Berries, berries

I love you so.

I love to sit

And watch you grow.

I pick you off

Your leafy stem.

You glisten like

A shiny gem.

I eat you up,

So ripe and sweet.

Your fleshy bits,

My favorite treat!

Sometimes I like

To squish you up.

And eat your sauce

When I do sup.

I like to think

That I'm a bear.

Steal my berries?

Thieves beware!

I'll forage here,

I'll forage there.

I'll find berries

Most anywhere!

Tonight I'll bake

Them in a pie.

A slice or two

I'll have to try.

With my tummy,

Plein de berry.

My dreams I'm sure

Will be most merry. 

I'll dream of fruit

Piled mountain high.

Raining down from 

A juicy sky.

Until my paws

Can pick once more.

I'll walk on two

Instead of four. 

Caught- red handed!

Help Fight Hunger

This morning, I was invited to be a part of a focus group through Healthy Brandon. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I jumped at the chance to be a part of a meeting at City Hall. Two days in a row now I've been admitted through the powerful doors into the Councillor's Meeting Room. Heavy oak desks and tall windows watching over our conversations, just as I'm sure they had with others, countless times before. I left today feeling energized, my mind racing over the issues we had discussed. My thoughts brimming and overlapping as I walked the few blocks home for lunch. Within minutes of sitting down, my notebook was out, my pen scratching ideas down quickly for fear of losing them. My brain consumed by ways to change things, ways to help. 

The focus group today centered around a food assessment project that has taken on the task of working through phase one of their plan: Information Gathering. The main issues outlined by their project are those centered around access, affordability, and barriers to acquiring healthy food. Taking into consideration both income and proximity to food sources, they decided to focus their studies on three main groups of people living in the Westman area. Low income individuals, newcomers to Brandon and Canada, and the Soldiers and their families living out on the Shilo Military Base. It was their hope that this project would have a real community voice behind it and they have worked tirelessly gathering information from participants to help make informed choices and changes for the future. Looking at the food landscape of Brandon, they're working to highlight where there have been successes and where more supports are needed.  

Sitting around the table with the other participants for the day, I was amazed at the sheer amount of shared knowledge in the room. Representatives from all sorts of organizations such as the Brandon Regional Health Authority, 7th Street Access Center, and The Community Garden Network were in attendance. We participated in the survey, answering questions about our own shopping preferences and habits as well as voicing our opinions over frustrations with our current food system. I was amazed to find that almost everyone in the room made the effort to buy local. Almost everyone gardened, canned, and preserved. Everyone who was there was not guided by only a personal desire to see things change, but in hopes that it would provide better opportunities for those in need. 

It felt good to share my thoughts and ideas, what I have seen so far through Fruit Share and my own life growing up in Brandon. We discussed what issues our clients and those who we are dedicated to help might be experiencing. Lack of quality food due to too great a distance from full grocery stores. The increasing number of people who are forced to look to places like Giant Tiger for their weekly groceries. The transition of school-aged children from breakfast programs to the soup kitchen with their families during summer months. The lack of diabetic-friendly foods that are donated for a population where the health challenge is all too common. The need for cooking and gardening education to help increase skills for self-sustainability. 

I left feeling happy to see that there are people with a genuine desire to make the changes necessary to help those who need it. I also left feeling like even with what i'm doing, it's not enough, it's not reaching the full potential of my power. Today I stand steadfast in my belief that our food policies and systems need to change to help provide for those they're leaving behind. In a city the size of Brandon, we can be that voice that asks for change. That demands change. We can be those hands that give to those without, who know generosity and caring. I look at the conditions within which I live and I see how lucky I am. Living with Samaritan House, Helping Hands, and the 7th Street Access Center all within a stone's throw from my apartment, I'm seeing each day the people who need our help. Consider doing what you can for those in Brandon who need it the most during the hot summer months. Donate at your local food banks or consider registering with Fruit Share to make sure your produce is used to it's greatest potential! Visit www.fruitshare.ca and follow us on Twitter @bdnfruitshare.

The Road To Enlightenment

This morning, for the first time, I walked to work from my new apartment.

As luck would have it, we were able to find a place (Ok, a perfect place) within four blocks to my office. One block is uphill (hard to believe on the prairies, I know) and the other three take me down one of the main downtown corridors. My walk took me no more than five minutes, but I was amazed at the mood that I arrived with. I sat down at my desk with a grin on my face and actually said something to myself along the lines of Let's get to it! (Not normal)

Within those four blocks I smiled at numerous people, guessing at where they might be going to. I waved hello to a friend as she rode past me on her bicycle on her way to work. I smiled to myself as I trailed behind a father slowly strolling with his tiny daughter beside him. Obviously enjoying themselves and the cool morning weather.  I breathed deeply as I went past my favorite breakfast place, detecting just a hint of savory meats and toasting bread. I marveled at how fast I could travel, my long legs stretching out happily before me. 

I was worried that I would arrive at the office sweaty and harried. Exhausted and flustered. 

But I wasn't. I was calm and collected. My hair was dried by the wind and for once my brow was free of sweat. My body and mind were both awake and ready for the day that stretched out before me. I always wanted a job that I could walk to. A schedule that would allow for those few minutes of fresh air and peace before the beginning of a busy day. Such a positive first day will be locked firmly into my mind so that at any time I begin to balk about the prospect of walking, I'll turn straight to that channel. To those happy legs and eyes and heart. To the smiles for others and the ones for myself. For the positive attitude and the positive changes it will bring about for both my body and mind. 

Just out for a stroll

Hungry For Change

July has me exhausted, and we're only on day four.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my plan to eat healthy and be more physically active this month. So far, half of that is under way. Over the weekend, my husband and I moved from our second and third story apartment into our new third story apartment. Both of which are elevator-free. If I had to roughly estimate just how many stairs I've climbed over the past week, I'd put it at somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,500. Of course, not just my legs got a workout. My whole body put in a full effort each day until I literally collapsed each night from absolute exhaustion. Although it was physically grueling, I was proud of my strong muscles for carrying my life from one home to another. 

