Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

Our tomatoes are lush and gorgeous in my backyard in Manitoba . The plants that I put into the ground have turned into meter high shrubs, heavy and sagging with fruit. They mock me, the tomatoes; they are all green with a small flush of pink. I am afraid I will have a mountain of ripe tomatoes all of a sudden. If that happens, I am in big trouble. I need to prepare. There are oodles of ways to enjoy the fruit (and vegetables) of your labour all year round.

 

One of the easiest ways to preserve is a root cellar. Once a common sight across Canada, they are slowly making a comeback. This is evident in news stories  as well as this great web site called root cellars rock,  that focus on food preservation and historic cellars. Items such as potatoes, apples, onions, squash and carrots can all be stored there. Even without a root cellar in your home you can still create one in your garden by burying a large bucket or steel trash bin in the ground, ensuring that you have good drainage away from the container and a good, tight fitting lid. Once the bin is full, seal and then cover it with a bail of hay to insulate the bin during the Winter. Of course, this project may not always be in the cards so Buy Canadian First member Springwater Woodcraft have a beautiful potato bin  that would grace any kitchen or cold room.

 

The freezer is an awesome and easy way to preserve your harvest. Items such as berries, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis and carrots can be taken from fresh to frozen with little preparation. Berries can be washed and frozen on baking sheets to later be used in yogurt, smoothies, pancakes or just as is. I usually cut the top off my tomatoes and freeze them in large freezer bags whole. The best part is that when you are ready to use them, just immerse in hot water and the skins will come right off. Blanching and freezing is also easy. Vegetables like beans, corn, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and even dark, leafy greens such as kale and spinach can all be processed in this way. Each vegetable has it's own processing time and later can be used in any of your recipes. Buy Canadian First member Paderno and their stainless steel cookware  can help with the process for many harvest seasons to come.

 

What I adore about these preserving techniques is that the food remains as close to its natural state as it can. With that said, some days nothing compares to a delicious jam on your peanut butter sandwich or pickles, with my favourite being bread and butter pickles. In jams and other conserves, sugar is used to preserve the fruit. While pickled items such as cucumbers, onions, asparagus, peppers, carrots and radishes use acid and salt with seasoning. This will extend the shelf life of your precious harvest in the tastiest of ways. Of course if that is just too much work, Buy Canadian First member Crofter's Organic  has a scrumptious variety of jams for you.

Wish me luck with my endeavours with my tomato harvest! I will soon be hard at work making salsa and sauce to enjoy the year through!

How do you preserve your harvest?

image credits: Buy Canadian First members;  Springwater Woodcraft, Paderno and Crofter's Organics

I live in a small, French-Canadian town  in Southern Manitoba. I was a little apprehensive when I moved here, but six years have passed and I can't come up with enough reasons to move back to the city. Back then, as pretty as this place is, my first glimpse left me unimpressed. I was missing my coffee haunts, the zoo, the book and art supply store as well as the anonymity of city living. I now see that this small section of Manitoba has all one needs; a grocery store, hardware/liquor store with a post office, restaurant and bar, K-12 school, bank, insurance company, arena, curling rink, campground and social hall. Recently a health centre and daycare opened. Life in this friendly town is very comfortable.

  

When I lived in the city, I often saw the Co-op gasoline stations, but thought nothing of it until I moved to the country. In my area, there are about six Co-op locations. All are a part of a small, regional group offering petrol, food, farm supplies, hardware and more. Throughout the Western provinces, there are about two hundred and fourty retail Co-op locations , all of which form the Co-operative Retailing System. Co-ops are owned and operated by members of the community that they service. Each member has a vote to elect members, who also live and work in the community, to the board of directors . Co-ops bolster the local economy, employ locally and support community projects or charitable organisations.

