Vert-à-Go

Happy new year! Holiday festivities are now over for most people and there’s not much to do apart from dig yourself out from the snow and finish clearing out the fridge of festive leftovers. A friend of mine, Tom, suggests the following New Year’s Day recipe:

Humpty’s Last Stand

Take all remaining 2008 food, chop, add egg and bake. Ready for 2009!

I have already made turkey pot pie, stock, creamed turkey, a couple of coleslaws, and chilli and am now down to half a leek, a grapefruit, and a cup of gravy. Oh, and a pound of chestnuts. I fear it may require more than eggs to transform those ingredients into an edible concoction!

While you’re enjoying the revitalised dregs of 2008, here is a list of some of the top food stories from the past year. 2008 was a tumultuous year, which brought a huge amount of hardship to people worldwide–as well as some exciting developments that promise some hope of change in 2009.

1. Although the first shocks were felt in 2007, it was in 2008 that the food crisis began to bite hard. Skyrocketing food prices, riots, privation, and starvation–it was a perfect storm formed from a combination of factors, including food commodities speculation, the rush to biofuels, crop failure, spiking oil prices, natural disasters, and governmental incompetence (or malice). Towards the end of the year, some organic growers and vendors (like Whole Foods) were beginning to feel the pinch as consumers looked for ways to reduce their food bills.
2. The previous few years brought the term ‘locavore’ and the 100-mile diet to the fore, but in 2008 a backlash arose against the strict application of ‘food miles’ without consideration for other environmental impacts such as method of production. Turns out transport doesn’t count for everything when it comes to carbon emissions.
3. In March, Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party government withdrew funding for Station 20 West, a non-profit public centre that was to include dental, medical, and mental health services for Saskatoon’s core neighbourhood residents. CHEP and the Elizabeth Fry Society were also expected to join the centre, as well as a cooperative grocery store (area residents have been without a full-service local grocery store for a decade). In April, thousands of supporters gathered to protest the cuts in a community march. Having spent the year fundraising, Station 20 West now plans to break ground on its revised centre (which will include the grocery store) this May.
4. Uncertainty about the food crisis led to a sharp increase in the number of people planting gardens, many for the first time, this past spring. Seed sales skyrocketed in Canada, the US, the UK, and elsewhere. Many city people (including me!) dug up their front lawns to plant vegetables instead.
5. It was another rotten year for rotten food–in Canada, with the Maple Leaf foods listeriosis outbreak, which killed 20 people across the country, and the E. coli outbreak from contaminated lettuce at a North Bay Harvey’s fast food restaurant. Fingers were pointed at the Canadian food inspection system. The US scrambled to find the source of a salmonella outbreak (first incorrectly linked to California tomatoes, then later to Mexican peppers), while in China, tens of thousands of babies were harmed by melamine-tainted milk (which had then also entered the global food chain).
6. Honeybees, which are succumbing in droves to an as-yet-unsolved combination of ailments called Colony Collapse Disorder, continued to decline. Parasites and pesticides appear to be chief culprits, but many of the hive deaths and disappearances are unexplained.
7. There were catastrophic floods in Iowa, as well as another year of catastrophic drought in Australia, as well as ever-increasing evidence of the effect of climate change on the ocean–salmon in Alaska attacked by a warmer-water parasite, while west-coast oysters were hit by a bacteria deadly to shellfish larvae that appeared to be connected to a new anaerobic dead zone in the ocean. These natural and unnatural disasters demonstrate yet again how dependent we are on the earth and weather behaving as we expect they should so we can grow sufficient food.
8. Several more fisheries were forced to close or are driving themselves close to collapse because of insufficient fish, due to manmade contamination or overfishing–US west coast salmon from California to Oregon, and bluefin tuna in both the Mediterranean and off the coast of Japan. Taras Grescoe’s book Bottomfeeder warned of the imminent need for humans to stop eating so far up the ocean’s food chain and to reject unsustainably-caught fish if we are to prevent mass oceanic extinction.
9. Seventeen Canadian municipalities, including the city of Toronto, decided to ban the sale of bottled water on their premises and forty-five more are set to debate the issue. It’s time to go Back to the Tap!
10. ABC News’s Senior White House Correspondence Jake Tapper called Barack Obama “an arrogant, arugula-eating, fancy-berry-tea-drinking celebrity”, while sustainable food fans cheered when Obama revealed that he had read Michael Polan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Pollan wrote an open letter to the ‘Farmer in Chief’ and a campaign began to create an organic food garden on the White House Lawn. And he hasn’t even taken office yet!
11. Burger King released a men’s cologne that smells like a Whopper hamburger. Well, I suppose it’s better to smell like one than eat one…
12. The launch of Vert-à-Go! I’ve learned a huge amount since starting up this web site last March, and I’m looking forward to covering more food issues and providing more information on where to find sustainable, organic, local and ethically-produced food over the next year. Thanks for reading!

