Feature Farmer – Sunworks Farm
If it wasn’t for Sunworks Farm, Forage might not be here. That’s a pretty strong statement, but it was a Sunworks Farm product that made me ask the question – Why aren’t we using this? I had always had an aversion to the IQF salty water soaked (read ‘seasoned’) chicken breasts so prevalent in the food service sector and the Sunworks product was clean, simple, and humanely raised. We started using it for our catering side and that started us down the path to the 40 plus farmers we draw from today.
Ron and Sheila Hamilton are unique in the world of agriculture. They love their animals and they also understand that farming is a business. It needs to make money in order to be sustainable and they have progressively grown over the years into leaders in the organic sector. Their farm is near the hamlet of Armena about 15 minutes from Camrose. They raise certified organic and humanely raised chicken, ducks, lamb, beef, bison, turkey, and pork. They are currently in transition from farmers markets to the retail sector for more stability for their business future but also understand the need to be available to their customers. That’s why you’ll be able to meet Sheila when they have market days here in Forage.
Cooking Classes
Wade Sirois and Barb Thomas have joined together to present a season of Cooking Classes that focus on local ingredients, healthy eating, simple cooking techniques, and easy meal planning. Classes are held in the Infuse Catering kitchen next door to Forage. The Forage website has a full list of upcoming classes but here are the next couple:
Wednesday, January 26th – Living Gluten Free
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Fee: $75
Instructor: Barb Thomas RHN Hands on Class
CLASS SOLD OUT – Taking names for the wait list for new date to be announced
Have you been diagnosed Celiac? Or you just KNOW you feel better when you don’t eat wheat and other glutinous grains? Come and learn about how to live without wheat and still eat delicious, amazing food. Gluten free, vegetarian, hands on, recipes included.
Tuesday, February 1st – Chicken Basics
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Fee: $75
Instructor: Wade Sirois Hands on Class
This class is all about the simple basics of roasting a chicken. Each participant will learn how to prepare and cook a Sunworks Farm organic chicken and then how to make chicken stock with the bones. Class includes a roasted half chicken and a litre of chicken stock.
Here’s the menu for the week of January 10th:
Monday – Closed
Forage/Infuse retreat
Tuesday – Roast Pork Leg
Broek Pork Acres Berkshire pork roasted with herbs and served with mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots, and pan gravy $14
Wednesday – Sugar Pumpkin Risotto Cake
Sugar pumpkin risotto cake served with braised red cabbage $12
Thursday – Chicken Pot Pie
Sunworks Farm organic chicken, root vegetables, potatoes, peas and corn in a light herb sauce topped with a biscuit crust $10
Friday – Roast Organic Chicken
Sunworks Farm roast organic chicken served with buttermilk mashed potatoes and our famous gravy $40 whole $26 half $15 quarter
This Week’s Side – Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Salad $4
This Week’s Stew – Beef Chili $7
This Week’s Soup – Chicken Tortilla $7
Something Sweet – Mom’s Chocolate Cake $4
Bread (Available Wednesday Until It’s Gone) – Forage Sourdough $4
Sunworks Farm Market Days in the Forage Green Room
Friday 2pm to 7pm Saturday 9am to 3pm