 

 

I have to admit that I do shop at the Real Canadian Superstore, about every six weeks, as some things are unavailable at my Co-op food store, like cilantro and Buy Canadian First member So Good and their yummy chocolate beverage.  The best thing about my local Co-op is the Manitoba-produced products available on its shelves that include eggs, carrots, honey, cheese and pork. It doesn't stop there! My Co-op also has Canadian products that includes beef, salmon, milk, apples, tomato paste, soup, potatoes, locally baked items, prepared pizzas and fresh-made perogies. How awesome is that?  I wouldn't trade in for the world, being able to buy local Canadian-made products in rural Manitoba at a reasonable price, from people who greet me with a huge smile and by name. Now ,if only they would sell me the winning lotto 6-49 Quick Pick...

 

 

So Canada, I encourage you to support your local businesses, seek out homegrown enterprise and continue to shop for local and Canadian made product.

Do you have a favourite local business?

 

image credit: Andrea Willowcat and Buy Canadian First member So Good 

Your heart, we've discussed it in  February of 2009 and again in February of 2010. We've discussed strokes, exercise and even the mathematical formula for the approximate shape of a heart ( (x2+y2-1)3-x2y3=0). We spoke of the importance of exercise, weight control and quitting smoking, but, this year I won't get so technical. This year, we are going to the kitchen and having a little fun cooking and grocery shopping with help from Simply HeartSmart Cooking from Canada's cooking guru, Bonnie Stern. 

Shopping can be a dangerous event, especially if we are starving, so never do it hungry and stay focused by using a list. The Heart and Stroke Foundation follows the Canada Food Guide as a healthy way of eating by showing you what foods are important and how many daily servings you require. The average adult needs 5-12 servings of grain products, 5-10 servings of fruit and veggies, 3.4 servings of dairy and 2-3 servings of meats and alternatives. 

Upon first glance at the amount of grains, one may think that it is a lot, but it's not. The complex carbs keep our engines running and, of course, the serving amounts are based upon your age, sex and activity level, see chart here . When choosing your grain products think whole grains, add flax to your baking, try new grains as a new alternate to rice (like quinoa) and think of your fiber intake. Fiber is so important and adults should try and get about 25-35g of it daily. Not only does it keep you regular but it may also help regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of cancer and lower blood cholesterol.

 

 

 

When it comes to dairy, if you are over the age of 5, choose low fat or skim milk  to get the protein and calcium benefits without all the fats.

When choosing your meats and alternatives remember to look outside the meat cooler. Fish is an excellent choice and should be considered at least twice a week (like salmon or rainbow trout) but be aware of the mercury content in your fish . Including beans and other legumes in your diet packs a huge fiber and protein punch without all the animal fats. I made this recipe this weekend and it was so good! I had my patty with a salad without a bun and my son made a monster burger with his. We added the recipe to our home recipe book.

Falafel Veggie Burgers
makes 8 burgers
1-1L4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2- 540 ml (19oz ) cans (rinsed and drained)
1 284ml/10 oz can of mushrooms, drained and patted dried.
4 slices of bread moistened and squeesed dry
1 tsp baking powder
2 cloves garlic
1 small onion finely chopped
1 small carrot grated
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp hot red pepper sauce
1tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Tahini sauce:
1/2 cup soft yogurt cheese or thick yogurt
2 TBSP Tahiti
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove
1/4 tsp hot red pepper
salt to taste
2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1. In food processor, combine chick peas, mushrooms, bread and baking soda until finely chopped but not quite a paste (chop in batches if necessary). Add garlic, carrot, onion, parsley, cumin, coriander, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Mix lightly and shape mixture gently into 8 patties.
2. Bake burgers in single layer in preheated 350F/180C oven for 30 minutes. Or brush a large non-stick skillet with oil, heat and cook burgers on both sides until brown and crisp.
3. To make sauce, combine yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, hot pepper sauce and salt in food processor or blender. Blend in mint and cilantro. taste and adjust seasonings if required. Serve burgers with sauce.

  

We need fats but only from the right kinds of fats. Try and avoid convenience and snack foods are they are usually high in fat and the ones labeled fat free are usually high in sugar and salts. Limit saturated fats from fatty meats, butter, lard, shortening and hard margarine and avoid trans-fats. Choose unsaturated oils such as canola, olive, and flax as well as non-hydrogenated margarine (trans-fat free).

