April 2019 Issue 125 by Cowichan Valley Voice

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2019 APRIL ISSUE 125 TRUE GRAIN TURNS 15! I HAPPY EARTH DAY! I EASTER SPECIALTIES I GETTING GARDEN READY I 1

Cowichan Bay Clean Up Day 8-12pm Meet by True Grain Bakery 1725 Cowichan Bay Rd Sleeping Dandelion Show 11-4pm Rainforest Arts, 9781 Willow St, Chemainus runs to Apr 30

Traditional Square Dance 7-9:30pm a fun evening live fiddle music by the Shady Grove Dance Band Cobble Hill Community Hall, 3550 Watson Ave Renovation Blues Band 8pm $10 at door Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton

Crofton Spring Bash Featuring Maxwell Smart Band 8-1am Crofton Community Centre Hall, Roberts St $20 includes light meal Brandon Isaak Trio, $20 at door Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton Vintage Sign Workshop 6-10pm Create your own vintage item Fundraiser for Shawnigan Lake Museum Malahat Legion 1625 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd 250-743-8675 $75 incl supplies and chili dinner

Lust Life Quintet w/ trumpeter Bryn Badel & saxophonist Wayne Kozak 2pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton 250-324-2245 $15 Bring Back the Bluebirds Fundraiser 5pm Cowichan Valley Naturalists’ Society Cowchan Bay Pub 1695 Cowichan Bay Rd $25

Quaker (Friends) silent meeting 10:30am St. Ann’s Garden Club Providence Farm 1843 Tzouhalem Rd, Duncan Everyone welcome cowichanvalley.quaker.ca. also, April 21 West Coast Chamber Players piano trumpet violin horn bassoon 2pm St. Michael’s Church 2858 Mill St, Chemainus www. ChemainusClassicalConcerts. ca $25/$10 Adv.$18

Cowichan Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group Coffee Hour 2pm Canadian Cancer Society 103–225 Canada Ave FREE

22 Easter weekend Fine Arts Show w/ Coral Barclay 10-5pm Amo Art Gallery amoartstudio.com Waterfront #2 Cowichan Bay Rd Succession Planting Cowichan Valley Garden Club guest speaker Lynda Smith 7pm 486 Jubilee St, Duncan St. John’s Church Hall membership $20

Chemainus Art Group Meet Up 9:30am Guest Artist Joanne Thomson Saltair Community Centre 3850 South Oyster School Road New members welcome Also Apr. 24

Women’s Waxing Moon Lodge 7pm The HUB at Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Rd www.SHErevival.ca Support group for grandparents and others raising the child of a relative 6:30-8:30pm Confidential 1-877-345-9777 for details FREE

Two for One Facials! Introductory Special

-14 Cowichan Artisans Spring Studio Tour 10-5pm cowichanartisans.com FREE A String Odyssey presented by Cowichan Camerata String Orchestra w/ Chris Redsell 7:30 pm Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St, Duncan www.cowichancamerata.org Adv $15/$5 Ten Old Books $20/$5 Door Michael Demers Solo 7pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton No Cover

Marimba Muzuva, Masimba & Machikichori 6:45pm Dance Silent Auction Benefit for Nhemamusasa North Mercury Theatre, 331 Brae Rd, Duncan $20/$18 Adv youth FREE Broombusters’ Stoney Hill Cuts 9:30-12pm near parking area Stoney Hill Rd. www. broombusters.org Also Apr 16 Lemon & Lavender Vintage Tea 11-2pm baking crafts treasure table raffle artisans South Cowichan Healthcare Auxiliary Mill Bay Community Hall 1035 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd $10 includes tea & treats Cowichan Green Community reFRESH Grand Opening 10-2pm inclusive marketplace refreshments music vendors prizes & more 360 Duncan St

Island Baseball Journey Society Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton $20

Vocalist Susannah Adams featuring Cuban-born pianist Pablo Cardenas 2pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton 250-324-2245 $15 Spring Flower Arrangement Workshop 10:30-1pm The Fishbowl Café 580 Cairnsmore St, Duncan www. dancingdandelion.ca $65 includes flowers, wooden box &snacks GardenPals 10-11:30 Jubilee Community Garden Centennial Park 325 1 St, Duncan Also Apr 28 FREE

Cowichan Valley Green Drinks 5-7pm Craig St Brew Pub, 25 Craig St, Duncan 3rd floor network w/ others in the environmental field

Birds on the Edge Bruce Whittington precarious West Coast bird species 7pm Fish Health Building 1080 Wharncliffe Rd, Duncan Bring a mug $2

The Foreigner Presented by the Chemainus Theatre Festival www. chemainustheatre.ca Runs to May 9

Mill Bay Plantaholics Plant Sale 9-2pm Proceeds to Charity Master Gardener’s on hand 2836 Oceanside Lane, Mill Bay

Pop-Up Art Exhibition: Remnants Australian artists sculpture & natural found materials 1-5pm 3091 Agira Rd, North Cowichan www.theougallery.com Runs to Apr 27 FREE

Beer & Burger Fundraiser 5:30pm Cuban/Vancouver

Trisha Klus Japanese Paper workshop12-2pm

Little Bird 163 Station St, Duncan littlebirdonline.ca FREE Volunteer Gardeners’ Plant Sale 9-12pm Hundreds of plants focus on peonies garden ornaments Master Gardeners all proceeds go to the gardens at Cairnsmore Place 250 Cairnsmore St, Duncan Yin Yoga Class w/ Nadia 6-7:30pm Harmony Yoga Centre, 360 Duncan St, Duncan www. HarmonyYogaDuncan.com FREE Master Gardener Clinics 10-3pm Dinter Nursery, 2205 Phipps Rd, Duncan www. dinternursery.ca

Cowichan Valley Prostate Cancer Support Monthly Group 2pm Canadian Cancer Society 103–225 Canada Ave FREE

HUB Film Club Bohemian Rhapsody Rated PG 7pm The HUB Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Rd hubfilmclub@ gmail.com by donation Cherry Point Artists Spring Show & Sale 10-5pm St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 5800 Church Rd, Duncan FREE

The County Line with Full Band 8pm $15 at Eventbrite or the Pub Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton $20

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Cowichan Hand to Hand 16 fibre arts workshops 9:30am daily www. cowichanh2hfibrearts.ca Cowichan Exhibition Grounds 7380 TCH, Duncan

Knitting Workshops w/ Cat Bordhi designer author & teacher Socks, fingerless gloves & moebius Island Savings Centre 2687 James St, Duncan Registration at tswguild. wordpress.com

The Hub Organ Trio w/ drummer James McRae, Nico Rhodes on keys & Brad Shipley on guitar 2 pm Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave Crofton 250-324-2245 $15 B’Earth Day Party 1-3:30pm celebrate our 7th year of nature education & Earth Day cake, nature scavenger hunt & more Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre FREE

Cowichan Valley Cancer Support Group 10:3012pm Canadian Cancer Society 103–225 Canada Ave FREE

Flower Walk in Somenos Gary Oak Preserve jointly w/ Elder College 9:30am Meet at Island Savings Center parking lot 2687 James St, Duncan

Cowichan Valley Garden Club’s annual plant sale 9-12pm Master Gardener Pollinator friendly advice 486 Jubilee St, Duncan St. John’s church hall cowichanvalley gardenclub.com

Wonder a spring concert Duncan Freedom Gospel Choir 7pm St. Andrews Church 531 Herbert St, Duncan Also April 28 2pm $20 children free

Cowichan Valley Rhodo Society’s Garden Fair10-2pm Rhodos, companion plants, garden supplies CowEx Grounds 7380 TCH Duncan cowichanvalley gardenfair.com Free Master Gardener Clinics 10-3pm Dinter Nursery 2205 Phipps Rd, Duncan www. dinternursery.ca

Iain Duncan Quartet w/ Duncan on sax & Ashley Wey on piano West-Coast jazz, bossa novas, ballads & blues 2pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave Crofton 250-3242245 $15 Sacred Chant Circle w/ Sadie Bartram 7-8:30pm Rivendell Yurt 5215 Bills Rd sdbartram@gmail.com by donation Shawnigan Clean Up 10-2pm Communitywide! Register at SLCC Park & Pavilion, Shawnigan Lake www. southcowichanrotary. org FREE

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS April 7 * 2PM $15

LUST LIFE QUINTET

Bryn Badel on trumpet & Wayne Kozak on sax Jazz, blues, funk and Latin April 14 * 2PM $15

SUSANNAH ADAMS

A spirited, daring vocalist & Pablo Cardenas on keys April 21 * 2PM $15

THE HUB ORGAN TRIO

Features Nico Rhodes on keys Movie songs, originals & more April 28 * 2PM $15

SAXMAN IAIN DUNCAN

& Ashley Wey, piano & vocals jazz, bossas, ballads & blues

Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton

Say it With a Song Duncan Choral Singers 7pm Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St $15 12 & under FREE

You Are Here: A Come From Away Story 7pm Reel Alternatives Film in support of Cowichan Hospice Cowichan Performing Arts Centre 2687 James St, Duncan

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April 2019 Issue 125 Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine Publisher Richard Badman Editor Sheila Badman Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com 250 746 9319 6514 Wicks Rd, Duncan BC V9L 5V2 Visit us online at www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com Proofreading Diana Pink

Events Calendar & Masthead Angela Sheppard

Advertising Enquiries Please Contact Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 e-mail adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Next Ad Deadline April 15 for May 2019 Issue 127 *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire. COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Next EVENTS DEADLINE April 15 for May 2019 Issue 127 E-mail: Date, Event Title, Time, Location and Cost w/ subject “EVENT” to events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations. SPECIAL THANKS TO FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICE: Ted Wright, Sophia Jackson, Yvonne Hodgson, Florie Varga, Christi Pope, Alistair MacGregor, Monica Dockerty, Niki Strutynski, Dr. Fei Yang, Brandy Mandrusiak, Brooklyn Belanger, Georgia Newsome, Florie Varga, Craig Spence, Grant Easterbrook, Cheryl Painter Yonge, Nanita Nair, Sonia Furstenau, Lesley Marian Neilson, David Pink, Allan Campbell, Brooklyn Belanger, Cindy Beam, Miyo Stevens, Venita Chow, Lee Masters, Gary Sutton, Dave Nichols, Debbie Wood, Chloe Boyle, Stephanie Cottell, Renee Robbins, John Magdanz, Moira Mercer, Karla Rothweiler, Nicolette Genier and The Wonderful Staff at The Community Farm Store and The Lovely Georgia Nicols Cover Photo: True Grain’s Organic Pretzels We welcome your story ideas & photo submissions, however Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/ or edit all submissions for space, clarity, content and style. The opinions expressed in Valley Voice Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or other contributors. Please send a query e-mail with your suggested topic prior to sending your article as space is limited and may not always be available. Valley Voice Magazine is distributed through 450 + select locations throughout the Cowichan Valley- Malahat, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cherry Point, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Crofton, Chemainus and Salt Spring Island and to Cowichan Lake, Ladysmith, Victoria, Tofino and Parksville

Spring is here! It’s time to grow your business and bloom like a rhodo! Contact Adrienne Richards for our 2019 Ad Rates and learn more about spring specials and marketing offers for local businesses. adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice. com 250 510 6596 6

OUR COMMUNITY April Events 4-5 Feasibility Study Next Step to Arts and Culture Centre 21 Easter in the Cowichan 23-27 Downtown Duncan 28-35 Clean BC’s Cowichan Connection 37 Happy Earth Day 40-41 Community Farm Store Page 69 Georgia Nicols April Forecast 77 Directory 78-79 LOCAL FOOD & DRINK True Grain Bread Celebrates 15 Years 10-11 Local Pairings for Easter Ham and Lamb 18-19 Exciting Changes at Unsworth 20 Local Chef Recipes for an Easter Feast 26 ReFresh Grand Opening 34 Life on the Boat 38 Love Food, Hate Waste! 65 HOME, FARM & GARDEN Tea Garden Experience 17 Combating Climate Change with Organic Farming 36 Effective use of Minimal Water Flow 42 Looking for Cowichan Valley Wildflowers? 43 Plant and Garden Events Around the Valley 44 The Rhododendron: Latin For the Rose Tree 45 Start your Garden at the Duncan Farmers Market! 47 Edible Flowers and Spring Flower Workshop 62 The Buzz on Organic 75 LOCAL ARTS Move Your Feet Lift Your Spirit! 8 Brandon Isaak Trio 9 Cowichan Artisans Spring Tour 12-13 Stan Hodgson - A Retrospective 14 Susannah Adams and Pablo Cardenas Set to Soar at Pat’s House of Jazz 15 Cowichan Artisans Spring Studio Tour 14-15 Do you See what I See? 46 The Second Season of the CPAC Cabaret Series Comes to a Raucous Close 48 Hilarious Comedy The Foreigner 49 Freedom Gospel Choir 58 CVAC Outreach Program Stepping Stone for Youth 63 Duncan Choral Singers “Say it with a Song” 70 BODY, MIND & SOUL How Gratitude Changes Your Life 16 Dynamic Chinese Exercise for Health 53 Do You Have Allergies or is it a Cold? 54 Spring cleanse 2019 with Dr. Fei Yang 55 Fruit for a Healthy Lymphatic System 56 Spring Break for Your Body 57 Mobile Pedicures and Manicures 59 Why We Should Read 64 Crystal Eggs 64 Long Lost Essential Nutrient Vitamin K2 68 The Buzz about Cbd 76 PETS, RECREATION & NATURE Celebrate Spring at the In Bloom Wildflower Festival 39 Natures Calling! Are you listening? 50-51 Have You Ever Considered Becoming an Instructor? 52 Local Stewardship Towards Cleaner Water 66 Spring Whale Update 67 Cut Broom in Bloom 71 Clearing the Fields Of Broom On Stoney Hill 72 How to Keep Your Groomer Happy 74 Saying Goodbye 75

Move your feet, lift your spirit!

On April 2nd join us to celebrate thirteen years of business! A Shop tax free - all day! Enjoy refreshments & prizes! Complimentary Elate Make-Up session with Amanda and Jennifer & Eminence Lilikoi mini facial with Eva. Reflexology with Joy $30 for 30 minutes. Please call ahead to book all treatments. 109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza) Soul Escape Organic Spa and Gift Boutique 250 748-2056 I www.soulescape.ca

Warm welcome to Beverly Seip Registered Acupuncturist & Certified Laser Therapist.

Cowichan bay clean up day Community members will come together for their annual Cowichan Bay Village Clean Up! Please bring your brooms, shovels, high visibility vests and anything else that might help. We will be picking up trash, 8

cleaning the street, replacing the flags and making our little seaside village shine. Join us! April 1, Cowichan Bay Clean Up Day, 8AM-Noon, Meet by True Grain Bakery. (Please park at Hecate Park and walk, we need to keep the street clear so we can clean it!)

fter suffering through weeks of snow and below average temperatures this spring, it’s time to celebrate the warmer temperatures, fresh new buds, and frog songs with some jumpin’ and jivin’! Three marimba bands will hit the Mercury Theatre stage the evening of Saturday April 13th to move your feet and lift your spirit with the driving rhythms and time-honoured melodies of Zimbabwe and southern Africa. Now in it’s third decade, Canada’s original Zimbabwestyle marimba band Marimba Muzuva will be lighting up the night with their mix of deep Zimbabwean traditional music and their own worldmusic-influenced compositions; Machikichori will kick things off at 7 pm with a set to get everyone moving and in the groove; and the Cowichan’s own powerhouse, Masimba Marimba, will be bringing their own infectious energy and harmonies. The evening finale will feature a set of traditional spiritual music played on mbira (‘thumb piano’), the beautiful, watery, age old instrument of the ancestral spirits of Zimbabwe. There’s no wrong way to dance to this music, so come out and

get your groove on in your own way; between songs you can browse the silent auction items and perhaps end up taking home a desirable item! This event is put together by Vancouver Island’s marimba community to help support Nhemamusasa North, a five day Zimbabwean music and dance immersion that has been bringing teachers and students from Zimbabwe and across North America to the Cowichan Valley since 2006. Taking place at O.U.R. Ecovillage near Shawnigan Lake from August 13-18, Nhemamusasa North offers daily workshops in marimba, mbira, hosho, dance, drumming and singing at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels, as well as concerts, cultural discussions, and evening jams. Hope you can join us on the 13th for a night of marimba magic! Marimba Muzuva, Masimba and Machikichori Saturday April 13, 2019 at the Mercury Theatre, 331 Brae Road, Duncan Tickets $20 at the door, $18 advance from the Community Farm Store on the highway Doors open 6:45, music starts at 7:00pm. For info: find us on facebook @ masimba marimba or info@ bopoma.org or www.nhemanorth. org

Submitted by Ted Wright

Brandon Isaak Trio

randon Isaak is a two time Juno nominee and has won and been nominated for many Maple Blues Awards from Guitar player of the year, song writer of the year and album of the year. Brandonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affinity for the rawness and spontaneity of the blues is second to none, as anyone who has had the privilege of being a part of his audience will tell you. He brings a firebrand style of guitar as well as incredibly stirring vocals that truly has to be witnessed to be appreciated! Brandon is joined by his long time friend and band mate Pat Darcus on bass. Pat is a world class upright bass player who has been on the scene for over 30 years. Originally from Victoria, Pat has had the chance to play with some of the heaviest musicians in the business such as Duke Robillard, R.L. Burnside, Mighty Sam MacLain and Mick Taylor from The Rolling Stones. Pat has recorded on many great award winning records and has toured all over North America. The third member of this power trio is Charles (Chip) Hart from Nashville, TN. His professional career began when he enlisted in the Armed Services, touring Europe, Africa and North America with the US Navy Band. Chip is a passionate and dedicated drummer who

really holds the the band together with his take no prisoners attitude on his drums. Together the three are amongst the top blues musicians in the country and have an honest and unique sound that they call the the New West Coast Sound. Audiences love them and they never disappoint! Saturday, April 6 8pm. Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Avenue, Crofton. $20 Shuttle service available 250 324-2245

SPRING BASH APRIL 6TH Featuring

DOORS @ 8 PM

MAXWELL SMART Crofton Community Hall

DANCING FROM 8:30 UNTIL 12:30

Crofton Spring Bash Maxwell Smart Band Maxwell Smart Band is coming to the Crofton Community Centre on April 6th for our Crofton Spring Bash!!! The event is organized by the community centre to raise funds to shore up our budget. Funds raised help give dona-

Tickets $20 per person 19+ No tickets at the door No refunds rafďŹ&#x201A;es included - late night snack

Tickets available at the Galletto Market in Crofton, from CCCS members, or at First Chiropractic, Duncan (On Trans Canada Hwy across from high school)

PLEASE CALL 250-709-1379 FOR INFORMATION tions back into the community, help with costs of keeping our hall functioning as repairs and upkeep are constantly needed. We help many parts of our community with College bursaries, donations to Hospice, Harvest House food bank, seniors housing and many other worthy causes.

This dance is the first in a series of events planned for 2019 at the hall. Cost is only $20.00 Please call 250 7091379 for more information.

ust as Rome wasn’t built in a day, shifting the unsustainable trajectory of the modern industrial food system isn’t going to happen overnight. But with the right vision, the right people and a supportive community, you can accomplish a surprising amount. On April 6, True Grain Bread will be celebrating two major milestones: their 15th anniversary and the sale of a million handcrafted loaves. Loaf by loaf, the family company operates using a simple formula that defines their quest to reconnect people with their food: From the farmer, to the miller, to the baker, to the community. “A million loaves may not seem like a lot in the world of big commercial baking, but when every loaf is individually handcrafted, it’s a cause for celebration,” said True Grain president Bruce Stewart.

The busy little bakery has been a hub of the Cowichan Valley since Johnathan Knight first opened it in 2004. When Bruce and his wife Leslie took over in 2008, they retained the principles of staying “true to the grain” by sourcing organic grain, using stone mills to mill slowly at low temperatures, and making bread and pastries the old-fashioned way, by hand, without the additives and preservatives that have become so prevalent in modern food practices. Out-of-towners regularly descend upon Cowichan Bay to load up on the kind of bread they remember 10

their grandmothers making. For some it’s the authentic French White loaf or French Baguette, while for others True Grain offers an additional opportunity to connect to our broader human history, through bread made using heritage wheat like Red Fife and ancient grains like Einkorn, Emmer, Spelt, Khorasan and Rye. Along with avoiding preservatives, True Grain doesn’t add sugar or fat to their bread and uses only organic butter for their pastries and cookies. While their values-based model has remained the same over the years, True Grain has seen some big changes. Todd Laidlaw, a long-time friend of the Stewarts, joined the company in 2012, and together they opened a second bakery in Summerland in the Okanagan Valley. The company is now three bakeries strong, with a location serving the Comox Valley in Courtenay since 2017.

True Grain Bread But the biggest change came in 2016, when True Grain announced they had switched from buying organic grain from the prairies to sourcing exclusively BC-grown and BC-milled grain for their flour. “I think that’s the accomplishment we’re most proud of,” said Bruce. “Buying from organic farmers in our own province automatically means a closer relationship with our food. It also encourages more

agricultural diversity, as well as cutting way back on the number of miles we now need to ship grain, which is better for the environment.” Bruce estimates they’ve cut 11 metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually since switching to BC-grown organic grain. This is the equivalent to driving across Canada 6 times. On Vancouver Island, True Grain has certainly earned their place among the bustling network of farmers, food producers and

Lori Iannidinardo and Pier 67 Marina, the bakery was able to create an inviting patio space where visitors can sit beside the ocean and enjoy a slice of the quiet life. There are more renovations underway, with another big reveal set for early this summer.

