THE KOOTENAY HARVEST REVIVAL
Nelson Hosts a Celebration of an Historic Harvest and a Catalyst for a Local Food Revolution
September, 2008 - NELSON - Since early September, three Creston Valley farmers have been harvesting their grains. While such a harvest is far from a first, this particular harvest represents the first time in decades that grain has been grown in this part of the province for commercial sale.
On Friday, September 19 and Sunday September 21, The Nelson-Creston Grain Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project is inviting residents of the region to join in a celebratory event to help mark this monumental occasion. The 19th will be an evening of presentations and performance hosted at the Capitol Theatre in Nelson, and on the 21st, a celebration of food, music and inspiration hosted by Nelson's All Seasons Café.
"The Kootenay Harvest Revival has been created to act as a catalyst for a local food revolution," says Matt Lowe of The West Kootenay EcoSociety. Lowe has been involved in the Grain CSA since its inception in the summer of 2007. "I participated in the Community Food Matters Eat Local Challenge, and realized how 'challenged' I was to find local grains."
As a result of a coalition of people who have come together to make the CSA a reality, 180 residents of Nelson/Creston and one business will soon be receiving a significant supply of Oats, Spelt, Hard Spring Wheat, Khorasan Wheat and Red Fife Wheat. Lowe emphasizes that the Grain CSA is only one example of the many innovative projects underway to make the Kootenays more agriculturally self-sufficient.
Helping with the project has been Wildsight's Brenda Bruns of Creston. Bruns believes that the Grain CSA is a key step towards "addressing climate change, peak oil, food security, the farm income crisis, optimal health, regional economic sustainability and cultural enrichment". It's the latter outcome of the CSA that the Kootenay Harvest Revival will be showcasing on the 19th and 21st.
In North America, food has seemingly fallen off the radar of what we define as "culture", whereas in most regions of the world, food is culture. To help capture the 'enriching of culture' that local food projects like the CSA hope to inspire, joining the evening on the 19th will be Nelson actor Richard Rowberry and musician/performer Bessie Wapp. Rowberry and Wapp will be joined by a series of speakers who will highlight the history of agriculture and food production in the Kootenays. "Through sharing this history, the evening will illustrate the potential to revive what was once thriving," says Deconstructing Dinner's Jon Steinman, who has also been integral in the creation of this event.
Steinman will also be speaking at the event alongside author/historian Eileen Delehanty-Pearkes - who will speak on behalf of the Sinixt People; Keith Huscroft - a fourth-generation farmer and one of the three Creston farmers growing for the CSA; and Luanne Armstrong - a Wyndell-area resident, farmer and author. Russell Precious will be the evening's MC. Precious is the Co-founder of Capers Markets and a Board member of the EcoSociety.
On the 21st, a brunch and dinner featuring locally sourced foods will be hosted at All Seasons Café in Nelson and will consist of similar presentations and music by local performers. The brunch will be comprised of locally-sourced foods and most importantly, local grains! Music by Bessie Wapp and Heavy Shtetl.
"This event is a real coming together of our regional community," adds Steinman. Support for the Kootenay Harvest Revival has come from Columbia Basin Trust, Selkirk College, All Seasons Café, Deconstructing Dinner, West Kootenay EcoSociety, Wildsight, Creston Food Action Coalition, Kootenay Food Strategy Society, Creston & District Museum, Hall Printing, Nelson Daily News, Express Newspaper, Kootenay Co-op Radio and the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative.
More information on the event can be found at the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative, or on-line at www.deconstructingdinner.ca
Friday, September 19 - Capitol Theatre, Nelson, 7pm: Tickets - $6 Otter Books, All Seasons Café; $7 Capitol Theatre
Sunday, September 21 - All Seasons Café, Nelson, 10am: Tickets - $40 All Seasons Café, 620 Herridge Lane (250-352-7499)BACK TO BCTV KOOTENAYS NEWSROOM
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