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smart living

I

ts the most wonderul time o the year. Te harvest. Its

short (and sweet), and once you get through readingthis article, I can only hope that youll be compelled to

try some o my suggestions, and will join me in sending out

an S.O.S. (sustainable, organic and seasonal) message, so as

many as possible will take advantage o orontos delicious,

colourul and abundant harvest.

Whether you are ed up with reading about organics,

certications, lack o regulations, local eating or diferent

diets, remember, together we are striving or higher

standards. Once you experience the slow ood movement,

shop at organic armers markets, read product labels and

dine at restaurants that ofer local and organic menus, you

will no longer worry about whats proven, and, youll simply

enjoy. So why shop, buy and explore S.O.S.?

HarvestToronto-S.O.S. StyleSustainable, Organic and SeasonalBy Lisa Borden

Its FresherSimply a shorter time rom arm

to table. (Note: organic at a major

supermarket is not the same as

organic rom a armers market

- the best S.O.S. comes directly

rom an organic armer.)

Its TastierNo need to trust me, do your

own taste test (without all o the

synthetics), youll savour pure,

unaltered, delicious ood. I your

ood needs to travel ar, its bred

to withstand a longer shel lie

and is usually picked beore its

ully ripe. Shame.

Its HealthierFully ripened and eaten soon

ater picking, the ood retains

more nutrients, has no need

or preservatives and ofers less

exposure to chemicals. Score.

ItsEnvironmentallySoundLong distance travel requiresmore packaging, rerigeration,

uel to get to table and generates

more waste and pollution (did

you ever wonder how produce

arrives rom Mexico without

bruises and without being

rotten?). Crops grown without

synthetic pesticides, herbicides,

ertilizers and GMOs mean

ewer o these items are being

produced and ewer are being

released into our soil and water.

What goes down will come back

up again.

Its CheaperApples to apples it may be

more expensive to buy S.O.S.,

but cheap ood actually has

a very high cost to us, ourhealth and our world. With less

middlemen, less marketing and

less transportation costs, you can

save money i you know when

and where to buy and are willing

to enjoy whats in season.

Its NeighbourlyThere are so many advantages

to having our money stay in

our community, including job

creation and local armer support

and i youve eaten today, you

should be thanking a armer,

hopeully a local one.

Its FlexibleI you love bananas, they arent

going to be locally grown (too

bad or us!), so, choose to buyorganic, air-trade bunches and

enjoy. Just please dont buy all

apples that have travelled rom

New Zealand when wonderul

apples are harvested all around

us! Everyone has diferent

standards and exceptions to their

rulesmake your own.

1. The Harbord Room

2. Chvre Noir Shortbread rom LPKsCullinary Groove

3. Earth to Table - Seasonal Recipesrom an Organic Farm by JefCrump and Bettina Schormann

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RestaurantsHarbord Room My son (he

writes restaurant reviews) calls it

the best burger place in Toronto.

Raw Aura In Port Credit, but

you can try and justiy the un-eco-

ness o the travel by eating the

best raw and vegan meal in the

GTA. (Ravioli is my avourite dish.)

True A gorgeous restaurant in

Yorkville, where even their bar is

organic. The service sadly lacks,

but its worth enduring, since they

are the real deal.

Wine Bar You can learn a lot

by getting stools at the kitchen

bar, watching the ches prepare

your dishes, tapas style. I you like

French ries, this would be the

place to indulge.

DessertDelight Two locations scoop out

the greatest ice cream. And, you

wont nd a better cone anywhere.

LPks Culinary Groove

Owner, Lesia claims that she

serves beautiully cultivated

desserts and she does. She is able

to accommodate almost every

special diet and allergy.

Shopping for HomeHealthy Butcher

A small specialty store, where they

want to know your name. Think o

their shop as a permanent armers

market - butcher is deceiving,

as they also have exceptional

produce!

Fiesta Farms Torontos largest

independently owned grocery

store with a big selection o local

oods - just make sure you read

labels, its not all S.O.S. here!

Organic Farmers Marets

There are markets almost every

day o the week. Its really the

ultimate way to shop. Pick this up

as your newest habit, just beware,

its addictive.

CookbooksRipe from Around Here

A wonderul vegan cookbook,

and being rom Toronto, when Jae

Steele talks about local, its actually

local to us!

Earth to Table This cookbook

could be a cofee table book its

so beautiul and again, its written

by locals inspiring us with local

oods.

Other S.O.S.Activities

Pic Your Own Organics Farm,

Avalon Orchards, or perhaps, rom

your own garden?

Harvest Festivals Consider

attending Feast of Fields, or events

at Evergreen Brickworks.

By now Ivehopeully convinced

you that eatingS.O.S. ood is the

way to go and that

by doing so youcan bring home theharvest to enjoy at

your table. Here aresome o my local

avourites, who dishout unparalleled

oods celebratingour local growing

season:

Lisa Borden~ is an eco-advocate, whose marketingbusiness, Borden Communications+ Design is a direct reection oher commitment to better, moreresponsible living. lisa@bordencom.com

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