Celebrates 15 Years craftspeople. Bruce was one of the founding members who championed Cowichan Bay to become North America’s first Cittaslow community, joining more than 236 other towns in 30 countries around the world that are dedicated to promoting craftsmanship, environmental stewardship, and preserving valued history and traditions. True Grain has been partnering with Cow-Op, a non-profit farmer and food processer co-operative that delivers locally grown and harvested food. In addition to purchasing local organic produce, customers in Victoria and Duncan can also order a wide assortment of True Grain products, including bread, pastries,

cookies, pasta, and flour. Customers simply pick up their weekly orders at The Station in Duncan and Zero Waste in Victoria. True Grain has also enlisted the help of pasta master Matt Horn of the Cowichan Pasta Company, to make a range of pastas using True Grain’s stone milled flour. In the bakery, the fresh baking and in-house extras like pancake mix, cookies, granola and the largest assortment of ancient grain and heritage wheat flours in the province, is complimented with a variety of locally made foods, including Westholme Tea and artisan products from Hardie Honey, Cure Artisan Meats & Cheese and Lisa’s Jams. Last year, with help from

What’s in store for the next 15 years? One thing’s for sure, don’t expect True Grain bakeries to be popping up all over the province. “We’re not about getting big, we’re about doing what we do really well,” said Bruce. “We want to help demonstrate how a sustainable food system works and show how it serves our communities and the environment at the same time. If we can be an inspiration to other communities, we would love that.” In celebration of their 15th anniversary and one million loaves, True Grain is planning some amazing in-house specials April 5-7. The community has also been invited to attend a special open house and sampling frenzy on Saturday, April 6. Submitted by Sophia Jackson, True Grain

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRUE GRAIN BREAD! Readers can have their own Pretzel Party to celebrate True Grain’s 15 years in Cowichan Bay. Hidden throughout this April issue of the Cowichan Valley Voice are a total of fifteen pretzels like this one in both colour and black and white. Find all 15 pretzels and email us with your name, year of birth, and what pages you found them on to info@cowichan valleyvoice.com The first 15 readers to corectly discover all the hidden pretzels will win a package of four delicious fresh baked organic True Grain pretzels to enjoy with your friends, courtesy of True Grain!

Cowichan Artisans Spring Studio Tour

he Cowichan Artisans are excited to announce their 2019 Spring studio tour: April 12, 13, 14. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During these three days, 14 professional, full-time artisans will open their studio doors to share experiences and showcase their work. Each artist aims to inspire those that tour their studios, each piece of work is original and each,

a labour of love reflecting the highest standards. Ever wonder what it takes to be a full-time artisan? Where does artistic inspiration come from? â&#x20AC;&#x153; During the tour I love the moment when people enter the studio and then stop, their eyes open wide as they take in my unusual art materials. As they start to connect with the vintage found objects and old papers and

the history they hold, their own stories come out. It is lovely.” Says one of the groups newest members, Wilma Millette, Collage and Assemblage Artist. From Shawnigan to Ladysmith you can experience; Bev Robertson’s sunlight on canvas which will leave you breathless, Karen Trickett and Cam Russell’s workshop and show home, Jennifer Lawson’s romantic, Cowichan Bay studio is like taking a journey through a meadow in full bloom, Catherine Fraser’s studio evokes imagination with thought provoking and vibrant imagery, The wood grain in Ken Broadland’s turnings and Live Edge Design’s furniture just begs to be caressed, Ancient Art of Stone create timeless art pieces from rocks and crystals, Travis Rankin’s metal sculptures

are both West Coast and other worldly at once, Cathi Jefferson’s salt fired pottery is truly remarkable, Laurel Hibbert’s slavic characters will capture your heart, Experience paintings and upholstery at Arwen and Bonnie Schmaus’ studio on Herd Rd, A visit to Wilma Millette’s studio is like stepping into a cabinet of curiosities, Mary Fox creates stunning forms in glass and ceramics. You may have noticed that the photographic quality of the Cowichan Artisans mug shots has improved immensely thanks to the efforts of Donovan and Barclay of the OU Gallery, the groups new photography sponsors. Visit their contemporary art gallery during the Spring Studio Tour (it’s located next door to Laurel Hibbert’s, Agira Rd Studio). See you on the Tour!

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Stan Hodgson - A Retrospective

s an architect working in Edmonton and later Yellowknife, Stan Hodgson designed institutional buildings such as schools, housing complexes and nursing stations. He was an architect, artist, flier, a lover of the North and tinkerer with all things mechanical and puzzling. Stan was born in Prince George, BC, the son of a railroad engineer father and artist mother. As a boy, he lived in Prince Rupert and Jasper; then, after a short stint in the army just at the end of WWII, he moved to Edmonton, where he apprenticed as an architect. He began his architectural career in 1954, soon after becoming a partner in Aberdeen, Groves, Hodgson. His love of architecture was matched by that of taking planes apart and putting them back together. He could never get over the feeling of triumph when he flew one of his restored treasures. A fixture at the Edmonton Flying Club hanger, he was also for many years the resident artist for that club’s newsletter. In the 1970s, Stan cut loose from the constraints of his architectural practice and headed to Vancouver Island, where he restored a vintage wooden sailboat, which he sailed solo up the coast. He then moved to the Arctic, where he resumed architecture, travelled to the

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far-flung settlements and pursued his love of pencil drawing, finding the wild, contradictory landscape perfectly suited to his style. In the late 1980s, Stan returned to Vancouver Island and took up residence at Brentwood Bay. He continued to draw and paint and exhibited his work at various galleries. Hodgson died in 2009 and his widow, Yvonne Hodgson, wants the Cowichan Valley to see his work, especially since she and her husband had lived in BC since 1990. She is displaying a selection of his drawings and watercolour paintings in the show. “He loved pencil character studies such as an Inuit building an igloo,” she said. Local artist Pauline Dueck is curating the show. His artistic talent will be on display at CVAC’s Arbutus Gallery April 1 to 17. The Cowichan Valley Arts Council (CVAC) is a not-forprofit organization founded in 1971 to support arts and culture in the Cowichan Valley. It operates two art galleries in the Island Savings Centre: PORTALS and the new Arbutus Gallery. CVAC also organizes workshops, events and a youth outreach program. 2687 James Street, Duncan www. cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca Submitted by Yvonne Hodgson

Susannah Adams and Pablo Cardenas Set to Soar at Pat’s House of Jazz

LIVE IN THE CHAPEL

Providence Farm 1843 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan ALL SHOWS (Except Noted) Doors 7pm I Performance 7:30pm

her flair for improvisation and for forging new collaborations. No two shows are alike. Famed Vancouver guitarist Oliver Gannon has lauded her “unique approach to it all,” adding, “you don’t play it safe.”

nown for her hip phrasing, keen stylings and exuberant delivery, Victoria- based jazz vocalist Susannah Adamsis poised to set your hearts a-flutter when she returns to Pat’s House of Jazz. She’ll be accompanied by Cuban-born piano virtuoso Pablo Cardenas, bassist Peter Dowse and drummer Damian Graham — some of the most exciting musicians in the business. Separately, Adams and Cardenas sell out shows at the jazz club; together they’ll pack quite a punch, so make your reservations early for this blockbuster show. Adorned with flaming tresses and a spirit to match, Adams is acclaimed as being one of “the best singers in Victoria” by Times Colonist reviewer Mike Devlin and she is well regarded among her peers for

Since the release of her debut album As the Morning Light last year, Adams has been flying high, reaching a growing audience both on Vancouver Island and on the Mainland. After paying tribute to the great Aretha Franklin with four other top Victoria jazz vocalists at a sold-out Victoria concert earlier this year, Adams says the Queen of Soul’s influence has been percolating into her music lately. For a taste of Adams’ music, check out her version of Blue Skies at her CD release party at Hermann’s or her performance of Skylark at the Aretha Franklin Tribute Show. Both are on YouTube. Cowichan Valley fans can look forward to hearing Adams explore new stylings as she leads this dynamic quartet to deliver some

favourite jazz standards along with some new compositions of her own. The show is part of a regular Sunday jazz series presented by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society. Reservations are recommended. Tables will be held until 1:30 p.m. Call 250-324-2245 at the Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Avenue, Crofton at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14. Admission $15. osbornebaypub.com.

SATURDAY APRIL 6 • $20 FOX GLOVE LIVE IN THE CHAPEL

Ethereal harmonies ﬂoating amidst cinematic soundscapes

SUNDAY APRIL 7 • $20 SCHRYER, HILLHOUSE & DOBRES LIVE IN THE CHAPEL A phenomenal trio of Celtic musicians.

SATURDAY APRIL 20 • $25 VALDY, BILL HENDERSON (CHILLIWACK), AND FRIENDS

Legendary Canadian artists Valdy and Bill Henderson of rock group Chilliwack.

SATURDAY APRIL 27 • $20 THE BLUE HEARTS LIVE IN THE CHAPEL More info TBA

Tickets available through www.barelynorth.com and Duncan Music

www. barelynorth.com

Upcoming EVENTS Morel Mushroom Cooking Class Sunday April 7 & 21 Spring Wild Food Feast Saturday, April 13

For full details visit www.deerholme.com BY RESERVATION ONLY

4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan

For ReservationS 250 748 7450 15

How Gratitude Changes Your Life Florie Varga of the Inspired Woman is a Business and Personal Development Coach and Consultant

65,000

thoughts per day. That is what each of us have. Give or take 65,000 thoughts per day. And of these 65,000 thoughts, 95% occur automatically without us being aware of them. Isn’t that rather astounding? Think about it… so many thoughts and we are oblivious to the most of them. Here’s another fact. Our unconscious brain is geared to focus on the negative and to recycle these negative thoughts over and over. This phenomena is called a negative cognitive bias. Short of long, its just a lot of repetitive negative thoughts. So what does this have to do with gratitude? One of the best ways to turn this bias towards the negative on its head; so that we can be at choice with our thoughts and feelings, is to cultivate and embody an “Attitude of Gratitude”. A daily practice of gratitude

actually changes your brain, and I dare say “it will change your life”. Studies have found that those who have a daily practice of gratitude are happier, more optimistic and more resilient.

develop yours.

Not only are these folks happier in themselves, they experience a 17% increase in social capital. This means that others like and trust grateful people more. Those practicing daily gratitude have been found to have a 10% increase in long term well-being. This has the same impact as doubling your income! Other outcomes include less physical pain, greater physical activity, improved sleep quality, enhanced learning, and more resiliency to stress and depressive symptoms.

• Something like, “I am blessed to be alive for another day” or “I’m thankful to open my eyes and see another day”. Consciously be aware of how your whole demeanor changes. o For me, my face relaxes and I truly feel like space is opening in my mind. This one little conscious action has been the most powerful anecdote to waking up feeling blue, tired or lacking energy. It is my golden pill to ward of depression.

So, how do you cultivate an “Attitude of Gratitude”? It requires the practice of “Prompted Awareness”, the practice of intentionally being present and focusing on your surroundings. Prompted awareness takes you out your own head where you spin useless negative thoughts, and prompts you to be on the lookout for things that you can appreciate, things that make you feel good, things that you find funny or that peak your curiosity.

Prompted Awareness, however,

does take some practice and commitment.

Over time I have honed my own Attitude of Gratitude practice, building on research and testing many suggested processes, hacks, and tips. This is my easy process and you might find it useful to

1. Each morning when you wake up… make your first conscious thought of the day a statement of gratitude.

2. Then affirm your intention for being blessed •An affirmation like, “Something absolutely amazing will happen today, because I am blessed to be alive and part of the universe.” o Once I added this step into my practice, it refocused my mindset to living a winning day. Before I am even out of bed… I am positioned for a day of positivity and vitality. This affirmation sparks a skip in my step. 3. As you go through the day, LOOK for simple things to appreciate • Look for little things - simple things, things like a dew drop on a leaf, or the chocolate ice-cream you didn’t intend to have but it was oh so yummy, or catching a stranger’s eye with a smile, or the feeling of your muscles after a

work-out, or a child’s giggle. o Before I knew it, I was looking… searching… to scout out little things. I became aware of the most insignificant events and how they brought me feelings of connection, pleasure, awe, amusement. o I started positioning myself to do things for which I could be grateful, like random acts of kindness or acts of personal fulfillment like singing full-out while driving, or going the extra little bit to get something done. o Something that I never anticipated to happen was that I also noticed more of the not so good stuff in the world, but I began to see this with a whole new lens of acceptance and compassion. 4. Commit to a 30 day practice of writing down three things that you take notice of each day. But here is the hack… never repeat the same thing twice. This is 90 instances of prompted awareness and gratitude. • Over the 30 days you will begin to develop a habit, rewiring your brain to being present and focused on the positive. You will begin to live more and more in your conscious mind. Eventually, gratitude will be as effortless as breathing. You will have literally sculpted your brain to have a bias for gratitude. o I know it has for me. Why not get a notebook and get started! Watch your brain change. And then watch your life change around you. www.florievarga.com

Westholme Tea, Sean Fenzl Photography

A Delightful Tea Garden Experience

he Camellia sinensis plant starts to flush out with fresh, new growth in early Spring. This new growth is what is used in tea production. Artisan plucked tea generally consists of the first two leaves and bud. You can pick all three, second leaf, first leaf and bud, to produce a superior tea or combine them in any order, the first leaf and bud, only the first two leaves and not the bud, or only the bud, etc. Each pluck is unique just as each tea produced from a pluck is distinctive. For the past 3000 years or so, the experimentation and refinement of tea making has turned the processing of the world’s most consumed beverage into a true art form. It is not only what you harvest, it is also very

important to know when to harvest. As the days of Spring begin to warm up, the bud sets change and grow rapidly. A bud that is beginning to form early morning can start to open up in a matter of hours. The Camellia sinensis plant is delightful and fascinating. This one plant will produce a green tea, a black tea, a white tea, an oolong as well as pu-erh. The choice of what to harvest combined with the process determines the final style of tea.

History meets innovation in this one of a kind 30-minute tour experience. We will walk the gentle slopes of the tea garden so be prepared for all weather conditions and uneven ground with active footwear. Our tour season begins Thursday April 11th @ 2pm and Sunday April 14th @ 10:30am. Tours will run throughout the season every Thursday @ 2pm and Sunday @ 10:30am. The cost is $10/ person.

You can also reserve space in the tearoom after the tour and add to your experience with our a la carte Tea Pairing Menu featuring a selection of tea infused sweets and savouries while enjoying organic terroir teas from around the world, including our farm grown Cowichan tea. Contact us for more information and to reserve your spot – 250.748.3811 – events@westholmetea.com

Curious to learn more about tea growing and processing? Enjoy a walk in Canada’s only commercial tea growing garden. The tea terraces are where we share the story of tea traditions, tea harvest and our tea making journey. 17

Local Pairings Blue Grouse Winery Quill Pinot Gris 2017

Ham, with its sweet-and-salty richness, pairs best with wines that have plenty of acidity and bold fruit. Our Quill Pinot Gris is a lively wine and has aromas of toast and apricot, with pear and jasmine on the palate. It is fermented in stainless steel and has a crisp acidity which will pair well with your glazed ham and enjoy with your family during the holiday. $21

Unsworth Vineyards Symphony 2016

Blend of Island grown Cabernet Libre, Labelle & Petit Milo Symphony is a full bodied red with plum, blackberry and spice notes. Pairs wonderfully with the rich spices in Chef Maartynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spiced roasted lamb shoulder. $27

Valley Cider Noir

Crisp apple cider blended with blackberries, black grapes and black cherries provides a berry-forward almost cranberry-like sweetness and acidity to balance the briny saltiness of a glazed ham. $4.99

for Easter Ham & Lamb

VINOTECA AT ZANATTA

Rocky Creek Winery Pinot Noir 2016

This vintage has had some changes that have greater depth to the wine. It has been oaked in French Oak. With dark cherry tones and a plum flavour, but also the spiciness our pinot is known for. This Pinot would go very well with roasted ham or lamb. Lamb has a nice meatiness that would bring out the spices of the wine and the stronger tones. The ham would bring out the fruit and pair so well with the sweetness that ham can have. Pinot is a great foodie wine and goes with just about everything. $30

Join us for Lunch Wed - Sun. Dinner on the Weekends. Brunch on Sundays. Event Shuttle Available through

vinoteca.ca

5039 Marshall Rd, Duncan I 250 709 2279

Small Block Brewing Spitfire Wee Heavy

The Wee Heavy is the perfect accompaniment for roast lamb. Pale, crystal and black malt combine with roasted barley to create a dark, malt-forward strong ale. This full bodied Wee Heavy has a rich malt aroma and taste. Low to moderate hop bitterness comes from traditional British favourites East Kent Goldings and Fuggles hops. East Kent Goldings provides aromas of lavender, spice, thyme and honey. Fuggles accompanies with delicate floral and mint tones. 946ML $9

Exciting Changes at Unsworth

nsworth Restaurant has been busy with a spring cleaning, of sorts. We emptied the entire restaurant and kitchen to make room for some upgrades; a kitchen and outside patio expansion, refurbishing of floors, painting, as well as an outdoor pizza oven are all in the works. We plan to open in the first week of April and have been working on a new spring menu and special Easter brunch menu.

SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY Up to 50% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. The superior design of our Duette® Architella®honeycomb shades trap air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Chef Maartyn, Stacey and Mark are excited to welcome back guests and show off our recent upgrades, as well as the patio expansion still in progress. We are creating an expanded patio area with an outdoor pizza oven which will conducive to serving larger groups. It is also an exciting time at the winery as we are getting ready to launch our new wine releases. 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of Unsworth

Vineyards. We are celebrating with a special 2018 Vintage 10th Anniversary Sunnydale Rose. This single vineyard, very limited release will only be available to our wine club members and at the Unsworth tasting room. Wine Club members are eagerly anticipating their annual shipment of new releases. If you would like to take advantage of a 10% discount on all your purchases in our Unsworth Tasting Room or at the Duncan Farmer’s Market, as well as exclusive access to special releases and events, not to mention an annual case of wine, April is the time to become a member! For more information or to become a member of Unsworth Wine Club, please visit unsworthvineyards.com.

Submitted by Christle Pope

1-778-554-5434 I tarynogormandesigns.com 20

or immediate vicinity’, but Grigor said factors like the availability of a site, and the cost of renovations or construction will all have to be taken into account.

Feasibility Study Next Step To Arts & Culture Centre Submitted by Craig Spence

t’s too soon to say where it will be located, how much it will cost, when it will open, and what it will look like, but a committee established by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society has released a strategic plan, indicating there is strong support in the community – including the business and arts communities – for an arts centre in North Cowichan. In a report to the CVCAS’s AGM, ‘Arts-Team’ member Brad Grigor, said the next step – the one that will help answer outstanding questions – is to get a professional consultant on-board to produce an independent feasibility study. That will likely cost about $75,000, he told CVCAS members. “Everybody we’ve talked to in a consulting capacity has indicated the timing is good for this type of venue,” he

said. “We’re encouraged by that.” If the funds can’t be raised, and a study can’t be done, the arts centre project won’t happen. “We’ve reached the end of what a volunteer group can do without bringing in the professionals,” Grigor reported. Discussions so far have identified some of the types of facilities and services a centre would house: ▪ An art gallery with environmental controls that would allow North Cowichan to attract visiting shows on tour from other parts of Canada and the province; ▪ An expanded space for the popular Rainforest Arts retail gallery, which is operated by CVCAS volunteers; ▪ A smaller, more affordable performance venue than the Island Savings Centre in Duncan or the Port Theatre in Nanaimo; ▪ Classroom and studio space for arts and cultural activities; ▪ Retail space for businesses affiliated with the arts. The strategic plan says the intent is to place an arts & culture centre ‘in Chemainus

The strategic plan cites benefits to the region that include: attracting a wider range of businesses; drawing more visitors, especially arts and culture visitors; more music, art, classes and related activities for local residents to enjoy. More information at the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society web site cvcas.com/chemainus-arts-

centre/

Island Hellerwork & Somatic Counselling ALIGN - CONNECT - EMBODY

Heal Trauma Increase Vitality Improve Posture & Alignment Freedom From Chronic Pain & Injury Improve Movement & Flexibility Heal Anxiety & Depression Better Sports Performance

islandhellerwork.com I 250-661-1687 21

Easter In Cowichan

Well Bred Icelandic Vinarterta

Well Bred is offering: Slowbreads, sweet & savoury pastries, cookies and tarts Location: Duncan Farmers Market 9am-2pm on Easter Saturday (and year round!) Well Bred has a number of specialty offerings for Easter including our Hot-off-theCross Resurrection Buns, Hungarian Poppyseed Rolls, and Icelandic Vinarterta. Our Easter tart selection includes three varieties of familysized dessert tarts: Lemon Trollope, Sugar Daddy, and Almond Blackberry. You can

find Well Bred year-round on Saturdays at the Duncan Farmers Market in City Square. We will be set up and ready to serve customers from 9am-2pm on Easter Saturday. www.wellbred.ca

Easter is nearly here, and the bakers at True Grain are making all your seasonal favourites. SixShawnigan House packs of Hot Easter chocolate Cross Buns can be pre-ordered, as well as Easter bread, traditional braided Challah, tear-and-share bread centrepieces and a myriad of handcrafted buns and loaves. Everything is made with organic flour, farmed and milled in BC. Please stop by the bakery or call 250-746-7664 to place your orders. 23

Organic hot cross buns from the Duncan Garage Bakery

The Duncan Garage Café and Bakery will be baking their delicious Hot Cross Buns and Non-Gluten Ingredients Hot Cross buns until Easter is over. Made with only organic natural dried fruit and a delightful blend of organic spices. All Easter weekend, they’ll be offering the super cute Bunny Buns, a bunny shaped variant on our legendary addictive Butter Buns. Plus all the usual goodies - pies, cakes

and cookies to make your feast amazing are available in an assortment of wheat and non gluten ingredients. 330 Duncan St, Duncan, 250 748-6223

Visit Shawnigan House Coffee and Chocolate for our delicious assortment of chocolate Easter gifts and treats. We use the finest quality ingredients, Cowichan Valley lavender, teas and make all of our chocolates in house by hand. Our very own bunny chocolatier has designed some special treats this Easter chocolate egg bark, solid dark or milk chocolate vintage bunnies, chocolate bunny lollipops and so much more. 1761 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road, heart of the village. 250 73 32245 We deliver in the Cowichan Valley! www.shawnigancoffee.com Easter Brunch Buffet at the Farm Table Inn Sunday April 21st Take the family to

Resident chicken at the Farm Table Inn

the Farm this Easter Sunday, not just to experience the chickens, roosters ( like our Little Red) ducks and cats that roam the property—but come experience the food! The Farm’s Brunch Buffet will include Easter favourites such as honey baked sliced ham and scalloped potatoes along with all the other familiar favourites like the fresh eggs bennies served to your table. 11am seating. Reservations are required. 6755 Cowichan Lake Road, Lake Cowichan / 250932-3205

Vodka Cured Steelhead trout or Braised Kale & Mushroom. For those who prefer something a little sweet for brunch we have French Toast with House Made Brioche, Fresh Fruit, Cinnamon Sugar, Chantilly Cream, Organic Maple Syrup. Easter Brunch wouldn’t be complete without our ‘Worthy’ Mimosa with Charme De L’ile. Reservations recommended by calling 250-929-2292 ext 1.