It has never been so evident, with my body working so hard, just how much it needs to keep going. With an empty fridge in both places, I felt at a loss without a cold drink or regenerating snack to reach for. Day one we were both terribly dehydrated. Guzzling full bottles of water when we could get our hands on them. Our clothes covered in salty lines from our gallons of sweat. Not only my body, but my mood suffered greatly with this lack of hydration and sustenance. More than once I was ready to call it quits until my thirst and hunger were sated, giving me just enough steam to push ahead. Still, our fridge sits almost completely empty, our thoughts and efforts still more concerned with mountains of boxes than bags of groceries. My goal to eat local produce turning into a smorgasbord of take-out options. 

I have decided not to be dismayed by this delay in plans, but instead to use it to fuel my desire for change. Does my tummy love me after a week of french fries and meals served in styrofoam? No, not so much. Would it be really excited to be treated now to a whole array of locally grown fruit and vegetables? Yes, very much so. I can't help but feel like this new home is a fresh start in many ways. It's the perfect opportunity to start some healthy routines that will hopefully stick. Tonight I will be at the Global Market and I'm hoping it might be the first evening with some home-grown vegetables for sale. Taking care of both myself and my community at the same time sounds like a good plan to me.

Today I make a promise to myself to not only be caring to my body, but kind. I'm not looking to incorporate more plant-based fare as a punishment, but as a welcome change. I will be patient while I find the best sources for local produce and be forgiving of the times when I cannot uphold my promise. Even with the best of intentions, I know that I cannot be perfect. Five years of being a vegetarian has strengthened my resolve to eat what I know is best for me. I have a sneaking suspicion that once I start, I won't be able to stop. Reducing my carbon footprint and supporting local growers is just the happy by-product of this ultimately personal decision. You can trust that I will be sharing my ups and downs throughout the month (hopefully mostly ups!) and divulging where the best Manitoba produce can be found. Have tips or ideas? Are you looking to do the same and help protect your body and environment? Please share with me at fruitsharebrandon@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, or follow on Twitter @bdnfruitshare. 

In light of a couple of scary days this week, involving Emergency Room trips and visits from the Fire Department, I've got summer safety on my mind. The dangers in Manitoba during the winter have a lot to do with ice, snow, and blizzards. Things that can easily be avoided from the warmth of a cozy home. In the summer, there are different things that we need to watch out for when we can no longer bear to stay inside. It is a season that can be enjoyed to it's fullest, so long as you keep in mind a few mild warnings about summer safety.

With my position coordinating Fruit Share, I've been spending a fair amount of time outside. It's been wonderful to be out in the sunshine, visiting people's gardens and picking rhubarb. Not to say there haven't been a couple of hints that there are things I should be paying attention to. So far I have only suffered bug bites and sunburn, but recent warnings have me thinking I should arm myself a little more carefully in the future. Planning to spend the weekend outdoors? Consider making sure yourself and family are prepared for whatever Manitoba might be bringing.

Perhaps you're planning on going on a picnic or for a barbecue in the park. First, what are you wearing? With lots of sun you're probably dying for shorts and a tank top to keep cool and get some sun. However, you might find that those may not be your best bet. Make sure when deciding what to wear that you consider putting on clothes in light colors. Not only do they keep you cooler, but should you be anywhere near tall grass, they will help you spot any crawly tics (a serious pest this time of year). Going for a hike? Keep tics out of your shoes and from crawling up your legs by tucking your pants into your socks. Although exposing your skin may feel cooler, it ups your potential for skin damage and overheating. Lightweight cotton and linen are good choices when you want to cover up and keep cool. And don't forget about your head! Protecting yourself with a wide-brimmed hat will keep those harsh rays from hitting your face and eyes directly and keep that nose burn-free. 

Of course, underneath those clothes, you need to make sure you have a solid layer of sunscreen on if you're planning to spend the day outside. Dermatologists recommend using at least a full ounce of sunscreen for your full body, applying it 15-30 minutes before heading outside. Make sure that your sunscreen choice is at least SPF 30 and protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Dressing properly and covering your skin will also help protect you from any heat-related illnesses. So will drinking water. Lots of water! It's recommended that in hot temperatures adults should have something to drink at least every half an hour. Waiting until you feel thirsty could be too late. With too much sun and too little hydration, heat exhaustion can set in. Symptoms of this can include feeling very thirsty, fatigued, or muscle cramping. Should that go unchecked, you could be headed towards heatstroke, a serious condition. Someone suffering from heatstroke may experience dizziness, headache, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. Watch for flushed, hot skin without sweating, which indicates dehydration. During heatstroke, the body can reach up to 104 degrees, after which there is serious risk of damage to organs such as your liver, kidneys, and brain. Keep yourself cool by dressing appropriately and keeping lots of fresh, cold water on hand.

Once you've sun-screened and suited up, you may also want to consider what kind of pests might be looking to bug you. The aforementioned tics can be a real pain, but no other is quite as annoying as the mosquito. Nothing can turn an outing from fun to frustrating quicker than the whining beasts looking to feast on your blood. Once you have applied your sunscreen you may then choose to layer on a bit of repellent. When choosing a bug spray for your or your family, avoid products with DEET included in the ingredients, as it can be very toxic. This type of spray should never be used on infants and should be used very sparingly if at all on children. Be careful with sugary drinks and foods to avoid attracting wasps who are eager to share your sweets. When you get home from an outing, make sure to do a throughout check for any bugs you might have brought home with you. Make sure to check armpits, backs of knees, and hairlines as bugs like tics enjoy moist, warm areas. If you're headed outdoors for a hike, make sure to keep an eye out for poison ivy. The oil on the leaves is what causes the allergic reaction, resulting in a rash that can be difficult to get rid of. Poison Ivy is not contagious, but it can be spread through indirect contact. Be sure to give your dogs a bath when you get home if they've been running through the woods as oils can linger on their coats. 

