Theatre lovers who also like to follow the 100-mile diet of only eating locally grown food will be able to indulge both their appetites with something fresh this weekend. Fraser Common Farm, a cooperatively owned organic farm in Aldergrove, is hosting the premiere of a new play called Project Corndog that has been germinating for the past two years and is finally ready to be served.
For playwright, actor and organic farmer Tallulah Winkelman, the production is a chance to finally combine two of her favourite things.
This is a very particular project rather than some random hey, lets do a play in a barn, said Winkelman, who also works by day as the office manager for Granville Islands FarmFolkCityFolk, a program that supports community-based sustainable food systems. I have shares in the farm and so it is one of my other passions. One passion is theatre, the other is local and sustainable food, so its a bit of a dream project, and I get to work with some of my best friends and some awesome, incredible artists.
Deep-fried sausage on a stick probably isnt the first thing that comes to mind when people think of organic farming, but Winkelman said Project Corndog was actually inspired by the curious case of Percy Schmeiser. The Saskatchewan farmer made headlines several years ago when he was sued for patent infringement by bio-tech multinational Monsanto after the wind blew their genetically modified corn seeds onto Schmeisers field and contaminated his crops.
Basically its about an organic farmer and her daughter whos a genius scientist. The play begins with their crops being contaminated by Monsatos genetically modified seeds and Monsanto ends up suing them, much like happened with Percy Schmeiser. It went all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court, and they upheld that Monsanto still had the rights to that seed even though it basically ruined his familys seed. So thats where it startsthe organic farmer has one way of reacting to this contamination while her daughter has a very different one. Somewhere in there a corndog comes into play.
Notoriously unhealthy corndogs themselves wont be on the menu during the plays run. Instead, locally grown gourmet cuisine prepared by French chef Adrian Beaty, who works a stones throw away from Fraser Common Farm at Seasonal 56 restaurant, will be on the table.
Most of the time, the food travels to you, but this is you traveling to your food, said Winkelman. Most of the dinner will be sourced off of the farm itself. The wine is also grown just down the road at Lotusland Vineyards. Everything is organic and all pretty amazing food.
Tickets for this farm fresh dinner theatre event (Aug. 19 to 21 at 1322-256 St.) are $50 and Winkelman stresses that advance reservations are required in order to plan the meals. Call 604-730-0450 or visit farmfolkcityfolk.ca to purchase or for more information.
Twitter: @flematic
