Wow. I just went to the new Kingsland Farmers’ Market here in Calgary. Yes, it’s grassroots, and  yes, it’s in a parking lot in the middle of the urban sprawl that is Macleod Trail, but who cares!!! What a great feeling to just stroll outside and talk to the farmers.I’m very excited about the new vendors and the potential this market has to nourish Calgary families. Straight from their website, the KFM says that they desire to be “the bridge, the connection between families, farmers and their food.” Love it.

One of the most exciting things about this new market is the abundance of Gluten Free options that have represented. Speaking as someone who spends her time talking to families about the benefits of reducing or in some cases eliminating gluten or wheat from their diet, I can tell you that the arduous nature of this task is never met with excited, happy-to-hear-it ears. Families are always flumouxed when they hear “Gluten Free” and often respond with, “But what will my children eat??” Well, the vendors at the new market have got it going on!! “Wild Maize Bakery” has a lovely little selection of gluten free flour blends that incorporate vegetable powders right into their cookie mix, and a great, yummy gluten free focaccia that would be perfect for pizzas for the kids. Their mission is to help families transition to a gluten free lifestyle.  ”Sugar N Spice Gluten Free Bakery” has a beautiful gf focaccia as well, and also does lovely, light breads and cakes. “Twisted Basil” is doing all sorts of interesting things with to-go style gluten free salads that you could pick up in a pinch, plus they have gf muffins and savory dips. Even Community Natural Foods is there with a selection of wheat free baked goods.

So yes, all you Gluten Free Families, it’s time to blast south down Macleod Trail and get your wheat free buns over to the Kingsland Market. Life can be tough going without gluten, but this innovative, switched on group of producers has made it a lot easier.

So last week, my good cheffy friend, Wade Sirois and I traipsed across southern Alberta with 20 nutrition students. Wade is Chef/Owner of Forage Foods and Infuse Catering. Within his business, he works primarily with locally grown food, and his motto is “Eat food you know, from people you know.”  After spending a day with Wade and our hard working farmers, the students at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition now know WHY they need to know where their food comes from.

While  standing ankle deep in the 24 inches of mineral rich top soil that Gert Lund has on his organic farm, one student remarked, “Now I understand- when we eat food that is grown in dirt like this, our bodies benefit from all the extra nutrients”. And she’s right. We are so privileged to live in farming country. When I was a child, I thought that a trip through the prairies was so incredibly boring. Now the vast landscapes of lush green plants is more exciting than shoe shopping to me, as I continually imagine all those great nutrients getting sucked up by the bodies of my growing kids. Why would we NOT eat food that comes from around here? Why would you spend your hard earned dollars on gala apples from New Zealand, that have taken a month to get to your plate, when you could buy a beautiful, deep green bag of nutrient dense spinach from Lund’s? And if you eat food you know from people you know, then you can trust that the QUALITY of your spinach is second to none. Because I have met Gert, and shaken his hand and heard his stories, I know he would never put even a drop of pesticides on his crops. I know that life is tough for him because of this, but that he continues to farm this way, anyway, because he loves his plants, the earth, and your health, THAT much.

Next time you shop, head over to a farmer’s market. Stick out your hand and meet the guys and gals that grow your food. Ask tough questions, and demand quality. Engage them, buy from them, and thank them. Support them. Because if our local farmers stop producing due to lack of demand, where will your food come from? Not from 24 inches of topsoil, I can guarantee that. And when your good food is gone, your health is gone. Chew on that.

So the most fearless Goddess I know, Stacey Harding,  and I have been tossing the idea around of putting our better food ideas out there in a larger way. Good thing Stacey is a Producer, in the Film and Television sense! She has created this fab blog, www.growlocaltv.blogspot.com, where the two of us will be sounding off about where the joy of eating has gone. She is working diligently on spinning this idea into something visual, so keep checking back, cuz you will be seeing moving pictures of our own little Food Revolution very soon!

We encourage you to post your thoughts and watch us grow!

Photo courtesy of the illustrious Clay Enos, www.clayenos.com