FOOD: Making the Most of the Seasons

There are so many things we can all do year-round to save money on food, support local food systems and connect with out community in a fun way. By thinking ahead and consciously we can eat filling, delicious and nutritious meals that we can feel good about. It`s time to go back to thinking seasonally and taking advantage of the amazing food culture of Montreal.

Continue reading to learn more about our suggestions for seasonal food tips.

Getting Started in the Spring

• Foraging in the city and in the country.
• In the Wild: Dandelions (soup and salad) fiddleheads, nettle (medicinal tea/soup) morel mushrooms
• Join a wild foraging tour to learn how to identify plants
• Gueilla Gardening: Sow wild edibles in the warm months to start harvesting in spring!
• Perennials in the garden - spring harvest! Kale, spinach, herbs, swiss chard, greens (planted previous year and insulated over winter)
• Greenhouse growing - build or buy one to start seedlings early, protect delicate plants and use a heated one to grow food year round.
• Seed swaps and seed libraries
• Start your own seedlings (when appropriate)

Making the Most of Summer and Fall

• Garden! Community garden, backyard garden, balcony garden, farm share
• Guerrilla garden
• Gleaning (fruit trees) and foraging
• Work-trade for food and WWOOFing 
• Ordering a C.S.A basket

• Extend the growing season: Hoop houses, cold frames, insulating containers
• Preserving the Harvest: Taking advantage of your local farmers market
• 
  

What about Winter?

• Mushrooms - Oyster, Reishi, Elm, Shitake 
• Micro-greens and sprouting
• Kitchen Gardening: Herbs and lettuces                                                                                      >Use fluorescent grow lights. Fruit-bearing crops such as peppers will need at least 12 hours of light each day, plus regular watering and misting to counteract dry indoor air.                    >Choose small varieties suited to container gardening.
• Hydroponics (build a system for under $200!)
• Window farming
• Home aquaponics

GENERAL TIPS!

• Shop smart and realistically.
• Cook more from scratch
• Save – and actually eat – leftovers.
• Store food in the right places.
• Avoid clutter in your fridge, pantry and freezer.
• Treat expiration and sell-by dates as guidelines. Use your sesnes.
• Keep track of what you throw away and think about ways to reduce food waste.
• Donate to food banks and farms.
• Buy in bulk.
• Meal plan - and don`t shop hungry
• Potluck and share food when possible.
• Find community food events - samples, free food and low-cost meals