Taste Life

By Danielle Cardozo

The Cranbrook Food Action Committee is giving away free food.

For those of you who are not aware, Cranbrook Food Action has a community garden located on 6th Avenue and 18th Street N (in Eric MacKinnon Park, between Hot Shots and Save-On Foods, one street parallel to Victoria).

I recently spoke with Shannon Duncan, of Food Action Cranbrook, to learn that this community garden isn’t what I thought it was.

Typically, a community garden is a series of plots that individuals take claim to at the beginning of the year. They plant their choice of produce. They nurture it throughout the season, until their personal harvest is ready. That’s not how this garden works. This garden is cared for in its entirety by Food Action Cranbrook, and it’s open to the entire community.

They do have one plea to the Cranbrook community, in support of providing this public garden:

“The garden is always in need of extra garden items such as seeds, seedlings or perennial transplants, extra garden tools, and mulching materials. If you’re taking a load of leaves to the dump, consider bringing them to the garden instead – where they are valued like gold,” said Duncan.

And then I went into this garden that Duncan spoke so highly of, and the first thing I saw was a sign that very clearly lays out the rules…

Please keep the gate closed.

Leave the garden in better shape than you found it.

Come back often and bring a friend.

They look like pretty simple rules to me. And let’s just say I am really banking on our readership to take care of the third rule for me.

Now this is no small garden. I am really kicking myself for not grabbing a photo of the overall garden. It has just about everything you could ask for. There is a berry section with raspberries, strawberries, and currants. There are raised boxes of herbs, including some chamomile that I have judged as absolutely tea worthy. There are potatoes, carrots, squash, and pumpkins getting ready for the fall. There are gogi berries, corn, cabbage, green and purple beans, and multiple varieties of lettuce. As a kale lover, I thought I’d kicked the bucket and landed in a kale oasis. I wouldn’t even know what to do with all that kale. My kids will be eating kale for a week now.

Another great part of accessing this garden is that you don’t need to be a seasoned gardener. Food Action has taken the time to mark of each section and produce item with signage that lets you know if it’s ready. It also lets you know if you need to be a little more patient, which is the case with the zucchini squash.

The part that shocks me is that almost everything is still there. Most of the produce is at its peak. Some of it is passing its peak. Yet, it hasn’t been harvested. I am told this is because people don’t realize it’s a public community garden. There are no plots. Just go in, be respectable, and harvest your family some healthy meals.

The daily recommendation of fruits and vegetables is four to 10 servings depending on your age and gender. So why not give your wallet a break and stock up on the healthy stuff. You’re going to feel better and look better. I mean, c’mon Cranbrook, it’s free!

To learn more about the Cranbrook Food Action Garden, you can check out their Facebook page, or contact the Food Action Committee by email at [email protected], or by phone at phone (250) 427-7981.

Not sure what to do with everything in that garden? How about you pick some of the kale and try out this recipe!

Sautéed Kale

1 1/2 pounds kale leaves (Some like to leave the stems in. I prefer them out, unless they are really young.)

3 tablespoons of choice cooking oil

2 minced cloves of garlic

1/2 cup vegetable or chicken stock

Sea salt and white pepper

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

Directions

Heat olive oil and garlic in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook it until it’s softened but hasn’t darkened colour (that makes garlic bitter).

Raise heat to high, add the stock and kale, stirring constantly. Cook on high for 5 minutes.

Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring until liquid has evaporated.

Season with salt and pepper.

Hope you enjoy the kale from the Cranbrook Food Action Community Garden!

Danielle XOXO

–    Danielle Cardozo is a mom of three, entrepreneur, and shameless idealist. Whether it be creating it, sharing it, or writing about it; the culinary world is her ultimate passion. Danielle placed eighth on the first ever season of CTV’s MasterChef Canada, and has continued blazing her trail in the culinary world since. Danielle contributes her success to hard work and being stubborn, as she’s never believed anyone who has told her she can’t do something.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/danielle.c.cardozo

Website http://daniellecardozo.ca/

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