Food Glorious Food

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
Columnist offers free garden space

By Patrick Cummins
An Alternate Aspect

There are two ideas I would like to try and address this week, the first is “Food, glorious food” as the kids, in the musical 'Oliver', sang. Ah yes indeed, the mere mention of good food is enough to send many a good man, me included, into quivering raptures (as my girth all too obviously attests).
I remember the feasts of my travels, from ô-á-chian (Oyster omelet, made with eggs, oysters and Garland chrysanthemum leaves) followed by pearl milk tea in Taiwan to a slice of abalone on the seafront of Hermosa Beach in California. From pigs' tails and 'kraut in Kitchener to a proper blood pudding in Liverpool, the range and style of food is endless. Titillating, tempting, alluring, beguiling, tantalizing, the adjectives are never ending. So it is particularly galling that in my retirement years I live in an area with a paucity of good kai. (Now, don't say you don't at least learn from this column, kai is a New Zealand expression meaning solid food).
Don't get me wrong, good basic food is available but it is the nuances, the little extras, that are sadly missed. This may be caused by geography or circumstance and, in many instances by governments that support inept and inefficient farming practices and then have the temerity to tax you, the consumer, and subsidize these feckless producers. Indirectly encourage them to produce inferior product. Also we are limited to only two main food stores, which shall remain nameless, one of which, if it continues to improve at the current rate, could well achieve the status of mediocre in three or four years and the other of which, although it seemed to start with good intentions, has now unfortunately re-branded itself and presently retails largely drek and welfare style foods.
But, the season is upon us when we can break free and live a little, enjoy some exotic cuisine. The bounteous season of fruits and vegetables is approaching. A chance to save; for the average family I would estimate over $800 or more if you venture into making relishes and preserves and even cakes with your produce. Front line crops in this battle to liberate us from the purgatory of store-dictated, carcinogen-laden produce are zucchini and beans, both easy to grow and bountiful in output. Tomatoes, although a little less forgiving, are well worth the effort. It might be worth noting that one of the benefits of the fall of the Soviet Union was that native Russian varieties (Silvery fir, Black Russian etc.) became readily available in the west and gave us a more robust and stronger-tasting product.
Remember also that this produce can be, if you choose, pesticide free and truly organic; a healthy treat for all the family. Add in a few extra crops like onions, radish and parsnip and your vegetable requirements will be met for almost eight months (allowing for the storage of squash and onions, etc.).
Which brings me to the second point. St. Stephen is a fine town in a great location but it does need a bit more pride, a little more involvement from all of us. Can we help each other to make St. Stephen a better, more caring place? If you continue to read on, please do not just put the paper down and say “good idea” or even “rubbish” and nothing more. If you can, follow through, do something.
I would propose that many in town with children and/or in straightened circumstances would indeed like to grow their own produce but do not have anywhere to do it. I am, by this column, offering a couple of families or individuals access to my garden to grow a few vegetables. They would be responsible for maintenance and clean up, but they are welcome to use my tools, the only caveat being that they will donate about 20 per cent of their output to a local charity. Just contact me by e-mail.
Can you do the same or similar? Will you help? St. Stephen has so much to offer, be a prime mover in realizing the potential.
Thank you.

Patrick Cummins' column appears every second Friday. Catch his latest column on Friday, June 27.