Unsworth Gardens

What came first? The bunny or the egg? We’re not Chocolate Easter treats from Chocolate Pearl

Unsworth Restaurant will be serving a special Easter Brunch featuring Eggs Benedict with Local Farm Fresh Eggs, House Made English Muffins, Watercress Pesto, Hollandaise, Side Greens, Lemon Vinaigrette Your choice of : Coppa Ham, Juniper

Your one stop shop for natural products for home and body • more • more • more • more • more

sustainable fashions natural make up body products mens products natural pet supply

Come in for great natural products, organic produce and so much more! 24

• more • more • more • more • more

healthy snacks natural bulk foods cleaning products vitamin selection household for YOU!

PRODUCE SECTION

9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 Hours Mon-Sat 930-530 • Sun 12-4 Closed Stat holidays

hunts available - one for children under 5 and one for children ages 6-12. There will also be onsite face painting, egg decorating, colouring, bouncy castle and adorable farm animals including Moo the potbelly pig and afternoon farm tours to visit the Berkshire pigs, Highland cows, heritage farm yard and chickens. Wood fired pizzas, hot dogs and refreshments available 11am-3pm. Admission $5 per person, 5881 Genoa Bay Rd, Duncan

Bunny at Bird’s Eye Cove Farm

sure, but both have been multiplying in great quantities lately at Chocolate Pearl in Downtown Duncan. Come in to our shop and you’ll discover a wide assortment of Easter treats, including large, artfully-crafted milk, dark and white chocolate eggs and bunnies too. Of course, we also have our regular assortment of artisanal, handmade chocolates using local ingredients – all of which can be boxed up as lovely Easter gifts. 133 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan Open Mon:10 - 4. Tues - Friday:10 to 5, Sat: 9 to 4pm www.chocolatepearl.ca Bird’s Eye Cove Farm welcomes all to Easter Family Day! We will be running Easter egg hunts every hour starting at 10:30 am - 1:30 pm (gates open at 10 am). Two

The Community Farm Store is getting ready for the Easter Bunny’s visit with a fairly traded Baraka Baby Basket - the perfect size for small hands and a lot of Easter goodies! A beautiful gift that gives back, these beautiful baskets can be used all year long for collecting treasures in nature, toting playthings, and gathering from the garden. Fill yours with handcrafted organic Easter chocolates from Ethereal Confections. Adorable vegan Dark Chocolate Solid Bunnies & cute wrapped Mini Bunnies can hop right in with their amazing Jelly Bean Bark. Happy Easter! Two Locations to Serve You! CFS Highway Store 2-5380 Trans Canada Hwy 250 748-6227

EASTER FAVOURITES! Hot Cross Buns for EVERYONE! Bunny Buns, Fruit Pies, Cookies Delicious Cakes and more!

Brunch at The Ainslie is on Saturdays and Sundays from 11-2. We feature eggs

benny, market frittata (using fresh ingredients found at the market that morning), tomato soup and grilled cheese, and much more. Go to brunch items are our house made sausage benny and our salmon and avocado benny. As well, our market frittata comes in at a close second. Everything is made continued page 27

Baskets galore at Community Farm Store

Local Chef’s Easter Recipes Spice Roasted Lamb Shoulder 1 (5–6-lb) 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 1 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 2 tsp 1 tsp 1 tsp 1 tsp

At Willow and Orchid we have specialty Easter offerings to make a beautiful centrepiece for your Easter dinner table or to give as a gift for your dinner host. Fresh spring blooms will be available in a myriad of Easter colours as well as beautiful potted spring plants and flowers. New planters are in for those ready to get their green thumbs back in the dirt! In addition to flowers, plants and greenery we also carry locally made Denman Island Chocolate Bunnies. Ready to cross something off your list? We are now accepting orders for Easter bouquets. Please call 250 597 9868 or drop in at 101 Station St, downtown Duncan and see what we have in stock.

Bone-in lamb shoulder Black peppercorns Coriander seeds Cumin seeds Fennel seeds Smoked paprika Ground cinnamon Ground cardamom Ground cloves freshly grated nutmeg

Method Season lamb very generously with salt. Toast peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and fennel seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, tossing often, until fragrant, about 3 minutes; let cool. Roughly grind in spice mill or with mortar and pestle, transfer to a small bowl. Mix in smoked paprika, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg, then rub all over lamb. Place on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Chill uncovered at least 5 hours and up to 1 day. Let lamb sit out on counter at room temperature 1 hour before roasting. Heat the oven to 180C/350F Roast the lamb on an oven tray for 2 hours with the foil on. Remove the foil, baste the meat with juices and cook for 1 hour longer to caramelise. Check the meat – you should be able to easily pull the flesh away from the bone. If it is still firm, turn the temperature down to 150C/300F and cook for a further 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes Serve with cucumber, mint, sumac spiced yoghurt, our choice of roasted vegetables and a Bottle of the Unsworth 2016 Pinot Noir Maartyn grew-up on his family’s large dairy farm in the Waikato region of New Zealand where he developed a deep appreciation of eating seasonally and locally from the large produce garden, orchard and the animals they raised. He has over 15 years of experience working at some of the top restaurants around the world.

EASTER HAMS BONE IN OR OUT

ORDER BY APRIL 10 TO NOT MISS OUT

Roasted Leg of Lamb 2 Tbls 4 1 Tbls 1/4 cup 1/4 cup 2 2 2 1 cup 1 cup 1 leg

Dijon mustard cloves of garlic minced olive oil fresh rosemary fresh thyme carrots onions celery stocks chicken stock red wine Lamb

Method Preheat oven to 375 F. Make a paste with the first five ingredients and rub it generously over the lamb and let sit for an hour and room temperature. Peel and cut onions, carrots and celery into large pieces and line that bottom of your roasting pan with them. Place the leg of Lamb on top and bake on the middle rack of the oven for about an hour to hour and a half and the internal temperature is 130 F. Remove the lamb from the pan and cover with foil to rest while you prepare the sauce. Remove as much excess fat from the pan and place on medium heat on the stove. Once your veggies are frying nicely add your wine to deglaze the pan. Reduce by half and add the chicken stock. Reduce again. You can add 2 tsp of cornstarch and water for a thicker sauce if desired. Season with salt and pepper and strain through a fine mesh and serve. Don’t forget to add the love. Enjoy.

Vanessa is a local chef, owner of Vanessa’s Kitchen and new president of Cittaslow Cowichan. Providing your family and friends with delicious, wholesome, local food in the Cowichan Valley. I offer weekly meal plans and fine dining in house catering. 705 7876655 vanessaskitchen@hotmail.com

Easter Fair at The Hub at Cowichan Station

continued from page 25 in house from scratch, from our biscuits to our ketchup and always made with love. If something doesn’t tase good, it doesn’t go on the plate. 161 Kenneth street, downtown Duncan. Our menus can be seen on our website www.theainslie.ca Easter Fair in the forest! The HUB at Cowichan Station is organising another Easter Eggstravaganza. Join the fun on Easter Sunday with egg hunting in the forest, fromscratch pancakes, bouncy castle, face painting, crafts, music and more. This year the Hub’s community wood workshop will have bird and bat houses to build, the Girl Guides will be running the craft tables (and selling cookies) and there’s even a planting station for kids to get their hands in some soil and take home a treat to grow. “It’s such a wonderful family event that generates huge smiles and community spirit with surprisingly small amounts of chocolate!” Says HUB event organiser, Donna Shaw. 100% of event profits will go Cowichan Station Area Association to support

improvements and programs at The HUB. This is a free community event from 9am – 1pm on Easter Sunday (April 21st). Fair style tickets will be sold so you can pick and choose your favourite activities. The HUB at Cowichan Station, 2375 Koksilah Rd. CURE Artisan Meat and Cheese is taking orders for Easter Hams - bone in or boneless.The hams are produced using BC hormone and antibiotic free meats and cured in a custom brine before being smoked. These full of flavour hams can be ordered in a variety of sizes to suite your needs. And a foodie favourite; ask to have the crackling left on for an extra little bit of flavour. Also available Smoked turkey breast stuffed sausage stuffing. So you get both white and dark meat. All rolled into A selection of house made condiments are available including grainy beer mustard, red onion jam and smoked onion chutney. For a quick heat and serve gourmet brunch pick up Meat Pies,House smoked bacon, Easter Macaroons and sausage rolls. Pre order cheese and charcuterie platter for a great appetizer or a fondue for fun and Easter weekend meals are a breeze. Order by April 10 for ham and turkey please. (250) 929-2873, 1400 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cobble Hill

PRESCHOOL

OPEN HOUSE

SATURDAY, MAY 4 RSVP Required 9:30AM - 11:00AM

Sunrise Waldorf School (SWS) is an independent school, supporting choice in education for discerning parents. We welcome your family to visit and see what we have to offer. Space is limited. Please RSVP.

2148 LAKESIDE RD, DUNCAN I 250 743-7253 www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org 27

Imagine That!

n 1994, a group of 12 artists in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island met to discuss the need for a permanent showcase for selling their artwork beyond the usual venues of craft fairs and exhibitions. Their first tiny storefront opened in downtown Duncan in August of the same year. They called themselves “Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs”. From the beginning they were advised to explore the Cooperative Association Act and decide which kind of co-operative they wanted to be. For ideas, they looked at registered co-ops in Nelson B.C. (Craft Connection) and at Circle Craft on Granville Island, Vancouver. Registering the co-operative was a good idea. By holding meetings and keeping minutes, the core group has passed on to the present Members, a record of how Imagine That!, as

a Co-operative Association, has evolved. The lifeblood of Imagine That! is the artists and artisans, the consignees who bring their art-products to the store to be sold for varying consignment fees, depending on their level of participation in the shop’s business. The vast majority of the artists at Imagine That! are from Vancouver Island, or from one of the adjacent smaller islands. Some of the artisans who live in the Cowichan Valley volunteer to work as sales and administrative staff in the store, so on any given day you will meet one of the artists whose work is on display. Among the many consigning artists are those known as Members who actually manage the store. Each Member purchases shares in the co-operative. (The

Exquisitely hand-crafted works of art Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs 251 Craig St., Downtown Duncan

imaginethatartisans.com I 250-748-6776 28

shares are redeemed should the Member resign). Member responsibilities include Store Management and Sales, Inventory Control, Jurying, Advertising, Publicity Promotions, and Display. Members begin as artists whose work is sold in the store, then demonstrate their ability to manage day-to-day business through training and working shifts in the shop, then are considered for membership. All work brought to the store is subject to a jury process. Several Members analyze the work submitted to ensure a high quality standard, appropriateness for Imagine That! customers, and a unique approach to the given art form. An artist who wishes information on the jury process can pick up an application at the shop or print one from the website. When artwork is accepted, a contract is signed, which outlines the responsibilities of both the store and the artist. A $25 registration fee is paid by the accepted artist before their artwork is added to shop

inventory. Currently there are 70-some artists in the shop. The store provides a showplace both for established and emerging artists and artisans. There is also the opportunity to rent the store display windows to test market an art product, or for larger scale work. Imagine That! is grateful to the founding artists who laid the groundwork for this cooperative and applaud their foresight. Twenty-five years, and counting! Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs is a member of the Cowichan Valley Arts Council and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Currently on display is a Member Showcase: work by Katie Daniel, Sandra Greenaway, Robin Millan, Carolyn Morris, and Veronica Scott Runs to May 3. Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs, 251 Craig St, Downtown Duncan www.imaginethatartisans.com

Calling All Paper Crafters and Appreciators Of Japanese Art!

e’ve just received our first delivery of beautiful paper packs & associated gifts like journals and pencils, etc at Little Bird & we are celebrating by inviting one of our favourite suppliers - guest paper & book artist, Trisha Klus to give a postcard making demo/ workshop using Japanese papers. Trisha Klus is a lettering and book artist specializing in calligraphy and hand bound artist’s books with explorations in collage, marbling, mail art and letterpress printing. April is International LetterWriting month & to celebrate this, Trisha will introduce you to one of Little Bird’s newest line of products, beautiful Chiyogami paper, a highly decorative Japanese paper.

making it the perfect choice for creating cards, books, boxes, & just about any other paper art. You will definitely want to try it. Chiyogami refers to Japanese hand-screened decorative paper consisting of repetitive patterns. In Japan “Chiyo” means 1,000 Generations & “-Gami” means paper. Originally the design was applied to handmade kozo paper with wood blocks, but today most Chiyogami is produced with silkscreen techniques. Has the digital age destroyed the hand written letter? We don’t believe so. Do you remember the joy you felt the last time you received a special card in the mail? Spread the joy!

Come & be inspired by this luxurious yet versatile paper!

Sending snail mail is a great excuse to send out a little work of art. And who knows? You may receive a letter in return.

One of Trisha’s favourite papers, Chiyogami is a screen printed delight with vibrant colours & beautiful patterns. It is strong yet very flexible,

Join Trisha for a free demo and create mail art. There will be lots of paper samples for you to play with & make your one-of-a-kind postcard.

Drop-in demonstration of Japanese papers at Little Bird, noon - 2pm Saturday, April 20th. Little Bird 163 Station Street, Downtown Duncan.

Balsamic Glazed Ham Recipe courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station, 225 Canada Ave, Downtown Duncan

Balsamic and Dijon Glazed Ham is a great dish when you want something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not too much work, but looks like you slaved in the kitchen for hours. It is impressive and easy dish to prepare for Easter dinner.

Ingredients

1 bone-in skinless smoked ham, shank or butt end portion, 6-8 pounds 1 cup The Olive Station Cinnamon-Pear Balsamic 2 tbsp The Olive Station Blood Orange Olive Oil 2 tbsp Dijon or grainy mustard

Directions COOKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE: Almost any dark balsamic vinegar would be fantastic in this recipe. Recommended ones are, Red Apple, Fig, Espresso, Tahitian Vanilla or Black Cherry.

Now Open

www.theainslie.ca 161 Kenneth St., Duncan 250-597-3695

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a large roasting pan with foil. With a sharp knife, score the fat all over the ham in a diamond pattern. Place the ham, cut side down, in the roasting pan and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 1 hour. Meanwhile, reduce the balsamic to 1/2 cup, by gently simmering it in a medium sauce pan set over low heat. This process should be done slowly, taking approximately 25-30 minutes to complete. When the balsamic has become thick and syrupy and is reduced by half, remove from heat and whisk in the Dijon mustard and Blood Orange Olive Oil. After baking for an hour, remove the ham from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 350. Using a pastry brush, liberally apply the balsamic glaze all over the ham, paying special attention to working it in to the scored portions. Cover just the shank end with a small piece of foil to prevent it from burning. Return the uncovered ham to the oven and roast for approximately 35 minutes, or until the glaze has caramelized and the ham is golden brown. If there is extra glaze repeat brushing on every 15 minutes.

Ooompa Loompas: what were they almost called?

The Chocolate Pearl Pop Quiz

etcha didn’t see this coming: a challenging pop quiz about chocolate. Below are ten multiple-choice questions related to chocolate. No computers, hand-held devices or encyclopedias allowed. (Do encyclopedias still exist?) Circle the answer you think is right and keep your eyes on your own paper. Answers are listed at the end of the quiz. Good luck!

1. How many cocoa beans

are used to make one pound of chocolate? A. 250 B. 400 C. 2000 D. 150

2. What country is the

largest producer of cocoa? A. Brazil B. United states C. Switzerland D. Cote d’Ivoire

3. What is the most popular chocolate bar in the world? A. Mars Bar B. Chocolate Pearl’s Nutty Nut Bar C. Snickers Bar D. Kit Kat

4. The world’s tallest

Easter egg was made in Italy in 2011: its height was equivalent to: A. Shaquille O’Neal (7’) B. A regulation soccer goal (8’) C. Two and-a-half storeys (34’) D. An adult giraffe (20’)

5. Who was Laura Secord?

A. Canadian heroine from the War of 1812 B. A British chocolatier C. Mayor of Duncan from 1917 to 1920 D. Wife of Swiss confectioner, Henri Nestlé

6. Chocolate is a good source of: A. Antioxidants B. Yumminess C. Flavonols D. All of the above

7. The word “chocolate” is

derived from: A. Count Ferdinand Chocolate IV, Vice Regent of Lucerne in Switzerland B. An anagram of “Hotel Coca” C. “Chocolatl”, the Aztec word for “warm liquid”

D. The “Choc-a-Khan” greenbelt in southern Mongolia

8. The world’s largest

chocolate Easter bunny was made in Brazil in 2017. It weighed as much as: A. A compact car (3,000 lbs) B. The big hockey stick and puck on the side of the Island Savings Centre (27 tonnes) C. 15,384 chocolate bunnies from Chocolate Pearl (1 tonne) D. An Asian elephant (4 tonnes)

10. Johnny Depp is one of

the stars of the romantic comedy film Chocolat. His real name is: A. Alphonso d’Abruzzo B. Declan Patrick McManus C. John Christopher Depp II D. Frederick Austerlitz Chocolate Pearl 133 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan www.chocolatepearl.ca

9. In the original movie

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the “OompaLoompas” were almost called: A. “Whipple-Scrumpets” B. “Oompa Bahmas” C. “Loopy-Loomas” D. “Choco-Locos”

Answers 1: B, 2: D, 3: C, 4: C, 5:A,6: D, 7: C, 8: D, 9: A, 10 C

Cheryl Painter Yonge is head chocolatier and co-owner of Chocolate Pearl

ore and more awareness is coming forth around the impact certain products have on our environment, as well as our health. Some mattresses can be responsible for exposing us to an array of chemicals that we may not be interested in having in our lives. Mattresses are also hitting the landfills at an alarming rate since the industry started making cheaper models that don’t last as long as they used to. More recent focus of scientific studies show that polyester and synthetic fibers (found in mattress casings and bedding) break down over time and dislodge during washing. They then make their way through the sewage out into our coastal waters, where marine life ingest them. Even more disturbing, it has been determined that these fibers also float in the air, where we breathe them in. Because these broken fibers are so small, they can even enter our bodies through our skin. Highlighted below are some positive reasons for choosing natural and organic bedding, DOWNTOWN

DUNCAN

250 510 8700

Nine Reasons to Switch To Natural Bedding and how we can sidestep the negative impacts of synthetic mattresses and linens. Investing in naturally made mattresses and bedding is a win win. We end up with a higher quality product, plus we get that good feeling knowing we are part of a global movement that is making a difference. Doing what’s best for ourselves as well as for the planet feels great. Everybody wins. Why Choose Natural and Organic for Your Sleep? Natural fibers are breathable so our heat can easily pass through and out. Our bodies • Skin Care Services • Esthetics Services • Natural Sugaring Hair Removal • Onsite Gel Nail Artist • Facial Bar

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have a built in temperature regulating system, and bedding needs to be breathable in order to support that. Otherwise we wake up hot and sweaty, removing covers to release the heat build up and disrupting our precious sleep. Safer for our health. There are no harmful chemicals, pesticides or toxic dyes added to certified organic bedding. That means our bodies aren’t subjected to these either. The amount of chemicals that we are exposed to due to pollution and manufacturing out there in the big world

is increasing all the time. Creating a sleep sanctuary in our homes gives us the much needed break our bodies need to recover and recharge. Safer Work Conditions. Organic cotton workers are not exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides so their health is not adversely affected. Many have heard that conventional cotton crops are amongst the dirtiest on the planet. Look for the GOTS symbol when shopping for cotton, for third party certified alternatives, so you know they are good for you and the planet.

we are helping define how our industries develop and which ones become obsolete. We have quite a bit of power as consumers to sway how businesses make decisions.

Healthier waterways and less pollution. The production of organic cotton does not contribute to the contamination of groundwater systems. Often we forget that when water is used in the manufacturing process, that the neighbouring waterways will be greatly affected. Organic productions leave a minor footprint and ensures long term damage does not take place. There is minimal

use of water in the production of natural fibers and the majority of this water is recycled. Sustainable: Organic cotton, rubber tree latex and eco/organic wool are sustainable resources. Protecting our non renewable resources is so important, as is establishing wide scale use of renewable resources. When we make purchases,

Gentle on our bodies: We need our sleep time to be as rich and wholesome as we can make it. Starting with a baseline of clean, green and breathable bedding gives us the best chance for an amazing sleep. Dyes used in organic cotton are low-impact, meaning they do not contain harmful heavy metals, toxic chemicals and harmful mordants. Allergy support: Those of us with challenged immune systems and allergies, will find the moisture wicking ability of natural fibers will help keep bedding dry and dust mite free.