Finally limit your salt, alcohol and caffeine intake.

Grocery shopping need not be any more of a hassle when shopping Heart Smart. With a good meal plan, especially from Bonnie Sterns recipe book, and following Canada's food guide, you are all set up to succeed. Read your labels for fat and fiber contents. Of course always shop Canadian first, items such as oatmeal, flax seed, root veggies (even in the winter), meats, fish, canned beans, milk and baking supplies may be made in Canada! Think of what a good, no amazing, shopper you will be! In fact an amazing shopper with a healthy heart!

What are your Heart Smart food habits? 

 

 photo credits : chapters-indigo, health's delight, buy canadian first, the heart and stroke foundation

There is something about the cooler Fall weather that makes me absoloutely crave apples! I don't know if this is a result of Nature or Nurture. Luckily, it's apple picking time in Canada, and I can satisfy my craving with more kinds of apples than ever! Whether you pick your apples at the supermarket, the farmer's market or right off the tree, why not make a point of trying an apple that you haven't tasted before?

 

Wagner Orchards and Estate Winery, in beautiful Lakeshore, Ontario, has 5 apple varieties growing in their orchards and their picking schedule is as follows:

 

Harold and Janice Wagner, along with their children, Matt, Melissa and Katrina, operate the farm, and they are always happy to discuss any and all farming practices with their city guests! Their motto is "Families that Pick Together, Stick Together!" and they certainly are the proof in that apple pudding!

The Wagners are proud to be able to claim that they raise their own beef, pork and poultry free of hormones, chemicals and antibiotics. Their fruit trees have the minimal amount of chemicals needed to produce high quality fruit and where possible, natural pest control is used rather than insecticide.  At Wagner's, all the food is grown in the healthiest possible way.

What new apple varieties  do you want to try this Fall?

 

 

Community Gardening is a wonderful solution for those who love gardening or want to learn more about it, have nowhere to garden and who would like to meet kindred spirits!

Most Canadian communities have programs in place that will connect interested people with local gardens in their cities. In Peterborough, we have Peterborough Green-Up and the Community Gardening Network. Google your home town and "community gardening" to find resources where you live.You may find though, that the interest in gardening outweighs the actual spaces available, so be prepared to come up with alternatives. All the community spaces are full where I live, but a friend has offered her back yard and a group of us are going to use it to grow herbs, vegetables and flowers; together!

 

There are so many reasons to get involved in community gardening, if your own space is limited or non-existant. Obviously, the first benefit is the fresh food that you will grow! It is very easy to get disconnected from where and how food comes to us...planting it and tending it can actually be quite spiritual and meaningful! You will also be getting exercise....digging, planting and weeding will help keep you fit and trim. You will find that it can be a very stress relieving activity to work with plants. You'll also enjoy the companionship of new and old friends and ultimately, build a stronger community! All this from a few seeds and some great Canadian-made fertilizer such as:

 

Perfectly Natural Garden & Flower Fertilizer, made in Ontario by Sure-Gro and available at most hardware, garden and department stores.

While the city will provide the space for you and your friends to garden, you are responsible for bringing your own tools, seeds or seedlings, compost and other items. A great resource is:

Canadian Gardening Magazine , an all-Canadian publication! 

You can learn more about Community Gardening, and gardening in general, at these sites: You Grow Girl, based in Toronto, Ontari0, Richters Herbs, in Goodwood, Ontario, Master Gardeners of Ontario, Canadian Gardening Magazine and  the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. I strongly recommend Square Foot Gardening as a fantastic way to grow food in small places and don't forget container gardening as an alternative to growing vegetables in the ground!

 Are you starting a garden this Spring?

 

Image sources: SpacingMontreal.ca, BuyCanadianFirst.ca

As I look out my window this morning, I see a few leaves starting to turn a lovely golden orange colour.  Summer is dwindling and fall is rapidly approaching.  School has started and my garden is yielding wonderful bounties.  I do admit I start to get a bit sad when I know that winter will be here before long.  But like many other people, I do prepare my family for winter by freezing a few vegetables and fruit harvested and I even make some of my own jams, jellies and relishes.  When tomatoes are plentiful, I even manage to make some of my own salsa.

