After the Harvest

Halfway Point of 30 Day Health Tune Up

2012-01-27T20:46:00.002-05:00

Halfway Point in 30 Day Health Tune Up from After the Harvest on Vimeo.

Technically Day 16 was Thursday...but I wasn't able to post this until now due to some YouTube issues. But, Vimeo has come to the rescue!
Hope you enjoy! If you're interested in trying the 30 Day Health Tune Up yourself, you can check it out at Wellness Warrior Coaching :)

The Vegan Feast

2012-01-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

The Vegan Feast!

Just a little plant-based dinner I made this weekend...enjoy!

Sweet Potato & Greens Soup

(Before blending)

(After blending)

Thanks, @DebGleason for the recipe!

Pita Pizzas

whole wheat pitas
basil pesto
mushrooms
kale and radicchio massaged with olive oil -- *thanks to @AliciaSilv for the idea of putting radicchio on a pizza!
tomatoes
fresh basil
salt and pepper
*Parmesan cheese for those not on the vegan challenge!

Chocomole

Raw, vegan chocolate "pudding" topped with strawberries soaked in maple syrup -- what's not to like?

Thanks, @Jason_Mraz for the recipe! You can see it here.

This little vegan feast was enjoyed by all, and even though I put Parmesan cheese on the other pizzas, my guests said they could have done without it -- they liked the pizzas that much! I was humbled :)

Yay for healthy, plant-based dinner parties :) We had a little bit of olive bread too, which was delicious!

More video blogs to come soon...

Recipe: Golden Globe Chili

2012-01-15T18:45:00.030-05:00

Adapted from a recipe in the Wellness Warrior Coaching 30 Day Health Tune Up Guide, I present to you my "Golden Globe Chili"! I decided to call it "Golden Globe Chili" for two reasons: one, to pay tribute to tonight's Golden Globes host, Ricky Gervais; and two, because it turns out to be a beautiful golden colour! After tasting the chili tonight, the only change I would make in the future would be to add more spice, otherwise I think it's a healthy, hearty meal that can satisfy for days!

Please enjoy!

Put the following ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes. To quote Jamie Oliver, it's "easy peasy"!

1 tetrapak of vegetable broth (1 litre)
4 cups of water
2 peppers, chopped (I used 1 red, 1 green)
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic (I left them whole)
2 cups lentils (I used red lentils, which are actually orange, and end up being yellow, or "golden")
1 cup quinoa (I used millet)
1 28 oz. can of chopped or crushed tomatoes
4 tsp chili powder (or more!)
1 bay leaf (my choice to add this, I love bay leaves!)

And...it's all vegan! Thanks to @DebGleason and Wellness Warrior Coaching for (most of) this recipe!

My "B" weekend: Blotchy Skin, Vitamin B and Benadryl

2012-01-15T18:03:00.017-05:00

It was a typical Saturday morning: after sleeping in, I woke up, turned on a cheesy movie, made some coffee and breakfast, and settled in for a leisurely start to the day. Since I was out of bananas and didn't want a breakfast smoothie without one, I enjoyed a bowl of almond cereal with almond milk, and a piece of toast topped with delicious almond butter. Not long after my second bite of toast, I instantly noticed that something was wrong.

My body temperature shot up, my skin started to feel tight, and my arms, chest and face broke out into a tomato-red, blotchy rash! In the few seconds after this happened, I realized I didn't have any Benadryl in the house, nor did I have a car or a roommate. I only had one choice, not knowing how serious or respiratory-related this situation was going to be, so I swallowed my pride and I actually dialed 911.

I know it's ridiculous, but in the heat of the moment, I really couldn't see any other option considering I had no idea what was happening, and thinking it might be an allergy to the almond butter, I knew it could be a problem I might not be able to solve myself. It was slightly embarrassing to greet 3 male paramedics in my reindeer pyjama pants, but they were helpful and professional and got me to the hospital quickly.

Once inside, the nurse gave me a double dose of Benadryl, and I went to wait in the "urgent care" waiting room (which is actually a waiting corridor, not a room). There were about 12 of us there, some hooked up to IVs, some coughing and wheezing; I took a moment to be grateful for the fact that I was breathing, and my medical issue wasn't as serious as it could have been.

