What's Good This Season

W E L C O M I N G // J U L Y

Dear Reader,

Something about summertime makes me deeply remember the importance of food… and the things that are so closely intertwined to it like: food security and accessibility, food as nourishment & as community and culture, and food as a source of abundant creativity and inspiration.

We recently did an agri-tourism stay at Shirewood Farms in Cedars, BC (right outside of Nanaimo) and loved being able to connect with nature in their serene setting. What made this stay so unique though was the opportunity to go and get our own eggs in the morning, to connect with our food and where it comes from, and to reconnect with our roots of circular economies.

I’ve been inspired lately to not only cook & bake, but to try to create in the kitchen… something I haven’t done for quite some time. So, inspired by some of the incredible local foodies, chefs and flavour masters we’ve worked with recently, we created a new locally made recipe we wanted to share with you!

From our heart to yours, check out our Matters of the Heart Tea Cake Recipe, inspired by Lindsay with Kisses to Go Tea Co.

PS Stay tuned for a blog post exploring Queer Owned Island businesses for Pride Month!

Thanks for being here & thanks for being What’s Good.

With Local Love,
Sam + the What’s Good YYJ team

July feel sticky with the heat from the sun melting into your skin... or maybe, that’s just me sweating profusely. Either way, there’s something romantic about the summer heat, and the call from the ocean to take it away with a quick dip.

July feel busy with markets, gatherings, live music, and baby animals being born and growing up, and a cheerful embrace of shorts season. A sense of community feels more vital and healthy in summertime, alive with the extra energy the sun brings to the island.

July brings us sticky, sweet, explorations of fruits and berries, the family unit, and a mindset for brand new discoveries.

Vibes: terracotta, turmeric, ocean-dipped toes, and wildflowers.

We are updating our policies! Sign your business up for a feature before July 10th to be grandfathered into our initial policies of receiving your digital photo album on a traded basis. SIGN UP HERE!

Saturday & Sunday July 13th 14th and
July 20th & 21st at The Market Square
Explore slow fashion when shopping from over 20+ vendors at this fun, stylish market! PS food vendors, DJ’s, + change room available on site.

Saturday, July 13th at Banfield Park
Savour local Dungeness Crab, corn, potatoes, clams, prawns, fresh bread, & butter at the 2024 CrabFest located in Vic West. Click the link below to reserve your bucket today!

Every Friday Evening at Langford Station
Kick off every Friday this summer at The Langford Station to support the Hann Made Markets! Enjoy the vibrant evenings filled with craft beer, live music, & a bustling local scene.

~ A Super Secret ~  

From Sam’s Brain

The heat of July makes me feel slower, and somehow the lasting light from the sun makes me feel like there is time enough. We move so fast in this world, and often, for good reason! There are so many things to see, places to go, people to meet… and summer can feel like the right time for it all to happen. I try to remember in these moments, in between all the spheres of my life, to take a damn breath, filled with ocean air, and remember to be present. Take this time sweetly.

With Local Love,
Sam