Photo by MikeMar

Join Ruth Eliason and her friends as they bring a little light to the Darkest Night of the Year, in support of Station 20 West. Celebrate the season with good music, good food and friends!

When: Sunday 21 December, 7:30-8:30pm

Where: Christ Church Anglican, 515 28th St W, Saskatoon (Google map)

Admission: by donation

For more information: Facebook event page, Station 20 West web site, phone 373-0292

Looking for a great deal on some great art? Come down and check out the used (pre-loved!) art sale this Saturday at Grace Westminster United Church from 11am-9pm. There will be over 300 pieces on sale, ranging in price from $5-$300, and a further 50 or so pieces will be up for silent auction. Make sure you come early for the best selection!

At 7pm, there will be a live auction of original works, which have been kindly donated by some of Saskatchewan’s leading artists, including John Bury, Paul Jacoby, Marie Lonneau, Greg Hardy, Clint Hunker, Marigold Crib, Jan Norris, Paul Denham, June Tinline, Jim Korpan, Leslie Potter, Alicia Popoff, Hugo Alvarado, Corrine McKay, and Lou Chrones.

All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go towards building The Good Food Junction Grocery Store at Station 20 West. Bring the family, browse the art, enjoy refreshments (including homemade bannock) and stay for a visit with the other people helping to make Station 20 West a reality!

When: Saturday 6 December, 11am-9pm

Where: Grace Westminster Church, 505 10th St E, Saskatoon (Google map)

For more information: Facebook event page, Station 20 West web site

On Saturday, 15 November, EE Burritos and Friends of Station 20 West will host the first of several fundraisers for Station 20 West–a dinner followed by dancing to live Latin music! All proceeds will benefit Station 20 West (including a 50/50 draw).

Ticket price includes entry and your meal (drinks are extra). If you are a vegetarian, please let them know when you buy your ticket. Organisers expect this fun event to sell out quickly, so get your tickets soon!

When: Saturday 15 November, 6:30-10:30pm (dinner served at 7pm)

Where: EE Burritos (corner of 22nd St W and Avenue P) (Google map)

Cost: $25, children 6 and under free (available at QUINT (2nd floor, 230 Avenue R South), Turning the Tide bookstore (525 11th Street E) and EE Burritos)

For more information: Facebook event page

In March, Station 20 West Community Enterprise Centre lost committed provincial funding of $8 million for its unique community health and social services centre. The Saskatchewan Party government’s decision sparked outrage and, since then, thousands of people from across the city have joined the Station 20 West campaign. Although construction plans have now had to be scaled back to reduce costs, the centre will still house important services that will improve the lives of those living in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhood and help revitalise the area.

Here is the latest Station 20 West update:

• The revised plan calls for a smaller two-storey building of 19,000 square feet. The estimated cost to shell in the building is $2.6 million. The food store will be responsible for its own fit-ups and the other tenants will be asked to bring their own improvements.
• The revised centre will continue to be home to a locally-owned grocery store, and a number of important health and social agencies focused on improving the lives of individuals and families in the core neighborhoods.
• Services available through Station 20 West will provide improved access to nutrition education, healthy food, youth leadership programming, outreach education and employment, and small business development services.
• The organization will take a $600,000 mortgage, and has so far received donations totaling $325,000. Station 20 West still needs to raise $1.675 million and intends to have all of the money raised by December 31, 2008. The target to start construction is the fall of 2008.