You Deserve It. Investing in quality bedding feels incredible. Getting the best sleep is the gift that keeps on giving. Resthouse Sleep Solutions 126 Station Street, Downtown Duncan www..resthouse.ca

Dawn runs an organic sleep shop in Duncan www.resthouse.ca

ReFresh Grand Opening

owichan Green Community (CGC) is excited to announce the Grand Opening event for their newly designed storefront marketplace. The reFRESH Cowichan is a dignified and inclusive marketplace, offering value added, recovered, and local products to nourish our community. Last year, CGC initiated a program designed to address the issue of food waste in the Cowichan Region. By building relationships and establishing formalized agreements with grocery retailers, surplus foods are donated and redistributed community partners including like regional food banks, daycares, schools, and First Nation’s communities and health centres. The reFRESH Cowichan Marketplace and food recovery project operate as a not-for-profit Social Enterprise, a business that provides products and services at a small cost with the goal of having a positive impact on societal health and wellbeing. A small percentage of donated items are made available for purchase in the

Marketplace, which allows the program to generate income in order to cover ongoing operational costs. Nanita Nair, the Marketplace Manager says, “programs like this are needed in our community, we have customers tell us how this program help them stretch their food dollars and how delicious and convenient our gourmet meals are.” Join us for the reFRESH Cowichan Marketplace Grand Opening, taking place Saturday, April 13 from 10 am to 2 pm at the 360 Duncan Street. We’ll be welcoming dignitaries to cut the ribbon, refreshments, music, local vendors’demonstration, door prizes, and much more. For more information on this event, please contact CGC at 250-748-8506 or info@ cowichangreencommunity.org

Submitted by Nanita Nair

Sustainable Blue Sky Fashion

rudence was founded in 2009 when owner Connie Gonyea and her daughter were seeking natural fibre clothing and clean, safe skincare and cosmetics. Since its beginnings, Prudence has sourced quality and stylish clothing and healthy, natural products for its customers. The store has a characteristic market feel, and the majority of its products are fair-trade, or either Canadian or North American made. “Our products represent the discerning and ‘prudent’ customer, and are often unique to our store. One of the lines that Connie carries is BC based Blue Sky Clothing, founded by Nelson, BC resident Marilyn Cobban. Marilyn founded her popular clothing line amid a time of profound loss and with the loss came self examination. She realized life is short and she needed to do something meaningful with her life. During that struggle, she thought about what made her happy: her love of clothes and of travel. She remembered her mother struggling to find clothes, an average 50-something woman who was short, heavy and hard to fit. The result was Marilyn’s passion: Blue Sky Clothing, fashion for real people. Fashion that allows everyone to feel beautiful by catering to a wide

variety of body shapes and sizes, from XS to 4X. With no training in fashion, design, business, or merchandising, Marilyn started to dig. It was the early 90s, so information came the old way: by phone and mail. Hands-on research lead to what Marilyn discovered was her first obstacle: fabric availability. Eighteen months later, she was in Indonesia transporting bolts of fabric on the back of a scooter. Fabric can be a challenge because it is generally either mass-produced or a boutique specialty. Indonesia offered the middle ground that Marilyn needed: small-scale production. She built business relationships in her travels, and was soon accessing fabric in the volume that she needed. Shortly after, Marilyn began selling her product from her Volkswagen van at the Balfour Ferry Landing. The relationships that she fostered in Bali all those years ago have been long-standing. Today, Blue Sky provides stable employment and a secure lifestyle for 20 people in Bali, enabling them to purchase homes, cars and access to better education for their children. This cottage industry has allowed Marilyn to ensure that fair labour practices are employed and that only natural-sourced fabrics are used. As Marilyn’s business grew, she realized she needed warmer fabrics for our Canadian winters. Her niece had married a young Chinese man who agreed to take Marilyn to his hometown in Sichuan. There, she was introduced to Sunny and together Marilyn and Sunny developed a line using all-natural fabrics: silk, bamboo, cotton and wool. While she was learning the intricacies of fabric supply chains, Marilyn was also deeply into deconstructing garment design. She wanted to make attractive clothes for all women: the busty women with full thighs, the women who combine size 18 trousers with size 12 tops... all the women who couldn’t find clothes that fit just right. So she began making patterns. “It’s good that I had no background in fashion,” Marilyn laughs. “I had nothing to

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unlearn.” She worked furiously, making and re-making and fitting, learning how her fabrics moved on the body and how her patterns reacted to the wearer. To this day, each Blue Sky garment is designed to fit women from XS to 4X - a massive achievement of ongoing design and vision. Marilyn remembers the first day selling Blue Sky clothes. “A woman came out of the van in a long blue dress and said, ‘My husband has told me that I am fat every day for ten years? I think I look beautiful.’ Then she started to cry. We both did.” shares Marilyn Cobban, Blue Sky Clothing founder and owner. That long blue dress was one of the first pieces manufactured. Now, twenty-five years later the clothes she sells are natural and breathable, labour practices are fair, and “do-no-harm to the earth or to others” are core values. All of Blue Sky’s garments are manufactured in Bali and China through local cottage industries. Many women falter when faced with shopping for clothes. But at Blue Sky, women can find elegant, comfortable clothing sized for real women at affordable prices. Connie recalls the day that Marilyn visited Duncan and stopped into Prudence to check out the new store and have a chat. “She told me that a customer had mentioned that she shopped at Prudence and thought the stores had a similar style

and philosophy”. Connie smiles “We both agreed that Blue Sky would be a good fit. It definitely checked all the boxes important to both me and my customers. That was over 7 years ago and since then Blue Sky has grown into one of our most sought after brands.” Loyal fashionistas from across the island visit Prudence to see the seasonally changing stock that comes in from the company. Prudence boasts one of the largest collections of Blue Sky available on the island. “Every spring we bring back Blue Sky best selling pieces in new and exciting colours and patterns. A few of the customer favourites are the Jazz and Dee tanks, the Magna Skort, Riley Capri and Sherry Jacket. This spring is going to be like no other before. Blue Sky is coming out with New light and airy summer dresses in artful prints inspired by spring gardens and botanical paradise. You will find fabrics of linen, thin knit bamboo, woven bamboo and linen and bamboo blends.” Prudence Natural Beauty and Fashion, 155 Craig St, Downtown Duncan www.prudencenaturalbeauty.ca

Combating Climate Change With Organic Farming

he ever-growing threat and impacts of climate change are all around us, with many populations in poorer countries already having borne the brunt of shifting global weather patterns and catastrophic weather events. Thinking about solutions for tackling these issues can be daunting and disheartening – it requires a paradigm shift in our thinking about the way we live and what we will be leaving to future generations.

WILLOWANDORCHID.COM

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April 9 @ 2pm • Coﬀee Hour April 25 @ 2pm • Monthly Group Meeting

Canadian Cancer Society, 103–225 Canada Ave (Canada Building) Duncan

As the NDP’s Agriculture Critic, it’s clear to me that our farming future needs to be one which sees conventional and organic farming methods coming together, with agroecological intensification of existing farmland and the adoption of new technologies to reduce the use of pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. By utilizing these methods, we can increase crop yields that are required without sacrificing people or our environment. Farm biodiversity techniques have been shown to reduce agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions and sequester more carbon than industrial farming practices. A well-managed hectare of land can sequester between 10 and 20 tons of carbon from the atmosphere per year. Farming can play a major role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, leading to not only fewer emissions, but also increased soil health and soil stability, and higher soil-water retention. These characteristics will be sorely needed as we see more and more

extreme dry periods and/or major flooding events. That’s why, when two high school students in my riding proposed an idea through last year’s Create Your Canada Contest, proposing a tax credit as an incentive for shifting toward organic farming methods, I took the idea and ran with it. Hannah Pachet and Morgan Bottomley from Chemainus Secondary School proposed this idea, and I was proud to bring them to Ottawa in February to witness their idea come to fruition when I introduced the resulting Bill C-430 in the House of Commons. As stated at the outset, the daunting task of tackling climate change requires a paradigm shift, and the role to be played by agriculture will be essential in not just stemming it but reversing its worst impacts. What’s needed now is the political will to make it happen, by providing farmers with the incentives and resources they need to implement the kind of shifts that will ensure stability for future generations.

Alistair MacGregor is the MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford and the federal NDP’s Critic for Agriculture

n the Cowichan Valley, our salmon have been declining for years, and Cowichan River’s current low water levels have left spawning grounds high and dry. Our valley’s rivers run hot and low, and our stressed aquifers challenge us to come together to protect our watershed and natural habitat not just for future generations, but for our community right now.

list: Provincial government. We have a provincial government keen to brand the province as the destination for clean business and willing to help companies and communities become sustainable.

At a time when nearly every government around the world is failing to prepare its constituents for the biggest threat facing humanity, my BC Green caucus colleagues and I have made sure British Columbia has a plan to do just that.

climate action, the BC Liberals were not. From there, our decision was clear.

CleanBC is the largest investment in climate change action in the province’s history, restoring BC as a climate leader in North America. This economic-climate plan was released December 2018 and received $902 million in new spending in the 2019 budget to jumpstart its implementation.

There we were, three MLAs of 87, or just over three percent, representing the 18 percent of British Columbians who voted for the Green Party in 2017. We rolled up our shirt sleeves to tackle climate change with an economic climate policy, and we haven’t stopped.

This ambitious, innovative plan called for determination, focus, and a spirit of collaboration.

The CleanBC plan details exactly to reduce our province’s greenhouse gas emissions, taking us 75 percent of the way to our legislated 2030 target of 40 per cent below 2007 levels.

1. Renewable resources We have access to energy, water, and wood like no other jurisdiction. We have incredible potential to create a clean, renewable energy sector to sustain our growing economy.

My colleague Andrew Weaver, leader of the BC Green Party and MLA for Oak Bay- Gordon Head, is an atmosphere/ocean/climate scientist and lead author of four United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports. Andrew reviewed the modelling used to account for emissions reductions and gave government another year to identify the policies that will get us all the way to 100 percent.

2. Destination of choice The quality of life and natural environment allows us to attract and retain some of the best and brightest minds from around the globe.

In 2017, B.C. Green Caucus was at a crossroads. We were given a choice: which party to support in a minority government. We were guided by our core objective of a government that prioritizes evidence-based policies that encourage innovative, sustainable growth in collaboration with First Nations to safeguard the environment and improve the lives of all British Columbians. This choice ultimately came down to one thing: climate policy. At the negotiating table, the BC NDP were willing to discuss real

CleanBC Cowichan Connection Finding opportunity in humanity’s greatest challenge We didn’t come here to greenwash. There is too much real work to be done, and, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we only have 11 years left to get our act together. Our caucus has identified three strategic advantages that BC has over virtually every other region in the world:

3. Skilled workforce We have a highly skilled and educated labour pool, able to adapt their skill sets to meet the demands of an evolving, innovative job market.

Of course, real change takes time and requires a sustained and focused commitment to the end goal. BC NDP endorsing CleanBC to reduce carbon emissions while simultaneously promoting LNG Canada, which will increase emissions on the other end, is irreconcilable and unacceptable. The BC Green caucus’ position on sinking more funding into the fossil-fuel industry has never wavered: not only do we not support it, we believe the province should be going in the opposite direction. Communities all over BC are facing challenges similar to the ones facing Cowichan Valley’s river and aquifers. We - all political parties and all nationsare all in this battle to save our planet together. I believe British Columbia is well equipped to meet this challenge head-on. Our unique strengths empower us to build a thriving, climate-responsible and climateresilient economy. Government has a commitment to meet 100 percent of BC’s 2030 target. CleanBC provides the vision and policies to get us there. BC Green Party MLA for Cowichan Valley Sonia Furstenau

I would now add a fourth to this

Life On The Boat

Michelle Rose CSF Prawn Recipe Ingredients Serves 4

1 lb prawn tails shelled and thawed 2 Tbls butter Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Method

1Tbls Olive Oil 1 tsp Tarragon

At medium heat Place 2 tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, blend together. When blended add 1 teaspoon of tarragon and the juice of 1/2 a lemon. When all blended turn the stove up to high. After 30 seconds add the prawn tails cook them for 45 seconds until they just start to change colour. Serve right away and enjoy!

I’m 18, sure I’ve grown up on boats but I’ve never been paid crew. In hind sight I think maybe my dad had a little too much faith in me. I was about to embark on the hardest six weeks of my life. Just me, my dad, and his new crewman. I spent six weeks waking up at 4:30 am in the morning, 6 weeks dressing 600 pink salmon a day, 6 weeks in the same bra. Apparently there was not enough time in the mornings for a girl to put on her bra. I didn’t know it then, but fishing was going to become a huge part of my life. It was one thing to be a Fisherman’s kid, and it was another to prove that I belonged, that I was a woman who worked the seas. I learnt slowly but surely to never be the first one sitting down,

that you time your pee breaks according to the fish -not your bladder, that you have to hang your hands off the side of your bunk each morning to drain the blood back into them, that more often than not it was the 9/16 wrench, and that in 7 years when I’d be the one running a deck my priorities would be the same as those who taught them to me. Safety first, hard work second, funny jokes third, and always have a granola bar in your pocket. And if you’re wondering, you can bet I make the damn time to change my bra. The Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery is something my dad started, and something I am a part of, and something my daughter will be a part of too. It feeds our community, and it serves my dads passion, a fishermen of fish, sustainability, and community. If you’re curious about the CSF program, you can email us at mrfishing@telus.net. Submitted by Rosalie Tremblay-Johnston

oak meadows in Canada, and is an important remnant of a habitat that has all but disappeared. Today only five percent of the original footprint of Garry oak ecosystems remain in this region. Conservation researchers from across North America have used the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve as a “living laboratory” in their efforts to conserve and restore Garry oak ecosystems. You can learn about some of this research during In Bloom. This event is family-friendly, but please note that dogs are not allowed on the preserve. We love dogs as much as you do, but

Image Carolyn Masson

please leave your pooch at home. The Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve is located at 1241 Maple Bay Road. Visitors should park on Maple Bay Road, then walk to the end of Aitken Road to enter the preserve. For more information or contact bcoffic@natureconservancy.ca or 1-888-404-8428 or visit www.natureconservancy.ca/bc.

Submitted by Lesley Marian Neilson, Nature Conservancy of Canada

Celebrate Spring At The In Bloom Wildflower Festival With the cold of this year’s late winter finally retreating, there is no better way to celebrate the return of spring than by coming out to the In Bloom Wildflower Festival at the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve. The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s annual event is back for its thirteenth year. Nature lovers, native plant gardeners and curious ecologists of all ages are invited to come out to the preserve on Saturday, April 28 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy the spring wildflower bloom. Camas, lilies, shooting star and other native wildflowers will be on display in the restored Garry oak meadows. In Bloom is a rare opportunity to explore the preserve and experience its many natural and cultural wonders. Visitors of all ages can wander through the meadows while learning from informational displays, storytellers and hands-on discovery stations that bring to life the world of our iconic Garry oak ecosystems. In Bloom features activities and

discoveries for everyone: • Enjoy a nature walk through the preserve’s wildflower meadows at the height of the spring bloom. • Peruse the native plant nursery and even take home some seedlings to plant in your own yard. • Listen to stories from Cowichan elder. • Hear about the latest news from the Bring Back the Bluebird Project that is reintroducing western bluebirds to Vancouver Island. • Learn about the Elkington family that settled this land in the 1800s and built the heritage house that still stands on the property. • Discover the archaeological treasures that have been uncovered in the Quamichan wetlands, where the preserve meets the lake. The Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve was protected from development in 1999 by the Nature Conservancy of Canada with the support of many committed Cowichan Valley residents. The preserve continues to be celebrated as one of the last and best examples of deep soil Garry

Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre is an environmental education centre located in Hecate Park and the 400 hectare estuary ecosystem and designated Important Bird Area (IBA) at the mouth of the Cowichan and Koksilah Watersheds. Interpretive displays, nature kids camps, school programs, public lectures, citizen science and restoration projects makes the Centre a place of nature-based learning, discovery, community and play. www.cowichanestuary.ca

The Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society empowers local citizens to better understand the interrelated nature of ecosystems and our role within them. To this end we coordinate scientific monitoring, ecological restoration and awareness raising initiatives. Memberships are available through our website: www.somenosmarsh.com.

The Cittaslow philosophy is, that a better world starts in your own community. Cittaslow

Thank You To These Local Businesses And Organizations That Honour The Earth Every Day Cowichan is a non-profit organization working to make this community the best place possible. We challenge people to be environmentally conscious, support sustainability, to think globally/buy locally and to protect the environment 365 days a year. Always welcoming support and membership on our website: www.cittaslowcowichan.org

The Nature Conservancy of Canada protects and stewards ecologically significant lands in the Cowichan Valley, including the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve and Chase Woods Nature Reserve. Experience the preserve’s Garry oak meadows in full spring bloom at the annual In Bloom Wildflower Festival, Saturday April 27, 10 am to 2pm. www.natureconservancy.ca/bc

Cowichan Green Community Society, (CGC) is a non-profit organization that has been focusing on environmental sustainability in the Cowichan Region since 2004. For the last six years CGC’s mandate has revolved mainly around improving food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers and increasing urban and rural food production. CGC is a community leader, creating and supporting a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy and social fabric are resilient, inclusive and vibrant; we celebrate our connection to the earth and to each other; and all persons are valued equally. www.cowichangreencommunity. org

Cow Op Marketplace is a nonprofit farmer and food processor co-operative dedicated to keeping precious agricultural land in production and helping farmers grow. We honour the earth each and every day by making it easy for consumers to access and buy locally grown foods from our local Cowichan farmers! www. cow-op.ca

Safe effective beauty products using cruelty-free ingredients, ethical marketing and sustainable practices. Our products will never compromise the health of any person, animal or the planet.Canadian Made, Ethically sourced and Fairly Traded. Gluten and Cruelty Free: Look for the PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan Logo. Committed to Skincare and Cosmetics that treat and benefit the skin! Prudence Clothing and Natural Beauty 155 Craig Street Duncan www.prudencenaturalbeauty.ca

La Petite Auction House Auction Sunday April 7 & April 21 • 1pm

Viewings

WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY 11am-4pm SATURDAY 1-4pm SAME DAY viewings 10am-1pm To consign email dawngeddie@gmail.com

9686 Chemainus Rd, 250-701-2902 40

Viridian Energy Co-Operative celebrates Earth Day every day by working with our clients to shift to renewable energy solutions like solar power and electric vehicles. On our own front, we are a registered ZeroWaste company and striving to reduce our own footprint by optimizing our travel and using alternative fuels like biodiesel. www.viridianenergy.ca

Organically grown food fosters healthy soil, healthy waterways, and healthy communities. We passionately support organic farmers and are proud that everything we bake is made with organic flour, farmed and milled in British Columbia. True Grain Cowichan Bay. www.truegrain.ca

sustainable and do no harm. People are so happy to be able to get their sleep needs met, while doing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right for their health and the environment too. There is a lot of happiness that comes with a win win like that. Resthouse Sleep Solutions, Downtown Duncan www.resthouse.ca

The Duncan Garage Cafe and Bakery is a happy, friendly, organic vegetarian cafe and bakery serving delicious breakfast, lunch and an assortment of cakes, cookies and treats to the community. Made to order hot drinks, and smoothies available as well as delicious goods suitable for all dietary needs. Dine in or take away with compostable utensils and containers. 330 Duncan St, downtown Duncan.

Everyday we celebrate Earth Day by bringing people back to bedding made from natural ingredients, that are also

Our products will help you to grow healthier plants and make every garden task easier

ALDER AND MAPLE BARK MULCH Alder Sawdust Alder Wood Chips Cedar Chips Kiln Dried Alder Lumber

Address: 3353 Smiley Road, Chemainus

Phone:

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Call to arrange pick up or delivery

Effective use of Minimal Water Flow

eople often say to me, ‘I would love to have an irrigation system, but I don’t have enough water’. These homeowners are happy to hear that in fact, it is these situations where microirrigation is a star! Let’s take a tour and I will share with you a few examples of what is possible: It is important to note a few key items about the irrigation design process. The first thing is how much water do we have to work with? A rule of thumb is to use no more than 80% of available water flow. Secondly, irrigation zones are based on plant requirements: vegetables, berries, fruit trees, and ornamental landscape. Where possible, we water each plant individually in fruit tree and landscape zones. Lastly, a tried and true irrigation schedule delivers the water when the plants need it. The first example takes us to Salt Spring Island. The property is offgrid and features a passive solar home with a bank of solar panels on the roof. The primary water source is rain water catchment of 29,000 gallons. Secondary water from a drilled well that runs up to 2 hours a day is trickle-fed into the rain water collection system in the dry months. In an effort to be self sufficient, the homeowners have a large vegetable garden, 25 assorted nut and fruit trees, 3 types of berries, a greenhouse and some landscaping. We designed a 4 zone automated system that allows everything to thrive using under 200 gallons of water a day. Now to Cobble Hill to a property with a well producing 1 1/2 gal/ minute and a small 2,000 gal catchment system. The property

has some landscaping, 8 raised veggie boxes, 20 berry bushes and a few fruit trees. This micro-irrigation system is semi automated, with the homeowner turning some valves off and others on manually each morning. Total water consumption is 85 gal/day. Our last stop is along the Cowichan River west of Duncan. The water source is a drilled well producing 3 gallons/minute. The primary focus of the home owners is to grow as much of their own food as possible, they have a 4,000’ sq vegetable garden, an orchard of 20 fruit trees, numerous berry bushes, and ornamental landscaping combined with food and herbs around the house. The first thing we did was install water lines and taps to a number of areas on the property. The 7-zone system uses hose-bib timers instead of in-ground valves, each zone uses a maximum of 150 gal/ hour. The vegetable garden is set up for maximum control, each bed can be turned off manually. This is helpful for plants like onions, garlic and potatoes. Total water use averages 350 gal/day. Did you know that the average Canadian household of 4 uses 400 gal/day? Water conservation and stewardship are key and microirrigation is an amazing part of the equation. David Pink has lived in the Cowichan for 50 years. He and Diana are celebrating the 11th season of Warm Land Irrigation. Please call for a free estimate 250.597.2102

Looking for Cowichan Valley Wildflowers? Monica Dockerty, Dockerty Gardens horticulturist and Dinter Nursery employee.

ne of Spring’s best activities is visiting the many places that wildflowers are blooming in the Cowichan Valley. We are fortunate to have several different ecosystems within the valley which help make our local flora and fauna so diverse. If you have any interest in incorporating native plant species into your own garden viewing these plants in the wild is a great way to learn about the growing conditions they prefer and which plants they grow well with in the wild. Here are some of my favourite places to view spring blooming wildflowers. Please stay to trails and under no circumstances pick or harvest any plants. Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve: Established in 1999, the CGOP is owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada and opened to the public once a year for their annual In Bloom Wildflower Festival, this year on April 27. If you are interested in lending a hand to the preserve, volunteers meet weekly for Weedy Wednesday to assist with maintaining the beautiful site.

This preserve is host to beautiful Garry Oak meadows with native plants like camas, chocolate lily, and Howell’s tritelia. There is a viewing platform just off Maple Bay Road for the general public to witness this treasured local gem. Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve: This open woodland full of big leaf maple and red alder is host to a large population of the pink fawn lily (Erythronium revolutum). The corms of these lilies will perish if the leaves are picked so please take only photos. Other interesting plants to be seen are western trillium, wild ginger, and fantastic specimens of false hellebore. This is one of the first sites in the season I visit to enjoy the early blooming wildflowers. Mount Tzouhalem Ecological Reserve: The trail to this Ecological reserve can be accessed via the southwest side of the Mt. Tzouhalem Parking Lot. A short walk will bring you to an area that is fenced to protect this special place. This is one of the best examples of Garry oak woodland and spring wildflower meadows in Canada. Home to several threatened native species, this is a lovely site to visit after work on a spring day to enjoy the setting sun among the beautiful wildflowers and gnarly Garry Oaks. Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area: This shallow and deep soil Garry oak site is at the south-east end of Somenos Lake. Home to many rare wildflowers half

of this property is being restored to a Garry oak meadow. This is a very accessible site, and a great place to stop by frequently in the spring. Harewood Plains, Nanaimo: Not located in the Cowichan Valley, but instead at the south end of Nanaimo this is a fantastic place to view wildflowers in all their glory. This open wet mossy meadow with shallow soil is host to huge swaths of cammas, seablush and monkeyflower as well as red-listed plants such as bog-birds foot trefoil. Harewood Plains can be accessed from McKeown Way. Park at the gate, walk to the end of the road, then turn and walk up the path on your left. If you visit the site in late May/ early June keep an eye open for bog-birds foot trefoil blooming in damp areas. Only about 5% of the original Garry oak ecosystem survives in British Columbia, which makes it one of the most endangered habitats in Canada. The Cowichan Valley is widely known as one of the last and best havens of the globally endangered ecosystem and its associated biodiversity (Nature Conservancy Canada). There are many, many more places to view incredible native flora, that I haven’t mentioned here. The first step to conservation is awareness, so make the most of your free time this spring and get out there and smell the flowers.

