梅花滿天下discover the goodness of our country

10/10 國慶慶祝餐會

Dinner Party celebrating the 100th Double Tenth National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

 Taiwan aboriginal dance

許多在台灣想當然耳的事情，因為不特別而沒做過。在溫哥華，一下子把這些事情都做過一遍，好似要填補以前的缺口。

People usually start to appreciate the beauty of their hometown after they leave. At the dinner

致命吸引力Just adore in distance.

10/10 Mushroom Nature Walk in Pacific Spirit Park (UBC)

野菇自然漫步於和平精神公園

 油油亮亮。Jelly look.

 野菇，可遠觀不可褻玩焉。

The beauty of distance. People should understand this before they become friends of wild mushrooms. With Mr. Terry Taylor, a Vancouver botanist and one of the region's most respected

慷慨的心Generosity

10/9 好朋友家

 Home-made food warms everyone's heart.

在他鄉遇到聊得來的朋友真是人生一大樂事。或許，對朋友來說招待我只是舉手之勞，但卻帶給我無限的慰藉。

Generosity brings love to friends.

Music and food美食與音樂

10/8 Purple Thistle Guerilla Gardeners Workparty, food forest at Charles Street project site, Vancouver

紫色薊花園藝游擊隊，溫哥華東區

 Great food for food forest wrokparty!

 食物森林工作派對靠美食吸引各方好漢。

在一棟棟灰色廠房間，出現了色彩繽紛的食物森林。只要我們的想像力夠強，似乎每一個角落都可以種東西。只要有行動力，沒有什麼不可能。

With imagination and actions, people can grow food everywhere, including the industrial district in East Vancouver. A group of youth runs a resource center collectively and tries to make everything happen. One of the projects they have done and are still doing is URBAN GARDENING. They got permission from the city government to use plots in the industrial district and grow food, build bee hives and dig their hands into the earth. Growing food is not as difficult as we think!

都市農夫Farm in the back yard

Small Plot Intensive (SPIN)

小區域密集農法

說到農耕，大部分的人都是想到大面積的農地，似乎沒有大片的土地就沒有資格當農夫。真是如此嗎?

Small Plot Intensive (SPIN) farming is practiced on land bases under an acre in the urban. It emphasizes on profit margin of crops and limited capital investments. Will it eventually turn all green spaces in the cities into food producing lands? Let’s wait and see. 網址：http://spinfarming.com

資源回收recycling

10/7 Sharing Farm Weeding

分享農場

秋初，農場一下子變得十分寂靜。在溫哥華，夏日的陽光很容易吸引人投入農作，秋日的細雨很容易將人困在房子內。

According to Wikipedia, a weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. Therefore, a weed is not necessary to be pulled all the time. As long as a weed is valued by users, like some Shumei natural agricultural believers in Japan, it stays in the same place no matter it is pulled or not. By doing so, all the nutrients obtained by a weed go back to the earth.

Eat locally時髦快餐車

10/7 Food cart downtown

市區餐車

有大嗎?Really big?

溫哥華市區的目前大概有十九個餐車，充滿著異國風味，也是溫哥華多元文化的一種展現。習慣攤販充斥的台北市人看來可能沒有什麼特別的，其實其中大有不同。市政府不但嚴格審核餐車的申請，也控制核發的執照數量。最難能可貴的是，市政府要求餐車所使用的材料必須多數為當地食材，對當地小農具有很好的宣傳效果。

 Try exotic food at food carts in Downtown Vancouver. The city government requests cart vendors to primarily use local ingredients while smartly promote local farming.

吃著毒藥數著鈔票 social revolution

10/3 seed saving workshop, Terra Nova Park

保種工作坊

剛開始接觸樸門農藝時便知道種子的重要性。一開始以為只要找到對的單位和對的人，就可以找到所有需要的種子。後來漸漸了解到保種要從自己開始做起，了解生命週期的每一刻是一個農夫責無旁貸的任務。

No seeds, no food. Seed saving is important and needs support from the community. Mr. Dan Jason, from Salt Spring Seeds on Salt Spring Island, works with some farmers to save seeds, especially for indigent plants, and to sell throughout Canada. Furthermore, he gives speeches everywhere to encourage communities to save and grow seeds together in hope to fight against multinational seeding companies’ monopoly.

