August 2023 Issue 177

AUGUST 2023 ISSUE 177

COWICHAN VALLEY WINE FESTIVAL I COBBLE HILL FAIR I LIVE MUSIC & LOCAL ARTS

AUGUST EVENTS

Interplay and Boundaries: Cultural Fusions between Two and Three Dimensions

Cowichan Public Art Gallery

126 Ingram St, downtown Duncan runs to 08/22

Broken Promises” Life as a Japanese Canadian in BC before WWII, Cowichan Valley Museum, 130 Canada Ave

1Cowichan Valley Wine Festival featuring 12 Cowichan wineries, $50/ticket, www.cowichanwineries.com runs to 08/31

2Two Family Farm Day events w/Sonia Furstenau at the Slade Family Farm, 3625 Cobble Hill Rd. 1-3pm: Live music & catered lunch w/ Mensch.Tickets at: www. bcgreens.ca/family_farm_day_ ticketed_lunch_2023 4-6pm: Family-focused social w/FREE pizza and gelato

3Music in the Park w/Adrian Chalifour, 6:30-8pm Cobble Hill Commons Park, 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

Thursday Prime Rib Night, reservations starting at 5pm, Farm Table Inn 6755 Cowichan Lk Rd also 08/10/17/24/31

4Tropic Mayhem, surfin’ beach music in the park, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca

Dance Temple Cowichan community ecstatic dance w/Lila 7-9pm The HUB @Cowichan Stn $20 dancetemplecowichan@gmail.com

5La Petite Auction House Household Auction, 102pm, 3142 Moorfield Rd Duncan, FREE

Placeholders by Tristram Lansdowne CVAC Gallery Cowichan Community Centre runs to 08/31

Omolara & the Pozitive Rebellion, reggae 2pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

6Times They Are A Changing Exhibit 11-3pm Heritage Museum 2851 Church Way Mill Bay by donation also 13/20/27

8Art + Architecture”. Artist Tristram Lansdowne and guest Karen Marler 6:30pm CVAC Gallery Cowichan Community Centre.

8Jeff Plankenhorn, slide guitar blues in the park, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus by donation

9Back Row Brass (VI Symphony) presents “Imagination” w/music, poetry and opera fun, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

9Warmland Book & Film Collective discussing book “The Strangers” by Katherena Vermette 5-7pm zoom link: WarmlandBFC@gmail.com

10Music in the Park w/ Unfaithful Servants, 6:308pm Cobble Hill Commons Park, 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

Welcome to Kids’ Coding for Adults! 6pm WestView Learning 3248 Cowichan Valley Hwy, Duncan $20-$25 www.westviewlearning.ca

10-12Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival presents “All’s Well that Ends Well”, 7pm Gem O’ the Isle Farm 2465 Koksilah Rd. $25/$50/family @Ten Old Books

12Tomato Tasting Workshop, 10-1pm, Cowichan Farm & Food Hub 2431 Beverly St. Duncan $25, volunteer energy exchange avail.

Accordian Festival in the Park w/Jim Hamilton, 10-4pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

Soul-U-tions intuitive readings w/Diane Tolleson 11-4pm @ The Community Farm Store $45/30min, w/recording $50 dianetolleson709@gmail.com

12&13The Joy of Watercolour Workshop for all levels incl. supplies, food & wine 10-4pm 1516 Khenipsen Rd $390 www. jenniferlawsonart.com also 08/26&27

13Loves Triangle Community Kirtan 2-4pm, for info: lovestriangle108@ gmail.com by donation

13&20Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival presents “All’s Well that Ends Well”, 2pm Matinee Gem O’ the Isle Farm 2465 Koksilah Rd. $25/$50/family @Ten Old Books

Iced coffees, Iced teas, fresh smoothies, and a brand new menu of iced summer drinks!

15Apple 2 Question Tech Tea 2-3:15pm WestView Learning, 3248 Cowichan Valley Hwy, Duncan $10 www. westviewlearning.ca

Tom Morrissey east coast kitchen meets west coast rock, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

17Music in the Park w/ Black Angus, 6:30-8pm Cobble Hill Commons Park, 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

17-19Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival presents “All’s Well that Ends Well”, 7pm Gem O’ the Isle Farm 2465 Koksilah Rd. $25/$50/family @Ten Old Books

18Dance Temple Cowichan DJ and live percussion w/ Ali & Chris Bertin 7-9pm The HUB @Cowichan Stn $20

Wharf Rats, 6-9pm, Riot Brewing Co.101A 3055 Oak St, Chemainus

19&20Cherry Point

Vineyard Wine Festival Complimentary Paella & Sangria, 11-4pm 840 Cherry Point Rd. Shoreline Strings Music in the Park, 2pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca

Trivia-Schwarzenegger, 7pm, Riot Brewing Co. 101A 3055 Oak St, Chemainus, $10 per team of four

22Porter Brothers, country music in the park, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

23Zachary Stevenson, Music in the Park, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

24Music in the Park w/ Taylor Fance & Adam

Barter, 6:30-8pm Cobble Hill Commons Park by donation

25HUB Film Club “I Like Movies” all welcome, 7pm, The HUB at Cowichan Stn 2375 Koksilah Rd by donation

26Cobble Hill Fair family fun for everyone! 7:305pm www.cobblehillfair.ca

Country Music Roundup in the park, 2pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca

27Quw’utsun Lower Cowichan River Cleanup, 9:30-2:30pm, Mini Big House, 5536 River Rd Duncan www. cowichanwatershedboard.ca

FREE

Loves Triangle Community Kirtan lovestriangle108@gmail. com by donation 2:30-4pm

Sacred Healing Sound Journey, 5:30-7:30pm, Collective Space 166 Station St. Duncan $33 adelinewholistichealing.com

28-31ExplorersBootcamp!

9-3pm WestView Learning, 3248 Cowichan Valley Hwy, Duncan $225 www. westviewlearning.ca

29Android 2 Question Tech Tea 2-3:15pm WestView Learning, Duncan $10 www. westviewlearning.ca

Black Angus foot stompin’ folk to lyrical poetry, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

30Dwight Siemans & Rachel Perkyns, classical music, 7pm Waterwheel Park Chemainus cvcas.ca by donation

31Music in the Park w/ The County Line, 6:30-8pm Cobble Hill Commons Park, 1461 Fisher Rd. by donation

LIVE PUBLIC AUCTION

SATURDAY AUGUST 5

Doors open at 9am

Viewing Friday August 4 - 10am to 2pm 3142 Moorfield Road, Duncan

Auction begins at 10am

For further info call Dawn at La Petite Auction House 250-701-2902

9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838

Hours Mon-Sat 10am-5pm · Closed Sun &

August 2023 Issue 177

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

Distribution Proofreader Events Calendar

Stephanie Sayers Diana Pink Stephanie Sayers

Advertising Enquiries Please Contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for a rate card, monthly offers and print ad specials.

Next Ad Deadline August 15 for September 2023 Issue 178

*Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE!

Next EVENTS DEADLINE August 15 for September 2023 Issue 178

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 VOICES

Craig Spence, Cammy Lockwood, Elizabeth Croft, Bill Jones, Louise Pickles, Brad Boisvert, Grant Easterbrook, Madeline Southern, Katie Daniel, Francesca Reside, Roger Painter, Maria Clara Mora, Jenny Garlini, Megan L., Hannah Auer, Danni Paydli, Kyla, Sonia Furstenau, Amy Luck-MacGregor, Tamara Dinter, Bernie Dinter, Robyn Gerland, Victor Vesely, Cam MacDonald, Cam MacDonald, Jared Holland, Francoise Moulin, Kyle, Adeline DuBois, Karen Allen, Vida Glaser, Tina Foster, Ruby Bressan, Anyes de Laat, Mervon Bowman, Ranji & David, Christine Vaughnan, Rob Fullerton, Icel Dobell, Verna Buhler, Patty Abbott, Diana Pink, Shiloh Badman, Debbie Wood, the lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, Cindy Jolin and the wonderful staff at the Community Farm Store.

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 email 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, Nanaimo, Victoria and Parksville

Cover Image: Fred, a Romney sheep from Cobble Hill. “Fred was born here, one of a twin and he was so cute and friendly, I had him castrated so I could keep him as a pet. His fleece was amazing and I spun, wove and knitted with it. One of his shawls was purchased and sent to Austria as a gift.” image courtesy Janette Lorimer

READY

Next ad deadline: August 18

info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Text: 250 709-8846

Phone: 250 746-9319

You’re Invited!

invitation. We welcome you to come and join BC Greens and Sonia Furstenau on August 2nd at the Slade Family Farm, 3625 Cobble Hill Road, Cobble Hill, 1-3pm: Live music and catered lunch from Mensch.

Purchase tickets at: www. bcgreens.ca/family_farm_ day_ticketed_lunch_2023

4-6pm: Familyfocused social with FREE pizza and gelato provided by Mill Bay Pizza and the Italian Gelato truck.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Sonia and your local Cowichan Valley BC Greens and find out more about the important work we do to make sure your voice is heard in the legislature.

Tickets will be required for this part of the event. Tickets cost $30 each. Buy more than 3 for $25 each!

Lunch tickets and more event information: www.bcgreens. ca/family_farm_day_ ticketed_lunch_2023

La Petite Auction House Pop Up Auction

Dawn Geddie from La Petite Auction House is an auctioneer extraordinaire. She has been auctioneering for the last 20 years both on Haida Gwaii and in the Cowichan Valley.Dawn specializes in household auctions and is known for her humour and energetic auctioneering style.

Her next Auction is Live at 3142 Moorfield Road Duncan Saturday, August 5th at 10am sharp. Doors open at 9am. Viewing is Friday August 4th from 10 am to 2 pm.

See you there!

Share Your Harvest

The reFRESH Cowichan Food Recovery Program accepts donations of fruit, vegetables and greens of good quality from local farms and home gardeners. Food donations are divided between local service providers, the Cowichan Green Community kitchen and reFRESH Cowichan Marketplace. Local produce are especially appreciated by the many community members supported through these programs. You can bring your donations to reFRESH Cowichan (360 Duncan Street) Monday-Friday between 9am and 4pm. Your produce will be weighed, and if you fill out the in-kind donation form, you can even receive a tax receipt!

Learn Watercolours with Jennifer Lawson

August 12 & 13

August 26 & 27 10 - 4pm $390

Fee includes all supplies, lunch, snacks and wine! All experience levels welcome! Register at: jlart @telus.net

www.jenniferlawsonart.com

Placeholders by Tristram Lansdowne August 5 – 31

We’reexcited to welcome, internationally renowned, Tristram Lansdowne to CVAC’s main gallery. Tristram’s work is held in corporate collections including the Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the National Gallery of Canada.

Tristram Lansdowne resides in Toronto and has Island roots. He still considers in Aunt and Uncle’s Cowichan farm “…the best place on earth”.

The Placeholders exhibition examines the nature of the architectural ideal and what it says about our conceptions of place. You can meet Tristram Lansdowne at the Artist Talk on August 8.

Birds, Blooms & Barnyards

August 14 - 28

Artists Pauline Dueck and Val Konig, are both known for scenes that remind us why we love Island life.

Playfully titled, technical prowess meets charm and imagination in Pauline’s images of beflowered Highland cattle, donkeys and other critters. Val invites us into moments of solitude, so

perfectly rendered we hear the whispered breeze.

Val Konig established her career in art and teaching during her time on Salt Spring Island. Her plien air summer workshops attracted students from across North America, many of whom returned every year.

Pauline Dueck’s first career was in veterinary medicine and her understanding of animals and their anatomy is evident in her work. Pauline chooses to paint the eyes of an animal early in the process, to feel their presence as she works.

Open Calls to Artists

CVAC is accepting submissions for two exhibitions. Registration on our website.

Turning Seasons is a multimedia, non-juried exhibition contemplating the flow of summer into fall. Seasonal changes are liminal, celestial, traditional, multicultural – share your sensibilities about the Turning Seasons & submit your work. The show opens September 7, so register soon!

Cedar A Celebration

is a multi-media show honouring the cedar’s presence in all aspects of the practical, traditional and aesthetic essences of life. We invite artists to submit woodwork, painting, carving, photography, weaving, sculpture, metal and more. Cedar A Celebration opens October 10.

Annual One Week Closure

August 31 – September 5

Once a year, the galleries get a new coat of paint, with a little patching and sanding to smooth out any wrinkles earned during 12 months and 30 shows. We’re also giving the office a facelift, with a coat of crisp, white paint, a purge and a couple of pieces of new office furniture.

About Us Founded in 1971, CVAC is a registered charity dedicated to enriching our community through the lens of arts & culture. Up to 30 art exhibitions per year showcase established artists & new talent. Arts programming includes educational and recreational activities for all ages. In the Cowichan Community Centre & online: cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca

Pauline Dueck Val Konig

Tristram Lansdowne

About Face: A Study of Moods, Personalities

In Love, by Art Carlyle, captures a moment and mood, but leaves room for viewers to imagine the scene from their own memories. There’s two meanings to the phrase, About Face, and both apply to Art Carlyle’s aptly named Featured Artist Show on display at the Rainforest Arts Gallery for August and September. One take is: A change in direction. Another is: To do with the human visage.

A professional photographer for many years, Art put down his brushes in his early 20s, and didn’t pick them up again until he moved to Saltair in 2011. For him the crossover between the two representational disciplines seems natural. “There’s so much that applies to both: the compositions, and looking at light,” he said.

On the other hand, they are very different pursuits. Composition, for example, is a given in photography; it’s something you can create with paints. “In photography you are restricted to what’s there, so you have to find the composition,” he explained. “In painting you really don’t. All you have to find is something you like, and then

alter it to make it in balance. “I’m getting better at that. In a painting, you can take something and just move it. I’m not a slave to the photograph.”

A big part of Art’s—and his partner Daphne’s— photography business has been portraits, and his About Face show will zoom in on that aspect of his painting. It’s a genre where the distinction between camera and brush makes for completely different approaches.

Art doesn’t feel constrained by the quest for photo realism in his painted portraits. “I don’t have the patience to do a fine, thin oil painting. I want to get the essence of the subject in as few strokes as possible. If I wanted detail, I would take a picture,” he said.

There’s an evocative aspect to his portraits that makes you feel as if you’re looking at the subjects through a gauzy curtain. All the elements are there, in the painting, but you—as viewer—have to bring the images into focus, and along with that imaginative work, you feel

a deeper appreciation and understanding of the subjects’ moods and personalities.

About Face will be on display at the Rainforest Arts gallery, 9781 Willow Street, Chemainus for August to September 29. He will hold a meet & greet Sept. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. For hours

and more information visit RainforestArts.ca, phone 250-246-4861 or email info@ rainforestarts.ca.

CraigSpenceWriter.ca

WATERWHEEL PARK

TROPIC MAYHEM

Summer fun with surfin’ beach music

Tuesday, August 4 7PM

OMOLARA AND THE POZITIVE REBELLION

Awesome reggae music and vibes.

Saturday, August 5 2PM

JEFF PLANKENHORN

Slide guitar blues

Tuesday, August 8 7PM

BACK ROW BRASS (VI SYMPHONY)

“Imagination” – an entertaining hour of great music, poetry, quirky opera and fun!

Wednesday, August 9 7PM

ACCORDION FESTIVAL

Jim Hamilton brings together a wonderful group of accordionists to perform

Saturday, August 12 10AM-4PM

TOM MORRISSEY

Newfoundland’s Tom Morrissey – east coast kitchen meets west coast rock.

Tuesday, August 15 7PM

SHORELINE STRINGS

Campbell River’s Shoreline Strings

Saturday, August 19 2PM

PORTER BROTHERS

Great country music

Tuesday, August 22 7PM

ZACHARY STEVENSON

Epitome of cool with a gorgeous voice and a star-quality stage presence

Wednesday, August 23 7PM

COUNTRY MUSIC ROUND-UP

Featuring Sweet Harmony Alan Moberg, Ed

Peekeekoot, Pony Club Wayne, Montgomery and Montgomery County

Saturday, August 26 2PM

BLACK ANGUS

Foot-stompin’ folk to lyrical poetry

Tuesday, August 29 7PM

DWIGHT SIEMANS AND RACHEL PERKYNS

Classical Music

Wednesday, August 30 7PM

For more details visit: cvcas.ca

Placeholders by

CVAC is excited to welcome, internationally renowned artist, Tristram Lansdowne, to CVAC’s main gallery August 5 – 31.

