Belly Time Food Stories

Today we speak to Natasha Akiwenzie who lives in Neyaashiinigmiing, an unceded First Nation, and is a co-founder of the Bagida’waad Alliance. Chippewas of Nawash, Saugeen and other Indigenous fishing families founded an environmental not-for-profit organization to research the waters of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay to better understand the contributions of climate change to the decline of the once prominent Whitefish population. A large part of the organizations advocacy is to encourage youth to hear the stories from the Elders and do more active stewardship of the lands and waters. https://bagidawaad.ca/

By the age of 10, Andreas knew what he wanted to do - raise happy sheep. And he and Nicole are doing exactly that on their farm in Ontario. After visiting New Zealand, where there are 5 times more sheep than people, his destiny was set. Listen to their story and how after learning through trial and error their business, and herd, continues to grow, feed and nurture their customers. https://www.buschbeckfarms.ca/

So common and yet so misunderstood - I cannot think of a more polarizing food. Now, bread I can understand. Believe, or not people have coveted their grandmother's sourdough starter and have kept it going for decades. And the tradition of waiting for the dough to rise, and the hearth to heat up, it is all very poetic. But after speaking to Daniel of the Cutting Veg Farm and founder of The Global Garlic Project, I think garlic deserves a spot near the top of the list of most influential foods. Don't take my word for it. Listen to Daniel tell his story about how garlic's tasty and magical powers can humbly connect people from all over the globe. https://www.thecuttingveg.com/garlic-recipes/

This week we speak to Seth from Forbes Wild Foods who tells us everything we ever wanted to know about maple syrup and how his happiest place is in the woods, or at a farmers market.

Every question about bees, pollination, or how honey is made it will be answered in this episode thanks to John and his family from Bees Universe. We have a lovely chat, at his kitchen table, where he reminisces about bear attacks and how he is still marveled by - and inspired to - live a sweet life within the community his bees. https://www.beesuniverse.com/

A recent winner of James Beard's Lifetime Achievement and known as the Pope of American Cuisine, Patrick O' Connel's jewel of a restaurant (in Little Washington, Virginia) has been satisfying diners since 1978. Listen to his story in this episode, as we read the introduction from his first cookbook, The Inn At Little Washington - A Consuming Passion.

I am a big fan of watching movies. One of the best motivation pep talks given by a football coach is by Al Pacino in the movie "Any Given Sunday". In this episode, Shannon, an urban gardener and educator from Montreal, channels her inner Pacino and inspires us to enjoy the intrinsic benefits of planting a garden, even in the city.

Sabrina doesn't hold back any punches when fighting for sustainable seafood. She explains how fresh frozen is not an oxymoron and how smoked trout is the new bacon. https://www.fisherfolk.ca/

Urban Farmers Katie Ann and Alvis, reminisce about their childhoods and favorite foods from back home and how it influences their food identity and what they choose grow. https://deeperrootsfarms.com/

Listen to Carole, from MotherDough Bakery, describe her incredible story of how using a simple bus kitchen and a stone mill she tells a complex story of food sovereignty and why bread matters.

Today we speak with Paul from Toronto who has a Paw Paw obsession going on for 30 years. He has gone so far as to hand pollinate it's flowers, to climbing onto the roof of his house just get a taste of North America's only native tropical fruit.