沒有種子，就沒有食物。沒有食物，就沒法生存。保種是大家的責任。即使是專業的種子公司，也是需要合作的農場和農夫一起努力，才能建立起可觀的種子種類。

都是瓜類的種子，雖然看起來噁心，收集起來卻很快，就是要有篩子。

It's only a matter of screening.

Embrace the nature擁抱自然

10/2 Golden Ears Park金耳朵公園

溫哥華人真是太幸福了，天天享受著如此的美景。

Canadians are so lucky to enjoy such beauty every day.

我很醜但很好吃ugly but tasty

10/3 青葉農場，Organic farms in Maple Ridge

 看得出這是什麼嗎?

The squash Taiwanese eat lots in the summer.

世界上最難忘記的味道大概就是家鄉味。在卑斯省裡也有許多台灣來的鄉親在這廣闊的土地上搭起一座座的溫室，試著在這北國之地種出一顆顆南國的植物，就算是種出來的收成模樣不討喜，吃起來還是有家鄉味，因為家鄉味已在腦子裡烙了印。

It's amazed to see how hard Taiwanese farmers try to plant tropical and subtropical vegetables and fruits here. Why? They just can't forget the comfort food they have back home.

園藝輕鬆做Smart and easy gardening

10/7 Lee Vally Tools Ltd.

工具店

在加拿大並沒有特別針對園藝治療設計的園藝工具，但是有些工具店的商品種類鉅細靡遺，商品設計也很具巧思，有時剛好可以符合特定族群的需求。

After knowing horticultural therapy participants’ needs, we can find some helpful tools to make gardening easier for them.

觀察自然與人Observe nature and people

9/30-10/01

園藝治療-四季方案規劃-第一部分，卑斯省大學植物園

Horticultural Therapy – Programming for All Seasons-part I, UBC Botanical Garden

 走進自然，開始學習。

Walk in the nature to learn.

第一堂正式的課程就被老師準備的課堂檔案夾給震住了，清清楚楚，有條不紊。五公分厚的資料，加上無盡串連的網站與資料庫。相較之下，先前讀的兩本指定教課書在數量上就顯得單薄，不過卻讓我能夠在課堂上循著老師的脈絡更進一步地了解園藝治療。

The big binder given in Horticultural Therapy (HT) courses really impressed me. It’s totally well-organized and initiated the endless journey of learning.

金齡日Golden Age Day

9/29 & 10/ 6 Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society 台加文化協會

以前總是不明白老人家在國外要如何過活。不會說外文、沒有朋友或是東西吃不慣。直到在台加文化協會遇到來自家鄉苗栗的范媽媽之後，我才了解為何有些老人非常能夠適應國外的生活。平常早上起來到湖邊散步，再去游泳池遊兩圈。想要來點社交活動，就到台灣人的社團晃晃。其中場地最大、設備最齊全的台加文化協會還特別將每周四定為金齡日，專為長輩們設計一連串的活動。
I thought it's hard for seniors from Taiwan to stay in Canada. What surprises me is that there are so many Taiwanese clubs host various activities for our grandpa and grandma. Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society  sets Thursdays as Golden Age Days for seniors to meet friends and talk about the good old days.

拇指大的紅蘿蔔最好吃, LAST CSA BOX

9/28 Sharing Farm分享農場

今天是供應CSA Box (Community Support Agriculture Box, 社區支持農業食物箱) 的最後一天。感謝一直支持農場的社區居民，大家好好地準備今年最後一箱的食物。沒有這些居民過去三個月每周的支持，農場變少了一筆很重要的收入。為了表達最深的謝意，我們時常會多給一些小驚喜，例如一把花，一包藍莓等等。

The last CSA Box for this year. Thanks for the community residents, who always wait for little surprises every week.

肚子飽的時候，請記住有人正在餓肚子。Richmond Food Bank and Church St. Alban’s Community Meal

September 27 and October 4

Richmond Food Bank and Church St. Alban’s Community Meal

列治文市食物銀行及聖艾爾班教堂的社區餐

Food banks in each city provide people with food, love and respect. 4 staff and 120 volunteers feed 500 households, of which 30% are children. This is Richmond, a relatively rich city in Vancouver.