NATIVE PLANTS BEAUTY & RESILIENCE IN THE LANDSCAPE

FLOWERING CURRANT Flowers to welcome arrival of Hummingbirds OREGON GRAPE Flowering evergreen for any location SWEET GALE Lake front restoration SWORD FERN Tough shade lover GARY OAK Habitat restoration CAMAS Deep blue in the meadow

And many more. See the native plant tab on our website.

www.dinternursery.ca

250 748 2023

Serving local gardeners since 1973 5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

GardenPals--a gardening program for children at Jubilee Community Garden--Centennial Park. This 13-year-old activity was started to let children learn where food comes from by growing it themselves.With the help of Seniors and parents, kids plant, tend,and harvest vegetables, eat healthy snacks, take something home. Programs are the 2nd and 4th Sundays from 10:00-11:30. Contact 250-748-0580.

Mill Bay Plantaholics Plant Sale. Proceeds from this sale will be divided between the Malawi Girls on the Move

program (where the money will provide a scholarship for a young Malawian woman to complete her secondary school education) and Somenos Transition House – a program of the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society. A great selection of healthy plants will be available for purchase. Members of the Victoria Master Gardener Association will be on hand to answer general gardening questions. Cash or cheque only. Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 9am to 2pm at 2836 Oceanside Lane Mill Bay (east off Trans Canada Highway at Kilmalu, south on Church Way, east on Welch Road, and south on Oceanside Lane).

Volunteer Gardeners’ Plant Sale at Cairnsmore Place. There will

be hundreds of plants ready for planting, and this year there is a special focus on peonies. You will also find a fun selection of woodcrafted garden ornaments fabricated by our volunteers. All proceeds from this sale are spent on the gardens. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions. Saturday April 20, 9:00 to noon 250 Cairnsmore Street, Duncan

The Cowichan Valley Garden Club’s much loved plant sale. This sale has been happening since 1960. Items offered in the plant sale are donated by club members, and include many interesting, unusual and hard to find specimens. - arrive early for the best selection. April 27, 9 am 486 Jubilee Street in St. John’s church hall. cowichanvalleygardenclub.com

The Garden Fair provides the public and growers from Vancouver Island and the mainland an opportunity to connect and an outlet for purchasing rare and unique plants with a focus on rhododendrons. At the fair will be Professional Growers and plenty of Experienced Gardeners to answer all your gardening questions. They will be able to offer advice on everything from purchasing your plants to planting and maintaining them. Many non-profit garden and plant organizations will be in attendance offering examples and specialized information on their specific organization. Saturday April 27, Mellor Hall Cowichan Exhibition Park Duncan, 10:am to 2 pm Free admission!

• Credit Cards, Cheques and Cash Accepted

Grace Seabrook Rhododendron

The Rhododendron: Latin For The Rose Tree Allan Campbell, past president of CVRS and long time supporter of rhodos.

any people when hearing the word rhododendron envision a pink flowering evergreen shrub blooming in May. Hopefully I can expand that vision. The genus rhododendron has one thousand (and counting) species growing naturally around the world, primarily in the northern hemisphere. Vancouver Island is home to three rhododendron species. The smallest species grows at high altitudes in the Himalayas forming a mat a few inches tall with leaves a quarter of an inch long. While the largest growing rhododendron, growing in Western China, will top out at eighty feet high and leaves up to two feet long. Even though many species rhododendron grow in diverse and hard to reach locations, civilization is ever encroaching into their habitat. Many species are becoming rare if not extinct in their native environments. To ensure the survival of species rhododendron many botanical gardens around the world are enlarging their collections. Hybrid rhododendrons, of which there are more than twenty five thousand registered and named cultivars, are the

result of the cross breeding of two or more species. In a sheltered garden or one with favourable micro climates the first rhododendron to bloom each year will begin to show colour around Christmas day with the last rhododendron to bloom will finish up in late August. The colour palate of rhododendron is extreme. The only colour not yet available is a true ‘gentian’ blue. Those rhododendrons with the word ‘blue’ in their name are more in the purple shades. Not only do the blooms come in solid colours but may also contain multi colours with flares, blotches, or spotting of contrasting colours. Theme gardens may be planted by choosing colour schemes, named varieties, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’ for instance, or a collection of hybrids bred from a chosen species. Or how about a collection of fragrant rhododendrons? Some evergreen rhododendrons carry an intoxicating fragrance though most of the fragrant plants are in the deciduous azalea sub-genus. Yes all azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas.

Gardens and Woodland at Qualicum Beach. The purpose of which is to instill a gene pool of rare and endangered species for the public to enjoy as well as a study garden for VIU’s horticultural department. The five rhododendron societies here on Vancouver Island hold plant sales each Spring on successive weekends in April and early May. The Cowichan Valley Rhododendron Society will be putting on their annual Garden Fair in the Mellor Hall at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds on the last Saturday in April.

the society members and ask those questions this article may have brought to mind. Perhaps you may choose to join the society!Cowichan Valley Garden

Fair, Saturday April 27, Mellor Hall Cowichan Exhibition Park Duncan, 10:am to 2 pm Free admission!

www.cowichanvalley gardenfair.com

Come out to the Fair, start a rhododendron collection, find that one rhode you’ve been looking for, talk to

There are many rhododendron societies or associations around the world, from North American, to Australia and New Zealand, to Germany, Scotland, Scandinavia, to Japan. Vancouver Island is home to five Chapters of the American Rhododendron Society. These five rhododendron societies have come together along with Vancouver Island University to construct a rhododendron species garden at VIU’s Milner

Do you see what I see?

t’s visible mending and it’s designed to be seen! Why hide your handwork if you can make those repairs stand out with colourful stitches in interesting patterns? Sarah Wroot, a member of the Tzouhalem Spinners & Weavers Guild, will be encouraging students to do just that in her ‘Introduction to Boromono and Visible Mending’ workshops during the Hand to Hand Fibre Arts event. Originally scheduled for Friday, the 26th, Sarah’s Boro class has proven to be a popular one with registrants and a second session will now be held on Sunday, the 28th. The sixteen workshops for the Cowichan Hand to Hand Fibre Arts event will take place at the Cowichan Exhibition, 7380 Trans Canada Hwy.; it’s just a few minutes north of Duncan. To accommodate that many

sessions, the H2H committee has booked the Exhibition’s meeting rooms for three days this year, not just two as it did in its first year. Potential students who work during the day will be pleased to hear that evening classes have been included in 2019. Fibre artists who like to immerse themselves for a few hours while either learning a new technique or expanding their present skills can do so in a couple of full-day workshops, one on rug hooking for beginners and the second on spinning silk for those already familiar with using a wheel or spindle. All of the other sessions are three hours in length. As H2H is being organized by the Guild, it’s no surprise to see both spinning and weaving classes on tap. Students interested in the former will be able to register for spindle or wheel spinning for newbies, paper spinning, tackling short fibres such as cotton and cashmere, and Coast Salish spinning. No looms are needed for any of the weaving

workshops. Instead of yarn, our instructors will share tips on how to use paper, fabric strips and NZ Flax leaves for warp and weft in off-loom projects. When you take a closer look at the workshop line up on the Hand to Hand website: cowichanh2hfibrearts. ca, other fibre arts are also represented: knitting (two classes), embroidery on velvets and scrims, språng, and Japanese woodblock printing on fabric. Hand to Hand approached local talent for its instructors and all either live in the Cowichan Valley or are based on Vancouver Island. Registration for the Cowichan Hand to Hand Fibre Arts weekend opened last month and has been steady. As of midMarch, two of the workshops (språng and Japanese woodblock printing on fabric) are full and

Sarah Wroot, photo by Sarah

a second class has been added for the visible mending session. For more information and to see which workshops are still available, please go online to cowichanh2hfibrearts.ca. You may also contact Alison Irwin at alison@cow-net.com or (250) 746-6330.

Start your garden… at the Duncan Farmers Market!

lthough the Duncan Farmers Market runs year round on Saturdays, April marks the official kick off of our 2019 season with live music, new vendors (and old favourites of course), not to mention all of our spring nursery and plant vendors! The farmers market is a great place to pick up plants for your own garden, including ornamental and edible perennials, berries, and a wide array of annual

herbs, flowers, and veggie starts. When you buy potted plants and transplants at the farmers market you know you’re supporting a local producer, even more you get to talk that producer! …And they are full of gardening knowledge. They can tell you all about how they grew their plants to this stage and how to take care of them when you get home. They’re full of growing tips; you’re truly talking to the expert growers of our region, so don’t be

shy- ask your gardening questions! In addition they are probably growing tried and true varieties that they know do well here in the Cowichan. April is a great time to plant out anything in the broccoli family, including kale, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, and turnips. Beets, chard, cilantro, peas, and lettuce also do well in the cooler weather of early spring, and it’s not too early to pop in your potatoes so long as your soil is dry enough. So come check out the farmers market this April and May to get a start on your own garden! And of course if you don’t have a garden, we farmers are

also happy to simply grow the veg for you… and we’re here at the market all season long! Niki Strutynski and her husband, Nick, run Tatlo Road Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Crofton. They are also proud members of the Duncan Farmers Market.

Classic Celtic tunes and the Derina Harvey Band

dmonton-based Derina Harvey Band (dHB) is bringing their signature Celtic rock sound, transplanted directly from the East Coast, to the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre to close out the second season of the CPAC Cabaret Series. dHB will take to the stage Thursday, April 25 at 7:30pm when we transform it into the coolest place to catch live music in our speak-easy style venue.

for more.

Seated on stage with the band, the audience will be transported to an authentic east-coast kitchen party as Derina Harvey Band ends this season’s Cabaret Series with a high-energy show that will leave the audience out-ofbreath and hollering

Derina Harvey Band has been likened to a rockier version of Canada’s Great Big Sea. With a fresh, unique twist on traditional Celtic tunes and traditional east coast maritime music as well as their own original jigs and reels, their rocky, rhythmic undertow is layered with guitars and fiddles topped by Derina’s powerful voice whose range gives Adele a run for her money. Many East Coasters are now living out west, just like the band itself, and for some fans, Derina Harvey Band is like a taste of home. The band was formed to have fun on the weekend and

Harvey believes that translates to the audience. “People like to have fun. Celtic music has a lot of jovial, funlovingness to it. People are attracted to that fun, laid-back atmosphere.” Derina met her husband and drummer Steve Pinsent, and guitarist Scott Greene in the ‘90s at the College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville, NL. After school ended, the band members all popped up in Edmonton years later. From there, the band grew and now consists of Pinsent on drums, Greene on guitar, Ed Smith on bass, Jessica Bleenis on fiddle and Harvey herself as “the loudmouth in the middle,” as she describes it. Although the band was born for fun, they have consistently built a loyal fan base, which has led to two albums (with a third to be released this year) and most recently a People’s Choice Award at the 2018 Edmonton

Music Awards. In recent years, the band has been making waves throughout Canada but is also poised to break into the United States having been selected for three US showcases in the past year including one at the Arts Northwest Conference in Tacoma, which garnered them the “Best Showcase” Award resulting in numerous US bookings. So if you’re looking for a unique take on some classic Celtic tunes and an East Coastkitchen party, look no further than the CPAC Cabaret Series featuring Derina Harvey Band, Thursday, April 25 at 7:30pm at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. Seats are limited. Hear Derina Harvey Band’s latest music on Soundcloud. Thursday, April 25, at 7:30pm Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. Tickets $32. Tickets are available in person at the Cowichan Ticket Centre, 2687 James St. or by phone (250) 7487529 or online at cowichanpac.ca.

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Best prices on the island • HUGE Selection • Workshops & Classes Beading I Kumihimo I Bead Weaving I Viking Knit I Herringbone and more!

Hilarious Comedy The Foreigner

he Chemainus Theatre Festival is pleased to present the award winning, hilarious comedy, The Foreigner! On stage April 18 - May 9. The Foreigner was written in 1983 and debuted Off-Broadway on November. 1, 1984. It earned two Obie Awards in 1985, and two Outer Critics Circle awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. It was first produced at the Chemainus Theatre Festival in 1996 and the laughter it created then made it a smashing success. The Foreigner is a comedy that occurs in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia where two Englishmen, Froggy and Charlie, are guests. The shy Charlie had agreed to accompany Froggy on the trip after his sick wife begged him to go. When people at the lodge try to talk to Charlie, he remains silent. He is terribly shy, morose, depressed about his wife’s illness, and cannot find the words to reply. Froggy claims that Charlie cannot talk because he is a “foreigner” from an exotic country and does not understand English. Taking the explanation that he’s a non-

English speaker as fact, the lodge’s other guests quickly begin revealing their secrets, unwittingly making Charlie their confidant. Soon thereafter, Charlie discovers scandals among the guests in this hilarious farce. This comedy offers the kind of genuine amusement that absurd silliness can provide when portrayed well. Charlie progresses from an awkward wallflower lacking confidence to a hero who spoils the evil plots of the villains. Betty can be found frequently yelling loudly at her “foreigner” guest to make her English understood. There is also an unwanted pregnancy, a conspiracy to scam the lodge from widow Betty Meeks, the grand issue of an inheritance, and to mix it all up—a racist plot to overtake America courtesy of the Klu Klux Klan. Shue has packed a lot of plot into his two-act play that you won’t want to miss out on! Although written years ago, The Foreigner has remained enduring in its popularity and is not only sidesplitting humour, it also gives us food for thought as it reminds us that our all-too-human foibles, fol-

lies, and frailties can make us endearing as well as initiate inspiring personal transformations. The production is directed by Kaitlin Williams with set design by Jessica Oostergo, costumes by Chantal Short. Charlie Baker is played by Kirk Smith, “Froggy” LeSueur by Paul Herbert, Betty Meeks by Michelle Lieffertz, Rev. David Marshall Lee by Sheldon Graham, Catherine Simms by Mallory James, Owen Musser by Brett Harris, and Ellard Simms by Nathan Kay.

Matinee and evening shows for all ages run Apr 18 - May 9, 2019. Call the Box Office at 1-800565-7738 or visit chemainustheatre.ca to book your tickets. Show enhancements are available and include: free “talk-backs” with the cast and crew following Wednesday performances, a special showthemed dinner in the Playbill Dining Room, and accommodation package at the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn that includes a deluxe breakfast buffet, use of the indoor mineral pool, hot tub, and fitness centre.

Sands Funeral Chapel

Cremation & Reception Centre-Duncan by Arbor Memorial

Janice Winfrey Funeral Director

tel: 250-746-5212 • fax:250-746-7034 sandsfuneral.com/duncan email:sandsduncan@arbormemorial.com 187 Trunk Road, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 2P1

Natures Calling! Are you listening? Written and sourced by Georgia Newsome BSc (Hons), Coastal Bliss Adventures Cowichan Bay Kayaking and Adventure Centre

250 746 0706 24/hr Service

Open 9am to 9pm!

DAILY 1606 Joan Avenue 250-324-2249 50

s the daylight hours get longer and the warmth of the sun can be felt on my back I’m sat at my desk as if glued to the screen. I find an increased yearning to get outside in nature. To walk, kayak, garden, bird watch, anything but sit in front of my computer working. Why is it so important to follow this yearning? Sometimes simply to get up and get out, or make outdoor activity plans? Western ‘civilization’ has increasingly sheltered us from the natural environment. Our living and working environments separate us from fresh air, wind, trees, earth, natural water sources, and the sun and rain. It turns out that, together with the increasing electronic means of communication and recreation, humans are at an all time high for an increased risk of stress and illness, directly related to this

disconnect from nature, self and others. Maller et al in their study: ‘Healthy nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations’ writes: ‘Whilst modern ‘westernization’ has doubled our life expectancy, it has also created disparities between ancient and present ways of living that may have paved the way for the emergence of new serious diseases.’ Science is now backing up what many of us could detect through our own sense of wellbeing and dis-ease. The findings of a 2014 research on ‘Therapeutic landscapes and wellbeing in later life: Impacts of blue and green spaces for older adults.’ “demonstrate how both green and blue spaces can have a significant impact on physical, mental, and social health in later life. Cont’d on page 51

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Participants felt motivated to get out of the house to exercise and enjoy the fresh air and surroundings. These spaces promoted mental wellbeing, in which experiences of nature provoked feelings of renewal, restoration, and spiritual connectedness. They also provided a space for multigenerational social interaction and engagement, including planned activities with friends and families, and impromptu social engagements with neighbors.” Blue space encompasses oceans, lakes and rivers, as well as smaller water features such as fountains and streams. Engelmann et al in her 2019 study: ‘Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood’ writes:

‘Kids who had grown up around the lowest levels of vegetation had a 30% higher risk of neurotic, stress-related, or psychosomatic disorders -- even after researchers adjusted for the effects of socioeconomic status. The children were also at a higher risk for mood disorders and substance abuse.’ (Engemann et al 2019). Dewar ‘s 2019, paper ‘Outdoor learning: How kids benefit from learning and playing in nature’ states: ‘Studies indicate that playing and relaxing in natural settings can defuse stress. Brief nature walks can reduce anxiety, distraction, and symptoms of ADHD. And when schools take kids outside to learn, kids have become more motivated and self-directed.’

So, for those of us nodding our heads at these excepts of scientific findings, muttering to ourselves, “I could have told you this and “It’s amazing how long it’s taken the scientists to catch on”, Isn’t it great to be right? Great to know that your body can detect what it needs? However, we too despite our greater knowing are not always very good at acting on our senses, often leaving these innate needs unfulfilled until our body, mind and spirit reach breaking point. The challenge I put to you this spring, summer and Fall is to take time out from your busy schedule every day, to be in nature. Even if it is only in the smallest way. A short walking, observing, deep breathing and listening to nature.

COWICHAN BAY KAYAKING

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References: Dewar, G. 2019. Outdoor learning: How kids benefit from learning and playing in nature. [https://www. parentingscience.com/outdoorlearning.html]. Engelmann, K. 2019. Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood. [https://www.pnas.org/ content/116/11/5188]. Finlay, J. et al; 2015. Therapeutic landscapes and wellbeing in later life: Impacts of blue and green spaces for older adults. Health & Place, 34 2015, 97 – 106. [https://drive. google.com/file/d/0BzSb6OxNxt_ 6SGJZZ0JuVnZLMjA/view]. Maller, C. et al. 2006. Healthy nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promotion International, Volume 21, Issue 1, 1 March 2006, Pages 45–54. [ https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/ dai032].

ADVENTURE CENTRE All Levels of Paddling • Birding • Wildlife Tours • Rentals • Lessons • Scheduled and Custom Tours • Sunset and Bioluminescence Tours Wildlife Tours

Kayak & SUP Rentals

On the Dock at Bluenose Marina, Cowichan Bay

cowichanbaykayaking.com 250-597-3031 info@cowichanbaykayaking.com 51

basic instructor after achieving Level 1 skills certification. Finally, “Becoming an Instructor is without doubt one of the most rewarding and life changing decisions I have made.”

Have You Ever Considered Becoming An Instructor? “The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds unlike our bodies, can continue to grow as we continue to live” Mortimer Adler

his quote nicely summarises why we should never stop seeking new challenges & learning opportunities in all stages of our lives. Advancing ourselves in an activity that we love does not need to stop at the skills level. Instructor training builds confidence, encourages camaraderie whilst developing leadership and presentation skills. Many people choose to seek out training to advance their individual development, skills and knowledge with safety being the number one reason. Let us explore some of the reasons why Instructor training may be for you? Do you have a passion for sea kayaking or paddle boarding? If so, we can guide you through all the steps & requirements for Paddle Canada Instructor certification. An instructor course is more

than perfecting your paddling skills; it also develops leadership, a personal strength useful in all situations. Other benefits to consider. You become a better paddler by becoming an instructor; passing on information and ideas to others encourages you to consider the relevance and the validity of this information. By challenging your own interpretations of a particular topic can lead to the formulation of new ideas. Being an instructor also encourages you to maintain your skills and techniques to a high level, good enough for demonstration quality. Sense of accomplishment; many people seek instruction to ensure their personal safety whilst paddling. It is extremely rewarding to see individual clients gain confidence & advancement. A career in paddling; if you are going to work in the paddling industry certification is necessary to build strong

foundations and credibility. It is a great course for youth to access. The minimum age is 16 years to access the Basic Instructor course for Kayaking & Paddle boarding. A great qualification to have when applying for outdoor related summer positions & it looks good on university applications Paddle Canada sets the national standards for recreational kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding in Canada. For sea kayaking there are 5 skill levels & 5 instructor levels. A novice may access the 1 or 2 day Basic or Level 1 skills course. You can train as a

Join me and many other instructors passionate about helping people achieve their individual goals in the quest to become confident, competent and safe paddlers. Blue Dog Kayaking provides the entire Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking programme plus Paddle board skills & Instructor programme. Take advantage of the “2 for 1” offer on the Paddle Canada Basic sea kayaking course in May. Book online & use coupon code MAY241. Submitted by Dave Nichols, Owner Blue Dog Kayaking

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health

Dynamic Chinese Exercise for Health

ever did I think I’d ever find myself doing anything like this, but I am now! Ever striving for peace in our world, I was always very averse to involving myself in anything that remotely related to fighting. However, this Northern Shaolin-style martial artsbased movement, passed down through the Beijing Opera, came to me alongside my Wild Goose Qigong training from the same Chinese Master, my Sigong (skill grandfather), Master Michael Tse who has been visiting and teaching in our Valley for the past 24 years. This training is an excellent counterbalance to the more internal Qigong practice. The Chinese have long loved exciting stories acted out with much vitality and colour, so the Chun Yuen Quan movement is very dynamic and portrays, but does not involve, fighting. Our Qigong Master learned this skill over time from a gentle, humble man called Wu Chun Yuen who was teaching in a park in Beijing and who had learned these forms from a famous opera trainer. To honour and respect his teacher, Master Tse chose to name the skill after him. Hence we call it Chun Yuen Quan. ‘Quan’ means ‘fist’.