The summer provides lots of fun opportunities to get out with the family for group activities. Going for a bike ride? Make sure everyone has helmets- it's now compulsory for bikers under the age of 18 to wear helmets in Manitoba! Caught without? You can be ticketed under the highway traffic act! 300,000 children a year in North America make trips to the Emergency Room with bike related injuries, keep your kids safe by traveling with them and making sure they're protected. Going swimming? Make sure to never leave children unattended near a pool or body of water. Drownings and injuries are all too common and can be easily prevented with safety precautions put in place. Time for a picnic? Be careful bringing food with ingredients like mayonnaise, eggs, milk, meat, fish, and poultry. These types of dishes should only be kept room temperature for a maximum of two hours and in the sun, less than one. Watch carefully over little ones when roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, a flaming treat can be very dangerous. When putting out campfires, make sure to use water first, as fires that are put out with sand alone can remain very hot for up to eight hours after extinguishing. Most children hurt around campfires are burned by hot ashes or embers the morning after a fire. 

The summer is a time to enjoy the freedom of being able to experience the outdoors.  It is also the time of year where the most injuries, for both adults and children, are reported. Plan carefully so that your can rest assured that in case of emergency, you're prepared. Watch the weather, as conditions can change very quickly in Manitoba, and know where a safe place to go to is at all times. With a little bit of preparation, you can have a summer to remember for all the right reasons. Wishing everyone a happy, and safe, summer from Fruit Share! Make sure to visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @bdnfruitshare 

Everyone deserves a summer this relaxing.

All I've been wanting is a lemonade stand. I've been working diligently, my mind filled with lemons and sugar and stirring. Dreaming up new fruit combinations to make the most refreshing and delicious of summer drinks. However, much to my dismay, I find myself roadblocked by the rules. It would seem that having a lemonade stand is no longer as simple as it was when I was a little girl. 

Growing up in a quiet, residential neighborhood, my brothers and I had our fair share of lemonade opportunities. One stand that immediately comes to mind was when I was probably six or seven and my younger brother and I set up shop in front of our house. My mom made us a sign with beautiful handwriting, advertising Lemonde 10¢. We did not immediately catch her mistake, trying to sell The World (in French!) for a paltry dime. It was unmistakable, the excitement at the prospect of selling something home-made and finding appreciative customers. (Also making our big dollars of course!) Another time, my best friend and I decided to put a new spin on our stand and decided to sell all things raspberry. Jars of fresh berries and an assortment of raspberry candies were carefully arranged on our small table. It might not have been our most successful sale, but here I am, twenty years later with plans of tables filled with sweets and fruit. 

But no lemonade. Not yet. 

It would seem that where lemons and juices are concerned, things are a little stickier. Understandably there are food safe concerns whenever something is being made and sold, but there seem to be extra stiff lemonade limitations. My home is safe for the making of pies, cakes, jams, and jellies. Lemonade requires the use of a commercial grade kitchen for the juicing and mixing for it to be considered safe. And they don't come easy! In planning for our pie workshop, it took me almost three weeks to track down a kitchen that would allow us to bake for free. However, I have made a firm commitment to making lemonade out of these lemons, and finding a way to have my stand. 

Until then, I will continue to dream of exotic fruit mixtures and the satisfaction of squishing a lemon into smithereens. I will dream of my perfect stand, attracting customers like swarms of bees to the hive. I will have to start small, but maybe, one day, I'll take on Le Monde. 

The Dream

I love strawberries.

A bold statement, yes, but one I can truly stand behind. I don't think I'm alone, either. While teaching this past year, I taught my students about the five senses. When it came time to both taste and smell- strawberries were the clear winners. Many students even told me it was their favorite food, this sweetheart of a fruit. With a classroom full of picky eaters, it was amazing to find that there wasn't a single person with a distaste for the juicy berries. With so many attractive features, it's hard to deny the irresistible strawberry.

There are a number of guesses as to where the name came from, including the strewn-berry theory, which accounts for the somewhat uneven distribution of fruit on the plant. I think it makes the most sense that they were called this after farmers learned that putting straw under ripening fruit would help keep it safe from damage and pests. Being such a low-growing plant you wouldn't want all of your hard work ending up in the mud. Strawberries belong to the Fragraria family and are related to roses, apples, and plums. (I always thought the blossoms looked similar!) Their pleasant scent announces their ripeness, to be noted by shoppers, as strawberries will not continue to ripen once harvested. 

Strawberries are a native fruit to North America, long celebrated by traditional Aboriginal peoples. The strawberries we see and buy today are no longer the wild fruit that was once prevalent, but cultivated as a result of cross-breeding. Just like other fruit, growers are looking for the biggest, juiciest, and reddest fruit to send to their buyers. That doesn't seem to have hurt the nutritional content as far as scientists and our bodies are concerned. By eating just eight, medium strawberries, you are in-taking 120% of your daily recommended dose of Vitamin C. With just a few calories you're also going to get a good dose of folic acid, potassium, and fiber. The flavonoids contained within strawberries, which account for the red color, can also help reduce your cholesterol levels. It has also been found that their ellagic acids not only help whiten your teeth by removing stains, but are also strong anti-cancer compounds. 

