Back in January I told you about an initiative to grow local grain in the Vancouver area.
I like to eat local when I can. I believe that sourcing food from people you know with high standards is usually worth the effort and expense. Family farms and small local producers are in jeopardy because it’s hard for them to compete with large-scale industrial operations. The food distribution system is now set up around these large-scale producers, so if we want the family farm to survive it’s up to us. We need to support them, financially and otherwise.
I feel lucky that where I live I am able to find a wide variety of local food. Seafood, meat, eggs, dairy, and lots and lots of fruit and veggies. However, one of the things that is nearly impossible to come by locally is grain. While it can grow here, and it did in the past, farmers have long since switched to other crops. In Canada, wheat is grown on the prairies and that’s pretty much it. So I was very excited that Urban Grains offered a community-supported agriculture project that grows and processes grain right here in my own backyard.
I went on the mailing list in January and waited. I eagerly read the emails they sent, outlining their adventures in trying to find local farmers to partner with. I was very happy when they finally located someone, and overjoyed when I was offered a share. I sent in my cheque, and I waited some more. (Grain takes sort of a long time to grow, as it turns out.)
Finally, on September 21, I got my flour. 20kg of the stuff, plus a little bonus because it was such a good harvest. My friend picked up my share for me, and then dropped it off at my house. Me? I started cooking.
The verdict? It tastes like flour. I’m not sure that I can tell the difference just from eating it. But so far my bread has been successful, my pancakes scrumptious, and my pizza really rather good. And I feel good about it, which is really the whole point. To me it’s not just bread, it tastes like home. And I love that.
well whatd’ya know!
That’s cool!
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You are really my sort of woman! Yay for supporting local food! It is so important! Great stuff!
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I love that “It tastes like home.” Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones, but that brought tears to my eyes.
No local flour around here, sadly. I saw entries of grains in the local fair, but I think those folks all grow for home use.
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That’s the best kind of taste!
Cool! We get all kinds of local fruits and vegetables here, but I’d never looked for grains (which are probably all grown in the midwest in the US, but I’ve never thought to check before.) Those pancakes look great.
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Love this post! I was lucky enough to find a 1kg bag of Urban Grains’ flour at the UBC Farm Harvest Festival yesterday. I’m excited to use local flour for the first time!
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oh I like this….
I really liked your list of things you learned this month. Not only does it chart how much you’ve grown but it is also a tribute to ‘things’ that you are thankful or grateful for. I think this theme has potential on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.
Wow! That’s really special stuff!
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