So here I find myself practising and teaching this beautiful, unusual and unique skill, characterized by strong and deep postures that have clear lines connecting all parts of the body together, and I have found it very beneficial for my health. I ask myself: “How do I want to feel?” A few minutes of practice and I feel energized and light. Over the years, my bones are getting stronger, my joints staying mobile and my posture improving. My circulation is better, I feel more alive and I know that anytime I need to, I can get warm. If you feel this may help you to fulfil your health desires, I encourage you to come and try it out during either of my Tuesday night or Wednesday morning ongoing drop-in classes. It’s actually a lot of fun and you may really enjoy the exercise and, of course, the results from its regular practice. Wisely, we take it easy and build up the energy gradually over time. Younger, older, all are welcome, anytime.

Wild Goose Qigong (Chi Gong) Gentle movement Calms your mind Heals internal organs Develops ﬂexibility Tuesdays 7:15pm-8:30pm Wednesdays 10:15am-11:30am Thursdays 8:45am-10am (HUB) Fridays 10am-11:15am (Victoria) Northern Shaolin Chun Yuen Quan Dynamic movement Improves posture Increases energy Strengthens bones Tuesdays 6pm-7:15pm Wednesdays 9am-10:15am

250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca

www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com

Zak Stolk Violin Maker

25 Years Experience of Lutherie in the Italian Tradition.

Making, repair and restoration of Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, and all manner of Stringed Instruments. 250-749-6563 zakviolins@shaw.ca www.zakviolins.com

Please visit www. WildGooseQigongCentre. com for more details and information and see the ad in this issue. Submitted by Lee Masters

FEEL THE ALLERGY RELIEF!

Do You Have Allergies Or Is It A Cold? Here’s how to tell the difference!

unny nose, scratchy throat, case of the sniffles? With Spring on the horizon and pollen as its sidekick, diagnosing what ails you either a cold or allergies can be as confusing to decipher as what came first the chicken or the egg! While the two share common symptoms, their origin is different. A cold occurs when a virus enters the body. Symptoms are a reaction to your immune system’s fight against the infection. Meanwhile, allergies are an adverse reaction to a substance caused by an overactive immune system. For some reason, your body mistakes harmless things, such as dust or pollen for germs and attacks them like they would a virus. Sign and symptom checklist: COLDS: • Symptoms will appear gradually • Colds should not last more than two weeks • Sore or dry throat • Green or yellow nasal discharge • Fever, general aches and pains are tell-tale signs it’s an infection

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TREATMENT: Echinacea can strengthen your immune system and prevent or treat colds/flu. Look for products made from fresh plants and that contain antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Echinacea products come in a variety of forms (tablet, hot drink, tincture, sore throat spray) and can be taken by pregnant and nursing women as well as children ages 2+. Backed by over 25 proprietary studies, its efficacy has been proven to reduce symptoms, sick time and the risk of secondary infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis and sinusitis by over 68%. ALLERGIES: • Itchiness (Eyes, throat, top of mouth, ears) • Symptoms will appear all at once and will be triggered by an allergen • Clear nasal discharge • Seasonal allergies are hereditary – check your family history TREATMENT: Roughly 20-25% of Canadians suffer from allergies. Generally, antihistamines are the go-to for immediate relief, however they may cause drowsiness and will not target the root of the problem – your immune system. Alfred Vogel, the founder of the A. Vogel company, was a Swiss pioneer of natural health and dedicated his life to herbal medicine and naturopathy. A. Vogel Allergy Relief is a homeopathic remedy that has been clinically proven to not only treat allergy symptoms but to over time lessen the enthusiasm of your immune system to trap and kill harmless particles.

or guidance to make changes to how we eat.

Spring Cleanse 2019 With Dr. Fei Yang

pring is at the door! Dr. Yang’s Spring Cleanse is here again. In the colder months, we tend to eat too much due to holidays and lack of exercise. Our liver, gallbladder, and digestive systems will have to pay the price. The body complains as weight gain, bloating, strong appetite, sluggish bowel, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety or depression and other symptoms hinder our motivation and capacity to enjoy life to its fullest. Committing to a Spring Cleanse does more than just cleanses the body. It offers a chance to observe yourself and clean up your diet. Most of us need help

Dr. Yang’s Spring Cleanse Program supports and eases you into dietary changes. Recognizing that changing or cleaning-up the diet will look very different for each individual, Dr. Yang will support you in whatever mode you are ready for. For some people, cleansing begins with very small changes to routine and menu. There is nothing wrong with this mode. For others, big changes to diet and routine may take place in a very short period of time. It doesn’t matter which; change is good and it is important to credit ourselves for all positive changes. “My clinic’s Spring Cleanse session includes liver, gallbladder, kidney and parasites cleanse. The herbal formulas will be based on each individual body constitution, age, nutritional level, digestive function, and energy level of the differences to be prescribed” shares Dr. Fei Yang, TCM, “Bringing the body’s digestion and nutrition in balance is the key at the end of this work. Cleansing is just a step to clear out the stagnation or blocked energy. Fine nutritional enhancing therapy personalized to your body will refresh, renew and strengthen your core balance which is the key towards to total

well-being.” Look forward to nurturing fresh energy into your life along with new ideas and awareness of oneself! This is part of the process - letting go of old beliefs, old habits and old hurt that do not serve any purpose in your life anymore at this time. We can all choose to work towards a healthier and lighter space to bring more positive energy to our lives and set peace with our body and mind, so we can truly enjoy who we really are and be in the here and now.

Spring Cleanse

Refresh And Rejuvenate For Your Well-Being Benefits from the Spring Cleanse: * Remove excess body waste, fat and toxin * Increase mental clarity, motivation * Increase physical energy * Enhance nutritional balance and metabolism

DR. FEI YANG (Dr. TCM) Traditional Chinese Medicine

www.drfeiyang.ca

250-733-2917 Let go of the old and welcome the new

For more information visit www.drfeiyang.ca.

Block of 8 hours of customized deep cleaning ﬂat rate - $225 + gst

Brandy Mandrusiak Owner of Glow Juicery cafe Duncan

ave you ever been told to stay away from fruit because it has too much sugar? Most of us have heard this at some time in our lives. We must understand, fruit sugar is recognized differently in our body than white sugar. White sugar is a highly addictive chemical (usually bleached) and made in a facility for adding to foods we buy in the grocery store. Sugar is composed of two monosaccharides called fructose and glucose. When combined they form sucrose. Sugar was invented to make

foods taste sweet, however, studies suggest it causes chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. While fruit sugar also contains some sugar, fruit sugar is recognizable by our body and contains antioxidants, fiber, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and water. Water from fruit hydrates the body at a cellular level. Many people, even when drinking 8 glasses of water per day, are still not hydrated. Our lymphatic system is one of the most healing systems in our body, yet there is very little talk about it. This system, composed of vessels, lymph nodes and organs (spleen, thymas, tonsils), carry old toxic

sewage out of the body. This system not only helps with detox, it’s also a nutrient delivery system. It’s our immune system. Bloating, swelling, pain, puffiness, growths, and excess weight are all sign the lymphatic system might be sluggish and in need of more support. There are many ways to help move lymphatic waste from the body; rebounding, intermittent fasting and dry brushing are just a few. However, consuming fruits, especially citrus, and herbs are two of the most helpful ways of moving this waste from the lymphatic system and boosting our immune system. Herbs such as ginger, turmeric, astragalus and red root, combined with eating fruit throughout the day can really make a difference in your overall health.

Fruit for a Healthy Lymphatic System

One way of incorporating these herbs and citrus fruits into your diet is visiting Glow Juicery and trying some fruit and herb smoothies or the Wowza Glow Juice or shooter. Wowza is a blend of freshly juiced, turmeric, ginger, lemon and apple cider vinegar. This amazing concoction will give

you a boost in energy, while decreasing inflammation and will help with moving old lymphatic sludge out, so you can focus on feeling amazing everyday. Next time you have a sweet tooth, don’t grab a candy bar and eat fruit instead!

and mindfulness.

Spring Break For Your Body They say that every single person on the planet has one thing in common; they just want to feel good, isn’t that the truth! For this reason, Clinical Herbalist, Carley Shann and Holistic Nutritionist, Brooklyn Belanger teamed up to create, ‘Spring Break for Your Body’; a program that guides you through a 28 day health transformation, leaving you feeling restored, mind, body and soul. Experts say, it takes about 21 days to form a habit, so in this amount of time, you will be well on your way to breaking old habits and forming new healthier ones that will last. The program involves a 4 week herbal protocol, which consists of a daily tea blend as well as capsules and an antiinflammatory meal plan. This program takes the guess work out of meal time coming with a complete shopping list each week and a food prep guide. Carley and Brooklyn support you through the weeks as you kickstart your health; removing inflammatory foods, detoxing

your body and shedding those winter pounds. Spring break for your body is ultimately to give your body a break from the Western diet that we so commonly consume in our culture, which is loaded with processed foods and sugar. These types of food cause inflammation in the body, which is the root of all modern day diseases such as heart disease, diabetes/blood sugar imbalance and autoimmune conditions. Body pain and discomfort are common side effects of systemic inflammation, even mental health disorders can be traced back to inflammation! Instead, you will be guided how to deeply nourish your body using natural whole foods, foods that are nutrient dense and will help your body thrive, lowering inflammation. The daily herbal regimen will aid your body in detoxifying throughout the program. The herbs will rebuild the liver and support the kidneys, two key detoxification pathways in the body, as well as support digestion and proper elimination via the bowels. During the 28 days, emphasis is put on: weight loss, supporting detoxification and increasing energy and mental clarity. Other important elements of wellness will be discussed such as sleep, exercise, hydration

PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON: •Weight Loss •Increased Energy and Mental Clarity •Stress Management •Natural Detoxiﬁcation

This program starts on April 15th and can be done from anywhere! Ongoing support will be offered throughout the 28 days through a private facebook group with other members of the program to share questions, concerns and to support each other through the process. It is so vital to have a form of accountability, so that you feel motivated and supported throughout the program. Every week there will be a live video call where Brooklyn and Carley answer questions and address key topics. Beyond the program, you will have gained the knowledge and support to create lasting healthy habits. Grab a friend and join us on the journey of feeling light and clear; in body and mind! Visit www. wildgoldbotanicals.com for more information. Carley is a clinical herbalist trained at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, the most comprehensive herbal training program in North America. Her goal is to help people become the healthiest versions of themselves using modern day herbalism.

YOGA

with Lilian Bianchi Honouring

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT SPRING SESSION

April 4 - June 27 • Beginners, Intermediate and Ongoing levels • Gentle Yoga • Restorative Yoga • Breathing and Meditation Lilian Bianchi has been teaching Yoga since 1982. Lilian is registered with the Canadian Yoga Alliance as a RYT Gold. She is also an honourary member of the International Federation of Yoga.

Morning and Evening classes held at Namaste Yoga Studio and other locations in Duncan.

250-746-0327

www.namasteyoga.ca

Brooklyn is a clinical holistic nutritionist from Shawnigan Lake she completed her training at the most comprehensive on site nutrition training in North America and has had a busy practice for 2 years now. She has lots of experience with group programs and helping people reach their goals through sustainable and attainable long term change.

WILDGOLD BOTANICALS & NOURISHED BY B PRESENT

‘SPRING BREAK FOR YOUR BODY’

A 28 DAY HEALTH TRANSFORMATION TO KICKSTART YOUR SUMMER! PROGRAM STARTS ON APRIL 15TH, PLEASE REGISTER AT

WWW.WILDGOLDBOTANICALS.COM 57

$20.00 each and children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult! Tickets can be purchased from Choir members, at the door on concert days, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Office or from Ten Old Books – located in the Duncan Garage (330 Duncan Street). For more information visit www.freedomgospelchoir.ca or find us on Facebook.

Freedom Gospel Choir

usic is a world within itself and is a language we all understand. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the wind, light to the imagination and life to everything. It makes us think, feel, dream and wonder. The Duncan Freedom Gospel Choir invites you to explore the world around you with songs of “Wonder” at one or both of their end of season family-friendly concerts. Directed by Ann Antonides and accompanied by Tanya Gillespie, the performances will feature songs composed specifically for the choir as well as some traditional wellknown gospel pieces. Cara McCandless will accompany on Bass Guitar and Sheri Clayton on the Drums.

100 Paintings of Gratitude

SOLEIL MANNION soleilmannion.ca

“Fire Horse” 36”x 48” oil on canvas Regular $6,000 Sale Price: $1,500

With two Concerts to choose from; you can either join us on Saturday 27th April at 7pm or at the earlier time of 2pm on Sunday 28th April. The “Wonder” concerts are being hosted at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (531 Herbert Street) in Duncan. Tickets are only

Onyx, Soleil Mannion 6 0”H x36”W — Clay, glue, iron ore, rust and oil paint on canvas

100 Paintings of Gratitude Recently, I have been working on my fears and being the type of person that I am, I like to tackle them head on. Interestingly, I’ve discovered this approach doesn’t work well with horses. Trying to force my agenda on a 1000 pound creature leads to tension, aggression and anger on both sides. While I could, with whips and ropes accomplish some kind of reluctant outer submission, it would in no way deal with my fear. It would, in fact, turn fear into anger—not a win. Instead my dear horse friend Maddie taught me to breathe, to observe, to cultivate trust and to be vulnerable. This is a longer, less direct route, but what we have is an equal friendship with no fear on either side. In the end I had to let go of what was in my mind and listen to what was being offered to me. www.soleilmannion.ca

Lexington Spa

Mobile Pedicures and Manicures With Cindy Beam Lexington Spa

THE BOUTIQUE SPA THAT COMES TO YOU!

Cindy Beam, Owner

Specializing in...

Tel. (250) 514-1380 Email lexingtonspa@shaw.ca Web www.lexingtonspa.ca

• Manicures • Pedicures • Reﬂexology

Spring Special

need of foot and hand care in a professional and organized manner.

exington Spa owner Cindy Beam first began her business on Lexington Avenue in Victoria. She is certified in Foot Reflexology and as a Nail Technician. After assessing her clients needs she enhanced her services and took additional courses to certify herself in Diabetic Foot Care and Salon Sterilization. Looking to change her lifestyle, Cindy moved to Shawnigan Lake and re launched her business to specialize in mobile aesthetics. Her regular visits include hospitals, houses and nurturing family loved ones in care homes. “You can eliminate future nail or skin problem with regular maintenance.” Cindy smiles and by offering mobile service to her clients she bonded and able to treat everyone in

With a regular roster of loyal clients, Cindy enjoys providing in-home luxurious hand and feet appointments for husbands and wives, girlfriends, visitors and more. Save time and call her before your big night out or before you leave for holiday! Lexington Spa brings everything needed for a quality, luxurious treatment including towels, stool, natural shea cream, OPI polishes and a foot soak. All you provide is the water! Add on French manicures and pedicures also available for a natural look. Certified by the Reflexology Association of Canada, Cindy also offers relaxing reflexology as an add on to your pedicure. Reflexology is a foot massage service with pressure points to increase circulation throughout the body helping you feel a deeper relaxation with your

3x 1 HOUR SESSIONS of FOOT REFLEXOLOGY for $120

3x 1 hour of PEMF Therapy for $99 Reﬂexology & Chi Wellness by Terri

Terri Lewis RABC , IHM Reiki Master

250-701-8962

www.terriswellness.com Happy Hour Daily 3-5pm featuring a weekly cocktail $7.50

JOIN US FOR DINNER

OPEN Tuesday to Saturday

look for our daily specials on 40 Ingram Street

www.theoldﬁrehouse.ca treatments to benefit your well being. Mobile spa service is a time saver for clients and offers privacy for men and women in

Downtown Duncan

(250) 597-3473

their own homes. Each appointment last one hour and can be booked for a longer duration. www.lexingtonspa.ca

ry Eve c i us om e M ay Fr m v i L u nd 7p S mp 4

SERVING DELICIOUS WATERFRONT BRUNCH, LUNCH & DINNER OPEN MON - FRI 11:30am / SAT & SUN 10am MILL BAY MARINA • 740 HANDY RD • 778-356-3568 www.bridgemans.ca 59

~ Spring has sprung- life is emerging from its deep sleep and bringing forth an abundance of energy and magic once again! We are stocked with gorgeous treasures from our journey to the crystal pyramid last month and can’t wait for you to see all the vibrant beauties we hand selected for you- lots of new varieties to choose from! ~ As we dust off the Winter cobwebs, we may be inspired to do a little energetic ‘Spring Cleaning’- we have you covered with tools for sacred smoke cleansing to clear and energize your home and work space. We also carry an assortment of stones that can help clear stagnant energy from your life- shungite, selenite and citrine are just some of the few crystal friends that assist in keeping the vibes high! ~ Looking for special Easter treasures? Add some sparkle to your baskets with precious crys-tals, unique sacred gemstone jewelry, Autumn Skye artwork stickers, gemstone water bottles, books and more! Find us on Instagram @cfsforthesoul and Like us on our ‘CFS for the Soul’ Facebook Page for product details, announcements and more.

Located in the Sol Centre Adjacent to the Community Farm Store 5380 Hwy 1, Duncan, BC To be notified by email of Waldorf and Steiner inspired events in the Valley, email nicolette111@icloud.com

Come see our vast selection of books on nature activitism, outdoor education programs and biodynamic gardening including these titles:

GROWING SUSTAINABLE CHILDREN: A GARDEN TEACHER’S GUIDE

By Ronni Sands and Willow Summer. “We are facing an environmental crisis. Crisis is good because it brings us to consciousness.... What we give time to becomes important. Having a regular time of the day when children work with and experience nature represents a path out of this crisis…. Big or small, urban or rural, a space for a garden can lead children back to the natural world. If we want our children to have access to the many resources in nature, we must educate them to love and preserve these resources. This is the first step in building a heart-felt relationship to nature and growing ‘sustainable children.’” …. With its useful overviews of the history of gardening education and the evolving consciousness of children, and its detailed age-appropriate curriculum and activity listings from nursery and kindergarten through high school, this book will be an indispensable resource for anyone already teaching in a gardening program, for those planning on starting such a program, or for anyone working with children in a garden or other outdoor setting as a homeschooler, community organizer, or friend of the Earth. Ronni Sands has been teaching gardening to children and adoles-cents for more than twenty-five years, and through her rich experience she has created the curriculum presented here, one that is also based on the picture of child development used in Waldorf schools.

Green Fingers and Muddy Boots: A year in the Garden for Children and Families,

by Ivon Santer. Beautifully illustrated, rich with ideas and inspiration …a perfect interactive guide for young gardeners!

Under the Sky, by Sally Schweizer, Playing, Working and Enjoying Adventures in the Open Air; A handbook for Parents, Carers and Teachers: In the outdoors you can en-joy quiet

conversations or make a big noise, be alone or be with others. And that’s just for starters...Under the Sky is an invaluable guide for anyone wishing to cultivate children’s play and imagination. It features ideas for planning expeditions and adventures, for toys and equipment, and activities for all four seasons and all four elements! It includes plans, tips and advice on child-friendly outdoor design, materials, surfaces, seating, gardening, pets, wildlife - even campfires, picnics and train journeys…

The Forest School ethos of na-ture-based play and learning that en-courages children to develop confidence, self-esteem and emotional intelligence is exactly what’s needed in an era when childhood problems such as obesity and anxiety are on the rise. Woven through the year are stories from the authors’ own Forest School classes, as they make a passionate case for the importance of ensuring children’s access to nature and the incredible benefits they will gain from being outside, even in the heart of a city.

Here at the FSWS we carry a very large selection of books to help parents and teachers with all stages of childhood from pre-birth, conception, infancy and toddlerhood right through to adolescence. Other subjects include education, science, agriculture, gardening, bees, music, poetry, nature, water, death, autism, addiction, Eurythmy, movement, philosophy, ancient mysteries, mythology, esoteric Christianity, meditation, nutrition, elementals, medicine, economics, Camphill, art, form drawing, handwork, felting, knitting, painting, celebrating festivals, seasonal activities and so much more. We hope you will come visit us soon.

“If we do not believe within ourselves this deeply rooted feeling that there is something higher than ourselves, we shall never find the strength to evolve into something higher.” ~ Rudolf Steiner Anthroposophy is a path of knowledge, to guide the Spiritual in the human being to the Spiritual in the universe.

~Rudolf Steiner

Edible Flowers and Spring Flower Workshop

lowers are often planted in the garden for their ornamental beauty, but they offer much more than just a pretty face. For example, did you know that some flowers are edible? At first, eating flowers might seem a bit strange, but after trying a few edible varieties you might change your mind. Flowers have been a part of the kitchen for many generations and were used by cultural groups from around the world, from the Romans and Ancient Chinese to the Greeks and Mayans. Edible blossoms can be mixed into salads, sprinkled on desserts, used to decorate wedding

cakes, or used to make teas. They can even be infused into honey or chopped into sorbet, to name a few options. The uses for edible flowers are nearly endless. Not only do edible flowers make culinary creations more visually appealing, but many have their own unique flavourings that can enhance a meal’s taste. On our farm, we grow several varieties of edible flowers. My four favourites are viola, calendula, nasturtiums and bachelor’s buttons. They are easy to grow and taste the best, in my opinion! Viola and bachelor’s button are quite mild with just a slight floral flavour, while nasturtiums are spicy and sweet -- almost like wasabi. Calendula has the smell of tangerine and, while the flavour can be slightly bitter, you won’t notice the bitterness if the petals are

sprinkled on a meal. Want to try edible flowers for yourself? We sell edible flowers at the Duncan Farmer’s Market as well as at Great Greens Farm Market during the growing season. You can also try growing your own edible flowers. Because the plant kingdom offers up several poisonous flowers in addition to the delicious ones, make sure to identify flowers before consuming them, to confirm that they are indeed edible. Ensure that the plants you are eating have not been sprayed with pesticides. We’ll be using edible flowers in our upcoming spring flower arrangement workshop at The Fishbowl Café on April 14. This workshop will include various flowers of both edible and non-edible

varieties, and participants will learn to create their own hanging floral arrangement in a custom wooden box to hang on their front door. Come join us! Flowers will be supplied by Dancing Dandelion Farms and other local farms along with design instruction by Bezaire Events. To purchase tickets, visit www. dancingdandelion.ca or call us 250-510-7592. Kailli Pigott, owner at Dancing Dandelion Farms with a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Biology.

