What are you doing this weekend?

I'm going climbing. Well, providing that the climbing goddess and the weather co-operate.

If you don't have your dance card filled, the Nanaimo Global Film Festival is starting on Friday and running through to Sunday at Malaspina University. Festival passes range from $20 to $30 and are available until noon Friday at Green Communities in Port Place, Malaspina Students' Union, Nanaimo Arts Council in Rutherford Mall, and Van Isle Video on Bowen Road.

The line-up of films includes "The Fight for True Farming", a documentary on solutions to the social and environmental scourges of factory farming. "Frankensteer" is a documentary that reveals how the traditional cow has been turned into an antibiotic-dependent, hormone-laced, potential carrier of toxic bacteria, all in the name of cheaper food. Also, "Slow Food Revolution" a documentary on the slow food movement will be screened. With 50 films from all over the world, there's something for everybody!

For our southern islanders, Victoria's Slow Food movement is hosting an event this weekend that opened to the public. Here's an announcement I got from them about their Wheat & Community event:

Join Slow Food annd our Red Fife Wheat farmer, Marc Loiselle from Vonda, Saskatchewan for a discussion on the current state of wheat, including the fight against GMO and seed patenting, and the revitalization of heritage wheat varieties.

Seedy Saturday

Slow Food will be giving a presentation on Slow Food's new Manifesto on the Future of Seeds, prepared by the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture. This was adopted at Slow Food's Terra Madre Conference in October, 2006. The following speakers are on the panel:

-Sinclair Philip, owner of Sooke Harbour House and Head of Slow Food Canada

-Marc Loiselle, a Saskatchewan farmer, founding member of Slow Food's Heritage Wheat Presidium and producer of Red Fife Wheat

-Mara Jernigan of Fairburn Farm Culinary Retreat and Guesthouse and Slow Food Canada's National Ark Coordinator

-Cliff Leir, founding member of Slow Food's Heritage Wheat Presidium and Baker

This presentation is to take place this Saturday, February 17th from noon to 1 pm at the Victoria Conference Centre located at 720 Douglas Street.

This will take place as part of Seedy Saturday, Victoria's 14th Annual Seed and Garden Show, from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is only $5 and free for those under 12.

*****

Last night's event in Parksville with Kate Green and the Ban Terminator Event went very well. I'm glad that these events are being attended by people outside the farming community. Word still has to get out to the public about this insidious genetically modified technology. Beleive me, it's not a seed, it's form of warfare. An enormous amount of genetic manipulation was done in order for this seed techology to be created. Once released, it also has the potential to destroy non-GMO crops via open air pollination. If you haven't already, check out the Ban Terminator website and the USC Canada site. If you have checked it out, pass the info onto to someone else. Thanks!




















(Kate Green from USC Canada)
I have an interview with Shaw TV this afternoon about Nanaimo 100 mile diet challenge. I'm thrilled that the local media is so interested in helping get the word out. I also have another Ban Terminator Event tonight at Malaspina University (7pm, Building 356, rm 109). They'll be showing excerpts from "The Future of Food'" by D. Koons-Garcia along with a Ban Terminator presentation. Come by the Nanaimo 100 Mile Diet challenge table and say 'hello'.

I got home around 10pm last night from Parksville's event. Luckily, I had simmered and cooked up the beans for the soup before I left so all I had to do was toss in the leftover roasted veggies and fresh collard greens for my Tuscan white bean soup:

So good.














Unfortunately, I was hit with a bout of insomnia last night. Tossing and turning, next thing I know, it was 3:30 in the morning. EEK!
I finally got to sleep around 4ish. I'm gonna have to take a bath in a tub of squirrels in order to get bright-eyed and bushy tailed for my interview this afternoon.

Happy Eating!
Jen

Nanaimo's 100 Mile Diet Challenge