Strawberries are the only type of fruit that have their seeds on the outside. Each one has about 200 seeds, which are actually considered their own mini-fruits, due to their location. The number of strawberries that are produced in one year in California, if placed end to end, would wrap around the world 15 times! North Americans aren't the only ones who love these heart-shaped treats. Ancient Romans were true worshipers of the strawberry and believed they had the power to alleviate symptoms of melancholy, fainting, fevers, and blood disease. Today, fresh strawberry juice can still be recommended to reduce fever, and with the addition of honey, can help calm and sooth sunburn.  Medieval stone masons even used to carve the likeness of the fruit on their alters and around the tops of cathedrals and churches as a symbol of perfection and righteousness.  In Bavaria, farmers used to tie little baskets of fresh strawberries to the horns of their cattle and send them into the woods.  It was believed that the elves who resided there loved strawberries above all others and that these offerings would yield healthy calves and abundant milk. 

It only takes strawberries three days to turn from green, to white, to red. An astoundingly quick maturation process that allows for an almost continual harvest during their growing season. With our late start to Spring this year, I have yet to hear that the Manitoba strawberries are ready for my sampling. I've been dreaming of cakes and jams and freshly whipped cream. I'm not sure whether anyone will be willing to share their sweet bounty of strawberries with Fruit Share this Summer, but it is my hope. Should you find yourself with an abundance of the berries, please don't hesitate to register at www.fruitshare.ca or contact me at fruitsharebrandon@gmail.com. (Unless they're going to the elves, I know how much they like them.)

This Friday, June 21st, marks the Summer Solstice in North America. 

Summer Solstice, or Midsummer Day, occurs when the Sun's rays are directly lined up with the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees North of the equator. This allows for the longest period of daylight in the year for those in the Northern Hemisphere, a reason for celebration for many countries and cultures. The word Solstice comes from the Latin word Solstitium- sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), which helps to describe the day that never seems to end. Traditionally, it was known as the wedding of heaven and earth, a day of alignment with the cosmos. For farmers, it meant the midpoint between the hardships of planting and harvesting (and a much needed rest). The sunshine on this day is said to have strong restorative powers, making those who revel in it appear younger and healthier. Even the morning dew, if walked through with bare feet, is said to make one more viral and less prone to illness. 

Across the world, the Solstice invokes the spirit of celebration with parades, concerts, and festivals. In Sweden, they have a country-wide Midsommardagen festival to honor the day of light. Little girls are known to collect nine different types of flowers, and on the eve of the Solstice, they place them under their pillows so that they might dream of their future husbands. The day of- men, women, and children all wear freshly woven wreaths and dance about the maypole.  At Stonehenge, near Salisbury England, many gather as they have for thousands of years to greet the rising sun. It is tradition in these countries, along with many others, to try to stay up all night, singing and dancing around a bonfire. Special events are also prevalent in North America, often with additional environmental and ecological themes. 

So what will you do with the longest day of sunlight? Have a bonfire and roast marshmallows as the sun slowly dips into the night sky? Go camping and enjoy the benefits of relaxing in nature? Go on a fishing trip and try your hand at outdoor cooking? As David Suzuki points out, this "Longest Day of Play", is not to be wasted! For myself, I'm unsure what I will do. Perhaps it will have to be that first bonfire of the year, or a drive out into the countryside. With the thought of thousands, maybe millions (!), of people out celebrating the day, I know I won't be inside. I may not be singing or dancing, but I will be actively appreciating what a beautiful country I live in and how much I love the summer sun! 

My reasons for running off to Sweden only grow...

I once borrowed a novel from a friend, possibly many years back now, that planted the seed of an idea in my brain. I don't think it was a particularly good book, but the beginning held something enticing that lured me in. It started off with a woman in her cozy, home kitchen, baking pies. The author went about describing them in delicious detail, the perfection of the crust and warm filling, the care at which the woman wrapped and placed them into boxes. I was in love with the idea of this kitchen filled with fragrant, sugary delights, and quickly imagined myself in her shoes. It only got better as it was revealed that this woman's only purpose in life was to deliver these pies across town to those who were in need. From there the story became something a bit more tragic and unhappy, but the pie part, the sweet part, stuck. 

So where do I find myself years down the road? Packing boxes with warm, freshly-baked pies, and carting them around town to local charities. It feels again like one of those plans that my brain made without me. Little steps over many years that have allowed me to live out a dream. To deliver pies and see those expressions that I had only imagined in the past. And they didn't let me down, not one bit. In fact, I was almost overwhelmed by the sincere surprise and thanks that I received. Each time I turned to walk away I had a grin that couldn't be contained on my face. With the first donation made, I was already dreaming up what I could make next before even returning to my car. With the next, my heart swelled as a Volunteer at our local Samaritan House reacted with shock and delight at being told that the pie was for them to enjoy as a thank you for being a part of our mission. As my vehicle emptied, my heart grew fuller. (I know, I'm getting a bit sappy, but there are few things in my life that have warmed my heart so much.)

I didn't plan to make pies for any selfish reasons, for the rewards or accolades they might bring me. The reactions and gratitude I received were my surprises, my gifts. It was worth burned fingers and a messy kitchen. It was worth bug bites and tired arms and hours spent sweating in the sun. I may still have thought to make pies had I not read the book, but I recognize that little seed it planted, now all grown-up. The reality of it was much more rewarding than what I could have imagined or hoped for. I feel very fortunate to be in a position where I can make others happy and have the same in return. I must admit that this feeling, the one I get each time I share with my community, has got me hooked. I encourage anyone with the heart and time to help to please join our mission by visiting www.fruitshare.ca to sign up and help make our city just that much sweeter. 

A Better Me, A Better Community:

Today, I'm home sick.

At first, I was concerned that after the weekend off, a day on the couch would put me terribly behind. I was hugely relieved to find that my laptop works with remarkable similarity to the desktop in my office (surprise!). So here I am, pajama-clad, and messy-haired. Why? Because somehow this Fruit Share business has worked it's way deep into my psyche and I can't stop thinking about it. 