Tristram Lansdowne, was born into a family of artists. He grew up in Victoria and has roots in Cowichan. Now a resident in Toronto, he still considers his Aunt and Uncle’s Cowichan farm “...the best place on earth”.

Architecture is central to Lansdowne’s work. The artist explores the ways in which architecture is used to express desire and control. Lansdown says his paintings consider, “… what is landscape in relation to architecture? Is a building a place? How do we arrange our physical surroundings to assert identity on a place? How does architectural space function in the realm of painting?” Lansdowne’s explorations of architecture and meaning clearly resonate with audiences. Mr. Lansdowne’s work is held in corporate collections including the National Gallery of Canada, Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He’s exhibits regularly in Canada, the US and the UK.

Mr. Lansdowne notes the exhibition represents several different series over 15 years. “The earliest paintings in the exhibition treat urban fragments documented on my wanderings as if they

were archaeological specimens, focusing on the layers and textures built up over time. Two other works are from a series of ‘fantasy island’ paintings that inserted sleek geometric forms into lush islands of plant life.”

As part of the show, CVAC hosts “Art + Architecture”. Artist Tristram Lansdowne with guest Karen Marler, from the architectural & design firm HCMA, compare notes and insights on the creative process. Lansdown explores the nature and meaning of architecture in society. Marler, who designed the new Quw’utsun Secondary, creates designs that reflect society. “Art + Architecture” is Aug. 8, at 6:30 pm in the CVAC Gallery in the Cowichan Community Centre.

Tristram Lansdowne website: https://tristramlansdowne.com/ Karen Marler, HCMA website: https://hcma.ca/team/karen-marler/

Gallery Hours: Monday. – Friday 11 am – 4 pm Saturday, Noon – 4 pm. Admission is free. 250.746.1633

cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca

Tristram Lansdowne’s father was the famous wildlife artist & author J. Fenwick Lansdowne. Tristram edited a collection of his father’s essays and illustrations, “#81 Portraits of Fenwick Lansdowne”.

Tristram Landsdowne

Supervision 2021

Local Wineries Ready for a Successful Summer Wine Festival

TheCowichan Valley Wine Festival returns this month for an evening celebration of award-wining wines, music and curated food pairings, and to kick off the month-long wine-tasting passport event in August.

The Cowichan Valley Wine Festival Sunset Soirée will be held July 27 on the waterfront courtyard at Brentwood College School in Mill Bay. From 6-9 p.m., an intimate number of guests will mingle with 13 winemakers and taste more than 40 different wines, many that have won awards in B.C., Canada and internationally, and some not typically served in tasting rooms.

The event lets guests meet the producers behind the wines they’re tasting, ask questions and get to know the people who have dedicated themselves to the craft of winemaking in Cowichan. It’s an intimate, high-energy evening that focuses on people, great wine and a farm-to-table menu from Mensch Catering.

Cowichan’s ever-popular Wine Passport Tour will be held August 1-31.

Ticket-holders are given a map and souvenir tasting glass to take a self-guided tour of Cowichan and the wineries and spend time with winemakers right in the wineries.

“Cowichan’s unique proximity to the ocean, combined with the rain shadow effect of both the Olympic Mountain range and the west coast of Vancouver Island, results in warm and dry growing seasons with mild and temperate winters, providing the perfect climate for premium viticulture and winemaking. And this year is no exception,” says Chris Turyk, DipWSET, marketing director and sommelier at Unsworth Vineyards. “With a renewed focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Cowichan Valley has gained substantial recognition recently for the quality of our wines. Our cool coastal climate shows wines with a bright, lively, refreshing style and plenty of persistence and depth on the palate.” Tickets are on sale now: $50 each for just the Wine Passport Tour.

www.cowichanwineries.com

Grape to Glass Tour: Behind the Scenes at Blue Grouse

Nestled in the picturesque Cowichan Valley, Blue Grouse Winery offers an enchanting Grape to Glass Tour, an immersive experience that delves into the art and science of winemaking. This hidden gem welcomes wine enthusiasts to explore the process of crafting exceptional wines, from the vineyard to the bottle.

The tour commences amidst the vine-laden landscape, where our knowledgeable team introduces visitors to the vineyard’s unique terroir and the careful cultivation of grapes. Emphasizing sustainable practices, guests learn about the significance of soil, climate, and timing in producing the finest grapes, setting the stage for exceptional wines. Moving into the heart of the winery, the air becomes infused with the sweet aroma of fermenting grapes. In the winemaking process, guests learn about the crucial steps of harvesting, sorting, and crushing. Insightful explanations on fermentation techniques shed light on the preservation of natural flavours.

The journey continues to the aging cellars, where rows of oak barrels hold the wine as it matures gracefully. Guests discover the fascinating interplay between wine and wood, observing how flavours evolve and develop complexity over time.

The team passionately shares their expertise throughout the tour, eagerly answering questions and engaging visitors in winemaking. This personal touch fosters a genuine connection between guests and the heart of Blue Grouse Winery, leaving them with a profound appreciation for the dedication and labor behind each bottle of wine.

The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly the tasting session, paired with an assortment of local charcuterie. With a selection of five of Blue Grouse Winery’s finest wines in hand, guests embark on a sensory adventure. Each wine tells a unique story, showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship invested in its creation.

Through guided exploration of the vineyards, cellars, and tasting experiences, guests gain a deeper understanding of the intricate process that transforms grapes into wine. Whether a seasoned connoisseur or a curious novice, this tour promises an unforgettable and enriching experience that will linger in the hearts of visitors long after they leave the serene vineyard setting.

Tour Reservations are available daily at 11 am only. $50 per person. Bookings based on groups of two Blue Grouse Estate Winery, 2182 Lakeside Road, Duncan,. 250-743-3834 www.bluegrouse.ca

A

Meet Your Maker: Cowichan Favourites at the Cowichan

Cherry Point Estate Wines

Liam Kidner was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley alongside the flourishing wine region. He first began working in a tasting room in Okanagan Falls as soon as he was legally able, providing wine samples to clients and running tours around the property. While traveling, he found his footings in a cellar in Mudgee, Australia, and decided that these were the surroundings he preferred. After harvesthopping and gaining wine making experience in eight wine valleys over four continents, he came to the Cowichan Valley by chance and immediately fell in love with the area, embracing the cold climate style and the natural beauty of Vancouver Island. Liam recommends the 2022 Cherry Point Pinot Blanc for the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival, reflecting on the 4-month long primary fermentation in neutral oak, which balances out the tart acidity, and provides a unique profile of white peach, green apple, and ripe quince.

Alderlea Vineyards

A Vancouver Islander his whole life, Zac Brown found his way back to the Island after a successful global career in the health and safety profession. His winemaking career began in Czechia and Australia in the early 90s, and later took shape when he became a “garagiste” winemaker in Montreal and then East Vancouver. He realised his dream of owning a vineyard and becoming a professional Island-winemaker in 2017. Zac recommends festival guests try the 2022 medal winning, skin-contact style Pinot Gris, an aromatic and fruit-forward white wine whose copperish hue makes it an alluring wine for the patio with a clean, dry finish suitable for pairing with a wide variety of summer fare.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard

Bailey Williamson began his career in winemaking 23 years ago after a 25-year career as a chef. He was fortunate to have some fantastic mentors who allowed him to explore the craft and hone his skills— plus there were also many transferable skills from the culinary side that he was able to lean on. When Bailey joined Blue Grouse in 2012, he began to drive the process to have the Cowichan Valley recognized as a distinct viticultural area,

Winemakers Behind Valley Wine Festival

Hill. Trebbiano and Manzoni (another festival favourite) cuttings were imported from Northern Italy to BC by Joe in the late ‘60s. Both Divino vineyards have enjoyed over 25 years of Joe’s creative growing.

currants, roasted peppers and plum notes, aged in French Oak barrels and has depth and dimension for heavy foods or enjoying the boldness alone. It is Mark’s estate premium bold red and labour of love.

winemaking team, Jim has produced optimal terroirfocused wines in the lush and bountiful Cowichan Valley.

which was accomplished in 2020 as a new sub-geographical indication, and he now sits on an advisory panel for the industry in BC.

Bailey’s festival pick is the 2022 Blue Grouse Rosé. This wine is made up of 100% Island Gamay Noir and has vibrant notes of citrus, luscious pomegranate, and delicate white flowers. It is the perfect companion for a strawberry summer salad with goat cheese or a grilled chicken dish.

Rocky Creek Winery

Zanatta Estate Winery

Unsworth Vineyards

Giuseppe (Joseph) Busnardo is Divino’s grape-grower to winemaker and everything in-between, around, above and below. In his words, “There are only two types of wine. The ones you like and the ones you don’t like.”

Joe’s Trebbiano is an easy festival favourite as there are only two vineyards in Canada that grow the grape and two wineries that make the wineDivino’s first location in Oliver and second location in Cobble

When Mark Holford moved to the Island to work in another industry, he recognized Cowichan as an up-and-coming wine region. Winemaking was in his blood since working as child with his grandfather and father making wines. As a chemical engineer, he loves the science of it. He saw an opportunity to try something new and start his dream winery in 2005, so took a chance. Mark is so passionate about the winery and making wines his way from Rocky Creek’s vineyards that he waited 12 years to release his premium line because he wanted to wait until the vineyard had fully developed. Every year is a great year, as making wines will challenge you to put forth the best that mother nature gives at harvest. Says Mark, “Winemaking is a fascinating blend of art and science and allows me to create something special and is a truly rewarding profession.”

Mark’s festival pick is his new release Cab-Foch - the third vintage and sporting Rocky Creek’s new look. It’s the Cabernet-Foch Blattner Crosses with characteristics of a Cab Franc with black

Zanatta’s winemaker, Jim Moody, was raised in the lush and bountiful Pemberton Valley. Jim graduated with his BSc majoring in horticulture and it was at school that he met Loretta Zanatta and their shared interest in agriculture led Jim to join Loretta’s family business and ultimately Loretta’s family. Although Jim’s expertise is in the vineyard, he has spent countless hours in the winery since 1992 nurturing a secondary passion: winemaking. By 1999, Jim had officially become the Cellar Master and has since managed both the winery and the vineyards. Great wine starts in the vineyard, and with all his intimate knowledge and experience with Zanatta’s vineyards, and his passionate

In June 2012, winemaker Dan Wright spent a month exploring Victoria and the Cowichan Valley. He fell in love with Vancouver Island but wasn’t sure when he would get the chance to return, until 2015, when Dan decided to set out on a road trip across Canada. Unsworth presented itself and he jumped at the chance to make the move. Dan has an honours BSc in Biochemistry from University of Guelph and a post-graduate certificate in grape and wine technology from Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute. He has worked a number of winemaking vintages in a wide variety of cool climate wine growing regions, including the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, Orange of Australia, Marlborough, New Zealand, and the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Dan’s pick for the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival is the 2021 Pinot Noir.

Divino Estate Winery Ltd.

Summer Sparkle

Left on its own, sparkling wine will remain the greatest aperitif of all-time; with assistance from food, sparkling wine proves itself the greatest wine style for creating pleasing pairings. The Champenois flirt with the truth when they unequivocally state, “Champagne is the only wine that you can pair to an entire meal!” Similar claims made by Sherry producers, Riesling producers, and a few ambitious others merely attempt to hold equal water. Alas, Champagne and the broader sparkling wine category simply must take the crown.

Covering stylistic swaths, sparkling wines range from bone-dry, mineral driven and complex to sweet, fruit driven and quaffable. Mirroring its still counterparts, sparkling comes in white, rosé, and even red versions. With most intended for immediate consumption, only the top cuvées are crafted to reward decades of patient cellaring. Vignerons utilize most any grape variety for sparkling and the options don’t cease there. Winemakers producing bubbles encounter many options that guide wines down various pathways depending on desired outcome.

Sparklers never flee far from hearts of wine traders. In fact, if you see five sommeliers physically distanced outside, six bottles of sparkling wine accompany them. Coming in a vast array of styles, being both malleable with wine pairing and downright deliciousness all

endow sparkling with a hefty toolset for success. Wine drinkers of today now love sparkling; thankfully gone are the days of reserving bubble purely for celebration. This pattern represents no mere trend, the shift in consumer habits plays directly into the hands of the Cowichan Valley - our climate suiting sparkling wine like Blundstone boots fit the winemakers who wear them.

Cliché perhaps but, “What grows together, goes together.”

When combined with Vancouver Island’s bountiful seafood, Cowichan’s pantheon of veggie farms, and very simple preparation, sparkling wines excel at providing fresh and vibrant companionship at the table. Documented my love of sparkling is; textural contrast remains the greatest unexpected pairing experience for a palate to encounter. Beyond oysters, sparkling wine should be top consideration for your meal.

Simple and casual preparations often perform best with blanc de blancs and similarly styled wines. Elevate and highlight the nuanced finesse of these wines by pairing them with ballpark food. Corndogs with champagne is the real deal - especially with grainy mustard. Polenta fries, arancini and other deep fried morsels are perfect foils to the delicate refinement of etherial blanc de blancs.

Sparkling Rosé, a diverse enough category on its own, claims

responsibility for some most intriguing pairings. Let Charme de l’île Rosé, or newly minted Prosecco Rosé from Northern Italy spark inspiration when firing up your grill. Harissa marinated chicken and spice crusted halibut stand as recent success stories when paired with drier style fruity rosé bubble. Gindara and Rosé Champagne expanded my pairing philosophy. The rich buttery sablefish, miso crust with just a kiss of char from the broiler provided the perfect bite to compliment the rich, textural and savoury expression of pink bubble.

For those who haven’t popped a bottle of Moscato d’Asti recently, or similar sweet sparkling - why not? The flamboyant aromatics, spritzy level of bubble, and more than some residual sugar is practically hardwired to sit well with the way in which our palates crave flavours. What they lack in complexity, seriousness, and ability to age, they make up for in shameful enjoyability. Although too late for a seasonal pairing, one must be dead from the waist up to not grin at the prospect of strawberry jam on shortbread accompanied by something sweet and sparkling. Snub not sweeter sparkling wines, especially if you seek soft, bloomy rind brie, camembert or blue cheese, as these are as hedonistic as pairings get.

Sparkling wine is nothing new but more recent wine trends see them commonplace in the North American fridge and at the table. Rates of enjoyment have steadily risen over the decade with all signs pointing to continued growth. If you look to surprise your friends with your pairing prowess consider bubble, in its many forms, to accompany your next meal. This trend will sustain as people discover sparkling wines brilliance with a wide array of food and I submit that the finest wines across the Cowichan Valley often contain bubbles.

Chris Turyk DipWSET Director of Marketing & Sales Unsworth Vineyards

The Traditions of Paella

Cherry Point considers the Paella as a symbol of union, of family, traditions, festivities and harmony. The Paella is usually prepared for a late Sunday lunch, or for special holidays. Families get together and plan their Paella days before. The elder, usually grandpa, gives the orders and instructs each participant as to what and where to obtain each of the ingredients. But only he, the Paella Captain, indicates to each person involved exactly how to make the cuts and when to incorporate each element into the Paella. It is almost alchemy, where olive oil, garlic, colourful peppers and onions begin to blend before chorizo, chicken, pork and rabbit, if available, blend in, producing a limitless sea of aromas that, in a crescendo enhanced by the consumption of good Rioja wines, eventually begins to take the right consistency before good Valencia rice is added. Prior to this, since the night before, a stock has been brewing using cuttings from all vegetables and shells from the shell fish and together with saffron is to be added once the rice is al-dente. By now, the entire house is full of aromas, that fly into the neighbourhood. Everybody knows a Paella is in the making and they know they are welcome to join in.

Please come and join us in celebration of the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival, Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th from 11am to 4pm and enjoy our complimentary Paella and Sangría. This is our way to thank our wonderful community for their continuous support.

Cherry Point Vineyards, 840 Cherry Point Road, Cobble Hill.

Pair it with Pâté,

Theterm ‘pâté’ can be used to describe a multitude of classic french charcuterie dishes that are usually prepared in a terrine mould, and can be made up of a combination of ground or emulsified meats and paired with a never ending array of garnishes. Traditionally, if you were making a pâté, it was a way to use up the ‘unwanted’ cuts of meat such as the liver from chicken, pork or duck and transform them into something delicious.

