Attendees at the recent “Just Ferment It” seminar workshop, held at the George Mackie Library on Saturday (March 2), were treated to a wealth of knowledge and practical demonstrations by Kristine Hui, also known as Miss Brewbird on YouTube. Hui, a professional distiller and trained brewer, will be featured on the upcoming season of Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners: Master Distiller as the first-ever Canadian contestant.
During the event, Hui guided a full room through the intricate concepts of fermentation, brining, and pickling, not only sharing her expertise but also offering hands-on demonstrations, empowering everyone to engage confidently in fermentation at home.
Attendees were delighted to sample a variety of fermented delights including kombucha, kimchi, pickled fruits, and vegetables.
As per Canada’s Food Price Report 2024, total food prices are anticipated to rise by 2.5 to 4.5 percent this year. Additionally, Metro Vancouver estimates that a staggering 13,000 tonnes of edible, healthy food are discarded annually in the region, with up to 40 percent of this waste occurring before the food reaches stores.
Fermentation, a process where microorganisms bring about desirable changes in food and beverages, offers myriad benefits such as enhancing flavor, preserving foodstuffs, and providing health benefits through the production of probiotics. This age-old practice is celebrated across various cultures worldwide.
Hui demonstrated the simplicity of fermenting cabbage sauerkraut, emphasizing proper storage methods such as burping and airlocking to extend the shelf life of lacto-fermented foods, which can last anywhere from 4 to 18 months when stored in a cool, dark place like a refrigerator.
In light of rising food costs, Hui recommended exploring discounted vegetable bins often found in grocery stores as ideal candidates for fermentation. She suggested examples like cauliflower, urging attendees to simply trim off any blemishes and cut the rest into chunks for fermentation.
Other produce suitable for fermentation includes cabbage, apples, carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, garlic, kohlrabi, peppers, radishes, snap beans, and turnips.
The George Mackie Library isn’t just about books; it offers a range of events catering to diverse interests and needs, from saving money and supporting new parents to engaging in English as a second language activities.
For those seeking further opportunities to save money while promoting healthy eating and perhaps even cultivating their own vegetables for fermentation, the library will host a free seminar titled “Planning & Planting Your Spring Garden” on March 9 (Saturday – 2:00-3:30 p.m.). This session will cover the essentials of planning, preparing, and planting a flourishing spring vegetable garden, led by presenter Rhiannon Johnson. With expertise in organic gardening, soil health, and seed saving, Johnson aims to equip both novice and experienced gardeners with the knowledge needed for a thriving garden. Participants will also engage in a hands-on planting activity, taking home a pot of planted seeds to kickstart their spring gardening endeavors.