Feast of Fields

Your twit/facebooker/blogger Allison here, saying thanks, on behalf of the Feast planning committee, to all of our fantastic participants, sponsors, volunteers and guests. You made our first Okanagan Feast of Fields a fantastic success! We're looking forward to 2010, and encourage you to stay connected on Facebook and Twitter for details. We'll be taking a wee break from all the online social networking, but will keep you up to date as we start planning for the second Feast.

There are a few photos posted in our Facebook group -- please feel free to post yours as well, we'd love to see more shots of everyone enjoying the Feast. You can also read articles about the Feast from Andrew Morrison of Scout Magazine, Deana Lancaster of the North Shore News, and on Coleen's Dish from Coleen Christie of CTV News. If you've posted on your own blog, photo stream, Twitter account, please let us know by leaving a comment below.

And don't forget to tune into Terry David Mulligan's Tasting Room Radio for coverage of the Feast, coming up September 5th. Check out TDM`s website for times and stations. Finally, stay tuned to Aspa Photo, where (once Greg goes through his thousands of shots) there will be oodles of photos of the event.

And if you`d like to know how The Love Boat may be relevant to next year`s Feast, surf on over to our twit Allison`s blog at All She Wrote. Seriously.

We hope you enjoyed the Feast, see you in 2010!

Hi Rhys,

There's an article about the Feast of Fields in today''s Kelowna Daily Courier, and I posted a copy of it plus photos online at http://bcvineliving.wordpress.com/

Cheers, Julianna, bcvineliving@gm

Rhys..

Great news..what a day this will be.

Please let folks know that Tasting Room Radio will be doing a 2 hour special on Feast of Fields and 24 of the participants who are taking part. The show will then run..on the Labour Day Long Weekend..Saturday Sept 5th. Times, list of participants and stations can be found at www.tastingroomradio.com

Here's to Sunday!!

TD Mulligan, tdm@tastingroom

Your gracious planning committee is thrilled to report that the first Okanagan Feast of Fields is sold out! We'll see the lucky ticket holders at the Feast on Sunday, and if you didn't get a ticket, be sure to follow us on Twitter, as our twit/facebooker/blogger Allison will be live-tweeting from the Feast, as well as a few pre- and post- Feast events. You always wanted to know what goes on at a volunteer meeting, didn't you? And if she can tear herself away from the food and wine, maybe Allison will even do a bit of live-blogging...

One week to the Feast! Be sure to follow us on Twitter as our twit, Allison, will be live-tweeting from some exciting preview events such as...volunteer training! And hey, if you know some great musical acts who'd like to join us on August 23, get in touch with our fearless leader, Rhys, by emailing him at

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Heading to the Feast of Fields? Be sure stop at our marketplace, where you'll be able to fill your Choices eco bag (thanks Choices!) with fresh produce and dozens of other local, gourmet-inspired goodies.

For example...Caramoomel -- our blogger/twit/Facebooker Allison just loves that name -- is known for their caramel spreads, including a chocolate raspberry caramel fondue spread. Heaven. Not to mention their apple butters, veggie caviar, and dark chocolate sauce with merlot. Caramoomel Natural Fine Food Creations is family-run and farm-based in Kelowna.

Speaking of farms, how about picking up some Herbes de Provence, or Lavender Tub Tea Boxes from Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm? Their property was first planted in 1994, and is also a family-run business with culinary, bath and home products. Have you ever had lavender lemonade or lavender scones? It's not just for making your laundry smell like the south of France!

Little Creek Gardens will be at our marketplace with their yummy salad dressings, such as Spicy Strawberry and Cherry Balsamic, and Taste of the Okanagan Specialty Foods will be there with herb mixes, chutneys, salsas and more. Personally, our blogger Allison is anxious to try their recipe for Okey Dokey Burgers with Peach Chipotle BBQ Sauce and Applie Chutney.

And to wash all of your fresh, local purchases down, how about a stop at Raven Ridge Cidery, and their iced cider, made from apples, and now pears. Quebec's not the only place to find iced cider!

Many other local growers and foodie-inspired businesses will be at our on-site marketplace. See you there!

I have a garden at the community garden plot in Westbank. We are having a blast, and it has been more than rewarding picking our own lettuce greens, cucumber and tomatoes.  There is great satisfaction knowing that we are being earth friendly and still having a great time, good family time.

robyn

Hi Rhys,

I've just checked out every word on this site and am really looking forward to working as a volunteer.  I've sent out a few emails with the website and hope to spread the word to those not aware of it yet.  Thanks for getting things started in the Okanagan.    Kerry

Hey folks! We're looking for a few more volunteers to take on some tasks before, during and after Feast of Fields. If you can help out, send a message to our chief organizer, Rhys Pender. We'll make sure you have a good time sampling the menu. Send an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

See you all at the Feast!

Is there anything quite like fresh off-the-vine produce? Personally, I (that would be Allison, your blogger/twit/facebooker) absolutely love the scent that my tomato plants leave on my fingertips after I've watered them, which I've had to do every day diligently in the recent heat wave in the Okanagan. Knowing I grew them, without the use of anything but dirt, sunshine, and H2O, is very satisfying. And growing enough for a simple, but delicious, tomato-basil-feta salad? Perfection. I even grew the basil!

