Back in December I heard about the Urban Grains CSA from Late Bloomer. As an aspiring locavore, this was big news. You see, one of the staple items that is very difficult to track down in Southwestern BC is grain.
Now, this isn’t so much because grain can’t grow here. Indeed it can. Or even that grain isn’t grown here, because it is. There are local farmers who produce it, although mostly for animal feed. I think that the primary reason you can’t buy local grain is because of the Canadian Wheat Board. All of the farmers in our grain-producing regions (and this isn’t one) market their wheat through the CWB. And so the distribution systems were built so that all the grain comes from the prairies.
Anyone who’s read The 100-Mile Diet knows the lengths that James and Alisa went to get some flour. So I was terribly excited to hear about the Urban Grains CSA. They’re partnering with farmers in Delta who already grow grain, and the first delivery is expected to be in the fall of 2009. It’s in the exploratory stages right now, but I’m on the mail list and it’s looking good. So if you think you might want some local flour, I urge you to get on the mail list. There’s no commitment required at this point, but those on the mail list will have first crack at a spot. Plus, the more people who join the more clear it will be that there is support for a project like this.
What are you waiting for? Click on this link and sign up!
I literally have grainries full of grain. Glad you found some.