Thanks to the recent rain, vegetables in our garden are thriving. Unfortunately, Red Russian kales did not survive aphids attacks, and I had to remove them, but both Pilgrim Cabbages and regular collards are enjoying fall weather.

I am still starting lettuce seedlings and transplant them into the garden, hoping we can continue to make salad mix in the fall. We harvested and brought some cabbages to the market last week. We will bring some more (not many, though) this week, together with German butter potatoes.

Did you see this giant zucchini at Gabriola Farmers’ Market last Saturday?

I had noticed that there was a zucchini growing big but had been ignoring on purpose because I did not have courage to harvest… I knew there was a snake (or two, or more) living in the zucchini patch… Finally, on Saturday morning, I dared to go there before sunrise, without wearing glasses so I wouldn’t see it if there was a snake, and harvested the giant zucchini! Many people came to see it, talked about it and even took a photo of it. Eventually, close to the end of the market, one biker bought it.  I hope he biked home safely and enjoyed several loaves of zucchini bread.

There are always unexpected things happening in our garden. Do you remember that the beets we planted in spring did not have “worth-to-harvest” roots at that time?  Well, some of the seeds which did not germinate in spring decided to do so now and produced these beautiful tubers.  I cooked classic borscht with them on Sunday.

Another surprise is: I never thought wheat could grow at our place but this one popped out of our straw mulch amongst eggplant and Chinese broccoli. Plants are very good at seizing their opportunities.

Every Wednesday I catch a ferry before lunch time to go to Island Roots Farmers Market, so I bring my lunch instead of eating out. In Japanese packed meal, typically for lunch, is called “Bento”. Here is my Bento last Wednesday, with cooked brown rice topped with “Umeboshi (salt-pickled Japanese plum), teriyaki chicken and sautéed Chinese broccoli.

The word, “Bento”, originally meant “good opportunity or convenience” in 12th century China. When the word was brought into Japan at the end of 16th century, different Chinese characters were applied and started to mean “packed meals”, typically prepared for soldiers and labourers for castle construction. During subsequent Edo period from 17th to 19th century when economy flourished, people started to enjoy Bento in various occasions such as cherry blossom season and during Kabuki or Noh theatres. Since then, both the package and the food in it progressed into more visually appealing, delicious and nutritious, present-day Bento. You will find endless variety of Eki-Ben or Station Bento featuring local delicacies at every major train station across Japan. Or “Chara Ben” or character Bento featuring cute animals and anime characters.

I hope there will be Gabriola’s own Ferry-Ben in the future!

Our market schedule is as follows:

• Island Roots Farmers’ Market: Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, 3 – 6pm on Wednesday
• AGI Market: AGI Hall, Gabriola, 10am – 2pm on Saturday

Thank you for your support and reading our newsletter. Have a wonderful week!