By nicole ma on September 4, 2019
Saturday Farmers’ Market Vendor Feature: Tal A’xin – Maya in Exile Garden
This week’s featured vendor is the Tal A’xin: Maya in Exile Garden, who sell Maya ancestral crops (the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash) among others as well as arrangements of beautiful flowers at the UBC Farm Saturday Farmers’ Market. In 1986, five Maya families came to Canada as refugees from Guatemala. Now, in order to share and keep Maya culture and farming traditions alive for future generations, which revolves heavily around the planting of corn, they work the land at the UBC Farm. We were able to interview Maximo Morales, one of the members of the Maya Garden and hear about the story behind the garden.
How did the Mayan Garden come to be and where did the crops originally come from?
We came from Ixtahuacan to Canada and started the Mayan Garden a long time ago, even before the garden was at UBC. Afterwards, we made a friend at UBC who said we had a chance to work with the UBC Farm and to apply for a project plot. So in 2000, the garden was established at the UBC Farm and we started bringing seeds over from Guatemala to plant here. Some of the seeds grew and some didn’t.
What kind of produce do you grow and sell from Guatemala?
We grow a variety: amaranth (bledo), apazote, hierba mora, beans, corn, squash and more.
Francisca Sales Ortiz
What type of recipes or dishes do you make using these ingredients?
We eat mostly the amaranth and hierba mora. We like to use it in ensalada tradicional (traditional salad) and an assortment of cooked dishes.
If you’re interested in learning more about Maya cooking, the members of the Maya in Exile Garden also host public workshops on cooking traditional Maya meals. Find out more information here.
What do you want to share with visitors?
We want people to know about how we cultivate and plant the vegetables here, and how to eat and prepare something different. It takes a lot of time to cultivate our plants because we try to keep the same growing practices like what we did in Guatemala.
Is there anywhere where people can go to find more information about the Maya Garden?
There is a page on the UBC Farm about the Mayan Garden (here). You are also welcome to come and visit us!
The Maya in Exile Garden will be at the UBC Farm Saturday Farmers’ Market until their last day on October 26! To get volunteer at the Mayan Garden or to learn more, check out the UBC Farm page and their Facebook page.
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By Salloum on September 1, 2019
Bird Survey – Vancouver Natural History Society
We welcome people with all levels of birding knowledge to join in the Nature Vancouver monthly bird survey around the UBC Farm. All that is required is an interest in birds! Bring binoculars if you have them.
The monthly survey takes from two to four hours, depending on weather conditions and how many birds we see. The route walked circles the perimeter of the fields and through the forest trail. For further information see the Nature Vancouver website www.naturevancouver.ca under Ongoing Nature Walks.
The number of bird species observed over the past ten years of surveys is close to one hundred species. To view a list of bird species by month go to the eBird Canada website, under BC Hotspots, Vancouver UBC-South Campus Farm.
Survey Dates:
Surveys are scheduled the third Sunday of the month. Surveys start at 9:00am in late fall and winter, and start at 8:00 am in spring, summer and early fall. Arrive on time as the gate will be opened only at the start of the survey. Late arrivers will unfortunately find the gate locked.
Meet at the gate at 9:00 am for October 21, November 18, and December 16 in 2018. For 2019, the 9:00 am start dates will be on January 20 and February 17.
For 2019 spring and summer, meet at the gate at 8:00 am for March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, and September 15.
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By nicole ma on August 28, 2019
Saturday Farmers’ Market Vendor Feature: UBC Farm Practicum Stall
This week, we’re featuring the UBC Farm Practicum market stall, which sells produce grown by amazing practicum students who are learning more about farming and how to grow and sell their own food. Come by their stall to pick up some groceries and hear more about their stories! Want to know more about the practicum program and hear about Rylan’s (a current practicum student) experience? Read on!
Practicum students Rylan and Emil
What do you sell here?
It’s a large variety of things- right now, we have carrots, beets, zucchinis, summer squash, peppers, tomatoes, and we’re going to have more coming in eventually. Oh, and flowers of course!
Can you give us an overview of practicum program?
The practicum program is a year long program. Basically what we do is we come in, take classes and work on the farm to gain life experience and real work experience with a farm and learn the science and techniques behind the actual process of farming and how to do it sustainably. We have different professionals and experts that come in and teach us and we go on educational field trips! It’s a very broad program that encompasses a lot of aspects.
What’s your favourite part of the practicum program?
My farm-ily! We have such a great group of people here. Honestly, it’s helped me grow a lot as a person. I was expecting to just come here to gain skills but I have grown so much as an individual as well; I think all of us have. I think that was actually, while unexpected, the biggest takeaway.
Is there anything you want people to know about the stall and the program?
