Feb
2
James Bay Community Project
By Lou Hammond, Collective Kitchen Co-ordinator
When cooking a nutritious meal is an on-going struggle, for whatever the reason, a “Collective Kitchen” can offer a solution. Collective (or Community) kitchens have been around for over two decades helping groups of people plan, shop for ingredients and share in preparation and cooking of those meals. The meals are then divided into containers to be taken home by each of the participants. This means that there will be ready made meals on hand when the lack of time or energy makes cooking difficult, and it is cost efficient as the cost of food is shared.
A pilot project for a new “Collective Kitchen: is being introduced at the James bay Community Project. It will start on Monday, February 16th at 1:30 pm with an orientation meeting for interested participants. This group will meet twice a month from 1:30 to 4:00 pm on Monday afternoons to cook and plan meals until July. Registration will be required and 8 to 10 people can participate in this venture; the kitchen space and cooking utensils are provided.
This particular “Collective Kitchen” will focus on vegan, gluten-free, healthy recipes using organic and locally grown ingredients as much as possible. Participants can add whatever else they like to their meals at home, however the prepared meals will provide all the nutrition required for healthy eating. If someone is not familiar with vegan or gluten-free cooking, this would be a good place to learn, as well as a place to share recipes and cooking tips. A Collective Kitchen runs on group participation and consensus, and it is a good place to reactivate and interest in healthy cooking and healthy eating while exploring diverse and interesting food dishes. It certainly beats standing in a kitchen by yourself wondering what to make for dinner when cooking is not what you really want to be doing.
If you would like more information, please call one of the Collective Kitchen Coordinators, Linda Chan at 250-389-6383 or Lou Hammond at 250-380-9500. If you are interested in signing up for the February 16th orientation meeting, please call Lisa Gleinzer, Coordinator of Community programs at the James Bay Community Project at 250-388-7856 Ext. 308.