在溫哥華期間，最常待在列治文市。一出機場只看到滿滿的東方人，完全沒有出國的感覺。後來看報紙得知這個地方算是大溫哥華地區較富裕的區域，難怪市政府有經費整治公園，到處是花團錦簇。

一開始聽到「分享農場」(Sharing Farm)的食物要捐給「食物銀行」(Food Bank)時，以為領食物的人僅是少數，或者多是來自溫哥華其他城市。到「食物銀行」實際了解之後，才知道每個城市都有食物銀行，只發送食物給設籍當地的居民。根據列治文市「食物銀行」的員工表示，目前約有500個家庭接受援助，平均每戶人口數2.5人。由於經濟不景氣，接受援助的家庭數一直上升。

Thanks to all farmers

9/26 Public Market and Super store

公共市場與超級商店

Today is food shopping day. For many people, it means going to Public Market and Super Store. Here are some observations. First of all, there should be a huge variety of food coming from different corners of the world. Second, the quantities of all kinds of food should be huge. Third, the expiration date should never be coming soon (or never come). Finally, the receipt should be as long as Nile River.

Used to shop one or two bunches of vegetables at farmers’ markets, I got lost and overwhelmed in Public Market and Super Store. These places are too tidy and appealing that people may not easily relate food to farmers who grow food.

Thanksgiving Day is coming. Try to buy a bunch of vegetable from a local farmer and say thanks to them.

在Richmond 這個亞洲人聚集的城市裡，幾乎所有的家鄉味都可以買的到，只是道不道地而已。「公共市場」(Public Market)好似南門市場再現，所有想的到和想不到的菜這裡都有，有些是這裡種的，有些是進口的。在這白人主宰的世界裡，亞洲人利用蔬菜宣示著強烈的族群意識，是不是怕跟家鄉斷了線成了沒根的浮萍?

月圓人團圓Get together to warm our elders' hearts

9/24 Moon Cake Festival and Double Ninth Festival, Church at Elgin Street, Vancouver 

溫哥華客家會中秋暨重陽節聯歡晚會, 台光教會

Happy smiles!

誰笑的最燦爛?

For North Americans, Thanksgiving Day is set for families and friends to give thanks for a good harvest and to rejoice together. For Chinese, it's Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Cake Festival). Instead of turkeys and pumpkins, we eat moon cakes and pomelos. No matter where we are and what we eat, everyone shares with their beloved and hopefully with people in need.

I LOVE Double Ninth Festival, which reminds  everyone of the treasure of every family, our elders. As double nine literally means longevity, we wish every elder lives long and happily.

It's brilliant to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival and Double Ninth Festival together. Can't forget the biggest smile on our elders' faces.

客家會的謝會長把中秋節和重陽節結合起來，讓散居各方的客家人團圓起來，一起彩衣娛親。所有的長輩們都笑開懷了，這就是整個晚會最棒的亮點吧!

生病時往哪找醫生?Where to find help when you are sick?

10/6 article: Ecotherapy: When Nature is the Best Therapist

文章閱讀: 生態治療: 自然是最佳治療師

It's so exciting to see the emerging trend in green care and ecotherapy. Yes, it makes sense. Nature nurtures and cares human beings. When a balanced state is reached between Nature and human beings, wellness is  reached.

最近看了許多篇與自然連結的治療及健身方式，感覺人類非得回到自然的懷抱不可。有些人還說許多文明病與自然缺乏症有很大的關係。

我要幫太太種菜, I will plant for my wife

9/23 Sharing Farm- Volunteer Day

分享農場-志工日

 今天要種的甜菜，有紅、有白、有黃。

It’s all about harvesting and planting in fall. A 7-year-old boy came to volunteer with his family on Sharing Farm. Pushing wheelbarrow hard and planting beets softly with his little hands, he felt in love with gardening. “I will plant for my wife” he proudly and affirmatively. “And for your mother?’ I asked. The sweetheart of all women said “I will plant for my wife and my mother.”

Gardening is so powerful to invoke a little boy’s love.  

秋天是收穫的季節，也是種植的季節。為了讓植物能夠堅韌地度過寒冬，我們加點運功散給植物。今天來了一群志工，都在一家銀行工作。在付出的同時，他們也獲得許多。流汗時，運動身體。拔草時，聯絡感情。採瓜時，紓解壓力。