Food Trees, Harvest Table, Community Garden Bike Tour, Seed Saving: Sustainable Local Food Events August 2013

Some food-related happenings to check out this month:

Hidden Harvest Ottawa Information Session: Monday, August 12, 2013

The innovative Hidden Harvest Ottawa connects owners of food-bearing trees with volunteer harvesters. The volunteers pick the fruits and nuts, which are then shared among the harvesters, tree owners and community organizations such as food banks. Hidden Harvest Ottawa also makes fruit and nut trees available for planting, and maps local food trees. If you’d like to find out more about how Hidden Harvest Ottawa works, about bringing harvests to your neighbourhood or about volunteering, you can attend the next Volunteer Info session. It’s at Hub Ottawa, 71 Bank Street, 6th floor on Monday, August 12 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. You can register online at http://www.eventbrite.ca/event/7492822233. (There’s another session coming up on Tuesday, September 24.)

Savour Ottawa’s Harvest Table: Sunday, August 18, 2013

Savour Ottawa, which promotes local farms and businesses that use local food, runs an annual event where Ottawa chefs prepare a multi-course meal using locally-grown ingredients. This year’s Harvest Table is from noon to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 18 at Brewer Park next to the Ottawa Farmers’ Market. (VIP activities, which include a guided cooking tour of the Ottawa Farmers’ Market, cost a little more and start around 10:30.) See the Savour Ottawa website for ticket prices and a list of participating farms and restaurants.

Just Food Urban Agriculture Bike Tour: Sunday, August 25, 2013

Here’s a great idea—a leisurely bike tour of community gardens in the city. Just Food’s 7th Annual Urban Agriculture Bike Tour will stop in at five community gardens, with locally-grown snacks as part of the deal. The tour is from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25 starting at Brewer Park Community Garden. Suggested donation is $5, which will go to Just Food’s Start-Up Farm project. Contact Agathe at cgnstudent(at)justfood(dot)ca for information or to register.

Just Food Seed Saving Workshops: August 19, 27 and 29, 2013

It’s not too early to plan for next year’s garden. Preserve some of this year’s seeds for future use—Just Food and Greta’s Organic Gardens will show you how. Each workshop is from 6:00-8:00 p.m. (various locations). $5 or pay-what-you-can; email cgnintern(at)justfood(dot)ca to reserve a spot.

Enjoy the harvest!

Update: We’ve received word from Margaret Tourond-Townson of Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa-St. Lawrence-Outaouais Chapter about another event:

Organic Farm Tour by COG-OSO: Sunday, August 18, 2013

“Our summer tours are casual events and lots of fun–come on out and make new friends, learn a little, and enjoy the beauty that comes from working the land organically!

3 farms: Arc Acres Farm, Roots and Shoots Farm, Grazing Days Farm

For registration and directions email: Dick Coote: Tel. 613-244-4000 Ext 7 or dcoote(at)xplorer(dot)com. Visit: www.cog.ca/ottawa/.”

Another update:

The Edible City Workshop and Plant Walks with Amber Westfall, Saturday, August 17, 2013

Amber Westfall of The Wild Garden will be running a workshop on “The Edible City” at the Arboretum Festival on Saturday, August 17. She’ll talk about urban foraging and foods that can be found in the city. It’s at Club Saw from 1:00-1:30. Amber is also continuing her series of edible plant walks, with one by the Rideau Locks at 2:30 on Saturday, August 17 and another at the Kilborn Allotment Gardens on Wednesday, August 21 at 6:00 p.m. The walks continue through November. See http://thewildgarden.eventbrite.com/ for details.