(Vegan) Creamy Garlic Scape & Cannellini Bean Sauce with Bucatini x Black Creek Community Farm
Updated: May 13, 2022
Like many people who have been quarantining at home, and don't have the option to work from home, we've been trying to look for a way to feel useful, and get creative so as not to get bored.
For years now, there has been a community farm just right across the street from me, and only now have I taken the leap to check it out, and volunteer some of my time to their cause. This is the Black Creek Community Farm - a farm that brings the community together through a Harvest Share program, a Farmer's Market and through various community workshops open to parents and their little kiddos.
With their various initiatives, they've brought together your sense of togetherness in a fun and educational package. Their farm brings together families to learn about the different edible plants, herbs and vegetables and teaches them how to grow their own. and through their Harvest Share Program, be able to have local vegetables available to the community.
The farm has various fields and gardens to host workshops for parents and their kids to learn about the different edible plants, herbs and vegetables and teaches them how to grow their own, and I love that it's a very educational experience for the kiddos to know exactly where their food comes from and how they are grown. See their various programs here.
They even have little 'hotels' for the local bees, and a chicken coop; an area where able to host events and various fundraisers to keep the farm alive, and one of my favourites - a self exploration of the Edible Forest - a trail that makes you feel like you're in the middle of a forest, yet almost everywhere you look, there's something that could be edible. In this path, they have all kinds of stone fruit trees, various wild berry bushes, rhubarb, kiwi, and so much more to explore.
With the various fields and multiple gardens, one thing is clear is that there is such a variety of fruit and vegetables, and an emphasis on education on the different ways you can plant and grow your own food, it truly was a remarkable experience. I, being a professional cook can normally tell from one plant to another, and yet there were so much that was shown to be that I do not know - that to me, shows their passion in what they do. They are able to bring people together and have them learn about farming and growing your own food that they make it such a fun experience.
Of course, this year has been different from previous years - with COVID-19, they have not been able to do their workshops, and even open their farmer's market. This is just one community farm out of many in the province, which is why it is more important than ever to support your local farms and farmers. If you can, donate - every little bit counts.
Of course, they have their larger fields and greenhouses wherein they grow their vegetables for the Harvest Share, this is always fascinating to me and where the farm and their farmers shine. Everything looks so healthy, beautiful, and bountiful!
I was so graciously given a sample - yes, this is just a portion of what a normal Harvest Share box looks like - and I am blown away. I literally got a farm-to-table experience, and it is as fresh as it can be. Also, so much variety! And this is just what they were able to harvest at the time, every Harvest Share box can and will have variety from week to week and it will always be bountiful.
With my share, I have already made quite a few meals, but this recipe in particular, I want to share. Most of the ingredients were from the harvest, and I've only pulled a couple ingredients from my pantry to make the recipe. I also wanted the recipe to be vegetarian and dairy free! Though if you really wanted to, you can serve it with your favourite protein.
This recipe is very easy to make, and quite versatile with what veg you may want to use. I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
