Episode 15: Tannadice Farms and Primal Girl

This week we had a great opportunity for two guests. The episode runs longer a little longer than we usually shoot for, but it is full of good information.

Allen McWilliam from Tannadice Farm has been farming in the Comox Valley since 1974. He and his wife moved here and began their farm on 15 acres in Dove Creek and now they have become the biggest pork producer on Vancouver Island. The farm has grown to 105 acres, and also includes grass fed Black Angus beef and pastured poultry. Tannadice has the highest standards for the health of the pigs, keeping the herd healthy so they rarely need medications. Find Tannadice products at Butchers Block and Edible Island in Courtenay and Seeds in Cumberland. Thanks Allen, you are a doing things the right way and the Valley is lucky to have you.

Tara Grant is Primal Girl. This San Francisco CA based blogger has been writing about her un-successful results with western medicine and journey into the Primal lifestyle, along the way losing over 100 pounds and healing herself of many illnesses that conventional doctors couldn't. Her and Blayne connected on Twitter and by chance she happened to be in Comox for a few weeks. A coffee meeting yesterday resulted in her appearance on Edible Valley. She loves the area and is jealous of the amount of varied and vibrant agriculture and fabulous restaurants. Tara you are welcome back to the podcast anytime, and we look forward to taking you oyster picking when you come back in the winter. If you are interested in Primal/Paleo read Tara's blog for great information on the movement.
Upcoming events:
Chefs Day at the Farmers Market September 8th. Come cheer Jon on as he helps to create from the bounty of the market.
September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event.
The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy.
Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm.
If you are enjoying the podcast we would appreciate it if you would help us by hitting our donate button. Every little bit helps us to keep our hosting site paid up and maybe sponsor one of our pre-game meals.
Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley

Episode 14: Flavour, The North Islands Gourmet Picnic

This week we chat with Beth Turner from North Island College, who is the co-founder of Flavour, The North Island's Gourmet Picnic. This event has been in the works since last summer and is coming to fruition, less than one month away. A little exert from Flavour's website:
"Our finest chefs, vintners, farmers and producers are invited to showcase their talents, support Vancouver Island culinary culture and educate our community.
Our Festival is aimed at families and foodies. The focus will be on personal experience and will highlight the tastes of the island. Participants will interact with chefs, local wineries, breweries and producers as they sample and learn about all our region has to offer."
With over 45 participating vendors, chefs teaming with farmers, breweries, restaurants, live music and a gorgeous setting, this family friendly event is sure to sell out. We have been looking forward to this event since Edible Valley was in its infancy. Thanks for taking time from your hectic schedule and letting us know all about the event Beth. We will see you out there.

A little sample of what is to come at Flavour.
Chefs Day at the Farmers Market September 8th. Come cheer Jon on as he helps to create from the bounty of the market.
September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event.
The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy.
Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm.
If you are enjoying the podcast we would appreciate it if you would help us by hitting our donate button. Every little bit helps us to keep our hosting site paid up and maybe sponsor one of our pre-game meals.
Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley

Episode 13: Arzeena Hamir of Amara Farm

This week we had the pleasure to interview a relative newcomer to the Edible Valley, Arzeena Hamir. While Arzeena is new to the area, she is no stranger to the food culture. She has been involved with many different organizations over the years, including West Coast Seeds, former co-ordinator of the Richmond Food Security Council, and many non-profit societies in the Richmond area. She just returned this past weekend from the Garlic Festival in Richmond, a festival that she helped found four years ago. She has used SPIN farming(Small Plot INtensive) successfully in Richmond, growing food for a C.S.A. in the community. It was a lovely conversation full of knowledge and experience.
Thanks so much for having a visit with us Arzeena, the Edible Valley is lucky to have you growing food and sharing your wisdom.
Follow Arzeena on Twitter @arzeena
Like Amara Farm on Facebook
Mt. Washington Food and Wine Festival August 25th
The Comox Valley Exhibition at the Fairgrounds in Courtenay
Chefs Day at the Farmers Market September 8th. Come cheer Jon on as he helps to create from the bounty of the market.
September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event.
The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy.
Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm.
Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley

Episode 12: Chef Aaron Rail

Tonight we had a wonderful visit with Chef Aaron Rail from Avenue Bistro. Aaron and Jon have been executive chefs at sister restaurants Atlas Cafe and Avenue Bistro and have worked on various event together over the years. Aaron has worked as a chef, baker, brewer, pastery chef and began his career in the industry at age 13 flipping burgers at a fast food establishment. Thanks for sticking to it Aaron, you have made a great addition to the Edible Valley.
I wanted to elaborate on our pre-game meal. We were lucky to have sausages donated by two different vendors for us to try. Heather McWilliam from Tanadice Farm wanted us to try their new blue cheese and pear pork sausage. I found the blue cheese very mild and it combines nicely with the pear. Thank you Tanadice Farm. Greg at Butchers Block sent Jon home with chorizo sausage, breakfast sausage and turkey kielbasa. All were delicious. I love sausage, and Jon also picked up a few varieties of Natural Pastures cheeses. An easy, local meal. Please support these and other local producers. These are our friends and neighbors, co-workers and customers. Keep it local.
Mt. Washington Food and Wine Festival August 25th
The Comox Valley Exhibition at the Fairgrounds in Courtenay
Chefs Day at the Farmers Market September 8th. Come cheer Jon on as he helps to create from the bounty of the market.
September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event.
The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy.
Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm.
Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley
And the Campbell River Salmon Festival August 10, 11, and 12th. Visit Ray at the Fanny Bay Oysters display