Any pâté (or parfait, or mousse) is best served chilled alongside some fresh baguette, and hopefully, a glass of wine. Luckily for us here in the Cowichan Valley and Vancouver Island we are spoiled for choices when it comes to wines (and cider, and beer, and spirits) that pair wonderfully with either of the two pâtés available from Pickles’ Pantry.

Those who are fearful of trying a ‘liver based’ spread

need not worry, for these two are full of flavour, well balanced with a smidge (ha!) of butter, sweet slow cooked onions, a delicate red wine and brandy reduction, and each topped with their own gelée (that’s fancy French for jelly).

I recommend visiting the Duncan Farmers Market to pick up a fresh french baguette, a jar of either the Duck Pate with Cranberry and Port Gelée or my favourite, the Chicken Pate with Burnt Honey and Apple Gelée, a glass of chilled something - and head for your nearest balcony, patio or garden to enjoy.

As for wine pairings, I’m partial to two local delights: The pink Charme de Lil from Unsworth Vineyards or the Quill Rosé Frizzante from Blue Grouse Vineyards. Either one offers a lovely light refreshment for your palette and are a wonderful contrast to the buttery, smooth and rich Pâté!

If you can’t make it to the Duncan Farmers’ Marketthen head on over to www. picklespantry.ca to find out where to get your pâté fix!

Parfait, or Mousse

Louise Pickles, Chef and Owner of Hank’s Cowichan and Pickles’ Pantry.

Traditions of the Baguette

It’s universally acknowledged that the French know a thing or two about good food and wine. They’ve been making an art of wine for two centuries, and every day the French consume more than 30 million baguettes.

There is no definitive history of the baguette, but our favourite theory links the origin of modern French bread to the French revolution. While the monarchy and upper classes feasted on fine loaves, the lack of quality bread among the general population was one of the driving forces of the uprising. In 1793, the postrevolution government made a law stating: “Richness and poverty must both disappear from the government of equality. It will no longer make a bread of wheat for the rich and a bread of bran for the poor. All bakers will be held, under the penalty of imprisonment, to make only one type of bread: The Bread of Equality.”

The shape of the baguette is said to have emerged in the 1920s, when a new law made it illegal for anyone to begin work between 10pm and 4am. As this didn’t leave enough time for bakers to prepare larger loaves before the morning rush, the baguette’s long, slim form would bake faster and be ready in time for their customers’ breakfasts.

At True Grain, we make our French Baguettes as they’re made in France, with just five ingredients: White Flour (we use only BC-farmed organic), water, yeast, malt and a touch of sea salt. The bakers shape each baguette by hand and

bake it with care, so the outside is robust and crunchy while the inside stays pillowy soft.

A baguette’s mild flavour makes it an ideal accompaniment to a wide variety of food and wine. Imagine yourself in winter, dipping hand-torn chunks of baguette into a beef stew between sips of cabernet sauvignon. Or sitting on a summer patio enjoying a crisp pinot grigio with smoked salmon crostini. For those with a sweet tooth, nothing beats a slice of baguette with chocolate, next to a chilled fruit or dessert wine.

Stop by True Grain to pick up a fresh organic French Baguette (we also make sourdough and multigrain baguettes!) before your next picnic or winery tour. We’re happy to be able to bring a slice of France to the beautiful Cowichan Valley.

Watercolour Workshop

Learn watercolours with artist Jennifer Lawson. She is offering two weekend workshops this summer. Explore the joy of watercolour with a playful approach and lots of individual instruction - and you will be amazed at your improvement and new skills acquired - all while having lots of fun! The setting is here in my garden studio in one of BC’s most beautiful locations: on the river and the estuary, overlooking the bay and Mount Tzouhalem. All experience levels welcome. Workshop fee includes all supplies, meals, snacks and wine - all you need to bring is yourself! August 12 & 13 and August 26 & 27, 10am - 4pm, 1516 Khenipsen Road, Duncan (5 minutes from town) $390 To register: jlart@telus.net www.jenniferlawsonart.com

Submitted by Sophia Jackson

Image above: Fresh organic baguettes from True Grain

Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival

year the

Players are putting on the Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival!

Near-death, forced love, and a heroine in disguise: All’s Well that Ends Well offers classic Shakespeare comedy, adding into the mix a variety of more serious reflections that explore the deeper themes of life and love and what prompts us to make the choices we do, as we live out the ‘mingled yarn’ of our life, ‘good and ill together’, as noted early on in the play. The story: girl likes boy, fenagles a way to rope him into marriage, but alas, must still earn his love––an awkward order of love events for all, to be sure. And as he is wont, Shakespeare shows a historically precocious respect for the agency of women, creating yet another heroic and well-rounded heroine to lead us through her-story, and through all manner of trials and tribulations, demonstrating that

in the end, despite all the difficulties, indeed ‘love is holy’.

Also included are a couple of witsome fools, who in classic Shakespeare fashion, never serve solely to entertain, but challenge our assumptions while offering lots of laughs besides. Some other classic Shakespeare motifs: the old ’switch the girl in the dark’ bedroom act, an assortment of ribald and innuendo’d discussions of love, marriage and all the rest, and of course, disguises and practical jokes––boys will be boys and sometimes so will the girls…

And while not just a romp in the park, under the direction of our own Alex Gallacher, and including many faces familiar to Cowichan theatre, as well as new faces and talents, the Shawnigan Players do offer a beautiful performance set in the magical orchard at Gem O’The Isle Farm––fast becoming a hallmark of Cowichan summers for Shakespeare lovers here on the island and beyond.

Performance dates are August 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 7:30pm and August 13 and 20 at 2:00pm. Location: 2465 Koksilah Rd, Cowichan Station. Single tickets are 25.00, family tickets 50.00, available on Eventbrite.ca and at Ten Old Books in the Duncan Garage.

Thisis the twelfth

Shawnigan

Wild Salmon For The Future

Growing up in Nova Scotia, we generally had an abundance of wonderful fish on the dinner table. Cod, trout, bass, Pollock and Atlantic Salmon were favourites of the family. Once I left, the east coast experienced a collapse of several of these key fisheswith Atlantic cod and salmon at the top of the list. Looking from my home on the west coast, we are now starting to see the signs of future local fishery collapses.

It is also ironic that the magnificent Atlantic salmon of my youth are now vilified as the potential cause of many of the fisheries issues on our coast. The main link to the problems with farms appears to be one of concentrated populations of fish that create pollution, encourage disease and allow marine pests like sea lice to proliferate. Of course, global warming is a big piece of the puzzle. Heat changes critical factors like ocean acidity and oxygen levels. These factors affect everything up and down the food chain. The ocean is a living and breathing pool of organisms and is resilient and complex. The future of the oceans may look a lot different that our memories of the past.

I haven’t knowingly eaten farmed salmon for more than 25 years, at first, I was concerned using many pounds of wild fish to create 1 pound of farm salmon. Since that time, we have seen the worldwide weakening of the environment centered around open pen salmon farms. The effects of disease and parasites are starting to have dire consequences on native populations of fish. It is not by any stretch the only challenge facing salmon –overfishing (both legal and illegal), spawning ground destruction through logging and development, warming trends, micro plastics and others are all impacting the once magnificent food resources of our waters. Open pen farming does appear to be part of the problem – one part we can solve.

To add to the clouded future of salmon, return levels are entering phases that sometimes seem unpredictable. We need to celebrate and value the wild salmon we do see in our stores, particularly the lesser valued species like pink and chum. When we create an economic incentive for these fish we are creating interest and motivation in helping with their preservation. Pink and chum salmon are also excellent food sources when handled correctly and cooked to highlight the good qualities

Japanese Planked Salmon

Courtesy Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm

For my cedar plank, I go to the hardware store and buy a 2x6 red cedar plank and cut it into 2 foot chunks. This allows you to char the bottom of the plank and reuse it several times. The smoke of the cedar is very spicy and unique.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 Cedar plank

1 side salmon (pink, chum, or others)

2 green onions, finely minced

2 Tbsp mayonnaise

1 Tbsp minced ginger

1 Tbsp miso

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp wasabi paste

1/2 tsp sesame oil

sesame seeds for garnish

lemon juice

Salt and pepper

Prepare a plank of cedar by washing and placing in a tub of water to soak for at least 2 hours.

In a small bowl, mix the onion, mayonnaise, ginger, miso, soy sauce, wasabi and sesame oil. On a cedar plank, place the salmon skin side down, Cut into the salmon across the width, down to almost the skin. Spread the sauce over the salmon and allow to penetrate the cuts of the salmon. Place on the soaked cedar pickled plank and place on a hot BBQ. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the flesh is firm. The plank will burn and smolder. Press a finger onto the salmon to test doneness, the firmer the salmon the more it is cooked. I like it to be medium cooked and it will flake gently under pressure but still be moist.

Upcoming Events

August 19 Salmon Dinner

September 23 French Mushroom Dinner

For full details visit

4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan

For ReservationS 250 748 7450

of these species. Please speak up for the magnificent salmon - talk to your elected officials, champion groups that encourage conservation, habitat restoration and ocean

health. It is still possible to make a difference to the health of our oceans and enjoy a meal of delicious and health benefiting seafood.

Bill Jones is a chef, author and food consultant based at Deerholme Farm.

HANDY GUIDE TO WINE & CHEESE PAIRINGS

• Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot - cheddar, gouda, parmigiano reggiano and pecorino

• Pinot Noir - brie and camembert

• Syrah - particularly good with sheep cheeses like Manchego

• Port/Blackberry Port - blue cheeses like St Agur, Benediction Blue and of course, stilton

• Muscat - Port Salut cheese

• Rosé - Merlot washed Bella Vitano cheddar

• Sauvignon Blanc - goat cheese and feta, cheeses with garlic and herbs

• Chardonnay - cheddar

• Ortega - Black Bomber aged cheddar from the UK

• Pinot Gris - Grey Owl, mozzarella, buratta (good with an antipasti platter)

• Sparkling wine - Vacherin Mont d’or, Chaource

Gift Baskets

Meat & Cheese Platters

Gourmet Foods

Italian Imports

Take Home and Serve

Host Your Own Wine & Cheese Party

Sonow that we are in summer, and the vineyards are lush with grapes and the tasting rooms around the valley are bustling with locals and tourists alike to get a taste of the great wines of the Cowichan Valley. Let’s look at what cheeses will go with your pairings of local wine.

Hard cheeses include cheddar, Comté, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Manchego. They’re the easiest type of cheese to pair with wine - a medium bodied red like a cabernet sauvignon is probably going to be the most enjoyable pairing for most people but I recommend trying the combination of cheddar and a chardonnay.

Soft cheeses range from spreadable cheeses like fromage frais to semi-soft white rind like brie; delice de bourguignonne is everyone favorite from Cure. I like them with a fruity red like a pinot noir but rosé works well especially this time of year. Sauvignon blanc is the

classic wine pairing for goat cheese, but you could also try a crisp dry rosé or a a crisp vibrant white will do as well. (particularly for a summer picnic).

Washed Rind cheeses often referred to as ‘stinky cheese’include Epoisses, Reblochon, Vacherin Mont d’Or and Taleggio. While they tend to be quite pungent especially as they mature and are not for everyone but in terms of pairing with a wine oddly enough a crisp dry white wine works better than a red.

So when you are out visiting the local wineries of the Cowichan Valley refer to this handy and quick at a glance rule of thumb pairing guide to popular wines blends and the cheeses to pair with them.

Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese, 1400 Cowichan Bay Road (Valley View Centre). Open 7 days a week.

Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

The Infamous Cowichan Station Cheese Machine

Cowichan Station

Creamery’s cheese vending machine makes buying cheese slick and easy this summer. Their original research discovered this refrigerated farm to table sales methods were found in popular European cheese regions of Switzerland and the Netherlands but theirs is the first found in BC or Canada.

You’ll find the freshest of everything that is available that week at the Farm Store or the Duncan Farmer’s Market, plus often a few more rotating specialities. Current best sellers are: Norrie Creek, Koksilah and the Best Evah are the top 3. “ I like Best Evah, or Montreal Spiced cheddaahhh with stone wheat thins.” shares Henry, co owner and farmer at Cowichan Station Creamery.

Cowichan Station Creamery

How it works: You can “scroll” through the selections by rotating the large drum. Customers looking for more details can scan a handy QR

The machine takes all change and bills up to $20. For those who don’t carry cash the machine accepts any card, smartphone or device that will tap. Plus insert or swipe. Generally, cheese picked up on the go is good for up to an hour as long as you’re not putting it on the dash and parking somewhere. Any longer than that, you should really have a cooler.

Cowichan Station Creamery

4354 Howie Road, Duncan Open Friday - Sunday, 11am-5pm

www.cowichancream.ca

“Come taste the di erence kindness makes.”

4354 Howie Rd, Duncan I Open 11-5 Fri-Sun

code on the machine that takes you to the webpage for product info and tasting notes.

GLENORA STORE & CAFE

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Ingredients

4 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

5 tablespoons Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil

2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with olive oil and place on a baking sheet; set aside.

Toss zucchini in Tuscan Herb Fused Olive Oil in a bowl – set aside. In a small bowl, combine Parmesan, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.

Place zucchini onto prepared baking sheet, sprinkle with Parmesan mixture. Place into oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.

Serve immediately.

Parmesan Zucchini Fries Courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station

Cobble Hill Music in the Park - Every Thursday

Music in the Park (MITP) in Cobble Hill attracted appreciative audiences in July. There are five concerts left to experience this wonderful communitybuilding event that occurs at the grassy Commons Park in the centre of the village. Come with your picnics and lawn chairs to listen to an array of varied styles and sounds for this summer. Thanks to local sponsors and audience donations, there is no set fee for admission.

The August line-up promises to deliver enjoyment.

Adrian Chalifour is a “heartdriven” singer/songwriter who finds joy in performing and sharing his distinct indie rock sound.

Unfaithful Servants is in big demand as a festival band with their high energy folk, blue grass and country music.

Black Angus is rooted in the Celtic tradition, but can play any world music they choose.

A double header concert of uniquely crafted songs features Taylor Fance, a local singer/songwriter and Adam Barter with his “soulful vocals and gritty acoustic guitar licks”.

The County Line, a 5-piece band, will close our season with their energetic, modern country sound.

Young families will enjoy the extra activities for young ones. New to our event this year is the participation of Mill Bay Baptist Fellowship who have brought extra fun with face-painting and more. For a second year, Cowichan South Arts Guild (CSAG) with their Inspire arts and crafts tent for children engages the creativity of children. Overflow parking is available at the Cobble Hill Hall grounds, thanks to the Shawnigan Cobble Hill Farmers’ Institute. For information on volunteering at MITP, visit our group Facebook page or contact cobblehillevents@gmail. com .

Tell your friends and neighbours to meet you at Music in the Park on Thursdays between 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., for the ‘biggest backyard party’ in the valley.

EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT 6:30 - 8:00 PM

August 3• Adrian Chalifour

August 10• Unfaithful Servants

August 17• Black Angus

August 24• Taylor Fance & Adam Barter (double header)

August 31• The County Line

Pack a picnic, blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy both solo and band acts with your friends and neighbours!

Music nights are brought to you by No entry charged but donations encouraged.

Unfaithful Servants

Spot the Gunnell!

Madeline Southern Lead Aquarist and Educator, Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre

Have you ever been exploring a shallow rocky shoreline and come across a fish that looks like an eel? Interestingly, the only eel that lives in our local area is the Wolf Eel; which mostly lives at depths of 8m and down. There are a few fishes related to eels that do live here and they are

called Gunnels (also called Blenny’s).

Gunnels are small eel-like fishes typically found in shallow intertidal zones in the Pacific Northwest. These fishes have a similar shape to eels, but have a shorter, stubbier body than eels. Some species have a bright, uniform colour (reddish brown or bright green) while others have interesting patterns and varying shades of green and brown coloured skin. Depending on the

species, Gunnels average between 5 to 18 inches long.

Favourite hiding spots of gunnels include rocky tide pools and crevices, eelgrass beds, seaweeds, under docks and around wharf pilings to name a few. Gunnels can be hard to spot even if you’re specifically looking for them.