If you don't have the space to grow your own fruit and veggies, why not find out if there's a community garden in your area? You can "rent" a plot of ground for your salad ingredients, and perhaps even donate some of the extra to your local food bank. Check out Green Living guide online, where you'll find a community garden info for several major cities in Canada, or call your municipality to see if they have information and a plot of land available for a garden. If not...why not?

Ok, maybe Okanagan Feast of Fields isn't exactly "dinner", but there will be good food had by all. And good wine; we are blessed to have both here in the Okanagan, amidst spectacular surroundings and our famous summer heat. There will be no rain on August 23, we promise.

So, who's coming? On the wine side, we will see Burrowing Owl (famous for their Sonora Room restaurant), Mission Hill Family Estate (their terrace was once named best winery restaurant in the world), Quail's Gate (yet another great place for fine eats, the Old Vines Restaurant), and our title sponsor, Sumac Ridge Winery (home of the Cellar Door Bistro) for starters. More and more Okanagan-area vineyards are opening fabulous patios and terraces, engaging some of Canada's best chefs to create memorable meals. We're kicking the gourmet factor up a notch here in the Okanagan, and the chefs coming to Feast of Fields will be paired not only with a winery, but with a farm, to produce local, sustainable nibblies.

Joining them are 8th Generation Vineyard, fruit winery Elephant Island Orchard Wines (have you had Stellaport? You must!), Orofino Vineyards, Rustic Roots Winery (another great fruit winery), Blue Mountain Vineyard, Joie Farm Wines, certified organic Rollingdale Winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery (home of the Sunset Bistro, and yes, an actual pyramid), and Lake Breeze Vineyards; Joie's winemaker, Heidi Noble, has a fabulous book:  Menus from an Orchard Table.

On the food side, if recent culinary events in the Okanagan (Celebrity Wine Weekend in Osoyoos, as an example) are any indication, we are in for some wonderful dishes made with fresh, local ingredients by some of the area's, nay, Canada's top chefs. You can check out our growing list of participants, restaurants, sustainable suppliers and even more participating wineries by visiting our participant page.

Be sure to warm up your taste buds for a spectacular afternoon al fresco, gourmet experiences, showcasing the many terroirs of the region. Truly, the Okanagan is fast becoming not only destination for wine enthusiasts, but for chefs and aspiring foodies alike.

Blogger, facebooker, twitterer (twit??) Allison, here, with our first big post! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, and check out our Facebook page so we can keep you up to date with all that's happening with the first Okanagan Feast of Fields. It's going to be fabulous!

Our host farm, Valentine Farm in Summerland, BC, was on hand at this weekend's Farmers' Market, held every Saturday morning in downtown Penticton. You'll see their fabulous line-up of gourmet, organice wine vinegars -- hello, who wouldn't want to try Pinot Meunier Red Wine Vinegar, the French make champagne with that grape!-- at numerous shops and wineries around the Okanagan. Their farm is organic, and it has a riparian area that is protected via an agreement with The Land Conservancy, AND they run their farm under the qualification of an environmental farm plan. A perfect fit for Feast of Fields.

What is Feast of Fields, you may ask? It's a gourmet wandering harvest festival, and FarmFolk/CityFolk's annual fundraising event. With a wine glass and linen napkin in hand, you can taste the very best of BC from chefs, vintners, brewers, farmers, and food artisans. Connections are made between producers and chefs, food producers and consumers, and farm folks and city folks. These connections provide an increased awareness of and appreciation for local food and agriculture. Feast of Fields is a gastronomic journey towards a sustainable, local food system.

But back to the Farmers' Market. This weekend there was lots of lettuce, radishes, and asparagus to be had...that is, if you got out of bed before 10am and hustled down. Many Okanagan producers of arts and crafts, along with honey, baked goods, organic meats and more, bring their wares out each weekend. Speaking of honey, do you know what this is? It's a recycled home for Mason bees. I don't know what Mason bees are, but I'm sure they're impressed with this lovely piece of reclaimed architecture.

In the Okanagan, there are many markets to visit. The Penticton Farmers' Market is every Saturday in the 100 block of Main Street, starting at 8:30am. The Naramata Community Market is Wednesdays from 4pm to 7pm at Wharf Park in lovely Naramata (give yourself some time to stop at a few wineries along the way). The Summerland Farm and Craft Market is Tuesdays at 9am. In Peachland, check out their Farmers' and Crafters' Market on Sundays at 10amm in Heritage Park. The Kelowna equivalent is Wednesdays and Saturdays at the corner of Springfield and Dilworth at 8am and through the summer, there's an evening market on Thursdays at 4pm. Vernon has a Friday night market at the Wal-Mart parking lot at 4pm, and a Farmers' Market at the Multiplex Arena at 8am on Mondays and Thursdays. Armstrong hosts their market at the I.P.E. (Interior Provincial Exhibition) grounds at 8am on Saturdays, and (phew!) the Shuswap Farm and Craft Market takes place at Piccadilly Place Mall in Salmon Arm on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8am.

Wherever you are, check out the fresh bounty of your area. We'll see you at the market!