After seeing the doctor, he calmed my fears of never being able to eat glorious almond butter ever again, and explained to me what he thought happened. He explained that many B Complex vitamins have a healthy amount of Niacin in them (I had recently started taking a B Complex). If you have a buildup of Niacin in your bloodstream, it can cause what is known as a "Niacin flush" (he didn't use this term, I found it online after the fact).

Basically, your blood vessels dilate to such a degree that it creates the red, blotchy hive-like rash that I experienced. Trust me, it's scary seeing your face instantly transform into a tomato! After researching this more online, I learned that there is a lot of information out there about how a "Niacin flush" can actually be good for you because it increases blood flow and allows fatty tissues to exit the body, but reading that information scares me, frankly. I would never want to experience this again, and I really hope that no one attempts to do this for weight loss reasons. Please use caution when reading health information online, and always check with your Medical and/or Naturopathic Doctor.

I probably should have had my blood checked and consulted with a doctor before implementing a B Complex vitamin into my routine, but this has actually been a good learning experience to learn "the hard way". Anyway, I'm feeling good now, I was simply a little weak and shaken up from the experience (and the drowsy Benadryl), but with a little family TLC and healthy food, I'm feeling back to normal, and my personal choice is to discontinue use of the B Complex. For me personally, I think I feel more comfortable increasing my vitamin B levels through food, so I look forward to doing my research!

And...I have never been so happy to hear that I can still eat almond butter!!! I do, however, have a new respect for anyone with food allergies, as I am sure what they go through is much more serious and stressful as what I experienced.

***Note: It was my choice to start taking the B Complex and to take it daily. This choice was not influenced by Deb or the Wellness Warrior Coaching Program.

Day One of 30 Day Health Tune-Up

2012-01-11T21:04:00.026-05:00

Day one!

Last night I made the trip to Market Organics to pick up some of the items my pantry was lacking, but I actually had a lot of plant-based products in my possession already, so I was pretty set to go!

Here's what I already had (not including the fresh fruit and veg in my fridge):

Here's what I picked up from Market Organics:

It was good to have the Wellness Warrior Coaching discount at the checkout, but I shudder to think what my bill would have come to without it! Oh well, I've always been one to spend more money on food than anything else in my life, so no regrets!

I still need to pick up some more produce and specific ingredients in order to make some of Deb's recipes, and I fully intend to channel Alicia Silverstone and Ruth Tal this month as well!

With the goodies I did have, I started this 30 days out right. I crawled out of bed and made myself a green smoothie of kale, hemp hearts, frozen blueberries, banana, and water. I usually use almond milk in my breakfast smoothies, but Deb used water and it created a greener, fresher taste, so I thought, why not try it? It was good, green and a great way to start the day!

Snacks today were apples and almonds, lunch was a salad with chickpeas, avocado and veggies with lemon juice dressing rather than oil, and dinner was a veggie quinoa dish of whatever I had on hand: turnips, winter kale, mushrooms and zucchini, cooked with Braggs and turmeric with a splash of lemon juice and served in a bowl with quinoa. Not bad for an experimental dish!

It's teatime now and then it's off to bed to get ready for day 2! I am pretty encouraged by the fact that most of what I'll be eating for the next 30 days is what I already eat, with the addition of some new protein sources and subtraction of some unnecessary fats and of course, the big 3: eggs, fish and goat cheese.

Thanks for joining me on the journey! I look forward to sharing more recipes soon :)

Intro to 30-Day Health Tune-up with Wellness Warrior Coaching

2012-01-08T22:39:00.005-05:00

Intro to 30 Day Health Tuneup from After the Harvest on Vimeo.

Holiday Food: A Gallery

2012-01-04T14:01:00.019-05:00

Countdown Cupcakes via Tiny Brushstrokes via Martha Stewart

I love pomegranate seeds! Great with Prosecco for a holiday toast!

Dad's seafood pasta dish

Winter Quinoa Salad -- recipe here :)

Chocolate Beet Muffins via Credible Edibles

I am going to poach my salmon all the time now!

Salmon Pie via Tiny Brushstrokes via Emeril Lagasse

Notes:

The muffins are scrumptious -- you can see the recipe here.
Which cupcake number would you eat? It was interesting to see which number each family member chose!
The salmon pie was good, however, we all agreed it could use some salt. Ideas: poach in miso broth or add curry, or add bacon...depending on your food choices!