Summer Kids Camps

Day Programs & Overnight Camps

Backpacking - Kayaking - Surﬁng Register Online Now at cowichanbaykayaking.com

info@cowichanbaykayaking.com I 250 597 3031

Stepping Stone for Youth CVAC Youth Outreach Program

t is said the best mentors think like Michelangelo. He approached sculpting in the belief that beautiful art already existed within raw stone and simply had to be released. The Cowichan Valley Arts Council Youth Outreach Program, launched in 2012, has a core of 16 students selected to participate for the final two years of their secondary education. Each student is paired with a mentor to enrich the creative grasp of their chosen discipline through the Michelangelo approach — be it bringing ceramics from slabs of clay, creating mosaics from boxes of glass tile, or shaping raw words into thought-provoking plays and poems. The students meet monthly as a group while one-on-one studentmentor sessions are as worked out by each pair. An added program feature this year will be a monthly drop-in where youth are given the opportunity to explore a variety of art forms. “The Youth Outreach Program is an opportunity for young Cowichan Valley people keen to explore, with a view to developing their potential in any art form,” CVAC Vice-President Janet Magdanz told The Cowichan Valley Voice. “The program requires only that applicants express an interest and show a degree of proficiency in their chosen medium — not a massive portfolio such as would take many, many years to assemble.”

Key to the process is pairing each student with a mentor. “We provide a mentor for each student from within the Arts Council membership,” said Magdanz. “The step-bystep sharing of experience and technique through this mentorship becomes a personal dialogue as much as a connection to creation of the literary, technical, performing or visual arts. “This year are launching a monthly drop-in for students who haven’t yet found their voice in whatever art form they are interested in — the format of which will be set by the students themselves.” The year is culminated with a “Student Art Show” for all YOP students. The students are then encouraged to enter the Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show. The CVAC vice-president summarizes the program as, “being for young people of every background; working and sharing in mutual respect and friendship while opening up to the various arts-related opportunities put before them.” Applications are being taken immediately with interviews beginning in May. Printed outlines and application forms for the two-year young artists’ program are available from the CVAC office in the Portals Gallery off the lobby of the Island Savings Center. Information and the application process is also available online through the CVAC website at www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca. Submitted by Lon Wood

Crystal Eggs

ith the shift into Spring, life is renewed once again! It’s no wonder we’ve come to associate this time of year with different symbols of regeneration and rebirth- one such symbol being the egg. In many creation myths, the universe was hatched from a cosmic egg. It is a powerful symbol of the earth, fertility and the circle of life. Crystals are found in many natural forms. They can also be hand-carved and polished into different shapes to amplify and utilize the properties of the crystal in specific ways. An egg shaped crystal can be used to help shield, heal or strengthen the aura. Crystal eggs channel the energies of renewal, personal transformation and support new beginnings. They can be used to detect and re-balance emotional and physical blockages in the body. They also make excellent hand comforters to use in times of stress and can promote better sleep. The curve of the egg fits perfectly in the hand to make it easy to use during meditation.

A popular type of crystal egg is made of Amethyst. Amethyst is known as the “all-healer” stone, with properties that assist healing on many levels. Amethyst is a powerful stone for purifying our mind, body, and emotions and creates a protective shield of light around the body allowing one to remain centered and clear on their spiritual path. It can help soothe and calm the mind and enhance intuitive abilities, especially when used in meditation. Amethyst also has the ability to expand the mind, enhancing one’s creativity and passion. Create a sparkly Easter basket this year, filled with beautiful crystal “eggs” and other special treasures from CFS for the Soul- located in the SOL-Centre next to the big Community Farm Store, open 7 days a week from 11- 3pm. Venita Chow is an Integrative Energy Healing practitioner & Crystal keeper at CFS for the SOUL.

with the biological onslaught unleashed with the arrival of the Europeans”.

Why We Should Read Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal Life, by James Daschuk

ames Daschuk introduces the reader to components of the Canadian record previously unknown to most nonIndigenous people. Canada’s common myth of peacekeeper is exposed in this book. It contains the knowledge needed to understand the results of colonization, and the call for decolonization. Extremely well documented with archival (primary) and secondary sources, maps and extensive notes, the research is brought to life. The author describes sophisticated societies on pre-contact Turtle Island. As an example, societies on the Great Plains managed bison herds. Others, with intention, did not exploit beaver as beaver dams saved human populations from drought by conserving and controlling water. He says that though the inhabitants of Turtle Island did have disease pre-contact, “the burden of disease was miniscule compared

Daschuk states that smallpox and other diseases; fur trade wars between the French, English, and Canadians; the slaughter of bison; introduction of horses; and introduction of alcohol (to name only a small portion of the scope of consequences brought on by the arrival of Europeans) produced significant changes in the thriving populations of the First Nations’ cultures across what would be called western Canada. The author’s stated goal is twofold: to recognize the role of disease in shaping history and territory, but foremost, “to identify the roots” that are the basis of contemporary health inequality between Indigenous and mainstream populations. In doing so, he is also successful in explaining social, economic and political conditions that developed from decisions made by men in government. Maintained by the Canadian government, this belief system shaped the discrepancy in healthcare outcomes that continue to this day. Daschuk does not focus on the racist ideas themselves, but on materialistic conditions that the decisions and ideology of those with power caused as the government and beneficiaries raced for control of resources and economic superiority. Off the page, the story does not seem to have an end. It is a story that needs to be told to Canadians, as well as peoples throughout the world. Join us on the second Wednesday of the month, 5 - 8pm. Next book is Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese.

Nichiren Peace Center Retreats - 2019 Sat. 13th April “A Day of Faith” • Sat. 15th June “Kundalini Energy” • Sat. 13 July “Buddha Now” • Aug. 11 - 18 “Tien Tai, Silent Retreat • Sat. 21st Sept. “A Day of Meditation & Mindfulness”

Weekly Meditation Wednesday / Thursday Visit us at www.VIRetreats.com for full information and registration I 250. 710. 7594 64

Submitted by Miyo Stevens

waste. Meal planning and home cooking is generally healthier too. You don’t have to start from scratch. Think about the meals you already love to cook and start with planning those once or twice a week to begin with. 2. Keep it fresh: Keeping produce, dairy and pantry staples fresher longer gives you more time to use up the food. Do you know the best way to keep lettuce from wilting? Or which fruits and veggies to separate into which crisper drawers? LoveFoodHateWaste.ca has a detailed guide on storing food to maximize freshness.

Love Food, Hate Waste!

Chloe Boyle is an employee with CVRD in the Recycling and Waste Management division, and a strong advocate for waste reduction

id you know that almost half (47%) of Canada’s food waste occurs at home? This may come as a surprise, but cumulatively every household’s food waste contributes to the largest portion of food waste in Canada. Some food waste, like chicken bones and banana peels, is unavoidable, but over 60% of food waste food could have been eaten! Avoidable food waste occurs when produce spoils because you don’t get around to cooking it, or leftovers at the back of the fridge start to go moldy. With the newest Canada Food Guide and the National Zero Waste Council’s strategy for

reducing organic waste across sectors, Canadians are starting to think more about food and food waste. This makes sense – we all eat food everyday and we all have the opportunity through our food choices to make a difference in our personal health as well as the health of our planet. Locally, a 2017 study found that avoidable food waste makes up over 70% of the organic waste that households dispose of. Whether your organics are going to a composting facility or to the landfill, that’s a huge amount of food that does not need to be thrown out. Composting is a great way to recycle organics into useable soil for future food growth, however, avoiding that waste in the first place makes a much greater impact (all together now: Reduce, then Reuse, then

Recycle). Reducing food waste diminishes your environmental footprint by reducing the land, water and the energy that goes into producing, transporting and disposing of food waste. In the Cowichan Valley, we are surrounded by rolling hills with cattle farms, wineries, berries and so much more. And we’re proud to have some of the finest restaurants on Vancouver Island. Let’s do our part to reduce the food we waste at home through simple actions that help our health, our wallets and our environment. 1. Plan it out: Planning meals may seem intimidating, but it can be a fun way to connect with those you share meals with as well as prevent food

3. Use it up: Look in the fridge. Is there something that may spoil soon? Try getting creative with what needs to be used up. Maybe you’ll find a new recipe you come to love! You might even try your hand at drying and canning fruits and veggies to keep them longer. You can learn more about best before dates, food labelling and find tons of recipes online at LoveFoodHateWaste.ca. Together we can make a big difference in reducing the region’s food waste. With Earth Day falling on Easter weekend, why not take the opportunity to learn more tips and tricks for avoiding food waste by visiting LoveFoodHateWaste.ca.

Release trapped emotions Resolve sleep problems Manage stress and pain Achieve self-confidence 250-597-3686

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Website Design & Development Social Media Marketing Search Engine Optimization AdWords, Facebook, PPC Consulting & Training

250-732-2937

First appointment free! info@MAC5.ca www.MAC5.ca @MAC5WebDesign

1- 855-622-5932

David Yaeger

Certiﬁed Emotion Code Practitioner davidyaeger650@gmail.com https://discoverhealing.com/practitioner-map/ (ﬁnd me just north of Duncan)

Local Stewardship Groups to work with Residents towards cleaner water for S-amuna’| Somenos and Kw’amutsun | Quamichan Lakes

Community Funding Program, the Loblaw Water Fund, as well as a Grant-in-Aid from the Municipality of North Cowichan. We’re excited to be in the launching phase!

o you live around one of our local lakes, or love to spend time there? Are you concerned about water quality concerns such as disappearing fish habitat, toxic blue green algae blooms, and the increasing prevalence of invasive plants such as parrots feather and Himalayan blackberry?

Water quality in the lakes has been a concern for residents since the 1950s. E.coli, septic runoff, sediment, phosphorus and other chemical loading, invasive species, fish habitat degradation, flooding and toxic blue-green algae blooms are ongoing issues for the community. These lakes are of great significance as fish and wildlife habitat and hold important recreational value, highlighted by the recent naming of Quamichan Lake as the future home of Rowing Canada’s training facilities.

The Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society (SMWS) and the Cowichan Community Land Trust (CLT), both long-standing local environmental conservation and stewardship organizations in the Cowichan Valley, are working together on a new initiative called the S-amuna’| Somenos and Kw’amutsun | Quamichan Lakes Clean Water Action project.

One of our primary goals is to build awareness with the community that we are all connected to our lakes and watershed system. Whether we live in the direct vicinity of a lake or not, what we put down our house and storm drains, our gardening and lawn care practices, and how we steward our small creeks and streams all contributes to water quality.

The aim of this initiative is to increase awareness and community engagement around water quality issues and stewardship strategies in and around the urban lakes, and actively work with lake and stream side residents on targeted riparian restoration. This three year project has received funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s EcoAction

Spring is a great time to be thinking about how our practices in the home and garden impact the water systems we are a part of. Some important practices that everyone can do to benefit our local lakes and watershed are: • using biodegradable and phosphate-free soaps and cleaners • maintaining septic systems and replacing if leaks occur

• maximize porous surfaces that rain water can filter into, which will reduce damaging run off • properly dispose of yard waste at a recycling facility or by composting • protecting or planting native riparian buffer zones near water • protecting wetlands that exist on or around your residence Some important practices to avoid include: • leaving manure or compost piles uncovered • excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides • dumping chemicals or washing your car near a street drain • allowing pets or livestock near streamsides • removing natural debris which creates habitat for wildlife • harbouring or spreading invasive species If you happen to be a landholder of lake or streamside property within the S-amuna’ | Somenos and Kw’amutsun | Quamichan lakes area, we are offering to come to your property during the spring and summer and provide riparian assessment and recommendations around your unique situation. We will also be assessing for potential riparian restoration opportunities, as the scope of this project includes targeted restoration work. In April we are signing up landholders for site visits through the spring and summer. Please

contact us if you are interested. Other project events will include hosting a Lake-keepers workshop offered by the BC Lake Stewardship Society. We are also putting out a series of surveys to help us better understand current community practices and awareness of water quality issues. To contribute to our current online survey, please go to one of our two websites for the link. It only takes about 3 minutes and your input is extremely valuable! If you are a land-holder interested in a site visit, or a community member who would like more information or to be involved in project activities, please feel free to contact us: Elizabeth Aitken (SMWS) programs@somenosmarsh.com / 778-401-8460, or Stephanie Cottell (CLT) stephanie@ cowichanlandtrust.ca 250-746-0227. More details can also be found on the following websites: www.somenosmarsh.com | www.cowichanlandtrust.ca

Stephanie Cottell Executive Director Cowichan Community Land Trust

Spring Whale Update

he whale watching season is ramping up again and we couldn’t be more excited to be back on the water for some incredible wildlife encounters! The spring has already produced some amazing sightings including two fin whales seen just outside of Tofino! A sighting of these ocean giants, that can reach lengths of 80 feet, are very rare in areas so close to shore. Here in the Salish Sea, Biggs (mammal eating) killer whales continue to flourish and we have already had plenty of sightings of them this spring. Many of you may have seen news stories and headlines this winter about “the local killer whale pods” not surviving here. These stories are focused on one small population of killer whales known as the southern residents. This population, numbering only 75 animals, has garnered a lot of attention recently as the Canadian government continues to try and push through the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion despite the adverse effects it will have on this special population of animals. Biggs, on the other hand, have been doing very well and continue to grow at an

annual rate of around 5%. This is most likely due to an abundance of prey (pinnipeds primarily), which is a stark contrast to their cousins, the southern residents, who rely so heavily on the dwindling chinook salmon stocks. The vast majority of our sightings are Biggs killer whales and, wow, they are a lot of fun to watch! There have been so many epic encounters with these animals but a highlight, for me, had to be watching a group of these animals celebrating in the Strait of Georgia after a successful harbor porpoise hunt last August. Here is a shot of the celebration I captured. See you on the water!

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Long Lost Essential Nutrient Vitamin K2

hen we talk about “Vitamin K” the distinction between vitamins K1 and K2 is commonly ignored but it’s important to understand that these are unique vitamins. They are found in different food sources and they perform very different vital functions. Vitamin K1 – phylloquinone – is a key player in blood clotting. The human body doesn’t readily store K1 but because blood clotting is so essential, we have evolved to efficiently recycle it. Deficiency in K1 is quite obvious due to bleeding disorders but also quite rare because our requirements aren’t very high to begin with and K1 is easily found in food sources. Phyll means leaf in Greek and chlorophyll (green pigment in plants) is where you find phylloquinone. Most plant foods provide some K1 and it is especially abundant in leafy green sources. It is also important to understand that K vitamins are fat soluble. This means they can only be found or transported in fat molecules. The cell membranes of plants are made of fat molecules and this is where we can find plant sourced K1. Vitamin K2 – menaquinone – helps to get calcium where it belongs in the body; in bones and teeth, and out of soft tissues and arteries. K2 also has unique antioxidant abilities specifically in the brain and is considered to be an important antiaging nutrient.

There are strong connections between K2 and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, dementia, osteoporosis, heart disease and even cavity free teeth. In fact, K2 was first discovered by renowned Canadian dentist Weston A. Price when he observed that K2 nourished children consistently develop with well-formed jaw bones, wide dental arches and straight teeth while the opposite could be observed in K2 deficient children. Deficiency in K2 is more common and often quite invisible. We don’t see the onset of osteoporosis or atherosclerosis and often these chronic issues are only first diagnosed when they are already critical, like a broken bone or a heart attack. Just like K1 the body doesn’t readily store much K2, unlike K1 our body cannot recycle it. Gut microbes can make a small amount (if they are healthy) but otherwise K2 must be obtained from dietary sources. You can think about K2 as the grass-fed vitamin. When herbivore animals consume chlorophyll rich green foods, a significant amount of K1 is converted to K2 in direct proportion to the green food consumed. Humans can’t convert much. The speculation is, as we evolved as omnivores (higher on the food-chain) we didn’t need to convert because we had easy access to dietary sources of K2. For most of human history when we consumed meat, eggs and dairy we got ample K2 in the process. When food production moved toward the modern industrialized grain fed model and the general population lost access to wild and pastured animal products, we also lost K2 before we really knew it existed.

The demonization of dietary fat in general has also contributed to our collective loss of K2. Low fat products are also low in fat-soluble vitamins. Years of substituting butter, cream, egg yolks and dark meat, for margarine, skim milk and lean protein has equated to years of missing out on fat-soluble vitamins. We find K2 in the fat cells of animals that have had the opportunity to consume chlorophyll rich foods. When we stopped eating the fat from green-fed animals we lost our dietary sources of K2. When we lost K2 we also lost an important cofactor in calcium metabolism and we see a concurrent epidemic of calcium related issues in the population. Our bones are lacking enough calcium and yet dangerous levels are also collecting in our arteries. Vitamin K2 also performs unique antioxidant functions in the brain which is mostly made of fat. In a K2 deficient population, we also see a rise in degenerative neurological disorders. Nutrient supplementation can be helpful but don’t forget that vitamins and minerals don’t work independently in your body, they interact with one another. Natural foods often contain complementary nutrients that work synergistically. * For example, K2 works best with other fat-soluble vitamins and conveniently these are often found together in the same foods. Excellent sources include: egg yolks, full fat dairy, butter, liver pate, organ meats, bone broth, rendered fat, cod liver oil, etc. However, vegans need not fear! Certain microbes can also make the conversion. A unique type of fermented soy called natto is an extremely rich source of plantbased K2.

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Here on Vancouver Island we are blessed with a long growing season and plenty of green space to raise farm animals and I would argue that these two factors likely contribute to generally higher K2 content in our local meat, eggs and dairy, especially on those farms where green access for animals is made a priority. If you wanted another great reason to choose local and support ethical and sustainable farming practises there you have it. This is a complex topic and I have only just scratched the surface. Kate Rheaume-Bleue, B.Sc., N.D. wrote an entire book on the subject called “Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox” from which this article is referenced from. Possible sidebar? *Synergy of whole foods example: whole VS skim milk Whole milk: contains fat, protein, carbohydrates, digestive enzymes, minerals and fatsoluble vitamins A, D, E, K2. Fat and protein help to balance blood sugar, enables mineral absorption, contains fat-soluble vitamins. If raw/unpasteurized (illegal to sell in Canada) milk is a probiotic food and contains the digestive enzyme lactase which enables digestion of milk sugars (lactose) Skim milk: missing natural fatsoluble vitamins, minerals are hard to absorb, mostly lactose (carbohydrate) so spikes blood sugar/insulin, pasteurized milk contains no enzymes to support digestion. Renee Robbins. Registered Holistic Nutritionist, local and homemade food advocate. www.homegrownnutrition.ca

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Open a window and let the sunshine and fresh air in! It’s time to clean and de-clutter. Here at the CFS we have effective, non-toxic cleaning products for everything: laundry, windows, bathrooms, floors, dishes and more. Cleaning should be exactly that - clean. We have everything you need to deal with tough stains, grease, odours, bacteria and even mold! Spring is a wonderful season of rebirth, growth and light when most of us start to feel revived from the long winter months. A time of renewal and cleaning, not only for our homes and yards but for our minds, bodies, and spirits. The Earth bursts forth with new, tender shoots full of nutrition and an ability to cleanse. The Sun returns to nourish our skin and lift our spirits, clearing away heavy winter habits in an effort to guide us to a lighter space. Spring is the ideal time to help your body get rid of the toxic build-up of the winter months and cleansing is the action of helping your body detoxify more effectively. We carry a wide variety of products to assist you in this process from tinctures and teas to body brushes and full cleansing kits. The CFS Wellness Advisory Team is a unique group of compassionate, knowledgeable, and committed Holistic Health Care professionals, stacked with credentials in Holistic Nutrition, Energy Medicine, and Herbology. Our collective calling is to serve and we are here to help!

EARTH FRIENDLY HOUSEHOLD CLEANING Get ready for the Easter Bunny’s visit with a fairly traded Baraka Baby Basket- the perfect size for small hands and a lot of Easter goodies! A lovely gift that gives back, these beautiful baskets can be used all year long for collecting treasures in nature, toting playthings, and gathering from the garden. Fill your basket with handcrafted organic Easter chocolates from Ethereal Confections. Adorable vegan Dark Chocolate Solid Bunnies & cute wrapped Mini Bunnies can hop right in with their amazing Jelly Bean Bark. Happy Easter!

The Community Farm Store Organic Health & Whole Food Market www.communityfarmstore.ca TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:

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NELLIE’S ALL NATURAL products are biodegradable, keeping the environment as spotless as your home. The entire Nellie’s line is free of toxins, phosphates and harmful chemicals. We offer their Laundry Soda, Dishwasher Powder & Oxygen Brightener in bulk. ECO-PIONEER products are 100% pure and gentle to the environment. Sourced from local suppliers and minimally packaged, Eco-Pioneer offers four pure washing powders and a liquid concentrate with endless cleaning possibilities. JUSU LIFE (formerly Clean Conscience) natural plant-based cleaning products are handmade using pure essential oils and natural minerals from renewable sources and purchased using fair trade practices. Find Jusu Life Clove & Lavender Deodorizer and Rosewood & Sweet Orange Laundry Powder in bulk.

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NOT JUST TOFINO ANYMORE

Duncan Choral Singers “Say it With a Song”

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o you have something to say? Duncan Choral Singers do and they are going to ‘Say it With a Song’! Their upcoming concert is the evening of Monday, April 29th at Duncan United Church and they hope you will come along to enjoy the concert which will offer, as always, a wide variety of tunes for your enjoyment!

communities and cultures. The Science seems to confirm what we all seem to know intuitively - music and singing is good for you! Studies of brain chemistry have shown that music lifts mood and emotions creating bonds of friendship and community. It’s a gathering of people singing and listening deeply to make a beautiful sound.

Sue Doughty directs the choir and has been teaching piano and voice in the Cowichan Valley since moving to Duncan in 1996. Sue is originally from Zimbabwe where she began her music studies before coming to Canada.

Choir members say- “It’s more like a gathering of friends, giving you a sense of belonging.” “It brings joy, warmth and lifts the worries of the day.” “It is good for the soul and I could not do without it.”

Ruth Williams, an accomplished musician in the valley, has been the choir’s accompanist for 16 years. She is retiring this year and we all wish her the very best.

