In this issue:

• Preserve the Harvest: Workshops!
• Petition for Mandatory Labeling of GMO Foods
• Ceres Edible Landscaping: Fall Cleanups
• Indigenous Foods Go Digital
  
• Kinsmen Community Garden: Fried Green Tomatoes
  
• Sustainable Living Centre: What's Behind a Prayer Flag?
  
• Build Your Own Cold Frame
• Community Events
• Garden Spaces/Rental Suites

Preservation Workshops:
Two Done, Two to Go!

Make the most of your summer harvest!  Learn the basics of food preservation including jamming, dehydration, storage and pickling at our third annual preservation workshop series “Preserve the Harvest”.  Get hands-on experience and learn how to improve your access to locally preserved foods. 

The workshops will be led by Ruth Fenner and guest facilitators of the Somenos Women’s Institute, and will hosted at Warmland House located at 2579 Lewis Street in Duncan.

Admission is $20 for CGC members or $25 for non-members. Participants are asked to bring an apron, a cutting board, a paring knife, and plenty of enthusiasm! Spaces are limited, so please contact us to pre-register or for further information.

Workshop Schedule:
Storage & Dehydration: October 4th from 10:00am to 1:00pm
Pickling: October 11th from 10:00am to 1:00pm

Ceres Edible Landscaping is now booking fall cleanups! Have our experienced horticulturist come out and tend to your yard as if it were our own. We do: weeding, perennial cleanups/pruning, invasive removal, and mulching to prevent soil erosion and protection for over wintering plants. Please call Kristi today at 250.748.8506 to book an appointment. 

P.S. CGC and Ceres Edible Landscaping are still looking for a few pieces of equipment to assist us in our day to day operations for our landscaping team. Please contact Kristi at 1.250.748.8506 or email kristi [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org">kristi [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org if you have any items that may be useful. Thank you!


Indigenous Foods Go Digital:

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council fisheries department (Uu-a-thluk) is launching a series of guides that contain exclusive content for harvesting, preparing and eating traditional foods found on Vancouver Island’s west coast...and they're available online! The Nuu-chah-nulth Traditional Foods Toolkit covers a variety of information about traditional foods like eelgrass (the "Candy of the Sea"), to methods for preparing them, like steam pit cooking. The booklets also contain activities suitable for integrating into school curricula and are on sale through the Uu-a-thluk website in down-loadable formats. Proceeds go towards education and training programs for youth and others in Nuu-chah-nulth Nations.

Kinsmen Community Gardens:
Fried Green Tomatoes

Although we were blessed with some beautiful weather near the end of August and beginning of September, many of us gardeners are biting our nails because our tomatoes  needed a little more sunshine to reach their vibrant red and orange hues. An easy and common way to save your green tomatoes is to bring them inside and put them on the windowsill, or you can make delicious fried green tomatoes. Try out this recipe and remember that you're not the only gardener with a garden full of green tomatoes!

Ingredients:
•    4 large green tomatoes
•    2 eggs
•    1/2 cup milk
•    1 cup all-purpose flour
•    1/2 cup cornmeal
•    1/2 cup bread crumbs
•    2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
•    1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
•    1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Directions:
1. Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick, or to your liking. Discard the ends.
2. Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.
3. In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.
4. Enjoy!

Sustainable Living Centre:
Prayer Flags from Wild Earth Arts!

Give to the Garden prayer flags contain seven beautiful images of gratitude and blessings to all the aspects of the garden. Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, a common misconception; rather, it is believed that the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all.

By hanging flags in high places the blessings depicted on the flags will be shared to all beings. As wind passes over the surface of the flags, the air is purified and sanctified by the Mantras.

The prayers of a flag become a permanent part of the universe as the images fade from exposure to the elements. Just as life moves on and is replaced by new life, one can renew their hopes for the world by continually mounting new flags alongside the old. This act symbolizes a welcoming of life's changes and an acknowledgment that all beings are part of a greater ongoing cycle.

Because the symbols and mantras on prayer flags are sacred, they should be treated with respect. They should not be placed on the ground or used in clothing. Old prayer flags should be burned. At our Sustainable Living Centre, located on 181 Station Street, you will find mantras to the Fruit, Plants and Flowers, the Seed and the Soil, the Water, Sun and the Moon, Helpful Creatures, Loving Humans and Nature's helping Spirits.                                