The colour of gunnels are directly related to their diet. For example, a wine-red gunnel will favour small creatures that live on redbrown algae. Bright green gunnels prey on shrimps or snails that like to live on sea lettuce. The colour of the gunnels can slowly change according to their diet. When the seaweed dies off in the fall, gunnels typically take on the greyish brown colour of rocks.

Gunnels are not commercially harvested, because there is not a lot of meat on them and they are not exactly easy to catch, even for the most seasoned beachcomber or commercial fisher. While humans don’t eat gunnels, other animals such as mink and otters enjoy them as a tasty snack.

Beach etiquette: Please be gentle with all creatures you find on the beach. The ocean is a hard place to live. If you turn a rock to look underneath, please turn it over and put it back exactly as you found it. The creatures that live under rocks need their homes to survive.

Summer Iced Tea Time

By Victor Vesley

Weall have something that makes summer feel like summertime…and for many it is a refreshing cup of iced tea. Iced tea can be a wonderful way to stay hydrated in the summer season. The possibilities are endless...whether sticking with tea or herbal infusions. Sip a cold steep instead of soda, or dress iced tea up for special occasions by serving in champagne glasses. Keep it classic and pure, or add your own favourite seasonal fresh herbs or fruits. Drop in honey or maple syrup or craft your own homemade tea infused simple syrup. Create iced lattes by pouring over tea iced cubes… We wanted to share our recipes for inspiring your perfect iced tea...

Hot Brewing Method

1. Prepare as you would using your preferred method for brewing hot tea, but use 1.5x the amount of loose leaves. Allow the steep to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.

2. Another option is to prepare as you typically would for hot tea, but pour immediately over plenty of ice. This pour-over method requires 2x the amount of tea.

A great tip for preparing in large quantities is to make ice cubes from tea. This allows for keeping tea chilled without diluting flavour.

Cold Brewing Method: With this method, the cold water draws out, or pulls the flavour from the leaf as opposed to hot water (used in traditional brewing) which pushes the flavour from the leaf. Subsequently cold infusion is a much slower, gentle method that results in a smooth, more subtle, naturally sweet tasting tea.

1. Use a clean vessel (glass jar or pitcher) with a lid or cover

2. Place some tea inside (about 1.5x the amount you would use for a hot brew) and fill with cold water.

3. Place your sealed vessel in the refrigerator for 4 - 10 hours,

Campers will explore the life of pollinators, shoreline plants, inter-tidal species and coastal birds, practice their discovery skills, expression of gratitude, and respect for self and others through play!

We are excited to offer week-long day camps in July and August as well as one day camps on August 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th. A fun experience for all campers!

Southern Style Sweet Tea Westholme’s Black Blends

Ingredients

1/4 cup Westholme Tea Co. Black Tea of Choice

6 cups filtered water

1/4 cup of raw honey

Method

Combine loose tea leaves and water in a pot. Heat to below boiling (90°C) then remove from heat to let cool.

Stir in the honey once the temperature has dropped below 60°C - this preserves the beneficial qualities of honey which are destroyed at higher temperatures.

Strain the tea leaves.

Refrigerate and serve chilled. Enjoy!

depending on the type of brew (less time for whites, greens, yellow and wiry/flat oolongs, more for rolled oolongs, puerhs, blacks, and longest for herbal tisanes.)

Word of caution: brewed tea has a shelf life!

Tea stored at room temperature is best enjoyed within 2 days. Tea stored in the refrigerator is best enjoyed within 3-4 days. Happy Steeping!

Westholme Tea Company, 8350 Richards Trail, Duncan Hours Wednesday - Sunday 11am=4pm www.westholmetea. com

Five day Summer Camp $245 Register: www.cowichanestuary.ca or email: camps@cowichanestuary.ca

Notevery bright idea pays off, but in the case of Imagine That!, a spark of genius in 1994 has paid handsome rewards to the artists and artisans of Vancouver Island. This August, the shop celebrates the beginning of its 30th anniversary year. The concept came from a “what if” conversation between two artists. Sitting at their adjacent booths at a farmer’s market, they

wondered if it were possible to create a year-round opportunity for the brilliant work of Vancouver Island artists to be showcased. There was. From that initial conversation, joined by ten more Cowichan Valley artists who stepped up to work out the details, Imagine That! now hosts the work of some 70 artisans at the shop on Craig Street in downtown Duncan. To open a shop entirely devoted to handmade, locallycrafted artwork was a conscious decision back then. The now trendy concept of “buying local” has become a guiding principle for many businesses. We like to think our founders were well ahead of that curve.

Many art forms are represented, reflecting the beauty of the natural surroundings in

Imagine That!: 30 Years and Counting

and around the island. Work includes art cards, ceramics, enamels, pillows, handbags, scarves, wearing apparel, textiles, glass, metalwork, candles, jewellery, paintings, prints, photography, woodwork, and hand-made soaps.

Established as an artists’ cooperative, the management of Imagine That! has ebbed and flowed over the years. Elected board members are artists

whose work is represented in the shop, and they take on the business affairs of the co-operative. Board members work in the store on a regular basis and are individually responsible for other specific pieces of running the business.

An important aspect is maintaining the artistic standards of the work in the shop, through a jury process for each item accepted.

Work is considered for quality, uniqueness, and appropriateness. Making these judgements ensures that you are seeing the best of the abundance of work created around us.

Each month both the large and boutique street-front display windows are made available for rental by artists – either those who are already a part of the mix, or others who wish to take advantage of this excellent marketing opportunity in the downtown core. Sidewalk traffic is high volume, and Saturdays are an especially busy day at Imagine That!, when the Duncan Farmer’s Market is on.

Some of our artists also choose to volunteer their time on a regular basis to assist with sales, recordkeeping, and other tasks. This involvement by the artists themselves is critical to the success of Imagine That! It is also a superb opportunity for them to meet the many visitors to the store and get to know their wants and needs. In addition to tourists and casual drop-ins, Imagine

That! has a large and very loyal following of repeat customers, who traditionally look for items from one of their favourite artists. Regulars often say that the first place they bring visiting friends and relatives is Imagine That! Fans and visitors alike are also interested in new work by new Island artists that keeps the shop’s displays lively and fresh.

Come be a part of our 30th year and visit our wonderful array of artisan-made work. Imagine That! Artisan Designs, 251 Craig Street, downtown Duncan.

Katie Daniel is an artist member of Imagine That!

Music in the Park Hitting the High Notes

Music in the park has audiences at the Waterwheel Park bandshell in Chemainus clapping and toe tapping, and this summer the popular series has added a new note with ‘pop-up’ performances by members of the Vancouver Island Symphony.

Presented by The Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society,

Music in the Park brings communities of the region together for an eclectic program of performances, scheduled through to August 29th.

Admission is by donation. Dates and times are posted on CVCAS.ca

August will see 10 musical events take to the stage including an Accordion Festival August 12, and a Country Music Roundup Festival August 26. Vancouver Island Symphony fans will want to mark August 9 on their calendars for the ‘Back Row Brass’ concert.

The CVCAS is a volunteer run organization. Without their dedication and contribution Music in the Park wouldn’t happen.

25th Anniversary of Arts on the Avenue

Artson the Avenue is celebrating its 25th year! Proven to be a very popular summer attraction in Ladysmith, this two-day arts festival is an iconic event for Vancouver Island that brings artists, local businesses, residents, and tourists together.

This year the festival committee is excited to be introducing a new art experience entitled Art Jam. A fun-filled event for families, the night will feature interactive art stations where visitors can experience and try their hand at different art activities with the guidance of artists and community groups. Art Jam will take place on Saturday, August 26, from 6 p.m to 9:30 p.m. and will include a paint competition, kids art area, beer garden and live music including a street dance with music from The Shinolas.

His whimsical artwork combines found objects, odd photographs and other imagery with a symphony of patterns and designs. With his bold and intense colors, Grant collages his images and ideas by both painting and drawing them together into a storylike setting.

Visit Grant along with over 60+ artists from the Island and Gulf Islands. Visitors will get to view and shop original paintings, jewelry, glass, pottery, fabric art, Indigenous-made art, leather work, metal and more. The big day, which has welcomed over 8,000 attendees in past

The arts market takes place on Sunday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An outdoor juried original art show and sale, the day offers demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages. Our featured artist for this year is Grant Leier from Nanaimo.

years, will include live music, art demo’s, and a kids’ art area.

The festival takes place on 1st Avenue in Ladysmith from Warren Street to Buller Street. More information on artists, vendors and musician line ups can be found on our website www.artsontheavenue.ca

Francesca Reside Communication and Marketing Coordinator Ladysmith Arts

Celebrate Our Past at the Cobble Hill Fair!

My family has been blessed to have had the good fortune to live in South Cowichan for over 40 years. It has been a great place to bring up our children and for us to work and contribute to such a wonderful community. Like all places it has changed over time, but the basic nature of this Valley has stayed the same. There are many more people now but those who have moved here have accepted and kept our basic rural nature. Afterall, that’s what probably attracted them to move here in the first place. This valley is rich with farming and forestry. It has amazing history of community involvement. The Cobble Hill Fair is our signature event and it celebrates the unique values that make our communities special. We’ve been operating for over 114 years and our goal is to pass

it on to our community in good shape for the future.

Fair time is a great part of our year. We work hard for months getting things ready for this special event. Much goes into planning the day and there is a certain energy created by our volunteers and community members while preparing for the Fair. From organizing conveners and judges, to 4 H events, to preparing the catalogue, to signing up food and craft vendors, putting together children’s games, the Parade, finding the right mix of entertainers, preparing the grounds and buildings; it is a whirlwind of activities starting some time in February and continuing right up to the day of the Fair. We are proud of our product and the preparations are done with an

air of personal commitment and pride. Although I’m President of the Institute, this is my first year chairing the committee. I am truly astonished by the commitment and care our Fair committee and volunteers put into this event.

This past year has again been a time of success and pride for the Farmers Institute. We continue with our now famous Pot Pie Program. Our Hall rentals are increasing with some

new organizations finding our facilities the perfect place to hold their events. This year has also seen the return of Seedy Saturday. Our first since 2019. We had great attendance, and lots of vendors. We are looking forward to building on this and making it into another signature event for our community. Our Cobble Hill Show & Shine continues to grow as well. One special project deserves special notice. We have been working on construction of an addition to

the Main Hall which adds to the capability of the Hall and the kitchen. Supported by community donations and a government grant, the project is now complete. It includes a large walk-in freezer along with an area for storage tables, chairs and equipment. It is already making a difference in how we operate. This type of project underlines our commitment to build for future generations. Nothing like this would be possible without the volunteers, helpers and community supporters who make it work. I would like to take this is opportunity to thank those who have helped and continue to contribute and have supported the Farmers Institute over the past year. Without you this community resource would not exist. We don’t have any staff, just a dedicated group of people that continue to come out and make a difference and give

to our community. So, when you come to the Fair this year, take a moment to look around and have a good look at the number of people working at the Fair. They are the ones who put on a special show for you and your family.

We hope to see you at our annual 114th celebration on August 26th. Come out and help us enjoy the best of our community has to offer. It’s a chance to meet our neighbors and see what make South Cowichan a special place to live.

See you at the Fair!

Roger Painter President and Fair Chair

Unique Local Vegetables to Add to Your Grocery List

Are kohlrabi, patty pans, and fava beans a great mystery to you? Perhaps a bit alien-looking, these veggies are truly delicious. This article will highlight unique locally grown vegetables that you may just want in your next meal!

Patty pan is a summer squash that has a sweet flavour similar to yellow crookneck squash but with a firmer texture. It is small,

round, and flat with scalloped edges typically yellow, white, or green coloured. It has phenomenal sources of vitamin A and high levels of vitamin C along with potassium. A great way to cook this vegetable is grilled, cutting them into cubes with salt, olive oil, minced garlic cloves, and black pepper. This summer squash is grown at Boots n ’Roots Permaculture Farm in Glenora, where Farmer Kelly is dedicated to growing and raising foods with the best quality and as naturally as possible by practising permaculture techniques.

Fava beans, also known as broad beans, is a flowering plant in the pea and

kohlrabi,

LOOKING FOR MICROGREENS?

We grow plenty of them!

pods that are high in protein and several other vitamins and minerals. An easy way to prepare beans is by peeling the thick skin of the Fava bean off and sauteing the beans with butter, salt and garlic. These beans are grown at Holy Stick Farm in Cobble Hill, where natural and sustainable farming methods are used to benefit the soil ecosystem.

Kohlrabi is a strange looking vegetable but fun fact; it is a member of the brassica family and tastes similar to a broccoli stem but sweeter! The plant forms a bulb that

can be light green or purple with stalks of leaves sprouting out that are also edible! This vegetable has high levels of calcium, magnesium, and a good source of fiber. Kohlrabi is great raw, in salad, roasted or grilled. Kohlrabi is grown at Lockwood Farms in Cobble Hill, where their goal is to produce high quality food for our community while respecting the earth.

These unique vegetables are all locally grown and are an excellent addition to any meal.

Fava Beans

Article contribution is written by Megan L. Summer Student Program at Cow-op

A&S MICROGREENS

The Thing About Brassicas

Amy LuckMacGregor Certified Laboratory Technician Spring Hill Soil Laboratory

Anold feeling hits at this time of year. With the flurry of spring planting behind me and summer watering upon me, I just want to sit back and not think about the garden for quite a while. Go camping. Swim somewhere.

The first weeks of July pass and I think dang it, I missed the last window to start fall carrots. Come the beginning of August the guilt returns and I drag my thoughts back to fall veggies and the get-‘em-in-by-mid-August recommendation. As much as it pains me to take care of seedlings in summer, harvesting Thanksgiving veggies from the garden is pretty cool. It is also vitally important for soil biology to have roots feeding it for as much of the year as possible. And yet, without fail, the fall rains always find me wishing I’d planted more.

Most fall and overwintering vegetables are brassicas (the cabbage family, including cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, collards, kohlrabi). The thing about brassicas is that they have very different micro-biology requirements compared to other vegetables. Brassicas thrive with a very low ratio of

fungi to bacteria. In fact, they use their exudates to attract biology that helps repel fungi. Their roots just don’t require the same fungal symbioses that other crops seek.

This is why it’s not the best idea to rotate your brassicas with other vegetables. If planted after crops that have attracted fungi to the soil, the brassicas won’t reach their potential. Similarly if you follow brassicas with crops that need fungal associations, those plants will be set back. Better to dedicate one area and build the biology to keep your brassicas well-nourished and pest and disease free, season after season.

If you missed the window for seeding brassicas, we are offering a small number of seedlings that are inoculated with soil food web biology on www.cow-op.ca. To learn more about the soil food web and how you can support it in next year’s garden, I am offering an evening course listed in the CVRD Fall Recreation Guide, www.reccowichan.ca.

Registration opens August 1.

Meanwhile, may you find just the right balance between growing happy vegetables and summer fun.

Summer Tomato Feast at the Cowichan Farm and Food Hub

It’s possible that there is nothing more quintessentially summer than a basket of freshly gathered tomatoes in July, still warm from the sun. I remember as a kid, eating the warm tomatoes right off the plants. And now, as my own kids were on vacation last week with the grandparents, and I had nobody to cook for, I found myself having “tomato toast” three days in a row for dinner. Fresh sourdough bread with gorgeous slices of beefsteak tomatoes from the farm, with a little salt and pepper. There is simply nothing better.

At the Cowichan Farm and Food Hub, we are savouring the beauty and abundance that comes with mid-summer. The production greenhouse is filled with spiraling tomato vines, climbing eight feet into the air, with cascades of golden and red cherry tomatoes falling back towards the earth. Then there are the deep red beefsteak heirlooms, each one as big as my hand, and the beautiful delicate yellow slicers with purple stripes. The bright green of basil leaves contrast the bright

oranges and reds of the hot peppers growing nearby. And the hot still air of the greenhouse smells like summer.

As we were walking through the greenhouse the other day, our lead farmer Nathan was passing tomato after tomato to me to taste. It was such a fun way to explore the different varieties of tomatoes ripening, that it sparked a workshop idea. On Saturday August 12, we are inviting the community to come join us at the farm for a tomato tasting workshop! Participants will be given a tour of the farm, and greenhouses, with a focus on the techniques for tomato growing that we are using on the farm. This year, we also have a featured seed breeder growing some experimental tomato varieties on site, Karen Olivier. Karen has a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm, and will be joining us for the workshop, to share about her journey with seed saving and answer all of your tomato questions! We will cover tomato trellising techniques, selecting the right variety for your garden, recipes, soil and amendments to support optimal growth, and much more. We will finish off the workshop with a delicious tomato feast, where you will be able to try each of the beautiful selection of tomatoes growing here, with some focaccia and olive oil/ balsamic vinegar, and a nice herbal iced tea. This is a workshop opportunity not to be missed!