Nothing tastes better to me than homemade.  I admit, I am spoiled, my mother had a very large garden when we were growing up.  We were spoiled with homemade jams and other goodies.  Now I am happy that I can make some of the things mom and grandma made for my children.  My oldest started school this fall and she is very happy to have some of mommy's strawberry or raspberry jam on toast. My husband loves my homemade salsa, especially when I make it a little spicy.

I use my own fruits and vegetables when I can but also buy locally what I can't produce myself. I also try to buy Canadian grown fruits like peaches and cherries.  

I am so pleased to blog about a  Canadian company that have all the necessary tools for making your own canned goods. This company is called Bernardin and I use their products all of the time in home canning.

Bernardin has all products for home canning ranging from Mason jars (made in Canada) and lids, home canning accessories, recipe books and food products.  I use their pectin for my own jams and jellies and really like how they turn out. I discovered this past year that Bernardin makes a No-Sugar needed pectin which works with artificial sweetners or fruit juices. I will be trying this in the future as we all are trying to cut down on sugars in our diets. 

For those that are afraid of using a canner, they also offer Freezer Jam pectin.  Nothing is easier than making freezer jams and you certainly can't beat the taste either.

 

There is also a recipe section on the Bernardin website for use with their products. I have used these recipes and they do turn out well.  There are lots of interesting and delicious recipes.  There is even a recipe for a Tomato-Peach salsa that was featured on the television show CanadaAM.

Bernardin products can be found in your local grocery stores and you can even purchase their products online.

Why not try your hand at making your own jam or jelly?  Do you have a favorite recipe?  Feel free to share with us your comments!

Image source: Bernardin, Tina Farthing

Buying locally. This, to me is very important. Especially since I started writing for BuyCanadianfirst.ca, I have been reading labels meticulously.  I am pleased to find that a lot of the items I have been purchasing are Canadian-made or grown.  Finding Saskatchewan-made and Saskatchewan-grown items are a little more difficult though but I put together this post to help you find such products hopefully.

First and foremost, for me, I find that the best locally-grown produce is what I can grow here at home, in my own soil. You should give it a try if you havent. It's really simple. If you need a guiding hand, I wrote a post this past winter on garden planning. this past winter. You can read it here. 

Summer is a bounty of harvest for me.  I eat all of my vegetables right from my own back yard. This past weekend, I just finished planting my garden (with the exception of tomatoes and peppers - it's still freezing here at night and they are tender plants). I am growing lettuce, spinach, onions, beans, peas, carrots, corn, cucumbers, dill herbs and potatoes. I am also growing zucchinis, strawberries and pumpkins. I cannot wait to taste the first lettuce and spinach and know that I have grown it - it gives me pride to know this. I also have asparagus that is starting to shoot up and rhubarb that is just about ready to be harvested for the first time. I planted 2 apple trees last year and hope that maybe this year we will see our first apples.  I also started cherry trees and Saskatoon berry bushes.

I'm very fortunate to live on land that has acreage and to be able to grow my own vegetables but this is not available to everyone. There are great sources for Saskatchewan products; you just need to know where to look. Here are a few of my favorites that I have found.

Farmer's markets are a great place to find locally grown produce, meat, fish, eggs, baking and even handcrafted items from talented local artisans. Many small towns have their own farmers markets too but I am focusing on Saskatoon and Regina as they are major centres. The Saskatoon Farmer's market runs year-round. You can find out more about it here as well as a schedule for when the market runs and a calendar listing a bunch of really fun and special events happening at the market.

Regina also operates a farmer's market. Visit The Regina Farmers Market's official website here.

I have also found a few neat stores in Saskatoon and Regina that specialize in locally grown food. The Steep Hill Food Co-op is found on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon.  It is maintained by paid member-managers and specializes in local and organic food.

Want to buy Saskatchewan-made products online?  The Saskatchewan-made store is available to make these purchases. There is a great variety of products to purchase such as baked goods to preserves to even apparel.

