Vancouver Island is my home. Yes, I currently reside in Vancouver (”the big smoke” as my Uncle calls it) but being born and raised on the Island will always be part of me, and I hope to end up back there one day. I also look for any excuse to go back, and when I heard about the Island Chefs’ Collaborative 2nd Annual Local Food Festival Defending Our Backyard I got excited. I’ll be shooting the event for the organization, which is happening at Fort Rodd Hill in Victoria on May 31st, just a few weeks away.

What to expect?
” Chefs from some of the finest restaurants on Vancouver Island are working together to raise public awareness of the importance of local food and supporting local farms. Defending Our Backyard celebrates Island food, farms and flavours.
Defending Our Backyard is aimed at the growing audience of people interested in food issues and increasingly seeking local food. In the first year, Defending Our Backyard brought together over 600 people. This year we’re expecting over 1,000 to attend.
We have expanded the event to feature more local food, information and activities. Defending Our Backyard focuses on personal experience and, in addition to sampling some tastes of the Island, participants will also learn about growing more of their own food, composting, the ethical harvest of seafood, local wineries and breweries, the work of food-related special interest groups and farmers’ markets.”
Anyone interested in tickets can call 1-250-888-2047 to buy over the phone and they will be held for pick up at the gate.
I’ll certainly post photos after the event, but I hope to see you there!