Free Food

Free food is everywhere. It is one of those things you just have to look for. I start looking in earnest each fall when I swear my great grandmother's spirit takes over me. You see she raised six children in the depression and food was scarce.

Every fall, I feel myself feeling the need to harvest food. What this has lead me to over the years, is the awareness of all the food that grows around my urban neighborhood, that is free for the taking.

Here in the prairies of Canada, apples are in season. Backyards are bursting with fruit, the City boulevards loaded with crab apples and pears. Most people never take a second look. I however, love to scout out these sources of natural goodness. You can often find me on my bike cruising the streets on the hunt for the best fruit. People are so generous and happy to have me and my kids come pick their fruit. It is by no means an act of charity or desperation, but an exchange of mutual value. Either way we are loaded up to make batches ad pure applesauce, amazingly tart and sour crabapple fruit leather, fresh pressed juices and more.

It is a wonderful experience to connect with our food in this way. My kids love the bounty as much as I do. Each year we create and store the fruit for a reminder of summer and all its freshness for the winter months ahead.

I encourage you to go on a scouting mission to find and share in the bounty of the season.

Enjoy

Kim