These are a few places that you can find Saskatchewan products. Do you have any other markets or places that you buy locally in Saskatchewan? Share them with us by leaving a comment!

Image sources: Tina Farthing, Regina Farmer's Market, Saskmade.ca

Are there any economic gurus out there that are fans of buying local? I am curious, as my husband and I were having a discussion about buying local and comparative advantage. Today I found this informative albeit cheeky article about the same subject from Harvey Enchin of the Vancouver Sun. In his article Enchin is referring to Vancouver Counselor Peter Ladner's challenge for residents to create 2,010 urban gardens as a tribute to the Olympics as well as having other beneficial social and financial gains. Enchin discusses how time is money and unless you are a farmer chances are you will be spending too much "money" in your garden. I think what might be forgotten is the invisible investment that is made with these endeavors like time spent nurturing and teaching our children, building friendships within the community and soothing our own souls, investments worth so much more than the extra tangible dollars made, spending another couple hours at the office.

British Columbia
British Columbia offers lots of delights; various species of mushrooms, berries, fresh sea foods right off the boat, vegetables, fruit, cheese, eggs, meats and poultry and so much more. Finding a Farmers Market is as easy as this fabulous link from the BC Association of Farmers Markets! In most of the regions of this beautiful province there are both summer and winter markets.

 

Other Fabulous links

• The Certified Organic Association of British Columbia (COABC) boasts over 600 certified organic members.
• Urban Grains is a new venture providing local grown grain.
• GetLocalBC.org, helping residents of the Metro Vancouver area find local food.

Yukon
Farming in the North must have its challenges but certainly it is not impossible. Farmers welcomed the chance to try and grow grain, berries and even fruit trees north of 60, with success, despite short growing seasons and less than optimum soil conditions. Today Farming in the Yukon has grown and includes certified organic produce and grain, free range poultry, wild turkey meat and eggs, potatoes, rabbits, pork, sheep, elk, herbs, honey, berries arctic char, apples, pears, oats, grass fed bison (no hormones or antibiotics), goat milk cheeses, birch syrup, wheat, barley as well as mushrooms. I am sure I am sure I haven't listed all the foods raised, grown and produced in this region but it is, without question, rich in variety.

 

Other fabulous links

• Yukon Foods website
• Yukon farms products and services
• Fireweed community market in Whitehorse YK

Don't forget to comment and add all you favourite buy-local spots, sometimes the best places can't be found online (please note comments are not immediately posted). While you're typing, include your thoughts of the local and global impacts of the buy local phenomenon. I always enjoy hearing what you're thinking.

The term ‘local' when applied to food is officially defined as produced within a 50km radius of your location but some will have it include within their own province and others in their own country, but here at Buy Canadian First, we're comfortable with all these "definitions". The official definition works out great though within 3 of the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. I had sent out a public plea to help me find locally grown foods in Canada. One Halifax artisan quibbled that all that would be available in her area would be potatoes, lobster and apples... I thought I was in for it. 

Please tell us in the comments below, your favourite market, farm or product name and don't forget to mention your city and province!

Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia offers a plethora of tasty treats made with just local ingredients as well as produce, grocery items to buy including other goods like wool spun from Canadian sheep.

In Nova Scotia you can find an impressive selection of organic foods like eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb, strawberries, raspberries, apples, lavender, goat milk cheese, wild blueberries, herbs, leafy greens, garlic and so much more.

At the Halifax Farmers Market you will also find more vendors of local foods such as asparagus, pears, honey, yogurt, fish, seafood, maple products and the likes, as well as organic foods.

If you don't know what you can buy in your area try this fantastic map from Select Nova Scotia. 

 

 

New Brunswick
New Brunswick food growers offers an equally impressive collection of orangic food options: beef, garlic, dried beans, chicken, maple products, peas, squash, lettuce, apples, herbs, potatoes, melons, beets and flour to just name but a few.

Looking for a market in New Brunswick is not tough regardless of the region you live in. Here are a few:

River Valley Region that follows the Saint John's river, host several markets including the famous W.W. Boyce Market .

