From his city backyard to yours
Professional agrologist Ward Teulon, a.k.a. City Farm Boy, grows scads of veggies in urban backyards and brings them to farmers markets. Sounds like a good green thing to do. Learn how by registering on-line at www.cityfarmboy.com/ by Saturday (April 26) for his May 3 daylong workshop ($149).

Ale and hearty satu style
Campaign for Real Ale members ( www.members.shaw.ca/homebrewboy/ ) have it over us regular Joes once again, this time ponying up $25—it’s $35 for anyone else—for Sunday’s (April 27) five-course Indonesian tasting dinner at Saté Satu (3488 Cambie Street) complete with way-beyond-lager beer pairings. Reservations are a must (604-709-8150).

Barrow up to growables galore
Berry bushes, fruit trees, and herbs are among 40,000 growables at the 30th annual plant sale at VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak Street) on Sunday (April 27), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. BYOB (bring your own barrow, box, or wagon).

Haute ham
The stampede for jamón ibérico, newly available in Vancouver (like April 24), will be slightly tempered by its price—$199 per kilo at Bosa Foods (1465 Kootenay Street location only), and soon at Oyama Sausage Company on Granville Island. Restaurants like Salt, Cioppino’s, and Il Giardino will carry the highest grade, jamon ibérico de bellota (acorn-fed) on their menus.

Her name is Lola
Affiliated with the same-name bar, Lola’s Wine Store (2289 West Broadway) is so new that staff were still stocking shelves with labels from around the world when we looked in. Do the same, and put your name on the list for e-mailed info on weekly tastings.

More meals mapped out
Latest to lure us with prix fixe, Restaurant Connor Butler (2145 Granville Street) launches $35 three-coursers starting May with a $15 optional wine pairing.

Stock up for winter’s end
Wind up the Winter Farmers Market season Saturday (April 26) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the WISE Hall (1882 Adanac Street) and leave with a basket of veggies, fruits, Jay Springs lamb and beef, wild greens, baked goodies, and seafood.

Cellar survivors
The recent Red Hot fundraiser at Savory Coast, hosted by two of Vancouver’s wine community’s bright lights, wine expert David Scholefield and sommelier–wine educator D.J. Kearney, raised more than $2,000 for the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. The pair, fast back on their feet after a major house fire, thanks to the generosity of wine industry and hospitality peers, shared the salvaged remnants of their cellar—scorched and singed prized bottles, some remarkably drinkable.