Saturday August 12 10am - 1pm, Cowichan Farm and Food Hub, 2431 Beverly St. Duncan. Workshop cost: $25, but nobody will be

HARMONY WELLNESS EVOLUTION

An Evolutionary Approach to Your Health and Happiness

Deborah Carruthers BA, BSW, MA Counsellor and Wellness Practitioner

To book a session or view upcoming events and workshops, please visit: www.harmonywellnessevolution.com

250-715-1773

360 Duncan St #103, Duncan

Hannah Auer is a community organizer, grateful to be living on Quw’utsun territory.

turned away for lack of funds. Volunteer energy exchange available.

The Quw’utsun River (‘the River’) and watershed touches the lives of all in the valley region…..my intent is that, after all the Quw’utsun River has given, I will be able to give something back.

ITINERARY

• 9:30 am - Sign up and Gear up!

• 10 am - Welcome 10am - 1pm - Garbage Picking

• 1 - 2:30pmVolunteer BBQ

Please respect parking signs on site as Grace Church holds their Sunday service beside our meeting place. Thank you.

Contact: RiverCleanup@ cowichanwatershedboard.ca

Caring for the Quw’utsun (Cowichan) River

For those of us, like Shannon, who are supported by the river through our work, play, or simply walking along its banks to find solace, it’s time to give a little back at the 13th annual Lower Quw’utsun (Cowichan) River Cleanup!

This soul-satisfying annual event removes truckloads of garbage from about 15 km of the iconic Cowichan River every year before the fall rains return and wash it all downstream. Think of it as welcoming the salmon home!

The Lower River Cleanup is a day of community, connection and doing our part for the beloved heart of our community — the river — where, sadly, waste and garbage are threatening the health of the river.

a community learning and working together. Please join us for a few hours to make our rivers a bit safer and healthier, get to know your neighbours and enjoy a free BBQ lunch!

All are welcome! No experience needed.

I am continually inspired by the incredible number of people and organizations who are working hard year-round to safeguard our shared waters. However, as we face low flows throughout the heat of summer we need the whole community to chip in, join together and care for the river.

What I love about attending events like these in the Cowichan Valley, is getting to know the community of water stewards. This goes beyond any one organization, government, volunteer group, or sports club, it is a community with a deep sense of camaraderie and a welcoming environment. It is a community that cares, not only about the health of the river, but about the whole watershed - the people, livelihoods, land, fish, and wildlife.

Welcomed and guided by Cowichan Tribes, who have taken care of the river in a reciprocal relationship since time immemorial, we are

The Cowichan Watershed Board is a partnership between Cowichan Tribes First Nation, and the Cowichan Valley Regional District. It exists to provide leadership for sustainable water management and to protect and enhance environmental quality and the quality of life in the

Cowichan and

WHAT TO BRING

• Appropriate footwear and a change of clothes

• Sun protection

• Water bottle

• Gloves

• Life jackets, canoes, or anything else you may need if you plan to get into the water!

www.cowichanwatershedboard.ca

- Dr. Shannon Waters, Cowichan Watershed Board Member

Koksilah watersheds and adjoining areas.

Danni Paydli, Cowichan Watershed Board

Photo credit K. Bannister

We have a lot of fun and get things done! Photo credit K. Bannister

Creating Biodiverse Landscapes with ChickensGrowing a Chicken Garden

Chickens can be considered an integral part of regenerative agriculture. They provide a wide range of benefits on a homestead, from food waste reduction to creating healthy, biodynamic soil. Chickens also provide a great protein source (in the form of eggs and/or meat) and provide encouragement and education for both children & adults. They help form healthy routines, create strong values and help form a better understanding on the importance of small scale, farm to table lifestyle.

With all their benefits it’s hard to see a reason not to get chickens. Unfortunately though, prices for chicken feed have increased tremendously, especially when considering organic options. This has made owning chickens not as feasible for some families. By growing food in your garden specifically for chickens, you are creating sustainable alternatives to processed feed, reducing overall food cost & your ecological footprint.

Not to mention raising happy, healthy hens.

Try direct seeding annual grains and seeds like sunflowers, millet, quinoa & rye. These plants can be sown in succession, providing food all growing season long. Even some plants like winter rye can help substitute feed during the colder months. Chickens also love fresh veggies. Kale is easy to grow and your chickens will thank you for it. Cabbage, lettuce, spinach & calendula also make yummy treats. Growing food for chickens can be easy and fulfilling. Incorporate these annuals into your perennial garden to create a more sustainable, biodiverse landscape.

For more information on growing a chicken garden, including full plant lists, succession plans and fun chicken projects, please reach out to meadowwrenflowerfarm@ gmail.com or check out www. meadowwrenflowerfarm.com to connect.

Kyla strives to make a bigger environmental impact by creating biodiverse & sustainable landscapes.

Abundant and Resilient Food Systems

August is a beautiful month for so many reasons. My garden is brimming with salad greens, ripe tomatoes, and crawling sweet pea vines. I cherish the time spent harvesting, preserving, and canning with my family. We eat dinner in the sunshine, and wistfully share our excitement for the upcoming school year (or, in my case, the fall Legislative Session).

In these moments, I dream of a future of abundance. A future where every community has food security, and no child is left hungry. It is our collective responsibility to care for our community members – to ensure that all families and children have access to healthy and local foods.

In recent years, we’ve seen the devastating impacts that climate change has had on our food systems. Drought and floods have harshly impacted harvests and caused disruptions to the transportation of food. Each climate disaster is a reminder that we must continue to enhance resiliency and food security. We are borrowing this earth from our children, and we have a duty to ensure that all future generations can live in vibrant,

abundant, and healthy communities.

Numerous organizations in the Cowichan Valley have demonstrated the importance of developing and strengthening our local food systems. The Cowichan Green Community has continued to grow and provide fresh, local foods to the community for almost 20 years. Their Food Recovery Program has minimized food waste by collecting excess produce from large food retailers and redistributing to vulnerable community members. Among numerous other programs and projects, the Cowichan Green Community has emphasized the importance of youth education and community building. The KinPark Kids Camp and Youth Urban Farm have introduced children and teens to gardening, harvesting, and education around natural systems.

Nourish Cowichan has worked to address food insecurity among children. Since 2016, the organization has provided healthy, nutritious meals to schools across the Cowichan Valley. Nourish Cowichan recognizes that every child has a right to adequate, nutritious food. As we know, it is not easy to focus or think with an empty belly. It is critical for all children to be well-fed and have what they need to thrive.

An abundance of healthy, local foods is paramount for resilient communities. Although the growing impacts of climate change will continue to cause shocks to our food systems, I truly believe we can weather the storms.

Sonia Furstenau, MLA Cowichan Valley, Elected House Leader BC Green Party

How Does Soil Store Water?

With summer well underway with many hot, dry days already behind us, the question of how to increase the ability of soil to store water is top of mind. Before diving into soil moisture retention strategies, it’s useful to review how soils store water in the first place.

The capacity of any given soil to store water depends mainly on the structure of the soil and the organic matter content. Soil is composed of tiny rock fragments in the form of sand, silt and clay, which are bound together with organic matter into clumps of varying sizes known as aggregates. The space in between these aggregates is called the pore space, where the air-water exchange takes place. The amount of water a soil can store in its pores depends on the amount of pores and their size.

Water in large pore spaces is pulled quickly through the soil profile by the force of gravity, while water in small pore spaces is able to resist the downward gravitational pull. This is because the clay and organic matter particles that the soil aggregates are composed of carry a negative

charge, which the positive ends of water molecules can bind to. This enables the water to be held against the force of gravity but not so strongly the roots cannot absorb it. Most soil water plants absorb is from these smaller pore spaces, as water is held there longer than it is in the larger pores.

The principles behind increasing water storage capacity in your soil are the same as for creating a healthy garden soil in general. Support the formation of aggregates in your soil by feeding your soil microorganisms with compost or other forms of organic matter, as they produce the glue that holds aggregates together. Avoid walking on soil while it is wet as this compresses aggregates and the pore spaces. Avoid overenthusiastic tilling unless the soil is compacted. Mulch the top 1-2 inches of your garden beds with compost, bark, straw, or other materials to stop the evaporation of water from the surface of the soil, as water evaporating from the soil surface will pull more water along behind. When irrigating plants in the ground, less frequent deeper drinks is more effective than frequent small drinks, as a longer irrigation time enables all the small pores to fill up for the plant to access later.

Tamara Dinter, Dinter Nursery General Manager and Soil Enthusiast

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are an interesting addition to the landscape. They add a fine texture with attractive flowers followed by seed heads. The best feature though is when a breeze blows through the garden, you have motion from the swaying foliage and flower stalks. If the sun is reflecting off the leaves or the plants are backlit, the effect can be quite dramatic.

Most grass varieties are at their peak in summer and fall when they have put on a flush of fresh growth followed by taller stalks of blooms.

In winter the foliage dies but often looks attractive in its dry state. Come spring, it should be cut it down to stubble so that the fresh new growth can flourish without interference from last year’s foliage. A few varieties are evergreen and require minimal care.

Most grasses require well drained soil and regular deep watering to establish. Once established they are partially drought tolerant. Location can be full sun to partial shade but there are some very attractive shade tolerant varieties. Fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer or one with moderate nitrogen. Organic fertilizer is excellent. Do not use high nitrogen lawn food as this will

create excessive growth.

For lightly shaded locations, by far the best is Golden Japanese Forest Grass with its dense low mounds of lush golden foliage. Karl Foerster Reed Grass has a tall vertical element and can create screening in summer and fall. There is a planting of it along Canada Avenue in Duncan hiding the railway tracks. Pampas Grass is the most commonly grown with spectacular blooms in fall. It grows quite large and is very drought tolerant. The foliage must be cut down by late winter to make way for new growth. This is just a sampling of the many varieties that are available.

Bernie Dinter, Dinter Nursery. Family owned and operated since 1973

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Communication with Confidence: August 22, 29, Sept 5, 12, 19

Healing Anger: Sept 9, 16, 23, Oct 7

Also coming this fall: Finding Financial Freedom Volunteer Counsellor Training

New address #102, 481 Trans Canada Highway (St. Julian Plaza)

Phone 250-748-8281

email:cfla@cowichanfamilylife.org

The Daily Veg

Since the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century, the Cowichan Valley has been known for its fine agricultural produce. Whether it was grain for the Vancouver market, garden seeds for all of Canada, or daily fresh vegetables for local consumers, Cowichan Valley farmers have always provided the best.

Cowichan customers know that to get the freshest, most delicious produce, eggs, baking and even milk, they can go down the road to their nearby farmgate produce stands, including some that run all year and others with 24 hr. vending machines onsite.

For example, the new Daily Veg stand at Sungoma Art Center (7595 Bell McKinnon Road) has joined the growing trail of roadside stands throughout the Valley. Open seven days a week, neighbours Thoran and Jen from ‘Plant Tonix’ provides the Daily

of organic vegetables, plants, flowers, and soil amendment products. At Plant Tonix Farm we like to call the way we grow “Fusion Gardening’, combining techniques learned over the last 20 years. We produce our own fermented fertilizers and composts, from Bokashi compost, to worm compost and hot composting. Using these methods combined with our activated EM (effective micro-organisms), produces a healthy soil microbiome. We believe this creates an organic and healthy plant, high in nutrient density with robust delicious flavours. At our farm we believe in building soil, because a healthy plant is the reflection of healthy soil. The Daily Veg farm stand benefits from the legacy built by tens of dozens of farmgate stands up and down the Island that have intrigued and inspired thousands of customers who drive up and down our country roads seeking the freshest farm produce and products.

Our local farm stands all benefit from the overall experience customers have

We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Shawn Sanders is a local photographer who is passionate about homegrown food and cultivating community.

Images courtesy Shawn Sanders Photography

when visiting some of the many farms, orchards, creameries, seafood providers, and wineries listed in the free Cowichan Grown Farm Map. The map is available online or in print from the Cowichan Green Community and covers Shawnigan Lake to Ladysmith, including Salt Spring Island.

The Cowichan Green Community (CGC) shows aspiring farmers how it’s done. At the Cowichan Farm and Food Hub at 2431 Beverly Street, Duncan, the CGC produces many varieties of garden vegetables, nursey plants, and seeds, some so newly developed they have not yet been given names. In

lock step with the Valley’s farmers, the Beverly Street Hub is open for “farmgate” produce sales every Thursday. In addition, the CGC supports the Cowichan Cow-Op, a non-profit, on-line cooperative of local farmers and food producers who are following consumer trends by delivering orders directly to the customers’ front gate.

The Daily Veg stand now joins a wide array of excellent farm stands throughout the Cowichan Valley’s that have provided, fresh, sustainable food and beverages; promoted local food and low food miles; helped curb inflation and stretch food budgets; as well as kept food dollars pumping through our regional economy.

The Daily Veg stand can be found at Sungoma Art Center 7595 Bell McKinnon Road, Duncan.

Edible Landscapes

Yard Maintenance & Organic Garden Care Ado Grimwood-Adam

Ado is an organic gardener, foodie and father of three living in the Cowichan Valley. He holds a Certificate in Permaculture from Langara College, and is passionate about sustainability, food security, climate change and organic gardening.

Whether you need yard maintenance, or want to establish Edible Landscapes, Ado is a reliable, friendly and helpful person to work with.

Services offered include:

~ Edible Landscapes

~ Yard Maintenance

~ Organic Garden Care Call or text for a free on-site consultation!

250.815.5789

St. John’s Academy

Shawnigan Lake is situated on 23 beautiful acres between the shores of Shawnigan Lake and Old Baldy Mountain. This ideal learning location for students in Grades 4-12 provides an inspirational environment and outdoor education experiences for our local (day) and international (boarding) students.

We are an IB World School currently offering the Middle Years Program (MYP) from the International Baccalaureate (IB).

September 2023 will see the addition of the Diploma Programme. This enhances our academic program and recognition as a university

Wilderness Kayaking

LESSONS • TOURS • RENTALS •

Summer Programs From Maple Bay

preparatory school. For more information on the IB program, please visit: https:// www.ibo.org/benefits/whythe-ib-is-different/

Offering an academically rigorous and transformational learning program for tomorrow’s leaders in a caring and supportive environment is our primary focus. Our holistic programs develop a sense of adventure and an appreciation of nature and the Arts, enabling our students to make positive contributions to local and global communities through responsible and principled action.

As a small and caring school, we will be home to 160 Canadian local students and 60 boarding students from diverse backgrounds. We also offer a 5-day boarding program for students from the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. These students reside with us during the academic week and return home on the weekends. This opportunity facilitates their in-depth learning during the

OFFERING:

Tours, Moonlight paddling, Bio-Luminescence paddling, Day tours, Multi-day tours, Lessons,

KAYAK KIDS - INTRODUCTION TO

academic

while still providing time with family and friends, the best of both worlds.

Our local day students reside from Duncan to South Shawnigan Lake due to our local bussing options. All of our students benefit from our exceptional lunches and

To schedule a tour, please call us at (250) 220-4888. Feel free to email us anytime at: info@stjohnsacademy.ca

QUEEN OF ANGELS

CATHOLIC SCHOOL

2085 Maple Bay Road

Duncan

Kindergarten - Grade 9

Queen of Angels Catholic School is a faith-based school which has been operating in the Cowichan Valley since 1964. We have Kindergarten through to Gr. 9 and all are taught in a family environment that is academically challenging. We have specialist teachers in French, Music, PE, and Cowichan cultural studies. Each child is encouraged to develop their individual talents in academics, athletics, fine arts, and social responsibility. Our Catholic traditions of respect, stewardship, social justice, and prayer help students to develop to their full potential. We are determined to be the school of choice in the Cowichan Valley, raising well-rounded students guided by a strong moral conscience.

