Get Fresh Blog

A word about convenience… sometimes it just works out to stop on the way home.

It is a sunny Tuesday afternoon and I am taking Dad to the hospital for another CT Scan, a follow up to his brush with cancer. I asked Elisabeth for a quick local shopping route; she knows Saanich well and quickly responds with a one hour route and a one-stop route. Dad is feeling drained after the CT Scan, so when I ask him, “Scenic route or short route?” he chooses the short route.

We drive north on Helmecken and turn left on Burnside Road West, following Elisabeth’s directions. A short drive down the road and there it is on the right, with a big bold sign: Granny’s Farm Stand. I pull over and read the smaller sign that says “Eggs Only. No produce. Farm stand closed because Granny passed away.” Sigh, sad to see. So we turn around and head home.

“Do you want to stop at the grocery store?” Dad asks me.

“Nah, the point is to find local food.” Then the idea pops in there. “Actually, there’s a place I’ve been meaning to stop. – I see it every time I pass on the bus on the way to Victoria. It’s less than 5 minutes from home (in the 17 Mile area).”

Daisy Farm

Eggs and Produce says the sign hanging cheerfully on the sea side of Sooke Road. I make the left without holding up a line of cars behind me and drive over a wooden bridge, crossing Vetch Creek, into the beautiful shaded garden, complete with ponds and various statues.

I meet Diane, who moved to Sooke in 1973, but has been farming the current piece of land for the last 10 years – a labour of love. She was kind enough to take me for a tour. We cross the creek again by foot bridge, into the field and into the garden, guarded by a high deer fence. Her produce grows well here in the fertile, moist soil next to the creek. (Unfortunately I do not have my camera with me, or there would be WAY more photos here!)

Fresh Picked

She asks me what I would like (I feel like a kid in a candy store) and picks it right in front of me – you don’t get much FRESHER than that! I tell her I am working on a salad / greens / picnic theme this week and choose a bagful of spinach, large handful of Swiss chard, a huge head of “Cheddar” variety of cauliflower and gigantic, long and very fragrant green onions (cue up the very summery Booker T!) – all for $7. Also growing: broccoli, peas, zucchini.

Diane tells me the lettuces – although of great shape and size – were pretty well turned by the heat, which makes them become bitter. She gives me one, just to try, for comparison. “But don’t base a meal around it,” she warns. Totally ok, as I already have a yummy Spinach Salad in mind (see recipe below).

A Sweet Goodbye

As we head out of the garden, a beautiful scent catches my nose, “What is that?” I ask.

“Sweet peas,” and she proceeds to pick me a bunch and hand them to me. “They come from the owner of the lavender farm, who brought them over from England.”

“Oh, thank you so much!” They will be my centre piece!

Daisy Farm is located at 4939 Sooke Road (North Sooke area) and open for farm gate sales daily, 11 am to dusk.

Spinach and strawberries with toasted hazelnuts, raspberry goat cheese and lemon honey dressing.

(I made a variation of this as my first of a four course Valentine’s Day dinner this year and it’s been a hit ever since.)

Salad:
1 bunch spinach (Daisy’s Farm)
2 cups strawberries (home grown)
1/3 cup hazelnuts
2 tbsp goat cheese

Dressing:
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp honey (Babe’s)
1 tbsp almond butter
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Toast nuts until golden and fragrant (keep ‘em rolling around the pan). Rinse and de-stem spinach and strawberries. Mix toasted nuts (while warm) with goat cheese, stirring until melted. Gently stir in strawberries and dressing. Finally toss mixture with spinach until coated. Enjoy!

Stay tuned for next week’s posts, using up the remaining ingredients…
Any favourites or suggestions of what to do with cauliflower?