Salmon Cakes with Greek Salad for Growing Eden

Salmon Cakes with a Chermoula Marinade and a Greek Salad

For the past few years, while my daughter has been in university, she has been involved with Growing Eden which is a project of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities and Farmers on 57th. Growing Eden is a community program where a group of dedicated volunteers and staff provide neighbourhood families living on low income with the tools, resources and instruction on how to grow and cook their very own produce with weekly hands on training.

Many of us shop at farmers’ markets or try to eat locally or seasonally on a weekly basis. Many low-income residents have been priced out of a healthy diet because of the high cost of these same fresh fruits and vegetables. Across the country they do not have access to fresh food, making them disproportionally affected by obesity, diabetes and other health problems. Getting 5-10 servings of vegetables and fruits per day helps to prevent disease and reduce health care costs. Fresh produce is a necessary part of a healthy diet but it is often beyond the means of many low-income families and rarely provided by local food banks.

At Growing Eden all gardening supplies are provided and families take home what they grow each week. The aim is to improve the wellness of many by teaching them to plant, grow and harvest personal vegetable gardens. Free of charge, the organization provides low income families with classes on how to cook on a budget.

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Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. 

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Chinese Proverb

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A garden is a physical oasis, a peaceful place where people can work with their hands, or just relax, surrounded by green, growing things. Gardens also help build community by offering a place outside work and home, where people can leave their worries behind and enjoy one another’s company. Such gardens can improve nutrition, physical activity, community engagement, safety, and economic vitality for a neighborhood and its residents.

Throughout the season my daughter, who has her bachelors in Food, Health and Nutrition, heads cooking classes in their outdoor kitchen to give these urban farmers the tools to create nutritious, seasonal, and delicious meals on a budget from what they have grown themselves. They provide  recipe handouts and instructions and tips such as how to use dried beans. The participants come away with  life long skills and invaluable knowledge. Growing their own food gives people a sense of pride and ownership, changing the foods they prefer, especially when the produce is cooked well.

Support is generously provided by the United Way that helps people plant and consume healthy vegetables through this program. To help fund their project my daughter and a few dedicated volunteers have created a cookbook that is now available. All the recipes in this cookbook were made in their outdoor kitchen in beautiful British Columbia. Purchase a copy and see how easy it is to eat healthily on a budget. With recipes like Kale Stir-Fry with Warm Tahini Dressing, Vegetarian Posole, Barbecue Tandoori Paneer and Green Goddess Grilled Salad you will see how easy it is to prepare healthy and delicious meals on a budget. Today I made the Salmon Patties with Chermoula Marinade and a Greek Salad. My daughter is an amazing cook and has out surpassed my own skills by a mile.  Please support them in their efforts by purchasing your copy. You will find a few sample recipes on L'il Burnt Toast's blog "Growing Eden." You will also find a link to their cookbook in my side bar. Your support would be greatly appreciated!!

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