We provide many opportunities

for leadership through liturgical celebrations, helping others, buddy classes, conflict/resolution clubs on the playground, student government, house teams, and community service. Athletics include physical fitness and team sports such as crosscountry running, basketball, soccer, and so on. Other students develop their musical talents by participating in band, guitar class, or choral classes. Queen of Angels also has many opportunities for using technology. Students have access to laptops or Ipads in their classrooms. There are also computers in the library and in the computer lab. Technology is often included in the elective classes for the older grades as well. Sample electives include cooking, media, sewing, bicycle maintenance, hand textiles, electronics, and entrepreneurship.

We also have an Angel Care program which is a full day care for 3 & 4 year old preschoolers. Children have access to the school gym, library, and their own playground. We have a popular after school care program for school aged children as well.

We are a busy school. We are a happy school. Please remember that Queen of Angels is a place where children learn to love and love to learn. To book a tour contact the school at: qa@cisdv. bc.ca or 250 -746-5919.

COWICHAN VALLEY PRIVATE & INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE

QUEEN MARGARET’S SCHOOL

660 Brownsey Avenue

Duncan Preschool - Grade 12

For over 100 years Queen Margaret’s School (QMS) has offered an exceptional and rigorous education that builds confidence, character and compassion. Students develop and grow through signature programs that focus on experiential and inquirybased learning, entrepreneurial thinking and equine-facilitated leadership development.

Be curious. Be kind. Be brave. Be you. Simple, yet powerful value statements for trailblazers of tomorrow, as no two journeys are the same. At QMS, opportunities abound for students to engage in programming, athletics and cocurricular activities that foster excitement for learning and inspire a passion to look deeper. Whether in the classroom, on the field, on stage or in the equestrian ring, we create new generations of confident leaders empowered to create a more just and connected world.

Nestled on 30 beautiful acres in the heart of the Cowichan Valley, QMS is proud to provide a diverse range of programs for young people to explore. The Equestrian Centre at QMS provides enriched equine facilitated leadership and rider training while Innisfree Farm provides space for farm-to-table, applied skills and wellness programs for students. We continually strive to integrate all aspects of learning with our academic and co-curricular offerings to build dynamic and inspiring experiences for all students.

QMS’ all gender day and boarding student population is an integrated, diverse, inclusive

community where each student is recognized and our deep community connections are enriched through service, entrepreneurship, the fine arts, social justice initiatives and environmental stewardship activities.

Tours are available by appointment. admissions@qms.bc.ca | qms.bc.ca | 250.746.4185

INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF CANADA

Kindergarten - Grade 5

SHAWNIGAN LAKE MONTESORRI

30 months - Age 12

International Montessori Academies of Canada Inc. is the sister school of NoorUnissa Montessori Academy, offering a strong bilingual academic program for ages 5 through 12. We are a Montessori-inspired independent school following the BC curriculum.

International Montessori Academies have been nurturing children in the Cowichan Valley since September 2016, when our school’s director, Ms. Inayat Bergum, first opened the Montessori school at The Hub. Since opening, our school has welcomed

several internationally trained Montessori educators who bring their language, culture, and experience to the children in their care.

“My calling began shortly after obtaining a superb Montessori training in Paris, France in 1962, and it was to unite children from all aspects of life in the United States, Canada, as well as Mexico through the Montessori way of education. All of my educational training has led me to understand that I inherited my passion for children by way of my aunt, Noor Unissa. In 1962, I took part in assisting Tom Laughlin (an actor and director in the movie, Billy Jack) to start the first Montessori in Southern California. It was named the Sophia Montessori of Santa Monica. In 1964, I opened the first Montessori in Costa Mesa, California, known as the Montessori Centre. Throughout the years, I have trained numerous teachers using Montessori methodologies and have opened many Montessori’s throughout the Orange County area in Southern California. In 1982, I launched

the International Christian Montessori Academies for the expressed purpose of celebrating among children to have them learn to appreciate and to understand the importance of having tolerance of different religions united with an attitude

of Love, Harmony and Beauty. “ – Inayat Bergum

For more information call 250-737-1119 or email inayat@ intmontessori.com www.intmontessori.ca

COWICHAN VALLEY PRIVATE & INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FEATURE

SUNRISE WALDORF SCHOOL

2148 Lakeside Road

Duncan Preschool - Grade 8

Sunrise Waldorf School

is located on seven beautiful acres that includes forest, gardens, fields, and playgrounds and is in the heart of the Cowichan Valley, offering Preschool through Grade 8. Our rigorous academic program integrates science, math,

visual arts. Technology is limited to allow the child to fully develop imagination and creative problem-solving. By consistently providing excellent and well-rounded education to our students, in an area vibrant with culture and natural beauty, we continue to attract families from BC and around the world. Our preschool and kindergarten programs offer rich learning environments for children ages 3 to 6, where positive development is cultivated through story,

and self-awareness. Building, handwork, skipping, cooking, music, and drawing and painting all form part of the regular schedule in our Early Childhood programs.

“I wish I’d come here as a child,” and “It feels so good in here,” are common observations from prospective families who enter our kindergartens, accompanied by an almost audible exhalation. The regulating effect that the Sunrise environment has on the

nervous system is felt by children and parents alike. The gently and expertly held routines by our kindergarten teachers and assistants further instill calm and security for small children, and time in nature with beautiful and natural playthings enlivens their senses and fuels their imagination.

In the words of one parent, “It’s difficult to put into words just what Sunrise means to us as a family. It’s our second home. It’s a safe place for our kiddos to be themselves… We feel very fortunate to be a part of this community and so thankful to the teachers who see who our children are and help nurture them on their path to selfdiscovery.”

APPLY NOW! We are currently accepting applications for the coming school year 23-24. Our Grade 1 is waitlisting. Please contact admissions@ sunrisewaldorf.org for tours or more information.

www.sunrisewaldorf.org

Moments of Random Madness

Robyn Gerland

Perhaps it’s our nine years age difference but even then it’s hard to reconcile how two sisters can be so very much alike and so diametrically opposed.

My partner and I had recently built a cabin, bordering a lake in a remote area of British Columbia. And so, on a long weekend in August, we invited my sister and her two young daughters to visit—to boat and swim and relax in the sun.

We created a list of fun and adventuresome outings. We kept in mind, however, that my sister, Nels, tended to be extremely cautious where physical activities were involved or dangers perceived.

Our section of the lake contained a tangle of fresh water weed, promising any number of unspecified surprises. Even I felt some concern about this. Consequently, we decided to take our antiquated, flat bottomed rowboat across the lake to an area that was reassuringly weedless.

Wisely, my partner saw this as an opportunity to finish some of the retaining wall which we were building behind the cabin.

I stowed our picnic paraphernalia under the back seat of the boat and turned to assist my sister, who was attempting a brave demeanor for the benefit of her daughters. Amongst other things, Nels was very frightened of deep water and I knew that the idea of the boat capsizing at any moment, with her underneath it, was foremost in her mind. She sat on the side of the dock, edged her feet onto the floor of the rowboat and then, clutching my elbow, she maneuvered around to sit on the substantial stern seat. The girls, scorning any assistance whatsoever, slipped

locks, placed the inside one against the wharf and pushed. Nels simultaneously grabbed her side of the vessel and my knee. Slowly, however, with the measured creak of the oars and the gentle swish of the water as we travelled ahead, she began to release her grip.

I was becoming lost in the rhythm of my rowing when suddenly my sister, again, clutched my kneecap. “Lindsey!” she screamed. “You’re going to tip us!”

I jammed the oars hard into the water and our momentum drifted to a stop.

My niece was on her knees leaning over the bow. Her turn and twist from a sitting position to a kneeling position had momentarily shifted the equilibrium of the boat and the sight of her daughter, leaning precariously overboard had instantly convinced my sister that her worst fears were about to come to fruition.

“Lindsey,” I suggested, “it’s not far now and it might be a good idea to stay sitting down.”

At the beach, I nosed the boat onto the sand and climbed out. The girls were quickly right behind me but Nels was still nervously dithering in the now listing stern.

I guess she must have begun to feel a little foolish because she, too tentatively, began to ease herself forward. The boat

and then self-corrected as she tried to steady herself. She flopped wildly back onto her seat. “I can’t,” she moaned.

“Mom! Anyone can.” It was Lindsay of the twist and turn.

Their memorable suggestions began.

“We could dump you,” said Allison, the younger of my nieces. “We could tip the boat over and you’d just dump out.”

“We could dump slowly,” added her sister.

“We could tip the boat slowly and you’d just sort of roll out. Like a sausage.”

I was trying very hard not to laugh. By this time, my poor sister, as fearful as she was, had truly begun to see the silly side of the dilemma. “Out of the way!” she yelled, as she jumped to her feet and sent the rowboat quivering and shaking. Then, with the necessary speed that she had lacked before, she leapt up and onto the side of the boat and with a flailing of arms and legs propelled herself onto the sandy shore.

There was an audible, collective gasp, and, “Yeah!” we yelled in unison; the girls hugged her with absolute joy and astonishment. “Thank goodness it’s a flat bottom boat,” I thought to myself...

Rocking the Edge: Rifflandia Festival Redefines Music on Vancouver Island

Ina world where conformity reigns and mainstream music dominates the airwaves, there exists an oasis of rebellious artistry that dares to defy the norm. Welcome to Rifflandia Festival - Vancouver Island’s biggest and boldest music event of the year!

From September 7th-9th at Electric Avenue & September 15-17th at The Park, this gritty, unapologetic festival will take the stage, hosting over 80 incredible artists across six electrifying days of programming. Rifflandia promises an experience that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary and dives headfirst into the depths of some of the most talented artists around today with major headliners like Iggy Pop, Herbie Hancock, Paris

Hilton,

Rifflandia Festival is a rallying cry for all the nonconformists, the dreamers, and the rebels who refuse to be silenced. It’s a celebration of the raw and unfiltered, where the beats match the rhythm of our hearts, and the lyrics resonate with our souls. So, if you dare to venture beyond the mainstream and embrace the power of alternative rock, join us at Rifflandia Festival and witness a revolution of sound that will echo through the ages.

Are you ready to rock the edge?

Get your tickets now at www.rifflandia.com and let the music set your soul on fire!

dine

fresh cut kennebec fries • crispy battered fish • delicious tacos • pizzas • poutines • burgers and more!

Sunday- Thursday | 11:00 - 9:00

Friday & Saturday | 11:00 - 10:00

111 jubilee st, duncan I 778 • 422 • 3000 menu online at: freshkennys.com

Salt N Pepa, Marc Rebillet, and Mavis Staples.

VALLEY DENTAL

Spreading the LoveOne Tomato at a Time

Nice tomatoes, Kelly! In case you haven’t noticed, summer 2023 is in overdrive and all this warmth promises to bring an avalanche of heat loving produce to the valley’s farmers. Nowhere more so than at Boots ’n Roots, where a strange twist of fate bestowed upon farmer Kelly an extra greenhouse containing 700 tomato and cucumber seedlings. Yes I said 700 plants! Now that she and her crew of helpers have nurtured the new additions into heavily laden full size plants she is getting the word out to all tomato lovers: we’ve got you covered! With a dozen varieties to choose from there is something for everybody, from cherry tomatoes to heirlooms to canning tomatoes.

In anticipation of this unexpected bounty, the Boots ’n Roots team has decided to pass some of it along to the community. In partnership with the House of Friendship and the Healthiest Babies Possible program (an infant

nutrition and family support program), Boots ’n Roots will be contributing tomatoes for a canning workshop this fall, in support of families interested in feeding their families healthy local food while learning new food preservation skills. You can help us with cash donations at the stall—look for the Healthiest Babies Possible sign on the contribution jar—or with etransfers to bootsnrootsfarm@gmail.com. Your donations will help supply the tomatoes and canning jars needed to build food security by introducing young families to the benefits of eating whole local foods and the joy of learning a new life skill. $5 pays for a pound of tomatoes, $20 pays for a dozen canning jars. We thank you in advance for your generosity. Together we can all work toward a happy and health next generation!

www.bootsnrootsfarm.com

Cam MacDonald has been living, loving and farming in the valley for 12 years.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week

Asa biodynamic craniosacral therapist who specializes in infant breastfeeding, it feels important to speak to the common assumption that because breastfeeding is natural, that it will come naturally. This belief results in the majority of expectant couples moving forward blindly when breastfeeding preparation is excluded from their birth plan. A lot can be learned ahead of time and the practice of skills builds confidence so that when you have your newborn, the art of breastfeeding is not new to you.

Linking the individual uniqueness of the mother’s and infant’s anatomy to holding some of the answers to problems arising is usually not on the parents’ radar. Knowing that variations exist and influence the quality of a latch becomes extremely helpful for parents to know ahead of time, so they can apply skills and appropriate posture, positioning and alignment strategies learned in advance to assist them with getting closer to optimal breastfeeding.

Another part of the picture of successful breastfeeding is

making sure the cranial nerves are not pinched or compressed. Their level of health affects the 3 components of breastfeeding physiology: suck, swallow, and breathe. For example a decreased gape of the jaw, disorganized tongue movement, and tight muscles in the face and neck. Knowing the roles cranial nerves play in breastfeeding ahead of time alerts parents to seek craniosacral treatment if they see signs of compromised cranial nerve function.

So guess what my recommendations are? If you’re an expectant parent, I suggest you consider the the multiple benefits of taking a breastfeed preparation course during your pregnancy, such as my Bridging Birth to Breastfeeding program, so that you have the skills you need to navigate with ease the often confusing and stressful terrain of breastfeeding and so that you can greet your newborn with a sense of confidence and calm. Whereas, if you’re a new parent in the depths of experiencing breastfeeding issues, come see me with your newborn for an assessment so we can get you on track and enjoying your precious bonding time sooner than later.

For expectant couple programs and breastfeeding support, contact Christina Hamill wellness@ cowichancraniosacral.com.

Christina Hamill RCST® PPNE Cowichan Valley Craniosacral & Early Beginnings Parent Coaching

Get Your Kids Ready for Back to School

Time for learning.

Yes, here we are again. Time for the kids to go back to school! Are you ready?

Are you ready to help them refocus and get back to the exciting world of learning and discovery? As all parents know, helping your kids get back into the school routine can be challenging. It’s not easy to switch from holiday mode to learning and concentration mode. The school years are a time when our children are constantly thinking, learning, and understanding things from interesting new perspectives. These years of their lives are crucial for their brain development, and proper nutrition is vital. An Oxford University study showed that when children have below the optimal levels of omega-3 (DHA and EPA) fatty acids, this deficiency is associated with below-average reading ability, poor memory, and higher levels of behavioural issues. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that help play a key role in maintaining the structure of every cell wall in the body. EPA and DHA are the key component fatty acids that make up the Omega 3. They are particularly necessary for the healthy development of the brain, eyes, and nerves in children. Because of this, they have been flagged as important nutritional components for addressing prevalent cognitive disorders in children. Omega-3s are not made in the body and are required to be sourced from food or supplements. Foods such as

Fish – salmon, Nuts and seeds (such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts) and Fortified eggs. A person would have to consume a lot of fish per week to be able to reap the benefits of omega 3 from food. Supplements in a tasty liquid form such as Sea-licous are a different format.

So how can parents help?

It is important to give your children as much help as you can, not only right now, but also during this whole critical time of their development.

In addition to applying the usual good advice about regular bedtimes, outdoor activity, and disciplined screen time, there is something more that you can do to help support the development of your child’s brain, eyes, and nerves. It is incredibly easy: boost their omega-3 intake.Sealicious tastes so good, one would not have to hide it. Given on a teaspoon is great. However, there are other options such as mixing it into healthy breakfast options like sugar free yogurt or a fruit smoothie.

The Sea-licious line of omega-3 products includes ones that are 100% kid-approved! Ask Lynns Vitamin Gallery for details and give your children a tasty treat and the healthy head start they deserve.

Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery

180 Central Road - Unit #4, Duncan Village 250 748-4421 (by Save on Foods)

Rekha Sharma, Lynn’s Viitamin Gallery

Kids Love Omurice from Neko Ramen

Do you know about Omurice? It’s a beloved dish among Japanese children, where ketchupflavored rice and vegetables are stir-fried and wrapped in an omelette. Japan is often referred to as the ‘Land of Rice,’ and rice is a staple in the daily diet of Japanese people. The aroma of freshly cooked rice is enticing and popular as it awakens their

appetite. However, to make use of leftover cold rice, there are various recipes, and one of them is Omurice. During summer vacation, kids are thrilled to have Omurice and cold barley green tea for lunch, followed by watermelon for dessert. Neko Ramen,171 Canada Ave, downtown Duncan.