Also, because I've decided it's time to make a change in my life. A promise to do better for myself and follow the advice that I give. There is no doubt in my mind that I am home today because my body is trying to tell me to take better care of it. I don't want to feel sick because my system is trying to work out the garbage I put in it. So much so, that it decided that it wanted no more to do with all the chemically-sugary-fair that I treated it to over the weekend. 

My body has been trying to tell me for years what it doesn't like. It doesn't want all the sugary drinks that I think are refreshing. It hates the heavy, yeasty bread that sits preserved on shelves and on top of my fridge. It really doesn't want the dirty oils that flash-fry the processed treats that make my mouth water. It does not need full-fat, extra cheese on top of the pizza. I know all of these things, and yet I can't convince my brain of it. 

I've been a vegetarian for going on five years. I made this decision, amazingly, as a New Year's Resolution in the middle of one of the coldest prairie winters that I remember. At the time I was spending countless hours working out in the gym. Counting calories, grams of protein, fiber, and fat. I had a personal trainer who was sculpting my muscles into that of some kind of She-Hulk. I ran, I cycled, I pumped, I sweat. The change came as an addition to these healthy life-style hobbies, but also as a final push to do something that I had thought about my whole life. My reasons are many and it's a choice that I've stuck to since, despite the sometimes difficult ramifications. (Turning down holiday turkey can come off as kind of cruel to the person who just spent a dozen hours perfecting it). 

It the aftermath of a very difficult period of time in my life, I find myself looking to get back to that lifestyle. My approach has changed a bit. I'm no longer going to train like i'm headed to the Olympics, although I did love feeling that strong. I want to ride my bike in the sunshine and use my muscles digging in the garden and navigating the push-mower. I'm not going to count each calorie, but I'm going to be tough about what actually goes on my plate. I've been touting the importance of eating fresh and local, and that's what I aim to do. On the brink of turning 28, I'm going to start to actually listen to my body. It may know more than I give it credit for.

So, my plan, for whoever is interested in the goals of a late-twenties, vegetarian, local-produce-pusher. I'm moving into the very center of downtown starting July 1st. I will be within walking distance to both the garden I coordinate and the office where I work. I will use my legs and other connected muscles to get there on a daily basis. I will break-up with the foods my body hates and vow to only buy locally produced grains, fruits, and veggies (with addition to locally raised meat for my carnivorous husband). I will eat only food that has been grown and shipped from within Manitoba, Brandon-area when available. I will pay it forward and put what I have to spend back into the community. I will watch my mood, energy, spending, and waistline. Maybe I'll surprise myself, and the ripples of this decision will spread further in the pond than I think possible. 

Have suggestions? Comments? Want to help cheer me along? (That always feels good!)
Find me at fruitsharebrandon@gmail.com- @bdnfruitshare on Twitter- and www.fruitshare.ca on the World Wide Web.
Also, on the couch for the remainder of the afternoon with a cup of tea and a nice, soft pillow. 

Waste Not, Want Not

Today, June 5th, is World Environment Day (WED). An event that is being celebrated across the globe, open to anyone and everyone looking to help make a difference. WED began in 1972 and was first set in motion at the opening of the Stockholm UN Conference. It is one of the main vehicles that the United Nations uses to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues. This year, their main focus is their "Think, Eat, and Save" campaign, urging individuals to use less and waste less food. According to their research, 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted each year, enough to easily feed the starving population of Sub-Saharan Africa. Their plea is that we consider more closely how we use and discard food, making a commitment to reducing our foodprints.

At our current state, with over 7 billion people spread out over the earth, it is evident that we cannot continue to misuse valuable, natural resources. At the moment, global food production takes up 25% of habitable land and is responsible for 70% of fresh water consumption. (Seems a little greedy to me!) One cannot help but be alarmed to find that 80% of deforestation is directly due to food production, as is 30% of the greenhouse gases threatening our climate. Doesn't it make sense that we start purposefully selecting food with less environmental impact? Especially when you learn that 1 in 7 people in the world go to bed hungry every night and that 20,000 children under the age of five die daily from hunger. That's with an estimated 1/3 of global food production finding it's way to the garbage instead of the dinner table. 

Need any other reasons to become involved and consider the message that WED is sending out? Here's a couple! It gives power to individuals to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.  It celebrates achievements made towards protecting the environment and highlights the strength of collective decision. It also strives to encourage everyone to do more with less and to work as a whole in an effort to force food production processes to become more efficient. The regenerative capacity of our planet has been exceeded and it's important that in looking to the future we find ways to provide for the millions and billions of people who will come after us. 

Improving our lives as a result of improving the environment is called Euthenics, and it is something that everyone can have a hand in. Buying locally and buying organic are ways to help protect the environment from added harmful substances such as pesticides and fuel emissions. Buying less, spending less, and wasting less. I will do my part by not only making a commitment to wasting less food in my own home, but making sure that less of our local produce is lost. It is to our advantage that WED is looking at the same goals that Fruit Share Brandon is, giving a boost to our mission. Providing for those without, making smart choices about how we treat our environment, and working to reduce the loss of fresh food through waste. 

Want to learn more and get involved? Visit http://www.unep.org/wed/ for more information on World Environment Day and www.fruitshare.ca to register and help in your own community. 

Tonight, I make jam.

It will not be the first time that I take on this task and hopefully not the last. However, this jam has to be the most delicious of my attempts, because it's going to be shared with others. Potentially many others! That to me indicates that this has to be the best jam I've ever made- period. (Ok, going to ease up on myself a bit....best rhubarb jam ever made. Period.)

