists, health food stores, garden shops, spas, restaurants and green sustainable product suppliers were asked to contribute to the event. Along with high-lighting local foods, this is a great way to connect and create community in your own local area which could become a model for others to emulate.
“Executive Chef Rob Galliford of Beach Grove Golf Club planned a fabulous five-course gourmet feast featuring ingredients from Earthwise Farm with wine pairings,” reports Michelle McEwan, Outreach Coordinator of Earthwise Garden and Farm. Earthwise Garden staff kindly shared their menu. You might get stirred up to plan your own unique Fall Harvest Meal, Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. Inspired by the book, The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating (Canadian version) written by Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon, community groups and individuals across North America and beyond are drawing international attention to fresh, local, seasonal foods.
Earthwise 100 Mile Banquet Menu
A Menu Prepared with Fresh Local Food
- Late Planting Petite Greens – crisp
- Blackberry – walnut vinaigrette, beet pearls, liquid amber
- Salt Spring Mussels – steamed
- Fennel – leek broth, lemon balm, tomato dust, grissin
- Earthwise Farms Tomato Bisque – simmered
- Goat cheese, sphere, tomato burst, herb oil
- Wild Salmon – seared
- Hollandaise foam, potato tian, young vegetables
- Pear Apple Tower – poached
- Candied oat crisp, blackberry ice
- Local Wines served with each course
Where Does Your Food Come From?
Did you know that most of the food we eat has travelled thousands of kilometres before reaching your plate? Estimates are between 2400 to 4000 kilometers per meal. Because they do not need to be shipped over long distances, most foods from a Farmers’ Market, for example, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, therefore helping to contribute to a cleaner environment. These markets can be a primary source of local, farm-direct produce, with most markets foods traveling from less than 300 kilometres away.
Here are some other suggestions for fall harvested crops to add to your menu if you live on the westcoast of Canada or the U.S.: squash - all different types, pie pumpkins, apples, potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, garlic, fresh cut herbs, carrots, beets, artichokes, onions, corn, honey, spotted prawns, smoked salmon.
How To Access Local Foods
Farmers’ markets have seen an explosive revival in North America. The online magazine Grist recently reported that even President Obama is talking of the possibility of helping to create a Farmers’ Market at the White House.
Other geographically-located U.S. and Canadian residents can check their local farmers’ market directories such as: Local Harvest in the U.S. or Canadian Farmers Markets for ideas as to what is available on a seasonal basis in your area.
References:
Michelle McEwan, Outreach Coordinator of Earthwise Garden and Farm.
Grist.org
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