What did YOU eat over the holidays?

Winter Quinoa Salad

2011-12-26T15:05:00.006-05:00

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, everyone! This was my first vegetarian Christmas, so I decided to make a dish to complement the festive spread. Initially I made it as a replacement for myself for the turkey, but everyone ended up trying it as a side dish and it turned out to be a hit! I thought I'd share the recipe; let me know if you try it and if you use any variations on ingredients!

Winter Quinoa Salad

Ingredients
Quinoa (approximately 1/2 a cup)
Arugula
Goat cheese
Firm tofu, cubed
Pomegranate seeds
Chopped walnuts
1 orange
Dark maple syrup
olive oil

Directions
Boil water, stir in the quinoa, then turn heat to a low setting and simmer for 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff it with a fork and let it cool. Set it aside. Crack open a pomegranate and release the seeds (I used 1/2 Martha Stewart's method, 1/2 the underwater method -- YouTube search it -- and grab your apron!). Set those aside as well. Cube the tofu (I used 1/2 a block) and marinate it in dark maple syrup, olive oil and juice from 1/2 an orange. Remove tofu from the marinade after about 20 minutes and blot dry to prepare it for the frying pan. Fry the tofu cubes in an olive-oiled pan until they are brown and crispy on at least two sides. This will cook faster than you think, and the maple syrup may burn in the pan, so work quickly! Spoon the quinoa into a large bowl, and stir in arugula. If the quinoa is still a bit warm it will wilt the greens, it depends if you like them leafy or wilted. Top with tofu, goat cheese, walnuts and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and the juice from the other half of the orange. Serve with a smile!

Vegetarian Persuasion

2011-12-14T22:41:00.009-05:00

Hey People! Wow, it's been a while! Yes, I've been a bit delinquent when it comes to posting, but sometimes life gets in the way, right? Also, I've been super pumped about this new writing blog my Mom and I are co-creating called Dialogue365. Check it out if you like!

If you've been reading After the Harvest for a while you may pretty much already guessed this, but I am proud to announce that I am officially a vegetarian now! There are a few caveats to this, as per any major announcement, I suppose...

Depending on your definition of a vegetarian, I may not actually be one in your eyes because I still eat some fish, some dairy and eggs. Also, I realize that making an announcement like this on my food blog officially makes me come off as some sort of food snob who actually thinks everyone really cares what she chooses to eat and not eat, but I guess I'm kinda screwed if I want to try to erase that reputation, now, right? ;)

My decision was something I had been considering long before I even started After the Harvest, and it has come to fruition for a variety of reasons, some environmental, some health-related, others more personal. The jury's out on whether or not I'll go full-fledged vegan someday, but for now I feel good about my choices, even though this year's holiday meals are going to be interesting!

What about you? Are you considering vegetarianism? Are you already vegetarian or vegan? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments!

P.S.: Even though the ever-amazing Michael Pollan still eats meat, I don't love him any less.

In the Kitchen at Burnt Butter

2011-11-27T09:00:00.013-05:00

Recently I was kindly granted access to the kitchen at Burnt Butter to practice my photography chops. Many thanks to Gen and Steve at Burnt Butter -- it's a great little neighbourhood spot with Italian-style comfort food, friendly service and even some great photography on the walls.

Here are the best results of my practice:

Ottawa Foodie Challenge 2011: A Gallery

2011-11-13T22:15:00.010-05:00

Just some favourite shots from this year's Ottawa Foodie Challenge in support of the Ottawa Food Bank. Thanks, Sara, for a fun day!

Plant-Based Eating at Credible Edibles!

2011-11-07T19:27:00.041-05:00

Judi Varga-Toth of Credible Edibles was one of the first people to support me in my event, Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest. I really should have titled this post, "Cultivate Sponsors" but I wanted to focus on Judi's commitment to plant-based eating through her amazing workshops at Credible Edibles!

I recently attended Part 2 of her Forks Over Knives Workshop inspired by the film. I left the workshop with a full belly, a warm heart and a buzzing brain. Not only does Judi provide an abundance of information about vegetarian and vegan food choices, she does it with a passion and commitment all her own. Always welcoming, never intimidating or preachy, Judi was born to lead these workshops. Everyone in attendance cooked together, shared their stories and connected over a tasty plate of food.