That we exist! No, but actually know that there are people out there who are passionate about farming, and not to lose hope. Things are looking bleak but I’ve seen a lot of awesome people who are looking to do really great things in the future of farming and in the future of sustainability. I’ve had the pleasure of being in class with them and it gives me hope for the future.
Can you tell us more about the upcoming Open House?
We are super excited and nervous. We’re so proud and want to show our pride to people and have them as enthusiastic to join the practicum next year as we were about doing it this year! It was such a great time and hopefully people get to experience that.
The Open House will be happening on Saturday, September 14th at the UBC Farm Saturday Farmers’ Market during the Fall Fair from 12pm – 2pm. Come and learn more about the program, meet staff and current students, get the opportunity to ask questions and tour the farm from the perspective of the Practicum program! No registration is required.
The UBC Farm Practicum stall can be found at the UBC Farm Saturday Farmers’ Market every week until September 14th! To learn more about the UBC Farm Practicum program or if you’re interested in applying, click here! Applications for the 2020 Practicum will open between September – October.
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By noni nabors on August 22, 2019
Market Recipe Blog: Khoresh Bademjan (Eggplant Stew)
Eggplants and tomatoes, members of the nightshade family along with tomatillos and peppers, enjoy a boon in late August! Savor them together in this vegetarian edition of Khoresh Bademjan, a soft stew with a sweet tang that will get you excited for the warming flavours of fall to come.
Khoresh Bademjan (Eggplant Stew)
- 4 Chinese eggplants
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup yellow split peas
- 2 large yellow or white onions, thinly sliced
- 2 large fresh tomatoes, diced
- 3 tablespoon butter or neutral oil
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup hot water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F.
- Peel eggplants and cut in half lengthwise. Toss eggplants in a large bowl with vegetable oil. Arrange eggplants on a non-stick baking sheet, and bake for 25 minutes. Without removing the baking sheet, broil eggplants for an additional 2 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
- While the eggplants are in the oven, wash and drain split peas. Add to saucepan and cover with water by 1 inch. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring peas to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and cook until peas are tender. Drain and set aside.
- In a nonstick skillet sautée the onion over medium low heat in butter or oil until golden brown.
- When onions turn golden add turmeric and continue to sautée. Add tomato paste, cayenne, cooked split peas and salt and pepper to taste. Continue sautéeing over low heat, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes.
- Add pomegranate molasses, diced tomatoes, and lemon juice to the skillet and bring to a boil.
- Add baked eggplants and return dish to a boil. Cover and cook on medium low for 23-30 minutes, until the eggplants are tender and flavorful. Thin sauce as desired by adding hot water in 1/4 cup increments.
- Serve over cooked rice or Tahdig.
Pick up produce at any of our three weekly markets: Tuesdays 4-6:30PM at the UBC Farm, Wednesdays 11:30AM-1:30PM at the UBC Bookstore, and Saturdays 10AM-2PM at UBC Farm. Learn more about our produce and browse other recipes in our Market Recipe Blog. Recieve regular market recipes from our newsletter here.
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By nicole ma on August 21, 2019
Saturday Farmers’ Market Vendor Feature: Blue Valley Farms
This week’s vendor feature is Blue Valley Farms, a family-owned local farm that carries a large variety of high quality, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables. They’ve been farming for over 15 years and they’re a fixture of the UBC Farm Saturday Farmers’ Market at their 10th season here! We were able to talk to Jaymes, and ask her a few quick questions below. If you get the chance, visit this market favourite and check out their delicious fruits and vegetables!
Jaymes at the market
What types of produce do you sell?
Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, onions, garlic, zucchinis of all sorts, peaches, nectarines, apples, plums, tomatoes, cherries, corn and more. We have a 5-acre farm so we have lots of everything.
How did you get into the farm business?
I married into it. My husband’s family had been doing blueberries for about 40 years and at our farm we’ve been farming for over 15 years now.
Do you have a favourite fruit or vegetable? If so, how do you like to cook it?
I like it all! But maybe broccoli. I like to just steam it on the barbecue.
Where can you be found outside of the UBC Farm Saturday Farmers’ Market?
This is it!
Blue Valley Farms can be found at the UBC Farm Saturday Farmers’ Market on the following dates: Aug 24, Aug 31, Sep 07.
For more information on Blue Valley Farms, you can check out their Instagram, email them at dsperry01@shaw.ca, or call them at (604)808-4463.
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In this talk, Jennifer Clapp for a talk about the current status of corporate consolidation across the global agrifood system, its key drivers, and the implications of this trend for the future of food systems more broadly. She argues that a complex mix of technological, financial and policy factors have encouraged growing concentration in the sector in recent years, and discusses current policy proposals to address it.