REIKI WELLNESS CENTRE

250-743-8122

• Debbie Shkuratoff -

• Francoise Moulin -

• Sara Tillie TCM -

Reiki Master Teacher 250 710-2252

Registered Reflexologist 250 710-0784

Registered Acupuncturist 250 812-9813

Reiki Therapy & Classes - Detox Foot

Spas - Acupuncture - Amethyst Mat

- Reflexology - Young Living Essential Oils

Daytime • Evening • Weekends • By Appointment Only • #13- Upper Level • Valleyview Centre • Cobble Hill

www.reikiwellness.ca • reiki-wellness@shaw.ca

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

Reflexology with Francoise

Reflexology is a simple, effective and natural therapy which focuses on the feet. It is over 5,000 years old and has origins in China and Egypt, where pressure therapies were recognised to have therapeutic benefits and more importantly, help prevent disease.

Every part of the body has a reflex point on the feet. The right foot represents the right side of the body and the left foot, the left side. The feet have many nerve endings and it is felt that this is why reflexology works. The nerves are stimulated at the reflex points with specific thumb and finger techniques. The nerve relays this stimulus through the nervous system up the spinal column to the corresponding affected area of the body.

Where there is inhibited functioning or disease, congestion will be found in the form of grainy crystal deposits. These deposits are

caused by excess acidity in the bloodstream which increases calcium deposits at the nerve endings. They may feel tender, sensitive or positively painful and/or they may feel hard, tight or lumpy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that ch’i (energy) circulates along twelve meridian pathways within the body. The six meridians which penetrate the major organs of the body are found in the feet - specifically the toes. Reflexology helps to clear the blockage along the medians and encourages the ch’i to flow.

As a holistic therapy, Reflexology aims to treat the body as a whole and endeavours to get to the root cause of disease and treat this, not the symptom. However, most disease/ailments have taken time to manifest and will therefore take time to eradicate. Reflexology has proved itself to be effective, it is safe for everyone, and very relaxing. A Reflexology treatment reaches the receiver on several levels - physical, mental and spiritual, it can only be of benefit, while bringing the body into a state of balance and harmony. An absolute wonderful, relaxing way to relax to spend an hour and feel better at the same time.

Francoise Moulin is a registered Reflexologist at Reiki Wellness Centre 250 710-0784

Free Natural Wool Wound

Care Package

Are you caring for someone who needs extra support at home? Dealing with issues like skin breaks, ulcers, or pressure sores can be challenging, but Soul Comfort is here to help. Introducing our incredible Welcome Package, designed to empower caregivers like you.

Imagine a world where the healing power of natural wool meets advanced care solutions. Our Welcome Package is your gateway to this world, providing you with the essential tools to enhance the healing process and offer exceptional care.

Inside the Welcome Package, you’ll discover carefully selected items that can make a real difference. Experience the softness and benefits of sheep’s wool, known for its natural healing properties. This luxurious, loose wool creates a protective barrier and promotes optimal wound healing. Accompanied by specialized protection pads, it ensures additional comfort and pressure relief for your loved one.

The best part? The Welcome Package is absolutely free. Simply visit SoulComfortDressings.com/ Welcome or come into our store to claim yours today. We believe in making natural healing accessible to all caregivers. But the Welcome Package is

just the beginning. We invite you to explore our brand-new website, SoulComfortDressings. com, where a world of information, guidance, and support awaits you. Our website is a collaborative space where caregivers come together to learn, share experiences, and find solutions.

At Soul Comfort, we believe in the power of collaboration and shared knowledge. Our website provides detailed product descriptions, inspiring stories from fellow caregivers, and educational materials that empower you with valuable insights and confidence in your caregiving journey.

By embracing the Soul Comfort community, you’ll join a network of compassionate caregivers dedicated to promoting natural healing and enhancing the well-being of their loved ones. Together, we can create a supportive environment where the expertise of caregivers and the power of nature converge.

Visit SoulComfortDressings. com/Welcome today or come into our store to claim your free Welcome Package and embark on a transformative journey to enhance your caregiving experience.

Anyes de Laat is passionate about wool and a medical sheepswool expert.

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health

All Classes in the Cowichan Valley *unless stated

Wild Goose Qigong (Chi Gong)

Gentle movement • Calms your mind • Heals internal organs • Develops flexibility

Mondays 9 -10 am

Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm

(combined Qigong and Chun Yuen)

Wednesdays 10-11:15 am

Fridays 10-11:15 am (Victoria)*

Northern Shaolin Chun Yuen Quan

Dynamic movement • Improves posture • Increases energy • Strengthens bones

Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm

(combined Qigong and Chun Yuen)*

Wednesdays 9 am - 10 am

250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca

www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com

Embarking on a Sacred Sound Journey: Harmonizing Body, Mind, and Spirit

In a world filled with constant noise and stimulation, it is easy to overlook the profound impact that sound can have on our well-being. Sound healing, an ancient practice that has resurfaced in modern times, harnesses the therapeutic power of sound vibrations to restore harmony and balance within the body, mind, and spirit.

Sound healing operates on the principle that everything in the universe, including our bodies, is in a state of vibration. When we experience physical or emotional disharmony, these vibrations become imbalanced. Sound healing seeks to restore equilibrium by using specific tones and frequencies to recalibrate the body’s vibrational patterns.

The power of sound has the ability to penetrate the layers of our being, reaching into our physical, mental, and emotional realms. As the vibrations reverberate through the body, they gently release tension, dissolve energetic blockages, and restore the flow of life force energy. The soothing sounds can calm an overactive mind, alleviate

stress, and ease anxiety. They invite us to enter a state of deep meditation, enhancing our capacity for self-reflection, introspection, and spiritual growth.

A Sacred sound journey is an immersive experience where participants are invited to lie down, relax, and enter a deep meditative state. The journey typically incorporates a wide range of instruments such as Sacred Drum & Rattle, Crystal singing bowls, gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, rainstick...accompanied by her voice.

Adeline intuitively plays her instruments, creating a symphony of healing vibrations that envelop the space and penetrate the depths of the participants’ being.

This event is held at Collective Space in Duncan downtown once a month, accessible to all without any experience required. Next August 27th 5:30-7:30PM.

Dancing to the Sacred sound journey is an invitation to embark on a profound inner exploration, where movement becomes a language of the soul and sound becomes the guiding force. The Sacred Healing Sound Journey with Dance Activation is back on in September. Date to be announced.

adelinewholistichealing.com

Adeline is an Energy, Sound-Healer & Thai Massage Practitioner, trained in Kundalini Dance.

Exercise Wise

Summer motivates exercise. And It is certainly wise to exercise. But do we make wise choices?

Consider that there are thousands of different types of physical exercise programs. And that most claim to provide the best results, and – results vary greatly.

From increased stamina to acquiring beauty, from martial arts black belts to becoming a superior juggler, there is much to choose from. But these only address physical exercise.

There is also mind training, mental exercise.

Such pursuits range from chess master to musical virtuoso, from hypnotist to yogi guru. Which pursuit should we practice to make a ‘wise’ choice?

What we need to ask is ‘which pursuits do we most enjoy?’ Because we know that greater enjoyment motivates us towards greater results and achievements.

Which introduces our emotions. Do we need to exercise our feelings? And, if so, how do we do that? We are all in the pursuit of happiness. That is definitely a ‘feeling’, an emotion.

Since the release of the book Emotional Intelligence, written by Daniel Goleman, emotional well-being has received greater attention. How do we exercise our emotions to fulfill our desire and pursuit of happiness?

In the research of neuroimmunology we have discovered that our feelings, our emotions, create our thoughts. Our thoughts in turn create our physical actions.

So, an answer to the question ‘What is a wise choice in exercise?’ might be to avoid comparison to anyone else. Exercise for the sheer joy of doing it. And when you feel the need to compete, then try to do a little better today than you did

yesterday. Compete mostly with yourself. That will provide both progress and joy. That might be closest to the ‘pursuit of happiness’.

In the list of ‘doing things for the sheer joy of doing it’ there are a number of time-proven activities. Throughout history people have been chanting and singing –which is great for your breathing, your oxygen intake, and charging your joy.

And besides chanting and singing, there is dancing which is holistic, and combined with singing, is as about as good as it gets physically, mentally, and

emotionally.

That choice sure is wise exercisewise. In the words of local poet, Barry Hunt:

Dance as if you’re saying yes, dance as if you believe, it is the answer to every question, dance as if it is the only way to breathe!

Love’s Triangle, Karen Allen: Guitar: Autoharp, Frame Drum, Bowls, Arie Vander Reyden: Harmonium, Hand Drum Jennifer Shepherd: Hand Drum, Percussion lovestriangle108@gmail.com

Choosing Duncan as Your Vancouver Island Home

Q: Why should you choose Duncan?

A: It’s the perfect place to start your life on Vancouver Island. North of the Greater Victoria area, nestled in the centre of the Cowichan Valley you will find Duncan, population 5,363 (2022). Its central Cowichan Valley location is the starting point for your Vancouver Island Adventures. Blessed by the sun “warm land”, Quw’utsun land, has the reputation of being the warmest mean

temperatures on the Island; between river playgrounds and the ocean.

Head north and you will find many quaint towns such as Ladysmith and the city of Nanaimo. Head south and you will find quaint Mill Bay and the “Island’s most beautiful ferry short cut” to the Saanich Peninsula.

Head east and you will find Maple Bay and Cowichan Bay marinas, where you can launch your “dream boat”. Also east, is Crofton and Chemainus, quaint villages with jazz, theatre, and the Ferry to Salt Spring Island artists, parks, and famous Salt Spring Island market. Head west and you will find crystal clear Cowichan Lake, and the road that continues to Vancouver Island’s most accessible old growth forest in Carmanah Walbran Park.

Travel in any direction you will see pastoral green country roads that lead to 14 unique wineries and some incredible cideries with dining among views of vineyards and orchards and local small farms and artists that supply

all the market stands. In any direction you will encounter scenic hiking trails along rivers or up mountains. Golf courses of many styles, and Mount Tzouhalem, which has a fine reputation for mountain biking at all levels, will up your skills.

Duncan’s very popular and thriving Saturday “Duncan Market” and Incredible “39 Days of July” music festival will give you a reason to dance and smile whether you are young or old. If you love wine and music, art, hiking and cycling, fresh air, rivers and ocean, then Duncan is where you want to call home. From your Duncan home you can walk or cycle to work on the quiet safe streets, some of the best area home prices on south Island. Experience the best Vancouver Island has to offer. Contact Vida Glaser, a Realtor at Pemberton Holmes, for more information on how to find the perfect home on Vancouver Island.

778 966 9177

LUCKY DOG Adventure Hikes…

Depending on when you read this, the summer will be winding down and your dog has had a great time with your family. But the normal schedule will be back before we know it. School, work, night classes. What is a dog to do?

That Summer momentum doesn’t need to stop with Labour Day. Let me introduce “Dave’s Dog Walking Adventures”. If you would like your dog to go on adventure hikes off leash or learn long leash skills Dave can help. Partnering with Lucky Dog, you can drop your dog off at the shop and

Dave will take them out for a tiring romp. Your dog will be returned to Lucky Dog and you can pick your tired dog up at your leisure. If your dog is muddy, we can give them a rinse off before they go home.

Dave also offers home pickups within the Duncan area. He is licensed and insured and will exercise your dog in any weather. This saves your evenings for that pottery class.

Dave is hiking dogs Monday through Thursday and Saturdays. He also offers overnight boarding!

If you’d like the best for your dog after the leaves turn, give Dave a call 250-709-2556 or pop by Lucky Dog on Fridays before 2:00 and meet Dave for yourself. (or email at David.renroh1@gmail.com)

You could also enroll your dog in something interesting. My mutt and I will be returning to agility classes in the Fall. 4Paws4Agility can be reached at 250-7489729. Or look into scent

training, sheep herding, dock diving, fly ball, rat catching, obedience, and more!

A tired dog is a good dog. Giving your dog new experiences builds their

confidence. A resilient dog is a joy to be with. A sleeping dog is even better. Enjoy your Summer with your dog.

Debbie Wood owns Lucky Dog U-Bath. She can be found on trails in the Cowichan Valley with her BF, Bonnie.

Antioxidant Acai Facial

$105 1 hour

Features botanical hyaluronic acid and seabuckthorn oil, plumping and regenerating your skin for an ageless appearance.

Monday-Friday 9-5pm

Saturday, Sunday and Holidays – Closed

109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza) 250 748-2056 www.soulescape.ca

BIOMAGNETISM & ENERGY HEALER

Recover your health & well-being focus on root cause of illness

Pets and Remote Sessions offered Kathryn Lowther 250-891-5138 www.biomagcanada.ca

Boswellia

Good health to you! Tina Foster, RHN Essential Remedies

Alsoknown as Indian Frankincense, this is an extract from the Boswellia serrata tree(other similiar extracted trees are the bos. sacra and bos. carteri). The boswellia tree creates a precious resin and the oil produced from this is called frankincense oil, both containing medicinal healing properties. The resin from the extract has been used since ancient times in Asian and African medicine. It has been used to treat a variety of health conditions and especially those of a chronic inflammatory nature. Boswellia is available now as a resin, capsule/pill, or cream.

Research studies have shown its effective for reducing inflammation, and can be helpful for many conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Boswellia is an effective painkiller and can help prevent loss of cartilage. Some studies also have found it useful in cancer treatment. Even the frankincense oil has been shown to combat cancer cells

in vitro, and so is a helpful addition to any other protocol. We know that frankincense is also a very rejuvenative essential oil. These extracts in both forms help speed healing from infections, and also help control production of immunoglobulins/ antibodies, making it useful for autoimmune diseases.

You can use frankincense essential oil in your diffuser, topically (in a carrier oil), or as a tea (food grade). Look for a supercritical CO2 extract. For boswellia, look for a potent standardized extract in a capsule form for best effectiveness when combating inflammation.

Essential Remedies

141 Craig Street, Duncan 250 748-9632

Warmland Cannabis Centres

Your Premier Destination for All Things Cannabis

Hellofrom Warmland Cannabis Centres, formerly Hemp Nation (and formerly Warmland Cannabis Centre!) You may remember us from our time in Mill Bay at the Pioneer Square Mall. While that building may no longer be standing, we still are, along with our passion for both cannabis and customer service! We now have TWO locations serving the Cowichan Valley, and a third in the works for Mill Bay (across from our old spot!)

While awaiting our provincial cannabis retail licenses, we opened Hemp Nation Cannabis Outfitters, “Canada’s Cannabis General Store”, at the Whippletree

Junction plaza (just south of Duncan), boasting Vancouver Island’s largest selection of cannabis accessories. Hemp Nation was actually the name of our CEO’s first store; Canada’s first hemp shop, it operated from 1993-1997 in London, ON (and has a storied history all its own, as documented by the CBC in “Stoned: Hemp Nation on Trial” - view at warmlandcannabis/stoned). Finally, last year (January 2022) our perseverance and hard work came to fruition when we obtained our first cannabis retail license. With this accomplishment, we revived the name Warmland, the meaning of “Cowichan” (“the warmland”).

Today, we proudly offer a comprehensive selection of cannabis products that range from seeds, edibles, beverages, flower, and everything in between. Alongside our cannabis offerings, we also carry a vast assortment of glassware, grinders,

rolling papers, vaporizers, cleaning supplies, and much more. Whether you’re a newcomer to cannabis or a seasoned connoisseur, we invite you to stop by, explore our expertly curated selection of products, and enjoy our exceptional customer service. Our team of knowledgeable and friendly cannabis professionals is eager to assist you. You might even recognize a few familiar faces

(and dogs). We can’t wait to serve you at Warmland Cannabis Centres!

4715 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan 1 866-336-4367 3541 Cobble Hill Rd, Cobble Hill 250 929-0302

Ruby Bressan, General Manager, Warmland Cannabis Centres

Why We Should Read Permanent Astonishment

Road I 250-508-6667

Simplicity Parenting

The book Being At Your Best When Your Kids Are At Their Worst by Kim John Payne, the popular author of the book Simplicity Parenting, offers a practical, meditative approach in parenting that can be applied in the moment for any parent to stay calm and balanced when your child’s behaviour is pushing you to your limit.