We started with popcorn seasoned with turmeric and nutritional yeast, washed down with some tea...

Chia seeds: not just for cute planter animals.

Nutritional Yeast: mmm, Parmesan-y!

Golden Flax

Bok Choy

Beautiful beets make for a beautiful muffin.

Tofu cubes, ready to fry...

The original red velvet :)

This dressing was gorgeous with a hint of orange juice and some cilantro.

My favourite dish of the night was oddly, the dessert! I say oddly because if you know me, I don't really have a sweet tooth, but perhaps I'm developing one, especially after tasting these muffins! Judi was gracious enough to allow me to post the recipe for all of you to try -- I even ate one for breakfast the next day, it went perfectly with a banana.

BEET CHOCOLATE MUFFINS:

Ingredients

2 cups of whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp of salt
2 tsps of baking powder
2 tsps of cinnamon
1/2 cup of sunflower seeds (try the honey-roasted kind)
1 cup dark chocolate chips (dairy-free kind)
1/4 cup of Earth Balance (vegan butter)
3/4 cup of Demerara sugar + 2 packets stevia
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup flax egg replacer
2/3 cup soy milk or rice milk with 1 tbsp vinegar
1 cup beet puree*

Preparation

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Oil a 12-cup muffin tin. In a large-sized bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt until well mixed. Stir in the 1/3 cup chocolate and seeds; set this aside. In a small saucepan, melt the other [2/3 cup] chocolate chips and Earth Balance over low heat. Stir this to combine and set aside to let cool. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together Demerara sugar, egg replacer, beet puree, vanilla, soy milk and the melted chocolate. Pour the chocolate mixture into your dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. Do NOT over mix! Spoon batter into the muffin cups. The batter should fill the wells. Sprinkle a few sunflower seeds on top of each. For kids you could use the chocolate covered sunflower seeds available at the Bulk Barn. Place muffin pan in a preheated 375 F oven. Bake for around 15-20 minutes. Check after 12 minutes and adjust the pan. You can tell the muffins are done when a toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Do not over -bake.

*Beet Puree

Cook 2-3 unpeeled medium beets in boiling water until tender when pierced with a fork. Immerse in cold water and slip the skins off. Cut in half and put in a food processor or blender or mash with a fork or potato masher.

For more info on Judi and to sign up for one of her awesome workshops, check out Credible Edibles!

www.credible-edibles.ca
@creded

Thank you, Judi!

Food from the Magical Island of Kauai

2011-10-24T23:10:00.002-04:00

This summer I was fortunate enough to be able to arrange a trip to the magical island of Kauai, Hawaii. My journey would not have been the same without the amazing people I spent time with, but the food was also definitely a major highlight!

Please enjoy a little gallery of some of the delicious, local, organic food I enjoyed while I was visiting this beautiful place.

Rolinea fruit

The inside of a rolinea: it tastes like lemon and mango custard.

Durian

Beautiful papayas

Banana meets papaya

Avocados

Best shave ice ever with ice cream and gummi worms

Sugarcane

Pineapple

Starfruit pancakes

Cracking coconuts at Hanalei Farmers' Market

Acai with granola and banana

Pita pizzas with local cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and basil

Kale was a staple the entire time I was there. Officially my favourite vegetable.

Coconut

Choyote -- like a really hard zucchini

Cherry tomato harvest

Snowpea

Limes

Mondo papaya

Abundance

A little veggie dish I cooked up

Kamut with olive oil, coconut oil and sea salt

Kamut and organic wine

A delicious fish sandwich at Common Ground, an amazing place.

Beautiful kale salad with avocado and nasturtiums

Ahi tuna from Kilauea Fish Market, the place with the best fish tacos in town.

Speaking of which...

Ono fish tacos from Kilauea Fish Market

I cannot recommend visiting this island enough, even if only for the glorious food!

Aloha :)

A Bit of Photo Blogging...

2011-10-13T19:14:00.008-04:00

I'm going to be doing a bit more photo blogging in the next little while because I'm finally getting serious about my writing project outside of the blog (but still related to it, so stay tuned)! Hope you enjoy the snapshots and the recipes I plan to share more of in the near future. Hope you're all having a great month and enjoying some great meals.

