Corn Roasts

The first annual Corn Roast in Septbember 2006 began as the launch for the VicWest Food Action Plan and groundbreaking of Banfield Commons, VicWest’s permaculture community food garden.The VWCA partners with Spiral Cafe to host the event which also celebrates Spiral’s anniversary, 2012 was #10.

That first year was so popular that the Corn Roast has now become a much anticipated annual tradition in Vic West. Raynor Street is blocked off becoming a vibrant public space to accommodate musicians and bales-of-hay seating, the pie contest tent, zucchini races, lantern making (hosted by Esquimalt Lantern Festival), VicWest Art Quest activities, community displays and, of course, people eating corn. Volunteers busy shucking and cooking corn can barely keep up with the demand.

The spirit of Corn Roast is about building community by having some simple fun and eating simple food with neighbours.

The Corn Roast in 2012 was a true Roast – the corn was cooked in its husks in the new Fry’s Red Wheat Bread bakery’s wood-fired oven producing a smokey, sweet treat – thank you Byron! Also enjoyed was juice produced from Raynor Park pears and Lifecycles Fruit Tree Project apples, cold herbal teas from VicWest Community Tea Garden, apple pie from the contest and wood-fired pizzas. Michells Farm supplied the 400 cobs of corn and zucchinis.

• The 2012 apple pie winnners are: 1st – Amy Bronee, 2nd – Rosemary and 3rd – Dawn Morgan.
• The best scarecrow was created by Sean Downey and friends.
• The closest pumpkin weight guess (13lbs 8oz) was by Tony & Michelle.

Thank you to all who gave generously once again in the donation bucket, this helps bring the Corn Roast back next year. Thanks to our sponsors Ill Terrazo Restuarant and Dockside Green. And thank you to all the volunteers and the musicans!

Posters beautifully rendered by Stella Archer.