Meet Angela of Just Can It:
Angela Boznianin’s connection to food has deep roots. “I was raised on a farm, and I gardened with my dad before I could even walk,” she explains.
The family farm is where Angela’s passion for homemade, locally sourced food all began. It’s also where she got her start in business 39 years ago. She recalls selling eggs as a little girl for only 25 cents per dozen.
Today, her knowledge of growing, preparing and selling food is directed towards her business, which offers homemade preserves, jams, jellies and baked goods.
Angela was a full-time letter carrier for Canada Post, managing her business on the side. Now retired, she is able to focus on selling her creations at local farmers’ markets. The rest of her time is spent sharing her knowledge of food and advocating for principles she has embraced her whole life.
Many of these principles are reflected through her business: growing your own food if possible, buying local and avoiding pesticides and herbicides.
“There has been so much destruction to the food system over the last 39 years,” she explains. “Where will we be in another 39 years? I want to do my part to promote change.”
Part of this effort involves mentoring others. Angela wants to give the next generation the tools and knowledge needed to reverse the trend of destruction. She does this by participating in gardening groups, teaching canning/preserving classes and speaking out against issues like the use of arable land for grass, and the commercialization of farmers’ markets.
One reason why Angela enjoys selling at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market in particular is that she sees it as being closest to the true definition of a farmers’ market. She believes that vendors should “make it, bake it or grow it themselves.”
Having sold at the market for over a year, Angela also recognizes a wave of young people at the Wednesday market that show a genuine interest in learning how to grow, prepare and preserve their own food at home. Vendors and patrons come to her for advice or to vet ideas. This eagerness to learn and sense of community makes for a rewarding experience.
“Coming to Hillhurst Sunnyside last fall was the first time I felt like I was truly making a difference. It was very gratifying,” she says.