Some lovely late summer tomatoes I picked up from Parkdale Market

My attempt at cooking Chinese Eggplant with a bit of (undercooked)brown rice. Sauteed with mushrooms, garlic, zucchini, Bragg soy sauce and lemon juice. And...I LOVE sprouts! Especially if you're trying to cut down on topping dishes with cheese, sprouts are a great alternative!

We Raised More than Money for Heifer International!

2011-10-03T21:30:00.022-04:00

THANK YOU to everyone who came to Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest, and for those who contributed after the fact!

Special thanks to my family and friends for supporting this cause, and to Chef Caroline Ishii of Zen Kitchen for taking up my call to action for post-event auction items!

Extra special thanks to the 30 people who attended who were not my family and friends! It is so cool that you attended and I would love to hear more from you about how you enjoyed the films!

Pretty soon I'll be writing a big 'ol cheque to Heifer International in the sum of....

Drumroll please.....

................. $670 DOLLARS!!!

This is enough to provide:

2 Gardener's Gift Baskets to families in need (tree seedlings, rabbits, chickens and bees)
2 Earth Gift Baskets to provide income for families and to support the environment (tree seedlings and bees)
1 Goat that will provide milk, cheese, butter and yogurt to growing children
1 Llama that will provide fleece for warm clothing to wear or sell and help transform an entire community
3 Flocks of Chicks that will give eggs to 3 growing families

This is AMAZING!

Thank you SO much to everyone that helped me with this event and for all those who gave their hard earned dollars to help others in developing countries who need our contributions!

Not only did we raise money, but we raised awareness. Of course we have our own food issues here in North America, but we can't forget about those less fortunate than us, and that we are all sisters and brothers in this world. I am so humbled for the support I received in generating these funds so that After the Harvest could make a difference with the blog's first event.

Special thanks to Brian Kimmel of Optic Nerve Productions for producing these 2 inspiring films and to Nik Oroshi (@nikorosi) of Eliscaffe in Zagreb, Croatia for alerting me to the fact that there was a film named After the Harvest, which started this whole event in motion.

Ahh, Twitter. Sometimes you're so magical...

Much Love and Gratitude,

~Heather

P.S. Stay tuned for more new After the Harvest Projects...

Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest -- The Gallery

2011-10-02T13:00:00.008-04:00

Thank you to the awesome and talented Geoff Clyne Photography for these photos!

Thank you to Christy for all her help!

Big thanks to the projectionist, shown here behind me :)

Silent Auction action

Items from Handmade by Fiona Sant, Siren Bakery and Wall Space Gallery

We're actually not related, although this photo seems to say otherwise! Thanks Caroline, for all of your help!

See "After the Harvest"? That was the surprise film that opened the screening! I'll be putting it up on the blog soon :)

The folks were a massive help that day...

Felt like I was back in the day hosting the Open Mic at U of T...forgot how fun it is to make jokes from the microphone :)

A friend and passionate heart-follower, Jason a.k.a. The Man with the Dragon Tattoo -- check out Dragon Fitness!

Geoff Clyne Photography and Change for India promo items...

Fundraising results and full event recap coming soon!

Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest -- You Can Still Contribute!

2011-09-27T21:41:00.023-04:00

Photo Credit: Geoff Clyne Photography

Thank you again to everyone who attended Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest on Saturday, September 24th! The event was a great success and I'm thisclose to announcing the total amount raised for Heifer International.

Before I raise the curtain on the fundraising results, I wanted to give you a chance to contribute! You can help me write a bigger cheque to Heifer International and help hungry people feed their families through sustainable solutions.

There are still 2 silent auction items that didn't go home with a lucky bidder, so if you missed the event (or if you don't live in Ottawa), now's your chance to bid on these items and help contribute to the cause!

Photo Credit: Heifer International

Did you know that when you give to Heifer International...

...$20 buys a flock of chickens for a family in need?
...$60 provides seedlings for fruit trees in a developing country?
...$30 gives the gift of honeybees; a source of income and nutrition?

If you'd like to make a bid on either of these items below, simply comment on this post AND click "Contact Me" on the left hand sidebar to send me your email address. If you're in Ottawa, we can meet up and exchange the item for cash, and if you're not in Ottawa (for coasters only), I'll mail them to you!

