It seems like the prairies are in a cold snap. It's almost August and people are clad in flannel pjs, hooded sweaters and socks. I mean seriously! It is July and frankly I am a little irked that I cannot complain about the scorching heat and the relentless humidity. Incidentally, I also miss the seasonal air conditioning battles with my husband. So far, this has been the coldest July on record but Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says that July is not over and things should heat up soon, but of course, we all know the weather is a fickle beast. Fortunately even in this less than ideal weather, we are still harvesting crops of local potatoes and berries. Alberta is familiar with severe weather and this year is no exception  but it's great to know that despite this, Albertans can still buy local.

Alberta
Alberta has a vast selection of foods ranging from bison, beef, lamb, duck, fruit, berries, vegetables, eggs, milk, sugar beets and more. These products are available in organic and free-range too. Here are some buy-local and other interesting links for Alberta:

• Alberta Farmers Market Association
• PickyourOwn.org
• Organic Growers Directory 
• Growing Alberta
• Food Alberta

Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Agriculture in the NWT is a new venture of sorts for the area. There are several projects and programs like the small scale food program, designed to explore the possibilities in "farming the Canadian north". To date, there are poultry farms as well as farmers with irrigated fields but most of the agriculture is conducted along the river systems, where the soil is much richer.

Traditionally, the Inuit of Nunavut are a nomadic people who followed the animals. Times have changed and sedentary lifestyles are more common place for Inuit communities. The permafrost of northern Canada is not generally good for agriculture but in the summer, the tundra is alive with over 200 species of small flowering plants like the fireweed, which is rich in vitamin A and C. Used for tea and medicine. Other local foods include arctic char, turbot, seal, caribou, bannock and muktuk (whale blubber).

 

I looked but could not seem to locate any farmers markets in the territories, so I ask Canada to help: If you know of any farmers markets in the NWT or Nunavut, let us know by leaving a comment below!

Yesterday, we harvested the first cucumbers from our garden, it was very exciting. And they were promptly consumed by my toddler. Our apples are also ripening on the tree and soon we will be transforming apples into pie filling and applesauce. I am happy to see that all that work we did as a family is finally paying off and what my garden doesn't grow, my local market will have, even in these lacklustre temperatures.

Image sources: Flickr: Jordan Pattern, MartinCathrae