The much loved Robin Williams said in August Rush (2007), “You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, everywhere, even the stars.”

Duncan Choral has been offering choral opportunities in the Cowichan Valley and entertaining audiences since 1982. They are active in the Community, singing at Care Homes and various venues during the Christmas season. Choral singing is an activity that is being reclaimed across the country with folks meeting regularly to share music and song. What is it about singing that draws people? Over the centuries, singing has been an integral part of

Duncan Choral Singers extend an invitation not only to their concert, but also an invitation to join us in the Fall for our next season. In the meantime… celebrate Spring! Come along to hear the Duncan Choral Singers….’Say it With a Song’! Monday, April 29th. 7 pm, Duncan United Church Tickets: $15 (children under 12 free) Available from choir members or at the door or call: 250-746-2326.

Say it With a Song Monday, April 29 • 7pm Duncan United Church

Tickets $15 (under 12 free)

Buy at the door or from choir members.or contact Sue Doughty: 250-746-2326

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Cut Broom in Bloom

wo important issues are on the minds of people in the Cowichan Valley and all over BC - the value of our threatened forests and the risk of wildfires. Scotch broom is part of this story.

Scotch broom is a highly flammable, alien, invasive plant with high oil content and many dry, dead branches. When a wildfire hits scotch broom, the fire escalates, becomes hotter, less predictable and harder to fight. The last thing we want in our forests and on our roads is Scotch broom. But we have lots. When a standing forest area is clear-cut, sun-loving broom moves in and takes over, increasing the danger of forest fire. Dense broom thickets crowd out native species which we love and upon which wildlife depend for food. Broom grows so tall so quickly, it is very hard for seedlings and young trees to thrive – or even survive. But we can stop it! In April and May, before the summer’s dry heat, you can cut broom at ground level with loppers, and the plant will die – roots included. You have to do it right! But it is not hard. It’s actually fun. (Check video on www.broombusters.org) Since 2012, there have been small teams of Broombusters in the Cowichan Valley slowly

eliminating broom. But if we want to save our forests from broom and keep our communities as safe as possible from fire, many more volunteers are needed. On East Vancouver Island, in 2018, over 500 volunteers cut broom over 5000 hours! Want to help your community? Key points for April: 1. CUT Broom in Bloom. It will be blooming soon! Contact Broombusters. 2. Go after new infestations first – the outliers and single plants. For now, stop the spread. 3. Get rid of any broom within 2 kilometers of your house. Let there be no broom on your road. It’s just good sense. 4. You need permission and training to cut on public property, and then you can work with others to save community roads, trails, forests and farmlands. 5. First cuts 2019: Stoney Hill Road. Apr 13 & 16. 9:30-12:00. Contact Macpherson15@yahoo. com. Near parking area. Look for signs. Tools provided. Check and connect: www. broombusters.org Warning: You will have fun. Broombusting is addictive. Cut Broom in Bloom! It works! www.broombusters.org

Submitted by Joanne Sales

Clearing The Fields Of Broom On Stoney Hill Stoney Hill is a unique configuration of cobble stone with relatively little soil, billions of broom seedlings and dormant seeds everywhere, and the Fields Of Broom—a threat to the ecology and public safety. The Municipality of North Cowichan has not made a plan to deal with the infestation brought in by municipal logging. The broom invasion is an expense not factored into the cost of logging. This needs to change. What is the actual revenue from logging if we factor in the real cost of broom and other invasives? (Oregon spends $42 million USA/year on loggingcaused broom expenses). We deal with the problem now or pay the price later. Summer drought and winter winds are intensifying. When the going gets tough, the tough get growing, and there is nothing tougher than broom—except Gorse, which lurks on the perimeter. Chemicals are not an option on Stoney Hill—residents’ wells are fed by ground water. A conventional forestry method to deal with invasives after disturbing the soil is to seed nonnative grass. Grass plus broom plus small trees, according to California fire experts, is a number one fire hazard. A recent

fire in Victoria in grass, in midMarch, is a warning. There are ways to mitigate conditions ripe for broom. At the top of the list: Keep the forest canopy and do not disturb the soil. The harvesting of blow down on Stoney Hill will disturb the soil. In the process, we may create a greater long term broom fire hazard than by leaving the windfall trees. Especially if we consider the alternatives. Smaller branches are a fire risk— there is no denying. But there is something we can do: Take the smaller branches: leave the trees. Rotting trees are the life-line of the forests. Conventional forestry has been removing trees and “course woody debris” from our forests, (burning the latter), in BC for so long, the ecosystem is being robbed of essential nutrients. The proliferation of root disease is evidence. If we were farmers of the forests, we would be malnourished. Trees and forest floors need decomposing woody debris. Fallen trees are food. They create habitat for zillions of life forms, including salamanders, microorganisms, fungi, moss, bugs, water. The other day, a biologist said he watched an excavator

pulling trees, gripping with its teeth, “squeezing water out, though it hasn’t rained in weeks.” In December, a councillor put forward a motion to consider not harvesting Stoney Hill. It was tabled. Ecologically minded forest experts have supported the motion. Does harvesting blow down on Stoney Hill trump the tabled motion? This motion could be revisited. In our community, there is a growing concern about the balance between wildfire risk and ecological priorities. Conventional forestry sources, without sufficient science-based reasons, say there is no time for an ecological assessment of the fallen trees; we must race to drag them out. Experts of ecological processes say we must leave sufficient trees or we will, in the long run, upset the web of life in the forest and increase the fire hazard. The answer is likely more nuanced than some would lead us to believe and requires more thought and discussion. The citizens of North Cowichan have proven their love of the forests: It took only eleven days of ticket sales to fill the Performing Arts Centre for the Where Do We Stand Community Forest Assembly; 1,500 people signed the petition to pause logging for public consultation; hundreds of people sent comments to Council; over the past months, multiple letters to the editor have been published in the Citizen. This is all clear evidence of public commitment and concern about our forests. Our community is becoming increasingly aware of the power we have to come together to do something profound, to avoid creating increased, costly, long term consequences on Stoney Hill. In the past, neighbours came together to raise barns, harvest crops, celebrate; there is no more powerful way to create community than working

together toward a vision. What if hundreds of volunteers who love Stoney Hill formed as work parties, in lines, to pass branches out of the woods near the roads where the windfall harvests are slated? Would North Cowichan consider adjusting its patch cuts? Imagine what is possible. If the municipality cut the flammable branches and had chipper trucks on site, the wood chips could be spread along the roadsides to cover existing broom seeds. The Fields of Broom on Stoney Hill were created through logging—not a natural occurrence. They are a fire hazard and liability, especially to residents. There is one road in and out. Putting off the clean up only increases the fire risk and cost. The broom is 4’ tall on average; it will grow to 9’ or more. It is time North Cowichan created a plan. It’s not too late to get it under control, say Broombusters. They know how to deal with the broom patches and the Fields of Broom. To eradicate broom on Stoney Hill will require citizens lending a hand and letting our Municipal Government know that it is a public priority. To ask the municipality how we are dealing with broom and the harvest of the windfall, email Council at council@ northcowichan.ca Attend the Council meeting that will decide on public consultation on the future of our Six Mountains Community Forests, April 3, 1:30 pm at the North Cowichan Municipal Hall on the Trans Canada Highway north of Duncan. For more information on how you can help, please contact WhereDoWeStand.ca and broombusters.org

Submitted by Icel Dobell

PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FORESTS ON THE SIX MOUNTAINS

KEEP THE CANOPY! KEEP BROOM AND ALL INVASIVES OUT

KEEP THE FOREST FLOOR FROM DYING OUT When the going gets tough, the tough get growing, and it doesn’t get tougher than broom.

“Broom infested areas create a Fire Hazard”

- BC Ministry of Forests

Excerpted from: Scotch Broom poster, Forest Service BC

BC’S LEAST WANTED SCOTCH BROOM

CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT Stealing land, homes, and food from wildlife • Contains toxic substances that can affect the nervous system and heart • Costing taxpayers a bundle to control

JOIN IN THE CONTROL OF THIS CULPRIT

Help stop the spread of this invasive criminal. • Report any sightings to Municipality of North Cowichan

REWARD HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM

For more information about broom visit WhereDoWeStand.ca and broombusters.org 73

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lease comb your dog. When people get a “no-shed” dog they think it’s going to be easy sailing. But shed free dogs grow hair like people do and they will need regular grooming to keep their hair looking nice. In between grooms, which you’ll be getting every six to eight weeks, you need to maintain the hair just as you would your own between haircuts. A red flag for groomers is when a client tells us “the last groomer just shaved her down to the skin!” This indicates that the dog was matted and the groomer didn’t have a choice. Combing out matted hair is painful for the dog. It is your job to keep your dog combed out, down to the skin, if you want a longer coat left after grooming. And don’t bother lying to your groomer about how often you brush your dog. We know. Please be clear about what you expect. You may not know the groomer’s language (puppy cut, use a number 7, poodle feet, sporty ears….) but we can translate if you talk to us. Let your groomer know if your dog is a biter. We deal with biters, we have tools and techniques to keep the groomer and your dog safe. Don’t make excuses “He’s a rescue”, just let us know and we’ll do our best to give him a positive experience. The more often your dog goes to a nice groomer, the better they get to know each other and generally the dog behaves better and

is less stressed with each subsequent grooming. Be sure to walk your dog before his appointment. We assume you have and are surprised when your dog poops on the grooming table. Even worse is when your dog is holding his full bladder and is very uncomfortable. We don’t know this stuff, you need to empty your dog before coming in; for your dog’s sake, not ours. Please don’t come to pick up your groomed dog early. If your dog is still on the table and hears your voice, he will get excited and be difficult to finish. Typically, the final bits of a groom are the details around the eyes and mouth. We don’t want to be trying to handle scissors around your dog while he dances frantically to get to you. If you’re concerned about how your dog is making out with his grooming, please call us instead. And yes, you can tip your groomer. We are not offended if you don’t, but it is a service that accepts tips. Finally, please don’t trim your dog’s eyebrows! In between groomings, we are happy to trim faces and bums nicely so your dog doesn’t look like a dork. My groomers make it look easy, but some things shouldn’t be tried at home after a glass of wine in a dimly lit room with kitchen shears. You love your dog and we love our job. Let’s get together and share the love.

Debbie Wood is a certified Small Animal Naturopath and can be reached at 250-597-7DOG.

The Buzz on Organic John Magdanz President of the Cowichan Beekeepers www.cowichanbeekeepers.ca

Saying Goodbye

his month I had to say goodbye to my cocker spaniel and a Sphynx cat. The dog had a full 13 great years but the cat a mere 5 losing her life to renal failure. The loss of a beloved pet is never easy. There’s no pain quite like it. The hardest part for me is the time leading up to the last vet visit. My thoughts are, it’s my pets last night, it’s the last walk, the last night in my bed, the last treats it will eat etc. IT’S THE LAST OF EVERYTHING! It’s only when I leave the vets that I can begin to heal from the loss. I tell myself that my pet had the best life ever. It had access to fresh water and food everyday, a safe warm home, access to vets as needed, treats, toys and above all, all the love it could want! I could do no more. If I believed in reincarnation, I tell people that I would want to come back as a cat owned by someone exactly like me. No life could be sweeter. This does not mean that I will forget the pets I have loved and lost. I remember them all and with a smile. I’ll always remember the cocker spaniels devotion to me. He never let me out of his sight. It could be annoying at times but ever

so endearing. He was one dog amongst several cats but I never once witnessed him being aggressive towards them. His favourite toys were of the squeaky kind. I had to wrap them up in duct tape so they wouldn’t get shredded after 10 minutes of play. The Sphynx was as bold as brass. It delved into the other cats food bowls before they were finished. She didn’t mind if they growled as there was food to be had and she was going to have it! She loved the heat and fire from the wood stove and could stare at it for hours. I used to think that if there wasn’t a door that she would jump right in. For her, it was the best show on t.v. I have trouble understanding people who say they could never get another pet having lost one. I say, if you have given that pet a great life, then why not allow yourself to love again? Why not let another pet love you in return? You deserve it!

Moira Mercer is an educational assistant with school district 79 and operates That Cat Hotel

ow that April is here the bees should have lots of food as the fruit trees are blooming and the flowers are coming out. It is important to note that not all flowers contain nectar that the bees can use. An example of this is the flowering plums that line the roads. It is not uncommon when speaking with people about bees that the topic organic comes up. People are concerned with what is happening to bees, both domestic and wild, and they would like to help them. The spraying of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides are detrimental to bees and many other insects. It is estimated that only 20% of all the insects have a negative impact on plants. The remaining 80% feed on the 20%. When we spray for the 20% we also kill the beneficial insects as pesticides are indiscriminate. Unfortunately the detrimental insects recover quicker than the beneficial and the spraying cycle continues. As bees will forage up to five miles there is a good chance that they will come in contact with a sprayed crop. Unfortunately the solution is not organic farming as it is defined today. At one time organic meant that no spraying was allowed, but unfortunately the rules have changed to allow the big farms in on the organic market. With the new organic rules natural pesticides and fungicides are allowed. Natural pesticides and fungicides are those derived from plants and are not synthetic like the ones used in conventional farming. Christie Wilcox wrote in her article “Mythbusting 101: Organic Farming > Conventional Agriculture” that there are “over 20 chemicals commonly used in the growing and processing of

organic crops that are approved by the U.S. Organic Standards”. Canada’s rules have changed so that we remain competitive so it is likely that many of the same natural pesticides and fungicides have been approved here. The unfortunate thing about this is that natural pesticides and fungicides are still indiscriminate killers that act in the same way as synthetic pesticides and fungicides. Just because a pesticide is derived from a plant does not mean that it is safer. So as consumers what can we do? One thing that we can all do is ask if the produce has been sprayed. If the store cannot answer this question we must consider that is has been sprayed and we should not purchase their product. This has been very effective in the farmed salmon debate. There are many small farms that grow their produce truly organic. These farms should be rewarded for their effort to produce truly organic food. If we truly want to help the bees we need to be advocates for their welfare. If spraying is a problem it does not matter whether it is synthetic or natural. Change will only happen if we demand it and the consequences of losing our pollinators such as honey bees will be disastrous. The Cowichan Beekeepers hold their meetings in the Somenos Room at the Island Savings Centre. Our meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month and begin at 7 PM. We also have a beginners session that starts at 6:30 where novices can ask an experienced beekeeper any questions that they may have. Our meetings start with a guest speaker. To find out who is speaking and what they are speaking on please go to our club website: www.cowichanbeekeepers.ca. On the website you will also find honey vendors and bee suppliers under contacts. Our club welcomes visitors so please take this as your invitation to come and check us out.

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The Buzz About CBD

e humans and many animals have cannabinoid receptors and an endocannabinoid system that processes cannabinoids, like those found in Cannabis. The Endocannabinoid System is one of the body’s largest neurotransmitter networks and is always working to achieve balance, or homeostasis. The ECS is a balancing system that sends neurotransmitters messenger and communication molecules to all body parts, to check that everything is working and to see if anything needs to be rebalanced. If it finds a problem, it regulates it by sending instructions to receptors that adjust how we think and feel. It monitors things like *reproductive system *appetite, hunger, and digestive systems *sleep *motor control *pain and pleasure *immune function *mood and anxiety *memory CBD is only ONE of the almost 500 cannabinoid compounds found in Cannabis, so far only 100 have been identified. These include CBN, CBC, CBG, THC and THCV. Scientific studies show that these constituents have incredible healing aspects, and individually they provide a diverse set of effects and medicinal benefits. The cool thing is, they all work better together, known as The Entourage Effect. This is the effect that all the compounds of the plant have on the body as a whole. When the FDA approved the use of synthetic THC, known as Marinol, it was found to be a very poor substitute for the whole plant therapy. Many patients reported no benefit to using Marinol, but when given whole plant therapy, their symptoms were alleviated. That’s why using a full spectrum Cannabis product is preferable. What does it mean when you see a CBD tincture labelled full spectrum ? If it’s extracted from Hemp or Cannabis, what it should mean is that all of the cannabinoids are in the tincture, including THC.

Despite the benefits of CBD as an isolate, there is much to be said about providing patients with all the compounds in the plant and not as separate isolates. Patients can still use the full spectrum oil without getting high with the right product and information. Hemp plants also contain CBD and produce more CBD than THC, along with some other cannabinoids. Cannabis produces more THC than CBD, interestingly, research has shown that CBD and other cannabinoids act to reduce the psychoactive effects of THC, separating Hemp further from Cannabis. Some other interesting facts are that when the Cannabis has not been heated, the THCA does not convert into THC therefore leaving it non psychoactive. Also when the tincture blend has set the amounts of percentages of CBD and THC it can counter the effect of the THC, which is what makes you high. Pure CBD oil is not done in your home kitchen but requires expensive equipment and the knowledge to produce isolated CBD or other isolated Cannabinoids. To isolate the individual compounds, CBD being one of them, the oils in the Cannabis or Hemp first get extracted. Those oils then need to be distilled after extraction by a technique called Winterization followed by a Short Path Distillation. The cleanest method I could find is a C02 extraction process with variables like pressure and temperature that have to be kept very specific for a C02 extraction. Since cannabinoids work better synergistically, rather than individually, it’s important to take the time to learn about all the different ways the compounds in Cannabis or Hemp work together. Ask questions like how was the product made, what is the carrier oil used and request their up to date lab results. Karla Rothweiler Wild plant medicine maker, advocate of all things sacred and proud Mother. loveplantmedicine@ gmail.com

Georgia Nicols M.A. is Canada’s most popular astrologer. A Buddhist, this Vancouver-based astrologer is featured in regional papers across Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. www.georgianicols.com

Aries (March 21-April 19) This month it is your turn to shine! This is because once a year, the Sun is in your sign boosting your energy and giving you a chance to recharge your batteries for the rest of year. You might not know this but every planet functions best in a certain sign, and the Sun (yes, I know the Sun is not a planet, but lazy astrologers refer to the Sun and Moon as “planets” in your chart); to continue -- of all the 12 signs, the Sun functions best in Aries! Factoid. (Please don’t lord it over the rest of us.) Taurus (April 20-May 20) Because your birthday is just a month away, this means your personal year is coming to an end. As such, the Sun is hiding in your chart this month, which means that you likewise, will want to hide and be more private because you want to do some thinking so you can plan ahead. This is totally appropriate. Take some time to think about what you want for the new year in front of you. Do you want it to be different from last year? What is the most important thing to you on your horizon? (And now, for a little nosh.) Gemini (May 21-June 20) You will love this month because you are popular! Expect increased interaction with friends, as well as more involvement with clubs, groups and associations. You might be elected to the board or to head a committee. This month is one

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of the best times all year to share your hopes and dreams for the future with others because if you bounce your ideas off someone, their feedback could be helpful and enlightening. (You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Why not stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before you?) Cancer (June 21-July 22) Lucky you! You are favoured this month because this is the only time all year that the Sun is at high noon in your chart casting a flattering light on you. This means others see you as attractive, competent, capable and interesting! Bosses, parents and VIPs will admire you. Obviously, this is your time to strike. Demand the advantage! Do what you can to advance your agenda because if you ask, there is a good likelihood that doors will open for you. Do not squander this advantage because it comes only once a year. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) This month, you want to explore more of your world – ideally, through travel. You want to broaden your horizons through study, new and unfamiliar experiences, meeting people from different backgrounds and learning the answers to big questions! This is a great time to sign up for a course. In your everyday world, do something different from your normal routine. Take a different route to or from work. Visit ethnic restaurants. Explore your own city as if you were a tourist. Go someplace where you can learn something! Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You might find yourself involved in taxes, debt, insurance, wills mention this ad for a

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and inheritances this month. If so, you will have strong opinions. That’s because your passions are aroused (even sexually), which is why you will have an intense reaction to everything that goes on, especially disputes in these areas, particularly disputes about shared property. Fortunately, Venus promotes friendship and cooperation with coworkers, which is a relief while dealing with ex-partners who are back on the scene. (Hide!) Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You now enter a month when the Sun is opposite your sign. This occurs only once a year and when it does, it draws your focus to your spouses, partners and close friends. Not only will it increase your interest in these relationships, it will give you the best chance all year to objectively see these relationships, especially your role in that relationship. This is because you will have more detachment and objectivity. Obviously, this is a learning opportunity that will benefit you because why not look for ways to improve your closest bonds? Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Recently, your life has been playful; however, this month your focus shifts to to work. You will think about to run your life in order to make things flow smoothly. You want to get the best results for your efforts – the most bang for your buck. This is why you will make lists and scrutinize your work and your lifestyle. You will also want to become healthier. Motivation is the beginning of everything. Enjoy entertaining at home and tweaking your digs to make them look more attractive. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Oh joy! Once a year, the Sun travels through the part of your chart that hypes romance, love affairs, vacations, socializing, the arts, fun sports plus playful activities with kids. That time has arrived! Mentally gear up to enjoy socializing with others. Get tickets for movies, plays, musical performances and sports events. Meet friends for lunch, dinner or a fun getaway weekend because this is your turn to

express yourself and be exactly who you are! Your relationships will be lighter, and romance will flourish! Your words will be sweet and charming. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) After a month of travel and talking to everyone, this week everything will slow down and you will pull in your reins and choose to cocoon at home. You will welcome the thumbsucking comfort of relaxing in familiar surroundings. You might be involved with a parent more than usual. But you won’t sit around getting dusty because fiery Mars still wants you to play and engage in sports and playful activities with others; while retrograde Mercury will continue to play havoc to your daily transportation and communications. Nevertheless, you will welcome this downtime because you need it to restore and regenerate yourself. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Fasten your seatbelt because this month is busy! Expect short trips, visits, appointments, plus increased time with siblings and relatives. You will read, write and study more than usual. Your schedule will be demanding and your daily pace will accelerate. But it will feel fine! Admittedly, Mars is still stirring up tension, conflict and increased chaos on the home front. Be advised that this will be history by April. You have a strong desire to enlighten others. You want to express your views and you want to be heard! Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) This month your mind turns to money, high finances, cash flow and earnings. This is because you are thinking about what you own and what you owe. You will give yourself a report card based on your material wealth. But who you are is not your bank account. Nevertheless, you are your values.What is really important to you? What matters? If you don’t know what really matters, then how will you know what horse to bet on? You have to figure this out because you don’t want to be 90 years old, looking in the mirror and saying to yourself, “I blew it!” www.georgianicols.com