Or...if you'd like to make a donation to contribute to the proceeds of the event, click on Mr. Seed on the left hand side and you can donate through PayPal. Or you can donate to the Save-a-Seed campaign for Kew Gardens, simply indicate which project you are donating to in the notes!

It's like going back in time and being at the event!

Item #1: Hand-painted coasters
From: Tiny Brushstrokes
Value: $25
Starting Bid: $20

Note: Photo does not depict all words on coasters. These coasters say "elegant", "eclectic", "classic" and "vintage". A snazzy wordset on which to place your martini :)

Item #2: Gift certificate for a Classic Facial
From: Renu Massage Therapy & Spa
Value: $96
Starting Bid: $45

Bidding will close on Thursday, September 29th at 11:00 pm EST.

Gratitude :)

2011-09-25T17:54:00.010-04:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest yesterday! Your support for After the Harvest and Heifer International is so valuable and highly appreciated!

I am tallying the results of how much money we raised and I will be sharing that information soon, as well as a full recap of the event with photos, but for now I wanted to express my gratitude to all who attended, volunteered, sponsored me, helped promote the event, and to everyone who gave their hard earned dollars in support of Heifer's great cause to fight world hunger with sustainable solutions. Also a little shout-out to the Mayfair staff :)

To show my gratitude, here's a little song courtesy of The Makepeace Brothers that I think expresses how I feel right now, for the support that was shown toward After the Harvest and also for those in need who will be helped tremendously by Heifer International :)

Stay tuned, and for those of you who are reading After the Harvest for the first time, WELCOME!

~Heather

Cultivate Sponsors: Cafe My House

2011-09-20T21:08:00.003-04:00

Are you getting sick of all of this sponsor love yet? I'm not! I'm really grateful to all of my sponsors and it's been so encouraging having all of these local businesses show their support for Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest.

One of the first to sign on, Cafe My House is a bright and friendly vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurant in the Bank and Alta Vista area of Ottawa. I stopped by earlier this summer for a delicious brunch and spent time getting to know Briana, the owner of Cafe My House.

She called it Cafe My House because it was important to her to have a place that felt like home, where vegans and non-vegans could dine together and enjoy a more plant-based culinary experience.

I enjoyed two cute little mini macrobiotic burgers with avocado, grilled potatoes and fresh fruit. A savoury way to start the day, this was a perfect sized meal and it went nicely with a refreshing spicy lemonade.

Spicy lemonade is only one of their creative vegan shakes and juices, and there is also a good selection of loose leaf tea available. With an active blog of their own and an incentive-based Grab and Go Lunch Menu, Cafe My House has a lot going on, but they still make sure to pause, smile and share some positive energy with their customers, even during the busy moments.

Thanks, Briana and team, for believing in my event and sharing your love of healthy, conscious food and how it connects us all.

Cafe My House
1729 Bank Street
Ottawa
(613) 733-0707
www.cafemyhouse.com

Cultivate Sponsors: PranaShanti Yoga Centre

2011-09-19T21:00:00.007-04:00

When it comes to Yoga, I'm a beginner, but there was no better place for me to start learning than at PranaShanti Yoga Centre. Another one of my sponsors for Cultivate, PranaShanti offers over 80 yoga classes per week (all levels), yoga retreats, music and film events, yoga teacher training, a yoga boutique, an eco-friendly and sustainable environment, guest speakers from all over the world and more!

PranaShanti is also currently expanding to meet even more of the community's yoga and conscious living needs, as they are adding new rooms and even an infared sauna and a demo kitchen for cooking classes!

Check out their website for upcoming workshops, music events, yoga class schedules and more information about their new rooms and services! I send my gratitude to everyone at PranaShanti for their support of Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest.

PranaShanti Yoga Centre
52 Armstrong Street
Ottawa
(613) 761-9642
www.pranashanti.com

Cultivate Sponsors: Heatherlyone, Tiny Brushstrokes & Handmade by Fiona Sant

2011-09-19T18:00:00.003-04:00

I love artists! I especially love them when they're my friends and family, and I love them even more when they donate to my event! Heatherlyone, Tiny Brushstrokes and Handmade by Fiona Sant are all contributors to the Cultivate silent auction, and for that I am so grateful! I think you will all love their handiwork.

