Thank you from our Garden in Sierra Leone

Slow Food Vancouver Island received a lovely thank you note from our Slow Food  garden leader in Sierra Leone. But the thanks really belongs to you our members and supporters, who made our Sketches from Trauma Farm evening and silent auction November 12 such a success.   His e-mail is copied below along with some images.

THANKS TO YOU FROM SIERRA LEONE

Dear Slow Food Vancouver Island supporters:

It is with great joy the members of the Slow Food community gardens in

Sierra Leone have learnt about your generous financial donation for the

maintenance and repair of their community farms and garden tools. This will

enable us increase productivity and fetch us considerable increase in our regular 

income. Thanks to Slow Food Vancouver Island in Canada.

 

The advantage of having Slow Food gardens in Sierra Leone can be seen

clearly. Most of our produce is now sold to the local school boarding home

management and the school community. The project has helped hundreds of

people receive food from the gardens planted in homes, schools and

communities, particularly people who can't  grow food for themselves -

like orphans, venerable children, the sick, the elderly and the

desperately poor. 

 

However, the unexpected blow to the community of the Ebola outbreak left an

indelible mark on a whole range of people and communities in our country.

A huge number of these are the children and women, many women became widows

and children became orphans.

 

Kudos to the Slow Food Vancouver Island members for their immense, valuable and meaningful assistance to the 72 orphan children identified by the Slow Food members in the Slow Food gardens communities in the country. This assistance has made life for these

venerable kids indeed more comfortable for which we are very  grateful.

Our sincere gratitude goes to you for their support.

 

 "I WANT TO MEET BROOKE AND HIS MEMBERS OF THE SLOW FOOD VANCOUVER  ISLAND ONLY TO SAY MY PERSONAL THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO THEM FOR THAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME” SAYS MISS MEMUNATU, A NINE YEAR OLD CHILD.

Sincerely

Ibrahim Mansaray, Slow Food Leader Sierra Leone 

Slow Food Presents... Sketches from Trauma Farm | Nov 12th & 13th

Sketches from Trauma Farm (A Rebel History of Rural Life)

Theatre and a great cause! Slow Food Vancouver Island proudly presents a clever new play

This funny and poignant one act play starring Vancouver actor Richard Newman is adapted from Brian Brett's acclaimed book Trauma Farm by nationally-known playwright and author Charles Tidler. 

A Saltspring Island farmer, Brett is making the trip from his farm in the Gulf Islands to introduce the show. Newman is known for his Shakespearean roles and voice acting in animated productions such as Transformers and Wolverine. The playwright Charles Tidler had a lot of powerful material to draw on. 

Brett's vivid writing translates perfectly into meditations on farm life. Richard Newman's performance captures Brett's constant astonishment about the strange and marvelous ways of the world.  With "often raucous" moments, as the Globe and Mail said about the book, “there are no punches pulled about the pleasures and pain of farming."

Proceeds from Sketches from Trauma Farm go towards Slow Food Vancouver Island's ongoing efforts to support local farmers, chefs, the preservation of heritage seeds and breeds, education and Slow Food International's 10,000 Gardens in Africa program which aims at creating sustainable food communities through school gardens.

Meet author Brian Brett at a post-show reception with small bites and beverages, then peruse the silent auction offerings.

“Each day I learn from the animals how to pay attention. The plants teach me patience.” – Brian Brett

Tickets are $20 for Slow Food members  & $25 for non-members

• Saturday, November 12 - 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm)
  Odd Fellows Hall 1315 Douglas St. in Victoria
  Click here for tickets
• Sunday, November 13 - 2:30 pm (doors open at 2:00 pm)
  Metchosin Community House,  4430 Happy Valley Road
  Click here for tickets

Members $20, non-members $25
Click here for tickets


Our  community supporters include: Royal Dinette, Pilgrimme, Wild Mountain, Ten Acres Bistro;  Spinnaker’s Brewpub; The Abkhazi Teahouse, Saltchuck Pie Co., Sookesquatch Salt Co., Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel (Vancouver), Sirene Chocolate; Whole Foods; The Garden Path/Carolyn Herriott; Lush Cosmetics; Organic Fair Chocolate; Laurel Point Inn; Hotel Rialto; Oak Bay Beach Hotel and more to come.

This promises to be a special event. Please bring friends!
 

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About the Garden

We are supporting the Slow Food 10,000 Gardens in Africa project at Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School, Bwera, Uganda.
Our Slow Food leader at the school, Buletwomu Nelson, raises awareness among young generations about the importance of food biodiversity. Elders share their knowledge of traditional plants and practices. Ideas are exchanged with other gardens. This project enables participating schools, families and hospitals to have healthy, fresh food in every season, and to set up meeting places for exchanging knowledge.

If you would like to make a contribution for our silent auction contact Linda Silverthorn at lsilverthorn@shaw.ca 
250 478-5175

Chefs Alliance Afternoon at Ragley Farm | September 25th 2016

Spend an afternoon at the farm while feasting on the bounty of another successful growing season! Join us at Ragley Farm on Sunday, September 25th as we celebrate local food and those who produce it. Meet your farmers and enjoy a family-style menu created by two Slow Food Chef's Alliance members - Brad Holmes (OLO Restaurant) and Oliver Kienest (Wild Mountain). Chefs Brad and Oliver have collaborated to create a casual menu for sharing - bringing together members of our local food community for an afternoon of food and conversation. 

Date: Sunday, September 25th

Time: 2:00-6:00 pm

Price:

Members - $40.00

Non-Members - $50.00

Optional Drink Pairing - $15.00

Click here to purchase tickets!

AGM April 24 2016 At Agrius

Join us for the 2016 Slow Food AGM

Sunday April 24 2016

Agrius — 732 Yates St.

This is a free event.
Please RSVP to info@slowisland.ca

All members are welcome to join us for the AGM. Non-members are welcome but cannot vote on any decisions.

Agrius has generously offered to host us. A platter of charcuterie will be provided, and the drink menu is availble for those who wish to order a beverage.


3:30pm - Greetings and food

4:00pm - Meeting called to order


Meeting Agenda

• Convivium Year in Review 
• National Meeting & International Check-in 
• Treasurer's Report 
• Communications & IT Report 
• PR Report 
• Nominations for open positions 

We have several positions open for nomination on the board and would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining! Meetings are held once every few months depending on upcoming events, and can be attended in person in Victoria, but by distance via Skype if preferred. 

Membership Coordinator
Work with the convivium leader to promote and coordinate memberships, liaison with Italy, and communicate directly with our members and past members as needed.
Secretary
Attend board meetings to facilitate recording action items as well as following up to distribute notes to those not able to attend.
Co-Events Coordinator
Work with our esteemed events coordinater Christine Smart to organize and promote regular food-focused fundraisers
Gardens in Africa Liaison
Connect with the international Gardens in Africa project, helping to support local community gardens and indigenous foods.

Slow Food National Summit in Invermere | April 6-10, 2016

Visit the Slow Food Canada website for more information