The funky offspring of the Galiano Club, the Food Program began in 2008.
The Galiano Community Food Program strives to ensure that Galiano Island is a thriving, livable, food-secure community, where every resident feels included, welcome and empowered to build a deeper connection with their food system. In so doing, the Program improves Galiano’s ecological sustainability and community resilience in the face of climate change and uncertainty. The program seeks to set an example that reaches beyond our local community and spreads across the country.
Food Program Blog
The Magic of Community by Alison Colwell
Traditionally on the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, people stayed awake all night, keeping a bonfire burning, in an effort to call the sun back.
We have a bonfire at our Solstice celebration too, but for me, the important thing that we are calling and creating is community.
The Sixth Annual Solstice Potluck Celebration is all about gathering with your friends and neighbours, sharing some wonderful food, watching the kids arriving at the hall in a lantern procession, chatting around the fire, and enjoying the entertainment of talented locals. The Solstice night is all about creating the magic of community.
It’s that community magic that supports us when we are sick, and need an extra meal, or when the farmers have produce to spare, and volunteers turn it into soup for the community. It’s the magic that happens when you need something picked up in town, insulin brought from the vet, or help when you need your kids looked after for a couple of hours while you work. It’s the magic of a community of people who go beyond all the time.
That magic, the magic of the season, is something that exists all year on Galiano. It’s the magic of a community that works hard to take care of all its citizens.
The Solstice Potluck Celebration is a recognition of that magic. Dozens of volunteers work to […]
The 2nd Great Pumpkin Kitchen Party
This Sunday, December 8th at 1:00pm at the South Hall, we’ll meet to prepare, cook and divide up the Giant pumpkin donated to the Food Program by Glenn Bellhouse.
Bring a container, because all volunteers will be leaving with pumpkin, and bring your biggest spoon as we try to retrieve all those seeds for roasting.
Solstice Potluck Celebration – Sat Dec 21st
Be sure to save December 21st for the Annual Winter Solstice Pot Luck Dinner. The doors will open at 5:00 with the Children’s Lantern Parade leaving GIRR at 5:30. Dinner will start at 6:00 with entertainment after.
The bonfire will be started at 4:30, and there will also be soup available outside, for those that want to enjoy the fire (and not face the crowds!)
This is a wonderful winter season event you won’t want to miss. If you would like to volunteer (there are lots of opportunities for this) contact us at galianofoodprograms@gmail.com
(Photo by henny.ca)
Kids Lantern Making Workshop
The Annual Kid’s Candlelight lantern parade marks the beginning of the Solstice Potluck. There will be a lantern making workshop on Monday December 9th at the Activity Centre from 3:30pm till 5pm, for all kids that haven’t made their lanterns yet.
Please bring a large glass jar (1L canning jar is perfect). All other supplies will be provided.
There is no charge for the workshop.
Community Kitchen – Thai Cooking
We have a Thai Inspired Community Kitchen led by Orion Finnie, former chef at La Boheme Restaurant, on Dec 5th at 5:30pm. We’ll be learning how to make Phad Thai,Thailand’s famous rice noodle dish.
We’ve held this class for the last year and it fills up fast, everyone has a lot of fun. Register early if you don’t want to be disappointed.
Please bring containers to take home food, and a $15 to $20 contribution.
Registrations are required – we are limited to ten people.
(Photo by henny.ca)
Hearthside Instructor – Dana Weber
Dana Weber, Artisanal Baker behind Raven Ridge Farm on Galiano, sells out of his hugely popular breads every week at the local market. Dana was one of the founders of Uprising Breads Bakery, and he spent many years in the co-operative movement developing and leading workshops that invite group interaction and hands-on participation.