There are a few instances where the making of jam stands out very clearly in my mind. The first is my Mother making jam in our kitchen while I was still very young. I remember accompanying her as she visited a friend, who lent us a very strange looking contraption for the making of our spread- jelly- to be specific in this situation. I can't quite put all the pieces together in my mind, but it was a type of sieve, removing peel and seeds as the hot jelly oozed through the mesh. My mother had raided our chokecherry tree in hopes of making the tart little berries into something a bit more palatable. I remember wondering what Certo was and what wax had to do with the making of something to eat. I was close at hand while she made this jelly, watching as the fruit mixed with generous doses of sugar, boiling happily on the stove. I can clearly recall the beautiful, opaque color that filled the perfect row of jars that lined our fridge. I  don't remember the taste, but I'm sure it was a welcome relief to the always shocking taste of a raw chokecherry.

I also remember making jam with my Grandmother, strawberry this time. My grandparents could always be counted on for at least one annual pilgrimage to a local strawberry U-pick farm. Strawberries on ice cream. Strawberries in pie. Strawberries to be stirred over the stove endlessly, waiting for them to thicken. My grandmother had found tiny little jars to fill with jam to give to my brothers and I. My love for anything delicate and dainty, I treasured these little pots of preserves. I had no interest in eating it on crackers or toast, a small spoon directly from jar to mouth worked best. For many years, and to this day, strawberry jam has remained my favorite. I can't help but attribute it to the fact that I got the real deal, made with love and aching stirring arms.

The third sticky memory that immediately comes to mind involves my two brothers and both of their girlfriends. A couple of summers ago we all found ourselves squeezed into an apartment kitchen, our eyes all trained on the boiling pot. The sweet scent of sugary pin-cherries filling the space and steaming up the windows. It amused me and warmed my heart to watch both of my brothers take their turns in stirring, clearly interested in the process. Extra hands helping carefully put jars into a boiling pot of water and take them out again, prepping for the final step. Again, the beautiful light color of pink, the perfect cherry blush. A group effort, a shared success.

Tonight I go it alone, unless my husband becomes curious about my culinary craftiness.  Should you care to taste the sweet rewards of my fruity devotion, come down to the Brandon Global Market this week, where samples will be available. Warning: I may just hug you if you tell me it's the best ever. Period. 

Stiff competition...

Today my thinking

Is feeling fluffy.

Like soft little clouds,

All light and puffy.

My thoughts are consumed

By sunshine and sky.

Wish I was a bird

And knew how to fly.

Above and around

The tops of the trees.

Resting my wings while

I play on the breeze.

When swooping down fast

To catch my next meal.

I speed towards earth,

I plummet with zeal.

I'll sing my best notes,

And not miss a key.

While building my home,

A nest in your tree.

I'd dance in the rain,

I'd eat all your bugs.

I'd ask you for nothing,

Not even your hugs.

If only I could,

Fly up with the birds.

Make my dream real just

by saying the words. 

Today has been a very good day. 

Perhaps it is due, in part, to finding myself taking more risks as of late. Not jumping motorcycles over buses or breathing fireballs risks, but choices and actions that require bravery. This may not be terribly impressive to someone who boasts natural courage, but I grew up being very shy. I was the child in the back of the room trying my best to cover my entire face with my bangs, speaking too quietly to hear. With tummy-aches and sweaty palms at school concerts and ballet performances. I remember in Kindergarten being so nervous before the Christmas concert that my Rudolph nose wouldn't stay stuck because of my sweating. My small, Cancerian self was prone, more often than not, to withdraw to a place where I could watch others carefully. I always envied Franklin the turtle, his little world tucked away inside of his cozy, green shell. Over time, however, I found that my shell was not particularly cozy. It became inevitable that things would have to change and while working my way up through adulthood, I've managed to shed most of my extreme shyness. Not to say that certain circumstances don't still make me want to crawl under a rock and go to my zen place (it's really nice there), but I'm getting better. 

Growing up, children are taught that the hardest things in life are the best things and that success has to be earned. Good advice, but pretty broad in the spectrum of life lesson guidelines. No one ever warned me that it would be scary going after the things I wanted. That I would have to give up some things in favor of others. That not everything would work out and that it was going to suck, a lot. I suppose I wouldn't have wanted to hear it anyways, and to tell the truth, I'm glad. If I had known how hard I would have to work, just to get to the beginning, I may not have started. 

Sometimes you spend a long time waiting for things to work out, carefully arranging all the small pieces to fit together. Sometimes you don't even realize that you're building something bigger. For example, this Spring I took a chance. Living in the second and third floors of a big house without yard space for myself, I knew that without some action I would miss out on any kind of gardening for the year. I knew that a friend in the city was somehow involved with community gardens, and although it's completely against my normal instincts, I reached out to ask how to get involved. My first meeting turned into me enthusiastically agreeing to be the acting garden Coordinator, a shock and a dream come true! Since becoming involved, I have found a picture taken of the gardens when they were first started. At the time I had remarked on it's beauty and I remember being amazed by what had been constructed from nothing. I saw this picture, this garden, for the first time five years ago! Does that mean that somewhere in my subconscious I've been secretly planning and keeping an eye out for just how to make it a part of my life? Is it coincidence that it is the same friend who first told me about Fruit Share? A huge portion of my life at the moment is all due to one choice, to be brave. 

It amazes me to look back and find how each piece of my personal history relates to where I am and what I'm proudest of now. With each decision that I've made to do something out of the ordinary- move to Kuwait or volunteer in Central America- I've faced opposition. People telling me not to, warning me that it's not what's best for me. I'm glad that I was brave enough not to listen. That I was courageous enough to know what was best for me in both the short term and the long run. I think it's time to quit second-guessing myself for good, to make the commitment to doing what I know will make me happiest and most successful in the long run. It makes me very happy to find myself where I am now with the opportunity to help make a difference in our community. I can't help but feel that this is one more piece being carefully laid at the beginning of something bigger. Something that I can grow and build on from where I'm at now. If it means the success of Fruit Share and the betterment of this city, I promise to be brave. I will ask for donations, I will hold workshops, I will make calls to important people on the phone (that one I still struggle with). I encourage you, readers and supporters, to be brave as well. Do what you know is best for your community and lend a hand any way you know how. One way is by helping Fruit Share by being either a volunteer or fruit owner- please register at www.fruitshare.ca and follow us on twitter @bdnfruitshare.