Community Events:

The Organic Gardener’s Pantry: "Back to the Garden" Sale: Today is the last day to shop TAX FREE at The Organic Gardener's Pantry. The 12% HST is covered, you just pay the net price. When you get to the checkout, use this Coupon Code: "backtothegarden". Visit: http://www.gardenerspantry.ca/
to see the selection of organic ingredients for plants and soils. You won't be disappointed!

6th Annual Gourmet Gala: This Saturday! The Gala showcases Cowichan’s fine artisanal foods, specialty beverages and art all under one roof, on one perfect day! This year we really want to shine the spotlight on our local farm products and the folks behind them…… and encourage people to buy local and buy fresh!  For more info, check out www.gourmetgala.ca or call the Chamber office at 250-748-1111. 

Youth and Community Convergence: This weekend!
Hosted by OUR Ecovillage, this is an outstanding weekend which has a really wide range of facilitators who deal with sustainable living, sustainable relations, right livelihood, personal journey, human expression through arts/culture, intercultural connections, sustainable building, food security, and so much more. Camping is available and the cost for the full weekend, including food and overnight stay is $75. Individual day fees are $35 for Sat, Oct. 1 and $25 for Sun, Oct. 2. For more information or to pre-register email  info [at] ourecovillage [dot] org or call (250) 743-3067.

Documentary Night at the Library! On Monday, October 3, at 6pm we'll be showing Dirt! The Movie about soil and sustainability. On Monday, November 28, we'll watch Mad City Chickens, a look at keeping backyard hens. Please feel free to come and watch these free movies at the Vancouver Island Regional Library on James Street in Duncan, B.C.

Grow Food with Joy
Learn How to Grow Great Food using Perma-Culture Techniques that model Nature in our Gardens making Gardening Easier as we age.  In this 3 Part Series we will explore Designing An Edible Garden, Soil Enhancement, Water Collection and Planting Schedules.  Winter gardening will also be discussed.
When:  Wednesday Oct 12, 19, 26
Where:  Sunflower Cafe in Duncan
Cost: $50.00 for all 3
Registration:  growfood [at] shaw [dot] ca or call 250-743-1352
GROW FOOD also produces a subscription based on-line Magazine for People Who Love to Grow Food.  Download a FREE copy at www.growfoodnetwork.com

Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage specialty, eaten for millennium's by cultures around the world for its flavor and its health benefits. In this hands-on workshop, we will introduce you to the benefits of sauerkraut and will help you make your own one-liter jar of flavorful sauerkraut to take home. Price is $40 + $5 for materials.
Choose a date that works for you:
Thursday October 13, 2011 7-9:30 PM
Monday October 17, 2011 10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Sunday October 23, 2011 10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Pre-registration for this workshop is required as space is limited to 8 participants. Contact Holly Howe at 250-746-7824 or holly [at] naturallynourishing [dot] com">holly [at] naturallynourishing [dot] com to register or for additional details. Workshop location is the Cowichan Green Community at 181 Station Street in Duncan.

Web survey for public input on the Active Transportation Plan: We would, of course, like to generate as many responses as possible to gain information on concerns for pedestrians and cyclists in the area. Please click on the link to give your input for active transportation plans in Duncan. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DuncanATP

Veggies Available!
Delicious veggies are for sale from Growing Opportunities, a non-profit collaborative. Growing Opportunities works collectively with people of all abilities to learn and gain experience of growing food on a farming scale.  To order veggies or get involved email jenandbearit [at] gmail [dot] com or phone and leave a message at 250-753-3070.

FoxGlove Farm Presents 2011 Workshops, Retreats & Events: Make your own homestead cheese, build a wood-fire oven, photograph the great outdoors, learn how to graft and prune trees or discover the art of fermentation + many other workshops. Visit http://www.foxglovefarmbc.ca for more info! Contact: programs [at] foxglovefarmsbc [dot] ca or phone: 250.931.5336.

Thursday Farmers Market from 2pm-7pm:  Buy some locally grown, fresh fruits and veggies every Thursday from 2pm- 7pm @ the Cobble Hill Hall Field. For all inquiries call: 250.510.8343 or email: thursdayfarmersmarket [at] yahoo [dot] ca

Casual Farm Help Available. Weeding, planting, general farm labour. Contact CGC for more information. 250.748.8506.