on August 25, 2010Thanks to the growers and to all who made our BowFEAST 2010 local eating and harvest celebration a smash success! (Please see OFFICIAL THANKS, below.)
Despite the sweltering heat, we had upwards of 600 folks come through the Saturday morning farmers’ market on the library lawn Aug. 14, and most vendors sold out. It was also just lots of fun! There was some great live music, beautiful displays and a festive vibe. Kids made “seed balls” with bee-friendly wildflower seeds; kids sold lemonade and cookies; we hosted some educational workshops on ag topics such as beekeeping and raising chickens. And there was some handsome produce, preserves and lavender sachets. Did anyone see Aubin van Berckel’s enormous cabbage?
On Saturday evening, we had a feast for 22 starring mainly Bowen-grown fare in our garden under the arbor James built. The evening was balmy, with twinkling lanterns, crickets chirping and meteor showers. We were treated to pulled pork sandwiches, roasted root vegetables and potatoes (from our garden), bruschetta, Gulf Island goat cheese, quiche, hearty beef stew, Indian-spiced vegetables, a refreshing cucumber cocktail, apricot-lavender smoothies, blueberry kuchen, blueberry crumble, blackberry mousse, strawberry pavlova, BC wine and some home-brew port. We added some Cocoa West Bowen blackberry truffles as a chaser. Whew!
Laurel Wickberg Bailey reported: “We had local wild salmon in a homemade apple cider and pineapple-sage sauce, roasted yukon gold potatoes with leeks and fennel.”
What did you serve at your BowFEAST? Any recipes to share? Just post in the comments here!
OFFICIAL THANKS:
Thanks to the growers for braving the hot sun and bringing some handsome produce: Marion Moore and Jean Jamieson, Marg McConnell and Drew Burgess, Rosie Montgomery MacDonald, Daphne Fargher, Susan Proctor, Clemencia Braraten, Suzan Phillipe, Julie Cree, Eva Kepasova, Kim Howden…Thanks to islanders for showing up and buying locally-grown food. Nearly everyone sold out! Thanks to the folks, especially Reidun van Kervel, who donated their produce proceeds to the BICS school garden—we raised upwards of $80!
Thanks to the fantastic musicians for lively music: Sarah Haxby, the Chill Billies (Lorraine Ashdown, Susan Munro and Liz Watson), Prudence and the Bear, (Sarah Haxby and Gerald Morrisseau) and Jordan Barnes Crouse on electric water bottle. Thanks to the library for lending us the lawn. Thanks to the speakers who presented educational ag workshops.
It’s a great community event, but a lot of work to put together, so we want to especially thank all the folks who made it happen: Julia McCaig, Jen McGowan, Stuart Cole, Ellie Mackay, James Glave, Sabrina and Duncan Glave, Sally Freeman, Bruce Howlett, Leah Walker, Cathy Bayly, Paul Tenant. Thanks Jim Clark of Blackbear Transport for the truck—not sure we would’ve made it without you. Thanks to First Credit Union for the tent. Thanks to Tim Hausch for hanging the banner. Thanks to all the Bowen retailers who joined in, especially Artisan Eats/Tuscany, the Bowen Island Cold Beer & Wine Store and The Ruddy Potato.
And finally, thanks to Bowen Island Community Recreation for supporting and to Bowen Island Municipality for the generous grant.