The Outdoor Dilemma

In my professional career, I have spent my time focused on two main areas. Children and nature. As an early years educator and environmental enthusiast, I have always searched out ways to connect the two. Planting a new tree with a class of Kindergarten students. Helping elementary schools in remote Mayan villages plant community, organic gardens. Taking classes on nature walks and field trips to local greenhouses and parks. Each time I involve children with nature, their enjoyment, wonder, and imaginations are clearly engaged. I have found that it doesn't take a lot to convince a child to become excited about the outdoors, to get dirty in the name of nature. 

My personal experiences have shown me that children not only want, but need to spend time outdoors. However, studies show that children in North America only spend an average of 4-7 minutes in unstructured outdoor play each day. In fact, the term Nature Deficit Disorder has been coined to describe just how little time children spend in the great outdoors. In the last two decades, it would seem that children have moved indoors, changing the way that they play. Scientists fear that through this loss of regular contact we may find ourselves with future populations of biophobic adults. Individuals who have very little interest in preserving nature and it's diversity. A somewhat disturbing idea when thinking about our next generation of stewards for the Earth. 

So why is it important that we encourage our children to get outside? A myriad of reasons that seem almost common sense to those with a personal love of nature. With child obesity rates doubling in the last twenty years, we need to encourage children to get their daily exercise in a natural way.  While playing outside, children develop muscle strength, coordination, flexibility, as well as fine and gross motor development.  They use their whole body to explore their environments, which helps to increase their perceptual abilities.  Smelling flowers or feeling the grass underfoot provides much more input than what a computer or television can offer, which limit the use of young senses.  Children who spend their time outside develop stronger immune systems, the increased levels of Vitamin D helping their bodies grow strong and ward off illness. 

Not only is being outdoors better for their bodies, but fresh air is good for their brains. With a generation of stressed-out kids (soaring new levels of pediatric prescriptions for anti-depressants), nature has the ability to reduce anxiety and improve the mood. Studies have shown that children who suffer from ADHD are much better able to concentrate after contact with nature. Even in adults, stress levels decrease significantly with the sight of green space (the more the better!). Outdoor play has been shown to enhance imaginative and creative play as well as promote problem solving and leadership skills. It fosters language and collaborative skills and gives children opportunities to meet and make new friends. It allows for the development of independence and autonomy, and teaches children to learn how to better assess risk. Students who attend schools with environmental education are proven to have better test scores and show more developed reasoning skills. 

A love of nature is an important supporting factor in helping children develop environmental ethics.  So how do we get children outside, especially when parents are overwhelmed with their number one concern, safety? Parents need to act as models for their children, taking them to explore parks, creeks, ponds, and trails.  Teaching children to be "watchful" as opposed to "careful" can go a long way in educating them how to recognize and deal with danger as opposed to being scared of it. The best way to make local neighborhoods safer is to be active in your own community, walking or cycling the area often. Get to know your neighbors too, they will help keep an eye on your children and watch out for them when you may not be around. Another idea is to buddy up with another family, taking turns in bringing the children to green spaces and playgrounds. Making your backyard fun and friendly with small natural spaces for your children to take ownership of will also help encourage kids to choose outdoors instead of in. This spring, as you plant your beds, consider giving a small plot to your children. Letting them choose what seeds they want and having the job of taking care of it will help teach responsibility and the love for growing things. Get outside and get active, a goal that will make your whole family healthier. 

Looking for other ways to show your children how to appreciate nature? Volunteer with Fruit Share at www.fruitshare.ca and do a favor to your family and community. 

I'd say this little dino is having fun in the great outdoors!

The Buzz on Honeybees:

Today, I spent the morning doing a fair bit of research on our friends, the honeybees. Recently, my interest was piqued as I stood beneath a plum tree in full bloom without a single bee to be seen. I mentioned it to my mom, who could have sworn that there had been previously in the day, but I was unconvinced. Every other year I had to dodge and duck carefully to find my way to the center of the tree, where I would stand, motionless. The hum of the honeybees surrounding me as I did my best to take in every last bit of scent that my olfactory senses could handle. This year, no hum. No bees. I considered that perhaps it was the weather, not quite sunny enough or perhaps there was a threat of rain in the air. I also considered that maybe this was what I had been hearing about, the disappearance of the honeybee.

I was taken by surprise after completing my research to find that today is, in fact, the official Day Of The Honeybee! So, in their honor, I will do a little bit of bragging. Bees have been around for the past 30 million years and there are over 20,000 recorded species of bees to date (with suspected many more who tend to by on the shy side). They can be found on every continent (minus snowy Antarctica) and in every habitat with insect-pollinated, flowering plants. A colony of honeybees can have up to 20,000- 60,000 inhabitants living with one queen (who is busy laying 200,000 eggs a year!). Their tiny wings have the ability to complete a full stroke 11,400 times per minute, which is why they emit their buzzzzzzzing sound.  Honeybees communicate with one another through dancing, demonstrating with their bodies the direction and distance to the best flowers. Honeybees are also great teachers as young bees are not born knowing how to make honey, but must be taught by the more experienced.  

Given that their job is to find the most beautiful flowers, I have always somewhat envied honeybees. Until I learned just how much work they do. Per trip away from the hive, honeybees visit an average of 50-100 flowers. Their fuzzy little bodies have an electrostatic charge, which helps them attract pollen, which is then stored in little sacks on their legs. A bee can fly all the way around the world on just one ounce of honey eaten, but to make one pound of honey they would have to fly 55,000 miles and tap 2 million flowers! The average bee only makes 1/12 a tsp. of honey across the span of it's entire life. Perhaps I should start using a little less on my toast...

