The Edible Valley Podcast

Episode 177 "What's Next?"

In this round table discussion, Jonathan, Darren and William discuss future episodes, covering the merits of restaurants focusing on making 1 food very well and discuss local legendary food destinations as well as Jonathan spilling his coffee all over himself. 
 

Episode 176 "What's up at the Market with Twila"

Today we are meeting Twila Skinner who is the GM of Comox Valley Farmers market, Twila can be seen in a high visibility waistcoat at each FM hopping from stall to stall and making sure everything is running smoothly, today we want to learn a lot more about what she does, how she got here and a lot about what makes the farmers market so successful and so pivotal to the food scene here in the CV. 
 
Although Twilas heart is 100% anchored in the CV food scene she actually started out in a very different place, studying Geology at Simon Fraser University, she then landed a job in Mineral exploration working in BC, the Yukon, as well as Ontario and Quabec, This involved Soil sampling, drilling, mineral exploration and mapping, hunting for gemstones, gold ,copper, emeralds and rubies where the overall task would be to discover enough to set up a mine. 
 
Fast forward to 2012 she bought Pirates Pond Farm in Dove Creek, a small farm producing Chicken eggs, duck eggs, turkeys,  pigs and chickens as well as vegetables, some of which she sold at her stall at the CVFM where she joined the board as a vendor. It was at this point she really started to see the importance of food and sustainability and wanted to be part of it as well as being self-sufficient herself. 
 
THIS BRINGS US TO THE PRESENT DAY where the CVFM has over 100 vendors between 3 markets it is put quite simply absolutely critical to our valley's food scene. 

Episode 175 "Grabbing a beer at Land & Sea With Tessa"

This week we get the chance to sit down with Tessa Gabiniewicz. Tessa started her career in brewing 11 years ago in Vancouver, however her dream job of head brewer at Land and Sea brought her to Comox. Join with us as we try to taste what brought her into beer and learn a little about her craft and the joys of brewing. We travel to the brewery to admire their new patio and all the room inside where you can sample some great food and enjoy Tessa's creations.

Episode 174 ”Reasons why you need to be using a recipe”

The recipe is possibly the most common focus when talking, preparing or planning food, but in this episode we dig much deeper. What is the actual reason for a recipe? How can a recipe help you create a signature style? How can a recipe help you to achieve consistency? What makes up a recipe? And are there any alternatives to using a recipe? In this episode Jon and Darren dive very deep into their own very different cooking styles to help you find your own recipe, (or formula?) for success in the kitchen. 

Episode 173" What's up with Mushrooms?"

Today we will be speaking with Stoyan and Galina from Comox Valley Mushrooms, now a thriving local family business they’ve supplied some of the areas top restaurants as well as the Comox Valley farmers market and with their ever growing band of loyal customers they are fast becoming the authority in the valley and beyond for all things mushrooms. 
Stoyan and Galina’s interest in mushrooms started when they saw a ted talk by Paul Stumets, an American mycologist and industry authority on all things mushrooms, the talk spoke of how some mushrooms are able to protect beehives from mites that can destroy the colony if left unchecked. From that point their interest became an obsession and they set about learning everything they could. They now live on a thriving farm on Fraser road where they produce from scratch an ever expanding range of mushrooms and are now diving head first into workshops their mission is to ‘educate and inspire the Comox Valley community in the art of cultivating their own mushrooms’. 
It gives me great pleasure to welcome Stoyan and Galina onto the Edible Valley podcast!
Address 3337 Fraser Road, Courtenay BC
Email: Info@comoxvalleymushrooms.com
Phone: 1-778-317-7183
Website: www.comoxvalleymushrooms.com
Facebook: @comoxvalleymushrooms 

Episode 172 "What's happening at Fitzgerald Farm"

 
On this episode, our guest Diane Jackson moved to the valley four years ago from Vancouver where she met her partner Andrew who along with Diane also had a huge passion and desire for a simpler way of life and to farm, they set out creating a list of things that needed to get done, starting with moving here and it is a list they continue to use today. But Diane's passion for all things local and farming can be traced much further back to her time in Toronto where she trained as a sommelier with the international sommeliers guild, …..armed with this knowledge and passion she went on to open a successful casual fine dining restaurant in Flesherton, an all season town of 800 people in rural Ontario. 
But after many happy years she heard her province of BC calling her home and moved to Osoyoos where she was a sommelier before eventually heading home to Vancouver where she met Andrew and started her plans for what we now know as Fitzgerald Farms. 
 
If you wish to learn more about the Farm here are a few easy way to contact Diane
Address:  Fitzgerald Farm 
                6499 Fitzgerald Road
                Courtenay BC, Canada
Facebook: Fitzgerald Farm
Email: dianejackson22@gmail.com
Phone Number: 250-485-2487

Episode 171 "Life on Glen Alwin Farm"

On this episode of "The Edible Valley Podcast"  We have come to meet Jo Smith and Helen Nixon of Glen Alwin Farm in Grantham between Merville and Courtenay. The farm is one of the oldest in the CV being cleared in 1884 from Bushland by William Chandler Smith who was the grandfather of Jo Smiths late husband Tom. But jo’s story starts 5000 miles away in the idyllic Devon town of Salcombe in England where she spent much of her childhood, but eventually her family decided to move to the Comox Valley where she would eventually meet and fall in love with a local boy Tom Smith, they were to get married and have 4 beautiful daughters Anne, Doreeen, Barb and Helen. keen to ensure they learned the skills of farming Tom and Jo instilled a strong farming work ethic to all of their children, and they had their work cut out as it took them a total of 10 years to clear 116 of land and are in fact still pulling up roots to this day. 
 
Today the farm is thriving, worked on daily Helen and Claire Nixon they now have sell all over the island and at the ever busy CV Farmers Market, 
 
This is a story that covers 3 centuries in this valley, it gives us great pleasure at the Edible Valley Podcast to welcome Jo Smith and Helen Nioxon. 
 

Episode 170 " Guild to canning with The Comox Valley Canning Company"

How lucky are we?! We got to sit down with The Comox Valley Canning Company to discuss canning and preserves with the exuberant and vivacious owner, JJ! Let's talk about the bounty and harvest of everything good about the Valley and harnessing it in a jar for later indulgences! 

Episode 169 "Bar none, no problem"

William, Darren, and guest JP Murimuri have some laughs and reminenisce while discussing cocktails and non-alcohol options.

Episode 168 "BreakFast at Tidal Cafe"

What a great time we had talking to the owners of Tidal Cafe! Kurt and Blythe Reimer were exuberant, enthusiastic, and gracious guests on this episode the Edible Valley. Their passion for the Valley, good food, and building community bursts forth in everything they do. It's impossible to not get swept up in their energy and dedication to their craft!
 
Facebook: Tidal Cafe
Instagram:Tidal Cafe