J litestytes

way to get out into nature.
couvers seawall.

hang out in the sun.

Wikimedia commons photo
Left to right: paddle boarding is a great

j Running is a popular pastime on Van-

Community gardens are a lovely place to

Where to find green in the city

Even though Vancouver has over 200 parks, the city plans to
expand green spaces and places for urbanites to be active outside.

GARIN FAHLMAN
pring arrived suddenly last week witha
beautiful sun-filled weekend that drove
Vancouverites out of their homes and
into the over 200 parks around the city
to enjoy the outdoors.

Once March reaches its end, the outdoor
season in Vancouver begins, and the green
spaces in the city are flooded with people, with
places like Stanley Park receiving up to 8 mil-
lion urban escapees.

Stanley Park has always proved very popu-
lar with its numerous activities, and the Van-
couver Park Board is taking some cues by ex-
panding more services and activities to its city
parks.

Park Board Chair Sarah Blyth said that the
city has been installing field houses in about
ten parks around the city, which provide ven-
ues for local artists to become artists in resi-
dence and perform or display their art.

“That’s
newer initia-
that’s also
street-to-
where
can elect to

just one of our
tives. Something
started is the
park initiative,
neighbourhoods
have their streets

become S more green,”
said Blyth. PARK BOARD Five neighbour-
hoods that CHAIR SARAH have identified
as park BLYTH deficient have
started the program, such
as Marpole and the Down-

town Eastside.

Waterside parks in Kitsilano now offer pad-
dle boarding, with watersports in general be-
ing in much higher demand around beach ar-
eas. “It’s just too bad there’s no more Coast
Guard,” Blyth said.

While more activities will inevitably draw
more people to the parks, there are still some
heavily developed areas of the city that strug-
gle to provide enough green space for their

residents.

“We are trying to expand more into South
and East Vancouver, but its not easy,” said
Blyth. “We certainly have enough green space
right now.”

Park Board Commissioner Aaron Jasper
said they are always looking to expand facili-
ties at parks, like sports fields.

People who are interested in visiting the
most popular areas in Vancouver can take a
stroll to Pigeon Park, Vancouver’s most dense-
ly populated park during sunny days.

Nelson Park in the downtown core is a
large, populated park that is popular in sum-
mer seasons.

Blyth said she hopes to see more people us-
ing parks this year, especially beaches. “I’ve
grown up in apartments, and I know that liv-
ing in apartments means that nearby parks
are important.”

Eating local and in season

Cleanse
away wIn-
ter blues

Doing a Spring cleanse is
a great way to start think-
ing about what is going
into your body

More people are wanting
to eat local and in season
foods for environmental

and health reasons.

PUNEET DHAMI

Eating seasonal foods has consumer ben-
efits not just for personal health reasons but
environmentally too.

Foods grown in Vancouver or other plac-
es locally are proven to be more nutritious
because they provide many benefits from
consuming to growing.

“Locally grown foods are more nutritious
because they are grown locally and trans-
ported faster to retam the nutrition,” said
Vancouver Winter Farmers Market’s Execu-

tive Director, Tara McDonald.

The foods transported have a longer shelf
life, meaning it’s more nutritious for con-
sumers.

“There is not as much green gas house
emissions,” said McDonald.

There are winter season fruits and vegeta-
bles still in stock like apples, oranges and
bananas that are grown on trees, they are
available at local food markets for sale.

The spring season is welcoming leafy
greens like green onions, swiss chard and
kale.

All farmer’s market farmers are re-
quired to sign affidavits that notify the
buyer that they are buying organic and
locally.

“Your dollar stays with local produc-

ers and the growers community so the
market is also benefiting,” said McDon-
ald.

Locally grown foods can be bought
from any farmer’s market, all farmer’s
are there to answer questions.

The farmer’s and producer’s can
help with providing information on
where the foods are grown, how they
are brought, what are the benefits and
even how to prepare them in meals.

“They need to adhere to strict poli-
cies of not reselling and need to be
grown by that person, said McDonald.

Asking questions is the best tip Mc-
Donald provided to know about locally
grown foods in the market.

RISTEN HARPULA

ith beach season approaching, those
Jso looking to “spring-clean” their
ody after overindulging during the
olidays, a cleanse is a great option.

Spring cleanses come in all forms,
nd Bronwen Erickson from Gaia Gar-
en Herbal Dispensary said that if it’s
our first time cleansing, it’s best to
tart with a gentle one and recom-

ends their Spring Cleanse tea, which
espite it’s name, is safe enough to
rink year-round.

“It has nourishing herbs and some
entle liver cleansers,” Erickson said.
‘Tt also has herbs to work with the kid-
eys and lymphatic system.”

She said its important not to jump
into a strong cleanse as you run the
isk of going through what is called a
‘cleansing crisis,” where toxins come
ut of different areas, such as your
kin and can make you feel really ill.

“If you're just a little nauseous,
hat’s ok. But if you’re getting really
ick from it, it shows that one of your
liminatory channels isn’t working
roperly,” she said.

Whole Foods employee Vinnie, who
Jso studied holistic nutrition (employ-
es cannot give out their last name due
0 policy), said that the Wild Rose
erbal D-Tox 12-day cleanse is their
estseller and works great, but can
ake a toll on your body.

While 12 days of cleansing can be in-
imidating, he advised that is just a
uideline and taking a day off is fine as
ong as you continue eating healthy.

He also recommended First Cleanse
vy Renew Life as a good option for
hose that have not done one before.

Tanya Hill photos

Left to right:Kale is always in season in Vancouver.
An urban gardener prunes a fruit tree.
Scan to find out what a local fruit looks like.

Seasonal Produce Guide
May/June

Asparagus, artichokes, cauliflower, cherries,English peas, fava
beans, fresh herbs,green onions,lettuce, mustard greens, New
potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, turnips.

July

Apricots, beets, blueberries, broccoli,cabbage, carrots,celery
cucumbers, garlic, tomatoes, peaches, summer sqaush,
swiss chard, blackberries

More info@ www.eatlocal.org