I’ve moved four times over the past year and half and I’m about to do it again. Next weekend I’ll pack up my precious few belongings and our two wee cats and take a five hour journey across the Straight of Georgia to Victoria, where Roddy and I will be reunited after 6 months in different cities. The long commute for bi-weekly visits was unsustainable and as our dreams merged to one of self-sufficiency and community farming, it became clear that opportunities were more abundant on the island.

So I’ve had my hands full and my mind preoccupied with preparations for this exciting new chapter in our lives (hence the blogging absence). I’ll be transitioning to working from home for the David Suzuki Foundation and Roddy and I will able to put “Operation: Locavore” into full swing!

Tonight, Bill C-517, the Private Members Bill that would make labeling mandatory for all genetically engineered foods will be voted on. Contact your MP to ask them to support this Bill. (The Bill would then be sent to the Health Committee.) You can search for your MP with your postal code at www.parl.gc.ca

See www.cban.ca/labeling for a sample letter and more information.

Welcome to my oasis: Maple Community Garden. Nestled between an old rail line, 6th Avenue, Maple and Arbutus St in Kitsilano, this lengthy beauty is just minutes from my place. I tried to get a plot but having only moved to Vancouver in December, I didn’t get my butt in gear to actually enquire until March when the plots had long since been scooped up.

So, my spring gardening itch unscratched, I wander slowly through this urban paradise when I can handle the mix of jealousy and awe, and tame my urge to potter by taking pictures of the stunning array of spring flowers which border the edges of the lot. Growing in the plots today: over-wintered kale, rainbow swiss chard, baby lettuce greens, garlic and some unidentifiable greens.

For those who are with me in coveting a little slice of heaven, most community gardens in Vancouver have a waiting list (City Farmer has a good database). Maple opens the application race at midnight on Halloween and operates on a first come, first served basis for available plots. The good news: once you have a plot, it’s yours in perpetuity. I so long to grow my own veggies… next year I’ll be quick off the draw.

This is the second time Roddy and I have sampled the goods at the quaint Aphrodite Organic Café and Pie Shop in Kits. The first time I was drawn by a recommendation that their pies were out of this world. Not being a pie fan, I figured I was the ultimate test subject. Lets just say I made light work of my wedge – it was divine.

Aphrodite’s has the calm effect of sitting in my late grandmother’s spacious country kitchen, without the grime and impending chaos of pattering feet and smelly dogs. Spring is here and as the beams of sunlight struck the checkered floor and warmth flooded over me, something on the delicious menu caught my eye: “From local organic farms, fresh to your plate.”

Our waitress caught me snapping a photo and must have been curious about me (“what does this mortal think she’s doing, stealing recipes of the Godess?). Well, smiling and flattery go a long way and some simple questioning led her tell me that currently the salad greens come from Glen Valley Co-op Farm, just 42 miles from the restaurant. Even though it’s not entirely local (according the waitress) this discovery still made my day.

Roddy and I have both participated in Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire Festival on the eve of the 1st of May. First Roddy and then I trained for 3 months as Beasties – the djembe drumming Red Men — spirits from the underworld, symbolizing chaos, mischief and lust.

Being part of this celtic tradition, which draws 15,000 punters, was one of the most vivid experiences of my life, and probably one of the closest experiences to real community.

I’ve been fighting a horrible case of bronchitis this week but this weekend the plan is to make seed balls for the first time and, like wild Red Men (minus the body paint) scatter balls with feisty fervor in choice pockets of the city. Raaaaaaaaaaaaaar!

I’m drawn to this method of planting for a simple reason: the sheer fun of lobbing tiny balls loaded with seeds absolutely anywhere! A seed ball is a form of seed distribution in which seeds are encased in a tiny ball made of clay and compost. This protects seeds from birds, wind and sun, and the balls are directly scattered on the ground rather than planted. For more info visit Andrea Bellamy’s blog: Heavy Petal.