The Fundy Coastal Region that is located on the south-end of the province boasts having the oldest market in North America. The Saint John City Market was built in 1876 and takes a full city block!

 

The Acadian Coastal region runs along the eastern line of the province and will provide you with all your culinary needs as well as some interesting town names in which I hope an Acadian will comment on and help me pronounce Kouchibouguac ;-)

The Miramichi River Region is in the interior of the province and described as upbeat giving you arms filled with treasure and your spirit in very good humour.

The Appalachian range offers maple treats with sugar camps in the spring that allow you to eat, sleep and drink maple.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island like its other fellow Islands also has a grand organic foods selection. Here are some examples: lamb, soybeans, grains, chicken, eggs, potatoes, strawberries, shitake mushrooms and other fruits and vegetables.

Check out this guide to eating fresh and local in Prince Edward Island.

I have noticed that several of these markets are open year-round giving you access to local products all the time. Clearly these regions are rich in food choices that all produced in the area. One does not have to become a locavore to exist. Items like coffee, chocolate and bananas are things I am not willing to live without but I can support my local growers and producers. Your areas are more bountiful than you think.

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons: Zach Bonnell, Will Pate and Saint John City Market

We are making a pledge to buy local, in fact we already found a source for our eggs from a delightful couple on highway 14 just west of the 30. They sell regular sized eggs and peewee eggs in the spring and late summer as well. To reduce our carbon footprint we have also started our seeds for the garden, this will be our third year trying to garden. Our first few years have shown some results but we would really like some volume this time, if that happens it would be a 'victory garden' indeed. We have 2 apple trees that will be picked, eaten, shared and made into buckets and buckets of apple sauce.

 

Buying local has several benefits; it supports local economies, helps conserve local farmlands and wildlife habitats and reduces the environmental costs of long distance food transport. Not only that but local produce will be fresher and less likely to be sprayed with chemicals designed to prevent mould and fungus growth. If you want some more reasons to buy local here are 10 reasons to buy local.

Where to buy local food: a Manitoba Guide. 

Please comment with your favourite market, farm or product name and don't forget to mention your city and province.

Manitoba

Tall Grass Prairie Bread
Makes bread and lots more using Manitoba products.

Manitoba Harvest - Hemp Foods and Oils
Hemp seed oil, shelled hemp seed, hemp seed butter and protein powder. Manitoba hemp is grown without herbicides, pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Eatit.ca - Canada's online organic store, that delivers!
Eatit.ca offers a wide selection of Manitoba made products that includes various flour, eggs, bison meat, maple syrup, honey, steel cut oats, milk (no hormones or antibiotics!) and more.

Organza  - Natural and Organc Market
A super store of natural and organic products, you can find a great selection including local grass fed beef. Sign up for their newsletter to keep on top of their upcoming seasonal products.

Crampton's Market
This is my favourite seasonal ‘eat local' food market. They work with local farmers and blog about upcoming deliveries. Oh and the baking is to die for! Currently they have local hydroponic basil, hothouse cucumbers, hothouse tomatoes and hothouse cherry tomatoes as well as local wild fiddleheads and wild morrel mushrooms.

St Norbert Farmer’s Market
The Humdinger of farmers markets where you can not only find local artisans and crafters but a one stop produce dream. Growers from all over Manitoba offer you a selection of from pumpkins, potatoes, beets, dill, cilantro, cabbage, melons, blueberries, strawberries, broccoli, and so much more, here is the harvest schedule.

Prairie Fruit Growers Association
Find U-Pick strawberries, raspberries, Saskatoon berries, currents, pin cherries and more from the members of this Association.

100 mile Manitoba

Organic Producers Association of Manitoba

Local grocers carry New Bothwell Cheese, Loveday Mushrooms, and Peak of the Market produce, all of which is Manitoban.

Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled on the highways during your summer travels as many farms have stands in their yards and towns have daily or weekend farmers market . Buying local is easy and affordable. Are you going to give ot a try?

Image sources: Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company, Jeanette Greaves flickr