Heatherlyone is my friend Heather Thorkelson, who, in addition to making beautiful jewelry, also makes awesome handbags and has just launched a life and business-coaching business called Reboot. After the Harvest readers, meet Heather. You'll be glad you did.

Tiny Brushstrokes is otherwise known as my talented sister Wendy, who creates contemporary personalized artwork for children, original paintings for the home and one of a kind gifts such as these hand-painted coasters pictured below. With an intense attention to detail and a creative vision all her own, Wendy is able to personalize and beautify your home with her handmade products. You can see more of her custom artwork like this colourful map painting here!

Speaking of Handmade, Fiona Sant is a local Artisan who creates handmade accessories with re-purposed yarns and vintage fabrics -- you may have seen her at Bluesfest, Folk Fest, Jazz Fest...you get the idea. Fiona brings her love for creativity into every item she creates, and when she's not knitting, she's raising funds and awareness for children in India through her project Change for India. Join her on Tuesday, October 11th at the Atomic Rooster at 7 pm to help her give back to the country that has her heart, and the children who need our help.

Cultivate Sponsors: Dala

2011-09-18T19:00:00.013-04:00

You know when music is so good it gives you chills? Well, that's how I feel about the talented Canadian songstresses named Dala. Not only do Sheila and Amanda make amazing music together, but they are also very generous! These lovely Juno-nominated ladies donated their entire CD catalog to the silent auction at Cultivate: A Mini Film Fest.

If you're not yet familiar with Dala, why not bid on their music at the event and become very familiar! To give you a taste, please enjoy these videos, including one of my favourite songs of theirs: Horses.

Thank you, Dala! P.S. Dala is amazing live, so be sure to stay tuned to their tour schedule, and if you want to read about what they eat while they're on the road, check this out!

P.P.S. Dala is playing a Christmas show at the NAC on Thursday, December 1st! Don't miss it!

Cultivate Sponsors: Siren Bakery, C.A. Paradis & Beau's All Natural Brewing Company

2011-09-18T13:53:00.001-04:00

More sponsor love! So thankful to Siren Bakery, C.A. Paradis and Beau's All Natural Brewing Company for donating to my silent auction!

I haven't yet had the chance to sit down with Loreli of Siren Bakery, but my friend from The Lemon Kitchen provides a nice review of her granola, so please enjoy!

C.A. Paradis is your go-to store for culinary tools, products and decor -- whatever you're looking for to equip your kitchen, chances are they have it! They even have a wedding and gift registry if you're looking to tie the knot.

If you live in Ottawa, chances are you know about Beau's. Beau's All Natural Brewing Company is an amazing family-run, local and organic brewery that makes some pretty kickass beer. I love so many things about Beau's, one of which is their awesome retro branding, but they're also extremely charitable, and they're hosting Oktoberfest! If you haven't purchased tickets yet, you can do so by clicking here.

Cultivate Sponsors: Renu Massage Therapy & Spa

2011-09-18T13:20:00.006-04:00

Before I even became a client of theirs, Renu Massage Therapy & Spa agreed to sponsor my Cultivate event. I was so amazed by their generosity, but after becoming a client, I realized that their generosity is a part of their way of doing business. It is a state of mind that extends from the owners to the staff, and eventually to the clients. My experiences at Renu have been relaxing, professional and positive, and I've felt really cared for and appreciated.

If you're looking for some amazing spa services, why not stop by Renu Massage Therapy & Spa? You deserve it.

Renu Massage Therapy & Spa
1432 Wellington Street West
Ottawa (613) 722-2929
www.renuspa.ca

Who is Heifer International?

2011-09-17T10:51:00.008-04:00

Hey Everyone! With Cultivate around the corner, I thought I'd share a brief explanation of the charity it is supporting: Heifer International. In a nutshell, Heifer fights hunger and poverty by providing sustainable solutions. For example, instead of giving a family a bag of rice, they give them a goat, or they teach them organic farming solutions that they can pass on to their family and community members. I'll let Mr. Food Network Alton Brown explain further:

So I hope to see you at the Mayfair next Saturday to help me give back to this great organization! P.S. How cute is that baby goat?