Not only is their job more difficult than I had assumed, but they also face many dangers in their line of work. Assassin bugs wait for them in flowers and birds pluck them from the sky as they fly home to safety. Not to mention the environmental change-related stress that has been discussed in the media, which stands as one of the main causes for the disappearance of honeybees. Common insecticides used on blooming plants and in the treating of seeds kill many, both through direct poisoning and contamination of their food supply.  Feral honeybees are now almost completely absent with the decreased availability of diverse wildflowers, due mostly in part to the intensification of agricultural systems. It's estimated that a queen bee must lay up to 1,500 eggs a day just to replace casualties.  

The term Colony Collapse Disorder was coined in 2006 when Scientists first started to notice the rapid decline in honeybee populations. They were finding that worker bees from hives were abruptly disappearing, leaving colonies to suffer and die off. This pattern was found to be the same all over the developed world. In 2012, a new study published found that these pesticides they studied were more harmful than they had originally thought.  They discovered previously undetected ways that bees were being exposed to the toxins through dust, pollen, and nectar. The toxicity in the bees' bodies resulted in a brain malfunction, hampering the bees' ability to return to their hives. In April of 2013, a peer review from the European Food Safety Authority, declared that these pesticides pose an unacceptably high risk to bees.  The European Union has since banned the use of several of these products for at least the next two years. 

Due to this loss in population, growers demands for beehives far exceeds the available supply. Many practicing apiarists, or bee farmers, are now in the business of contract pollination. This has overtaken the role of honey production and is due to the increased size of fields and the practice of monoculture (only planting one crop- bees like variety!). Still, it seems clear that we are falling short when it comes to honeybee repopulating and protection. With estimates that over 1/3 of all the food that humans eat depends on pollination, shouldn't we worry? Why did it take almost ten years to ban the pesticides that we knew from the beginning were harmful? On this fourth annual Day Of The Honeybee, I'm going to take a minute to be thankful for those that still remain, and make a pledge not to use products that are harmful to our environment. Support the bees and your community by getting out and planting a wild array of flowers. Then you can enjoy the honey in your tea, knowing you're keeping things buzzing. 

Want to further help your community? Visit www.fruitshare.ca and follow us on Twitter @bdnfruitshare

I like to dig
Out in the dirt
I'll dig until
My fingers hurt

Neat rows for seeds 
Deep holes for trees
While hunkered down
On hands and knees

I greet the worms
Who crawl and creep
They're kind of shy
Don't say a peep

My nails and hands
Are caked with soil
The sun shines as
I work and toil

My shovel is
My trusty friend
It's strong steel blade
Will never bend

It helps me plant
Delicious fruits
Making homes for
Their tiny roots

The two of us
We make a team
Bringing to life
What I can dream

I dig as much
As one should dare
And treat my yard
With love and care

The Ants Go Marching...

Each day when I drive to the Fruit Share office, I travel past one of our largest, local grocery stores. As I sit at the lights, I watch as people make their way towards the Great Cement Alter Of Food. All drawn by the same thing, the need for sustenance and supplies that they cannot make or forage for themselves. (Where is that bagel tree hiding?) It is the people who travel by foot that I notice most often and that I take the most interest in. Carrying their reusable bags, not rushing, but seeming to enjoy their pilgrimage through the heart of the city.  I couldn't help but begin to see these shoppers as lines of ants, gathering their share of goods, before returning quickly home with the spoils of their visit. Perhaps these shoppers aren't carrying 20 times their weight above their heads, but they seem to follow a similar path.

I read a statistic recently stating that the weight of all of the ants in the world is equal to the weight of all the humans in the world. I tried to figure out how many ants that could possibly mean were crawling all over the planet, but I couldn't. (Then I started thinking about how many were underground and I got a little crawly). A foraging ant is known to travel up to 200 m from it's nest in search of food for it's colony. They keep track of how far they have gone using a natural, internal pedometer, which keeps count of how many steps they have taken away from the anthill. How many steps would a human be willing to go, especially in North America, to find their next meal? Aside from mammals, ants are the only other group where Scientists have observed interactive teaching. Ants use a technique called tandem running to help show others where and how to find a located food source, slowing down or speeding up to ensure that the new ant finds their way. Ants go so far as to form chains using their bodies to create bridges to go over water, underground, or through vegetation. To avoid floods they fashion themselves into floating rafts. Now that's teamwork! 

Within an ant colony one can see distinct evidence of eusociality- or the highest level of social organisation. A cooperative division of labour where everyone has a job and everyone knows what they need to do to help provide for the group. Among leaf cutter ants, there are very specific jobs for the planting and growing of their fungal food source. The largest of the ants work to cut leaf stalks in to the tiniest pieces they can, the medium ants chew up the leaves, and the smallest of the ants plant and tend the fungus gardens. In the bigger picture, ants have a great number of symbiotic associations with other insects, plants, and fungi.  They also act as a food source for other predators who looking for a good meal. I doubt they even complain about it.

Of course, not all ants are friendly and cooperative.  There are some, such as the Australian Bulldog Ants, that don't really  know how to get along. However, for the most part, I think that the way that ants act as a collective can be used as a source of inspiration. Looking to the bigger common goal, providing for each other in a fair and caring way. Imagine if all of those people headed to the grocery store were not only providing for themselves, but ensuring that everyone in their neighbourhood had dinner for the night. In once again taking a lesson from nature, I'm going to strive to be the best worker ant I can be. Collecting and donating food to make our colony (community!) stronger and healthier for all those living within. If you want to assist us in building this bridge to food sustainability, please bright it in together and visit www.fruitshare.ca to register.

The ants go marching five by five, the little one stops to take a dive...