Episode 11: Island Soda Works

This week we introduce Mandolyn McScandalot to Edible Valley. She is the proprieter and head Soda Jerk with Island Soda Works. She wows us with her knowledge of fermentation, lacto-bacteria and unique flavor blends. She brought four flavours into the studio for us to sample. This soda is a wonderful mix of a delicious beverage, healthy tonic and a vitamin rich alternative to sports drinks or other so called "vitamin" drinks. When mixed with alcohol her soda will ward off hangover and will give an energy boost when you want an alternative to caffeine. We at Edible Valley have been big fans of Island Soda Works for several months now and we encourage you to support her exclusive blends of soda and avoid the unmentionable ingredients in the mass produced soft drinks of North America. I know none of them have "love" as one of the ingredients.
Thanks Mandolyn for the soda and the fantastic conversation.
Upcoming Events

Episode Seven: The Comox Valley $100 Challenge

Russ Mahy joined us for an interview. He came up with the concept of the $100 challenge, a initiative to shift $100 of your monthly spending on local products. It could be food, wine, art, or music. He feels like we need to grow a local economy and this is a great way to start small and build the momentum. Shopping locally is an adventure in diversity. If you are interested, please like the Facebook page and be prepared to keep track of your local spending to share with the group. He hopes to have 1000 families and individuals signed up by August 1st, and have a tally in a year to see how much money stayed in the valley. Please participate and spread the message, this is a wonderful way to build community and support those that work so hard to feed, entertain and clothe us locally. We also encourage getting your children involved. If they learn this lesson early, it will follow them through out their lives.
The Facebook campaign: Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge
Follow on twitter @Cvalley100
We also mentioned the Comox Valley Farm Cycle tour. I encourage many participants in this fun event. There are loops for every skill level of rider. I will be participating, meeting riders and farmers. It is the best of both worlds for this "cynical cyclist"
I want to apologize for the some what poor audio quality. We are still learning, and for some reason it did not sound as good for this interview as some of the others. We are currently looking to upgrade our audio equipment. If you have any knowledge or equipment that you could sell I would like to hear from you. Thanks.

Episode Five: Halstead Farm

Edible Valley had the privilege to visit Chris and Megan at Halstead farm in Merville B.C. for a tour of their operation, to see the organic farming process up close and personal.  We visited the chicken house and watched the birds play and eat grass and bug, viewed the Berkshire hogs being a family unit in the forest and the ewes and lambs in the field with more forage than any herbivore could ever want. Thanks to this lovely couple for their hospitality and to teach us about organic farming, animal husbandry and gum boots.
Halstead Farm website: halsteadfarm.ca
To purchase Halstead Farm product, visit them at the Comox Valley farmers market or contact through the website to buy from the farm.

Episode Four: Welcome back

Finally after two months away we were able to get together and record another episode of "Edible Valley" Blayne is all done school and Jon has cleared his books for the summer so we hope to be able to bring you some great guests and content over the next few months.
We are excited for this event. Come and see us at the show and taste some of Jon's wonderful creations. Click the pictures for links.

Coastal Black Winery will be hosting this wonderful event

See you at the Comox Valley Farmers Market
Follow us on Twitter (@ediblevalley) or on our Facebook page.
Email your questions, or show ideas at ediblevalley@gmail.com
Visit Blayne's blog "The cynical cyclist"

Guest Brian Mccormick

After a wander through Brian garden, we sit down to discuss his various food related endeavours, gardening, home processing and making ham in your garage. Thanks for being our first guest Brian, it was a lot of fun and inspiring what can be grown in ones back yard.
Also, this weekend, the Comox Valley Farmers Market moves outdoors. Visit them from 9 until noon at the Exhibition Grounds, Headquarters Rd, Courtenay.
Please forward on your feedback to the Edible Valley. Email ediblevalley@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter(@ediblevalley) or like us on Facebook. Thanks for stopping by.

Wild mushroom foraging

This episode we get into the wild hobby of mushroom picking. It is something that we have both been doing for many years. It is a great past time for anyone, once you have done your homework and no what you are looking for. Please be very cautious when picking wild mushrooms, a mistake can cost you a terrible stomach ache or worse. We also chat about so foodie experiences from the weekend and have our first blooper. Enjoy and thanks for listening. Follow us on Twitter (@ediblevalley) and on Face book.