UPDATED - BUS SERVICE AVAILABLE: Edible food is the focus of two events this Sunday, August 7: the Powell River Edible Garden Tour and the 50-Mile Eat Local Challenge.
For the third year, the Edible Garden Tour will showcase various backyard plots around Powell River, giving locals a look at unique ways to grow fresh produce in their own gardens.
“It’s an opportunity for people to go around and see how other people are growing food,” said David Parkinson, coordinator of Powell River Food Security Project and both events.
Some of the gardens featured are very new, while others have existed for years. Some are in wooded areas, have light or soil challenges, or are put together on a restricted budget. “It’s kind of educational and inspirational for people to just see how other folks are dealing with some of the issues they may have,” said Parkinson, adding that organizers have tried to select a wide range of garden examples.
Ten properties are featured this year on the self-guided tour. Five will be shown in the morning, followed by a short lunch break before five more in the afternoon. “You sort of make up your own route so as long as you go to the morning gardens in the morning and the afternoon ones in the afternoon, it doesn’t matter what order you take them in,” said Parkinson.
In past years all of the gardens were within city limits, but organizers have extended the reach of the tour this time around. Four of the five morning gardens are in Lund with others in Wildwood, Cranberry, Townsite, and Westview.
Another new element of the tour is a picnic in the yard of Daphne Wilson and Owen Gaskell, owners of one of the afternoon’s featured gardens. Tour-goers can bring a bagged lunch to enjoy on the five-acre property between noon and 1 pm.
Sunday, August 7 is truly a great day for local food enthusiasts. Not only is it tour day but also the kickoff for the sixth annual 50-mile Eat Local Challenge. Powell River residents are encouraged to unleash their inner locavore by eating only food grown and produced within 50 miles for a 50-day period. The challenge is designed to conclude on September 25, the final day of the Fall Fair.
“We’re trying to get people focused on eating locally at this time of year,” said Parkinson. “Many people are already doing that to a high degree, but the idea is just to focus people’s attention on it.” A blog and Facebook page will be set up for participants to share their stories and recipes.
That same website is also where readers can find the Edible Garden Tour guidebook, complete with information, addresses, maps and driving instructions for each of the gardens. “We’re really encouraging people to get their guidebook off the web,” said Parkinson, adding that several printed guidebooks are available at Mother Nature, Springtime Garden Centre, Breakwater Books and Coffee, and Kingfisher Used Books for those without the means to do so.
The guidebook also contains clues for a food literacy treasure hunt, organized by Powell River Literacy Council. “We did this last year and it was fairly popular so we’re doing it again,” said Parkinson. After solving the clue at each of the gardens, tour-goers will hand in their guidebook at the end to be entered in a draw. Prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Sunshine Organics/Ecossentials and a free Good Food box.
The Edible Garden Tour is free of charge, but donations will be accepted at any of the featured gardens. The tour runs from 9 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, August 7.
Bus Service
Through City of Powell River and BC Transit, a bus service for the Edible Garden Tour on Sunday has been established. The bus will leave the north end of Town Centre Mall at 8:30 am for the morning gardens, returning at approximately 12:20 pm. It will then leave for the lunchtime picnic and afternoon gardens at 12:30 pm. Everyone is encouraged to use the bus if possible: it's a way to save some gas that would be used by dozens of people driving separately in their cars, and have a relaxed time being chauffeur-driven to garden destinations.
