Babywearing & Berry Picking

Growing up, my family liked to honour cultural traditions. Now, we didn't have many, but most revolved around food. Most notably Lutefisk. Every Christmas Eve my Dad went to great lengths (ok just to the fish market in Winnipeg) to make sure we were graced with boiled cod, cured in lye. Sounds delicious, right?! We also had lefsa (flat potato flour pancake) and vinetarta (layered cookie type cake with prunes between each layer). Too be honest, these are the traditions that come to mind first. They are from my Grandma Sadie and her Norweigian heritage. (Yes I am 1/4 Norweigian... So that might explain my blonde children). 

Whenever someone asks about my heritage or family traditions I usually respond with something Norweigian. Or sometimes I refer to Trapper's Festival. But of course I have many more, I just don't think of them as notable. 

For example, pies.... Growing up we always had pies. My mom's roots are Scottish and English. Our pies are very seasonal - rhubarb early summer, raspberry/sour cream midsummer, blueberry late summer, apple in the middle, then comes pumpkin into fall and lastly mincemeat or pecan around Christmas. Throw in a good store bought Lemon meringue package just for good measure! 

Pies are treated with respect in our family.  Deny an offering of fresh blueberry pie and we all know what happens from there. (If you don't, just ask my sister).

Back to traditions... Most of our family traditions are around food. We celebrate with food, we socialize with food and most of all just appreciate food. Over the years I have come to appreciate food much more. Especially knowinh where it comes from. 

In our family gardening is a tradition. It's not an easy one. But the rewards are bountiful. Thanks to my parents, we have a beautiful garden to harvest this year. Although Davide is coming around to the appreciation of fresh garden produce or wild blueberries, he has been so busy renovating that he hasn't put the time into the garden that is needed. But he is open to, where in past years he would have been happy to sod over the garden.

Gardening is not easy, especially with a toddler and baby in tow. Neither is wild blueberry picking or fishing. That is why it is important for me to find a balance, a happy medium in terms of providing my family with healthy fresh fruits and vegetables and not losing my sanity. This year that balance comes from help. My parents don't have a large garden at the lake so they are helping with the garden and sharing in the produce. My friend is also helping (she doesn't have a garden but appreciates fresh vegetables).

As for me, I am doing the best I can. And hoping along the way I instill the value of knowing where your food comes from into my children. And what better way then having them by my side and on my back!