Saturday, September 21, 2013 | Main Hall, Saanich Fairground
Supported by the North & South Saanich Agricultural Society and the Southern Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association
The fifth annual “Saanich Peninsula Harvest Feast” will be held at the Saanich Fairground on Saturday, September 21, 2013. This annual community celebration of Peninsula food and farms features contributions from local farms – virtually all food has been grown or raised on the Saanich Peninsula within 10 km of the Saanich Fairground (with the exception of cranberries from Yellow Point).
The event will open with a wine and cider tasting offered by Muse Winery, Dragonfly Hill Vineyard & Winery, DeVine Vineyards and Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse. Celebrants will enjoy a hearty seasonal feast, followed by scrumptious desserts showcasing the diversity of fruit grown on the Peninsula – including magical lemon meringue pies made from North Saanich lemons. And, of course, the feast would not be complete without heavenly fresh–pressed apple juice from Farmer Phil!
This is a not-for-profit community event designed to be as affordable as possible for families and seniors, in order to encourage more people to use locally-grown foods in their everyday diets. This year, our focus is youth in agriculture, and net proceeds from the event will be donated to the 4-H. Local 4-H clubs make a significant volunteer contribution to the Harvest Feast. Ticket prices are: Adults $25, children (12 and under), $10; a BYOP (“Bring Your Own Plate” – bring your own table setting) option is offered at $25 and $7. Tickets are on sale at Breadstuffs Bakery (Brentwood Bay), Fresh Cup Roastery Café (Saanichton) and The Roost Farm Centre (North Saanich). Get your tickets soon, as the event sells out quickly! Advance tickets only!
The dinner strives to be a “zero-waste” event through recycling and composting. Food wastes are collected during food preparation and after dinner, and offered to several lucky local pigs. We suggest that BYOP diners bring their own kitchen dishes and clean them afterwards, or consider alternatives to paper plates, since they compost down much slower than other types, like bamboo. Your BYOP dishes should also be able to handle lots of hot food and steaming gravy.
We are also looking for energetic volunteers to help with setup, service and cleanup. Interested individuals should call 250-812-1312 or email feast@islandfarmfresh.com.
The event is supported by the Southern Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association and the North and South Saanich Agricultural Society. The main course will be prepared by Zanzibar Café (Brentwood Bay). Other local restaurants and bakeries contribute by preparing the dessert menu. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information on the Harvest Feast, call 250-812-1312 or visit www.islandfarmfresh.com/harvestfeast.