Connecting communities in Elmwood

Elmwood

With the end of winter and the coming of spring — or skipping straight to summer — many people look forward to the chance to shop for local food and other goods. Farmers’ markets, direct deliveries from farmers, and even garage sales can give them the opportunity to find something special and to get to know the community.

Like in many other parts of Canada, Winnipeg and the surrounding areas are home to various farmer’s markets. From the St. Norbert farmers’ market to events in other neighbourhoods, opportunities to buy local are numerous in the city when the warm weather comes. Although these kinds of opportunities to get locally grown or raised food are not as common in Elmwood as in other areas of the city, they still exist.

For example, the Manitoba Chicken Producers’ website lists local farmers who sell directly to consumers. One of these chicken farmers came to a parking lot behind 365 Thames Ave. on May 16 with four large, liquid-filled vats of whole chickens for a long line of customers who had pre-ordered the birds. One of these customers was a Nigerian immigrant who gave her name only as Bim, who said, “Coming into Canada, I asked how people get protein.”

For many people from Africa, the answer was what she called “hard protein,” or older chickens with tougher meat than is common in stores, such as what was available on May 16. As the seller pulled chickens one by one out of the vats, customers lined up with bags and plastic buckets to claim their chickens. Each bird costs $8 for an event that takes place three times a year. Unlike most farmers’ markets where customers can buy products on the spot, buying chickens directly from the farmers requires two months’ advance notice.

Garage sales are another feature of summer. For Veronica de los Angeles from the Amigos En Winnipeg 55+ group, a garage sale at the corner of Johnson and Henderson on May 30 was a good opportunity to “do something and create something good” in the community. Proceeds from the sale will go to programs including cooking classes, tai chi workshops, and more. Although not strictly an Elmwood organization, the group’s presence in the community is a good chance to connect with others and to learn about Mexican culture.

In Elmwood, buying local good and supporting the community might be complicated at times, but opportunities still exist.