You can make a donation to the Station 20 West campaign here. And if you’re looking for a fun way to support the campaign, why not come out to McClure United Church’s Station 20 West fundraiser on Friday 26 September?

The evening will include:

• a presentation on Station 20 West
• exciting entertainment
• delicious dessert!

When: Friday 26 September 2008, 7pm-10pm

Where: McClure United Church Auditorium, 4125 Taylor Street, Saskatoon (Google map)

Cost: Adult $12, Family $30, Students $7

You can get your tickets from:

• McClure United Church office (373-1753)
• McClure Place office (955-7677)
• Joan Bell (955-2080)
• Aurelia Grimes (477-3039)
• Quint office (978-4041)

(photo: Canadian Design Resources)

The Saskatchewan Party has posted a request for ideas on how to spend the government’s oil and gas windfall on their party web site.

This is a great opportunity for voters to tell them exactly what their priorities are and how they want them to spend the money. For starters, how about restoring a tiny fraction of it to Station 20 West and invest in sustainable energy and food production?

Here’s my wish list:

• make a serious investment in non-polluting alternative energy sources (think solar, wind, NOT tar sands development) and encourage energy conservation. Invest in carbon capture for coal stations. This is our chance to take the lead and massively reduce our CO2 emissions.
• invest in public transport and promote efficient vehicle use, NOT roads. People have to be encouraged to get out of their private cars whenever possible and into affordable, convenient alternative modes of transport. Take the lead! Make Saskatchewan a showcase for the rest of the country! We have unique challenges but they can be solved.
• invest in local, sustainable food production, rural communities and help young people to become farmers. We need more small farm holdings to increase food safety and security. Help cities invest in local food production (i.e. creating community gardens).
• help cities invest in safe, affordable public housing to assist people adversely affected by the property boom
• help residents of Saskatoon and Regina’s core neighbourhoods gain access to nutritious food, proactive healthcare, and career/job training. Food banks are important, but they should be unnecessary. Solve the underlying social problems and give people the help they need to live full and productive lives, not just emergency handouts. Show them that you care! The initial proposal for Station 20 West would go a long way towards achieving these aims; I want to see this funding restored.

We are at a crossroads here and have such an opportunity to make a difference in the province’s future. We need to spend this money wisely and preserve the ecosystem to ensure that today’s children not only have a means of supporting themselves, but also a safe and stable environment in which to live.

The environment is my number one voting issue. We have to make serious progress in the next decade. If we don’t prevent catastrophic climate change, nothing else will matter.

Go tell them what you want!

Although the Sask Party government has pulled the $8M funding that was being held in trust for the Station 20 West urban renewal project, organisers are determined that the Good Food Junction will still go ahead.

The Good Food Junction Co-Operative at Avenue K and 20th Street will be a neighbourhood store owned and run by local people. It will provide a full range of groceries, including fresh produce, meats, and dairy, as well as frozen foods, canned, bottled and bagged goods, health and beauty items, and household cleaning supplies. Core neighbourhood residents have been without a local grocery store for nearly a decade.

Station 20 West organisers are petitioning the city (who graciously sold the land for $1 on the condition that the project be completed within a specific time frame) for time so that the architects can redraw plans for a smaller building that would house the grocery store. They are also looking for help from the Saskatoon community to get the store up and running.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for showing your recent support at the Station 20 West rally on April 5th. We have been overwhelmed by the support of the citizens from all over Saskatoon.

We are in the process of starting a major capital campaign to raise funds for Station 20 West. If you are interested in continuing to support our project, there are several ways you can help.

We are currently working on a fundraising poster to be distributed across the city, which will be ready on Wednesday April 23rd. We would appreciate your time to hang as many as you can. Even hanging 5 posters would be a major contribution. These posters can also be picked up at Quint Development Corporation, 207-203 Avenue R South, or we can arrange to get them to you. Please let us know if you are willing to help with the posters.

