Soup's On!

Drew Ferguson, a chef and instructor from Loyalist College chopped, mixed and stirred while giving Horticultural members many cooking tips at their October meeting. Drew cooked batches of squash soup and potato-leek soup using locally grown ingredients. When asked about the recipe for the soups, Drew admitted that he rarely uses one. According to Drew, anyone can make soup but it is the presentation and the correct combination of seasonings that “make” the soup one to remember. Members sampled the soups agreeing with Drew about the seasoning and the presentation….squash soup with sour cream and caramelized pecans!!


Drew also explained that he grew 5000 garlic bulbs on his farm this year and they are sold out! Next year he plans to plant 7000...so get your orders in early.

Drew started a new venture with his students at Loyalist last year. As part of his program to encourage the concept to “grow locally”, students came to his farm in the spring to plant vegetables and returned in Sept to harvest the produce to be use in the cooking classes at Loyalist. Drew also developed a “partnership” with Richters Garden Centre on Highway #62. Richters donated some land for vegetable planting and the students planted in the spring and returned to harvest in the Fall. It was such a successful venture that Richters is planning to utilize more land for the veggie garden in 2011.



As members were sipping the delicious soup, Drew concluded his presentation by stressing the importance of buying locally and knowing what we are eating!