Shuswap Food Conversations

In this episode Warren talks with Robyn Hooper and Jess Booth of the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society of BC. Warren, Robyn, and Jess discuss the broad impact of invasive species in our area and in particular their impact on food production and farming.

Join Dr. Warren Bell for his conversation with Jordan Marr of Unearthed Organics in Kelowna, BC. Jordan produces corn, beans, chilis and other goodies for restaurants, and he sells seeds and dry goods across Canada. Jordan is also a podcaster and broadcaster ruminating on all things agriculture. We don't stop there because Jordan is also the Board President of Organic BC representing the North Oka...

In this episode hear Warren's conversation with Melanie Bennett, Liz Blakeway and Howie McMillan of the Shuswap Food Action Society. This show focuses on some of the major SFAS accomplishments from the past year and looks forward to the team's plans for greater regional collaboration and food policy development in the Shuswap and North Okanagan.

Warren's guests are Becky Dochstader and Will Miller of Holey Handpies here in Salmon Arm. Will and Becky are regulars at the Salmon Arm Downtown Farmers Market where they sell a variety of locally made savory pies. Will is also the Manager at Zest, our local commercial food hub where many producers come to cook their products. Learn about Will and Becky's varied backgrounds and how they came to t...

This week Warren's guest is David Colombe of Still Food Bistro on Alexander Street in Salmon Arm. David has a wide ranging background of work and travel in the music and food industries. David was the Head Chef at Table24 in Salmon Arm and currently is a Yoga instructor and owner of Still Food Bistro, where he focuses on local, organic and vegan fare. Join Warren and David for a wide ranging conve...

Warren's guest is Jazmyn Evans of Grow & Change Horticultural Services in Mara, BC. This past summer Jazmyn was the lead judge for Project Grow, a youth garden contest that announced winners at the Salmon Arm Fall Fair. Jazmyn and Warren talk about the project and the winners, and discuss horticulture education, the positive effects of a healthy landscape and growing your own food.

In this episode Warren's guest is Mikaela Cannon, author of the newly released book Foraging as a Way of Life . Mikaela lives in Armstrong. BC and has studied ethnobotany and herbalism and spent two years learning to be a wilderness guide in Sweden (living in a tipi). She has worked as a ranger and research assistant in Australia and as a sailor in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and on the Pacific a...

Listen in on Warren's conversation with Lydia McKnight and Chelsea Keenan of Yankee Flats Meats. Lydia and Chelsea will talk about their joint venture involving their two families, their locally raised animals and now a custom butcher shop with two locations, Salmon Arm and Vernon. Their journey involves many trials and successes and they remain committed to providing our community with the highes...

In this episode, Warren's guest is Debbie Field, National Co-ordinator with the Coalition for Healthy School Food. Debbie and Warren will talk about school food programs across Canada and the National School Food Funding Program which has helped to start up school food programs starting in Newfoundland and Labrador, and now in Ontario, Manitoba and more. Governments and communities around the worl...

In this episode Warren talks with Dr. Keith Williams of Athabasca University about his research into contrasting attitudes towards plants and animals across history and a range of cultures, with particular emphasis on indigenous perspectives towards plants, animals, the foods we eat and medicines we use. Dr. Keith Williams lives in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) and he has paternal family roots from a Mo...

Listen in on Warren's conversation with members of the Agri-food Working Group of CAPE-On (Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment). This group of physicians and researchers has started a unique program called Growing Sustainable Physicians , which endeavours to teach new physicians about the climate crisis and its impacts on our food systems and our health. J...

Warren's guest is Andrea Kilborn, owner of Forest and Food Fixations, a local baker creating artisan bread, baked goods and foraged foods. Amanda started her business in 2019 and now runs the business with a number of employees and teaches bread making and foraging classes as well. Andrea has lived in the wilderness of BC in a tent foraging for food and developing her hobbies of rock hounding, mus...

Dr. Warren Bell interviews Owen Madden about his life growing up in Ireland, becoming a Criminal Lawyer, moving to Canada and becoming the co-owner, with his wife Emily, of Nature Delivered, a food delivery service bringing locally grown organic vegetables and meats to residents of the Shuswap area.

Warren welcomes Dr. Eileen Wong and some of her colleagues on the Food Working Group of the Environmental Stewardship Team of BC's Lower Mainland Health Authorities. Eileen and her colleagues are engaged in research and action to improve the quality and sustainability of hospital food and to "Transform Healthcare Food Systems One Plate at a Time." Warren and the team will discuss their recent conf...

Listen in on Warren's conversation with Jim Cooperman, well known Shuswap advocate, author and promoter of healthy community living. Jim lives in Lee Creek and had a major role in improving strategies for wildfire management in BC after the devastating fires of 2023. He is active in protecting parkland and watersheds in our area and is the author of Everything Shuswap, a local guide to the Shuswap...

Warren welcome's back Melanie Bennett, Projects and Volunteer Coordinator with the Shuswap Food Action Society. Melanie and Warren will talk about Society programs in Salmon Arm such as School Meals, the Teaching Garden and the John McLeod Community Garden. They will also discuss plans for the next big thing , the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising event, which takes place on February 22, 2025....