On April 28th, we will be meeting with the executive committee of Saskatoon City Council to ask for an extension on the land contract. Please show your councilor your support for this project by emailing City Council, or by mail:

Saskatoon City Council
City Clerks Office
2nd Floor, City Hall
222 3rd Avenue North
Saskatoon, Sask. S7K 0J5
Fax (306) 975-2784

If you would like to get more involved with Station 20 West, we can use volunteers. Please let us know of your availability. We are hoping to have one event every week that will bring us public attention for our fundraising campaign. Please contact us and let us know if you have any great ideas for these events.

Click here if you wish to make a tax-free donation to Station 20 West.

You can find contact details for your Saskatoon city councillor here.

The Good Food Junction food store (part of the Station 20 West development) is going to put forth a resolution at the Saskatoon Co-op’s Annual General Meeting asking the Saskatoon Co-op to help the Good Food Junction to become established.

Registration is at 6:30pm and the meeting starts at 7pm. Resolutions are towards the end of the agenda.

It is very important that this resolution pass, so please come out to support it and voice your opinions about the future of the Saskatoon Co-Op! You must be a co-op member to vote.

TONIGHT:

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
6:30pm - 9:30pm

Location: Hilton Garden Inn (90 22nd St East)

I was out yesterday morning on a community walk, along with an estimated 2000-2500 other people, to show support for Station 20 West. The $11.5m community development project plans to include a co-operative grocery store, dental and medical clinics, and a wide range of other nutrition, health and employment services (joining 50 affordable housing units and a public library already planned for the site).

A couple weeks ago, the project had its funding pulled by the new provincial government. It has turned out to be an incredibly unpopular decision, and one which organisers and supporters hope will still be overturned.

Here’s why Station 20 West is desperately needed.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to the project online or by phone. And to show your disapproval at the funding cut, write to Brad Wall or phone his office on (306) 778-2429. They count every single letter and phone call, so it is really important to let them know your opinion! You can also get a sample letter to print and sign here.

Here’s the letter I sent:

27 March 2008

Honourable Brad Wall
Premier of Saskatchewan
Room 203
Legislative Building
Regina, SK S4S OB3

Dear Mr Wall:

I wish to express my grave concern over the withdrawal of funding for the Station 20 West project in Saskatoon. In addition to providing desperately needed affordable housing units and a library, this development plans to provide local medical, dental, and mental health services, as well as job training and other support for the most vulnerable members of our city. I am sure you read last year’s Canadian Journal of Public Health article outlining how people living in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhood have a vastly increased risk for a wide range of health issues, including an infant mortality rate 5.5 times higher than the rest of the city. I hope you agree that these programs (which have received the enthusiastic support of the University of Saskatchewan dentistry and medical colleges) would do a huge amount to help disadvantaged children, youth, and adults to live healthier, and therefore happier and more productive lives.

Station 20 West would also provide a good-quality local grocery store-something which residents of Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods have lacked for close to a decade. With diabetes, obesity, and other nutrition-related health problems skyrocketing, the people of this area urgently need closer access to decent-quality food. Because so many of them do not have access to a vehicle (less than a third of the city average in Pleasant Hill, for example) and are living on a very limited income (half or much less than half of the city average), it is not only impractical to travel to another grocery store miles away-it can be a serious hardship. Giant Tiger may sell a small quantity of food items, but I wouldn’t want to feed my children solely on its groceries for a month, let alone for years on end. And it is self-evident that the main grocery store chains have no interest in running a store in the area, instead choosing to put image and profits ahead of the needs of the customers who supported them for so many years.

At a time when the province’s coffers are bulging and when people in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods are so obviously in need, denying money for this project is baffling. I urge you to meet with the Station 20 West organisers so you can see and hear firsthand how beneficial this project is. As a taxpayer and voter, I strongly ask you to release the funding so it can quickly be brought to fruition.

Yours sincerely,

Susan Pederson-Bradbury