When children are at their most difficult and challenging situations arise, how can we react in a way that reflects our family values and expectations? Often, when children “push our buttons,” we find ourselves

Use these grounded and practical strategies to help you parent positively:

• Slow down the interaction

• Be more in control of your reactions

• Open up a much wider range of helpful responses

• Sense what your child’s deeper needs are even though they are misbehaving

• Respond in a way that gives your child a feeling of being heard and still puts a boundary in place

reacting in ways that are far from our principles, often further inflaming a situation.

When our children are at their worst, they need us to be at our best-or as close to it as we can be.

Educator and family counsellor

Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting, offers techniques that simply and directly shift these damaging patterns in communication and parental behaviour.

Being At Your Best When Your Kids Are At Their Worst and other award winning parenting books by Kim John Payne are available at the Steiner Book Centre, 5380 Trans Canada Hwy (by the Brick).

In this memoir of his childhood, Cree writer and musician Tomson Highway demonstrates how the solid foundation of love and joy from his parents led him to know at age seven as he floated on Reindeer Lake at night in the family canoe “that no matter what happens to me in life, I will float… through the heart of the universe in a little magic boat illuminated by achaag-wak a trillion strong. (Achaag-wak has two meanings: “stars” and “spirits”.)”

In prose that magically paints breathtaking scenes of life in sub-Arctic Canada – in northern Manitoba on the border of Saskatchewan and what is now Nunavut –Highway takes us with his family to islands where they set up for summer fishing and their home village where they spend some of the winter.

He also shares his experiences of residential school, where his father sent him in part to get an education so he could have an easier life and to become an agent for change. While he loved learning piano, giving him a basis for his thriving career, he also shares a bit about abuse he and others

suffered there at the hands of a couple of staff as well as students who bullied him for being effeminate. He writes of the sexual abuse that “… the fallout goes on to affect the next generation and the next and the next. The field is littered with dead male bodies. From what I understand that is their experience. And one day, I hope they write about it because I can’t. And to those who can’t, I have tried my best to write this story of survival for you.”

Living from his father’s teaching of “turning disaster into something spectacular” and dedicated to his deceased beloved younger brother Rene who said, “Don’t mourn me, be joyful,” Highway’s joy and playful sense of humour carry us along as well.

The Warmland Book & Film Collective – a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada –next meets online August 9 to discuss The Strangers by Katherena Vermette. Books available through VIRL. Email WarmlandBFC@gmail. com for zoom link.

Submitted by Ranji & David, on behalf of the WBFC

Befriending Inner Wisdom

Ifirst heard my inner wisdom in my early 20s. I was searching, stumbling, and at times feeling lost. I made a lot of mistakes. Amidst the turmoil, I started becoming aware of a positive energy within me and around me. I remember writing about it in my journal, thanking this benevolent force for being patient with me. It was kind and non-judgmental. It offered good advice, often contradictory to what others were saying. It was persistent and stood by me. I have come to realize that this is my inner wisdom.

Inner wisdom is always trying to reach us. It wants to be heard. It’s that part of us that’s never really lost and that can’t be fooled. It’s always helping us to notice and to learn about ourselves. It doesn’t require perfection, but rather, it requires us to be aware. Making the wrong decision to get to the right place is allowed. It’s how we learn and gain new perspectives.

Creating a routine is an excellent way to practice connecting to your wisdom. It can be anything (one of my favourites is weeding) as long as it’s your way. You can set an inner intention for yourself as well, such as, I’m here, I’m listening, I welcome you, any phrase that allows you to be open. You will notice the energy around you and inside you start to shift as you

strengthen the connection to your wisdom.

Apart from routines, inner wisdom has a way of showing up anyway. Dreams, animal guides, and synchronistic events all hold messages for us to pay attention to. A persistent feeling or an inner knowing is a sign to take note of. An inkling, hunch, or recurring desire is a flame than needs to be fanned. Our inner wisdom is always encouraging us and wants us to find and reclaim the things that really make us come alive.

Over the years, I have referred to this energy as many things: true self, the universe, inner knowing, spirit, and conscience. All the words point to the same thing, an essence of who we truly are. It is an ongoing process, learning to trust our wisdom. We can be grateful that there is a part of us that only ever wants what’s best for us and that never gives up. Eventually, we may come to live with our inner wisdom because our inner wisdom doesn’t belong to us, we belong to it.

250-510-7249

clvaughan@shaw.ca

Christine is a registered social worker and inner wisdom coach supporting people to discover and honour their inner guidance.

TEN OLD BOOKS

Always something for everyone

Great Selection of Used & New Books • Bestsellers & Award Winners • Classic Novels & Timeless Favourites • BC & Canadian Authors Plus Local Cards • Crafts • Children’s Books • Jewelry • Unique Gift Ideas and More!

102-330 Duncan St 250 -715-1383

Find us inside the historic Duncan Garage

Wellness

Reiki Wellness

250 743-8122

Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reflexology

Island Hellerwork

250 661-1687

Deep Tissue Bodywork, Somatic Transformation

Healthcare Services

Cobble Hill Dental

250-743-6698

Friendly, Family Practice We Welcome New Patients!

Island Pharmacy

250 743-1448

Open 7 Days a week for all your pharmacy needs

Resonance Hearing

250 743-3337

Life Changing Hearing Solutions

Food & Drink

Country Grocer

250 743-5639

Bakery, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Deli & Floral, Supplements

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese

250 929-2873

Charcuterie, Cheese House Made Pates

Pizzeria Prima Strada

Cobble Hill

250-929-4655

Wood-fired pizza local wine & craft beer

Liquor Plus 250-929-1999

Wine, beer and spirits on the Upper Level.

Fitness

Valley Health and Fitness

250-743-0511

Full service gym/classes

organic craft coffee and mmmore by the sea

Camera - a quick FAQ

How many cameras does a smartphone have?

Most have at least 2 cameras: a forward facing camera and a backward facing camera/group of cameras. The forward camera, the ‘selfie’ camera takes a picture when you look directly at the phone’s keyboard. It is the simplest of the cameras as a selfie does not need zoom! The backward facing cameras can number up to 4 specialized lens such as on Apple’s iPhone 14 Max Pro and Android’s Samsung’s S23.

I like taking pictures for fun - how do I just take a simple picture?

You can activate/access the camera on most phones from the Lock Screen (starting screen) either with a simple swipe up or to the left. You can also tape the camera icon on Lock Screen or Home Screen.

Today’s smartphones manage all the basics of focus, lighting. However, it helps to know a few composition tips… the rule of thirds - imagine

your camera’s photo is a grid of 3 columns, 3 rows. Try to avoid placing the horizon or your subject vertically or horizontally dead centre - see if you can shift them left/ right or up/down towards one of the ‘third’s’ rows or columns.

If the shot has a person, animal or a special object as the focus - make sure you have a little space top/bottom or side to side to allow for a frame without covering up important details.

Are there any settings I should adjust - my phone doesn’t have much storage space?

Something to think about and set is the ‘format’ of the photos and videos that you are taking. High quality smartphones store pictures in the HEIC format (high efficiency image format). Unless you are taking pictures that you will use professionally or for high quality prints/presentations, the simple, less data heavy ‘jpg’ format is sufficient. Under the settings icon on your device you will see a spot where all the apps are listed - select camera and then for photo’s format select jpg and for video format select the 720 HD at 30 fps.

Join us for Westview Learning’s August Apple and Samsung Tech Teas to learn more about your Smart Phone’s camera features and how to manage the photos you want to keep and share.

www.westviewlearning.ca

Heather Stannard, MALT, B Ed Owner, Educator WestView Learning

1532 CHAPLIN ST, CROFTON

across from Salt Spring ferry terminal

Artisan Style Ice Cream and Gelato

1. The Market 1750 is the place to go in Shawnigan Lake Village, for some amazing Ice Cream. Their Ice Cream is made in house, lots of unique flavours. Some of our favourites is the passion fruit and the coconut. They also make ice cream cakes for that special occasion.

2. The Original Udders Guys Ice Cream and Candy is a must stop in beautiful Cowichan Bay. Their ice cream made fresh with their own “Udder Guy” recipes and without preservatives. Check out Friday nights for SCOOP & GLOW with music playing and disco lights.

3. Pizzeria Prima Strada located in the Valley View Mall in Cobble Hill not only has wood fired pizzas but serves up some amazing gelato. Enjoy gelato with your meal or take advantage of their self serve freezer and take some home to enjoy later.

4. Cowabunga Cones in Lake Cowichan serves up a soft ice-cream cone blended with real fruit and served in a waffle cone. The perfect way to top off the day or tubing adventure in Lake Cowichan.

5. The Italian Kitchen and Deli on Lakes Road in Duncan is the goto place for some amazing house made gelato. Whether you are driving or biking, be sure to include this stop for all Italian favourites.

6. Old Town Ice Cream in beautiful Ladysmith offers gelatos and Island Farms Ice Cream. Don’t forget to try one of their Extreme Milkshakes!

7. Kona Ice offers shaved ice cones with a large assortment of flavours served from their unique and colourful truck. Find them at markets, festivals or book them for a special event.

8. Artisanal Gelato

Production gelato truck often on location at Stocking Creek Market in sunny Saltair. Serves up refreshing German crafted Italian Gelato. Contact Albi if you are looking for something fun and delicious at your event. www,gondolagelato.com

Time Sensitive Action Needed! Stand Up For Natural Health Supplements

Seven concerned Cowichan health practitioners recently met with our voted-in MP, Allistair MacGregor to tell him we are outraged about Health Canada’s new proposed supplement regulations and fees that are expensive and unnecessary interference into our personal health care and supplement choices. Please get informed fast!

Research, download and read the Discussion Paper now on the insane 2023 Health Canada Initiatives…. This is a must read document for all Canadians. Learn more and take action: https://nhppa.org/?page_ id=21833

We have until August 10th to respond! Interesting that this is tabled and rammed through in the middle of summer. We cry foul, and we say NO!

-- regulations will lead to soaring prices and the disappearance of popular products

-- 54,000 hardworking employees are affected who contribute $5.5B to the Canadian economy, including $2.8B in taxes

-- Health Canada is strangling natural health products in red tape and extreme fees, leading to increased costs and fewer products

amount of packaging (for the same amount of product), reducing recyclability, adversely impacting the environment.

This is all unacceptable and must be stopped now! We need to send a clear and consistent message that we are not going to stop until our right to access natural products is protected. Tell them now!

https://www.canada.ca/en/healthcanada/programs/consultationproposed-fees-natural-healthproducts.html

Natural health practitioners are already overwhelmed with the amount of depression, addiction and desperation they are witnessing daily. Did you know that 71% of Canadians use Natural Health Products, like vitamins, minerals, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, and fibre as part of our proactive health and well-being?

We have specifically tasked Allistair with the following:

• to get sections 500 to 504 of Bill C-47 repealed (the Act is called S.C. 2023, c. 26);

• to get cost recovery for natural health product businesses stopped;

• de-regulate natural health products. They are being overregulated;

• to get the Charter of Health Freedom enacted, and. https:// www.charterofhealthfreedom. org/images/stories/docs/ charterofhealthfreedom.pdf

• stop the self-care framework https://nhppa.org/?page_ id=15963

Patty Abbott, nature lover and avid outdoor person. Love where we live.

-- Over 75% of brands say there is a high/very high chance they will pull products. At least one out of five companies are seriously considering leaving the Canadian market. New regulations are increasing the

Be an Herbal Warrior and do your part to take action now. Call or write your MP. Stand up to this tyranny and say NO to changing natural health product regulations. This is tyranny — we need more access to natural health care supplements not less! Canada is already one of the highest regulated countries. Nature can’t be regulated! Let’s rise people — we say enough is enough!

TheMunicipal website states, “North Cowichan is striving to become a leader in environmental policies and practice.”

To that end, Councilor Justice put forward a notice of motion for the July 19 Council meeting - asking staff to investigate the costs and benefits of North Cowichan joining the Coastal Douglas-Fir and Associated Ecosystems Conservation Partnership (CDFCP).

The CDFCP is a collaboration of 44 government agencies, organizations, and land managers who are focused on promoting and protecting healthy Coastal Douglas-fir and associated ecosystems into the future.

The Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) zone is the smallest and most atrisk zone in B.C. As home to the highest number of species and ecosystems at risk in B.C., many of which are ranked globally as critically imperilled, it is of great conservation concern.

CDFCP website: https://www.cdfcp.ca

The term “associated ecosystems” also encompasses the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone, a very dry

maritime variant (CWHxm), which is also at risk.

Why is this relevant to North Cowichan?

The North Cowichan Forest Reserve falls within the CDF and CWHxm zones.

Since we own these forests, we have the power like no other community in the Country to protect a critically emperilled ecosystem.

The recently completed Municipal Forest Review community engagement process, revealed a strong desire that conservation, biodiversity and ecological services be emphasized in the future management of our forests.

The irony is that we are surrounded by political and environmental organizations involved - why not us? - time to rectify this shortcoming and become part of the team.

The members of the CDFCP include the BC Ministry of Forests, Nanaimo, Island Trust, CVRD, Comox Valley Regional District, to name a few.

Why join now?

North Cowichan is currently developing a Biodiversity Protection Policy and is identifying areas of significant ecological importance within the municipality.

The Biodiversity Protection Policy will identify, quantify, and assess significant ecological assets, and the information will help to develop policies, goals, and monitoring programs to protect and restore these assets.

The North Cowichan Forest Reserve is our most significant ecological asset. Spread out over 6 mountains, it is more than 5,000 hectares of mainly intact and mature forest lands.

If you are escaping to the cool of our forest this summer to bike, hike and enjoy the beauty of this unique, endangered ecosystem - write now to council@ northcowichan.ca and show your support for North Cowichan joining the CDFCP.

Your emails can make a difference.

Time to join the team effort to protect a critically emperilled ecosystem.

Rob Fullerton

Icel Dobell

Where Do We Stand

Bad Comix by shiloh badman

From Yummy to ‘Mummy’ to Yummy Again

Those are Vaccinium corymbosum”, I said to our grandchildren visiting from Powell River, as their eyes widened to the size of the blue berries on the other side of the split-rail fence.

“Wow!” the three-year-old exclaimed. “They look just like blueberries!”

“They are blueberries!” the oldest reassured his little sister.

I reminded them of last year’s lesson on how to tickle the clusters so that the ripe berries would drop into their hands, and the others would remain on the plants to ripen another day. The oldest called me over to demonstrate his tickling skills; there were no green or pink berries in his hands. Around his younger brother lay a carpet of multi-coloured berries. The blue of his grin extended to his cheeks and nose. He didn’t need to tell me how he loved the yummy berries.

In our blueberry patch of approximately seventy plants, grow eleven varieties of blueberries. They vary in growing habits, ripening patterns, and flavours.

The first varieties to ripen are ‘Duke’, ‘Patriot’, and ‘Reka’. Both ‘Duke’ and ‘Patriot’ have large berries while ‘Reka’ has medium sized fruit with a huckleberry flavour. ‘Toro’ berries, large and easy to pick, follow. During mid-season, the berries of ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Northland’, ‘Hardyblue’ and ‘Bluehaven’ ripen. ‘Bluecrop’ berries have the familiar, old variety blueberry flavour. ‘Northland’ is a very productive variety with softer, medium sized fruit.

While the grandchildren rush to find the largest berries, I savour the small, but the sweetest and flavourful berries of the ‘Hardyblue’; they taste like the wild blueberries of my youth. The children agree they are yummy, but soon run back to the giant berries.

The next to begin ripening is the variety, ‘Dixi’. ‘Dixi’ would not be a suitable commercial blueberry as berries in its clusters do not ripen simultaneously. Care must be taken in picking the large blue berries from the attractive, multi-coloured clusters to ensure the red, pink, and green

ones remain intact. This ripening characteristic means that the plants produce over a longer period than most varieties.

While these varieties are ripening, the last to ripen, the ‘Brigitta’ and the ‘Elliott’ blueberries are still very green. Elliott’ berries are firm and tart; they turn blue before they ripen and are often picked too early. The fresh berry snacking season can be extended by about a month by storing ‘Brigitta’ and ‘Elliott’ berries in a fridge.

Last year, our grandchildren were disappointed to find that Grandpa had mummy berries where they had once found yummy berries. All the berries looked gray, shrivelled, and hard; they were pithy inside.

Our blueberry patch had been severely hit with the fungus Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, also known as Mummy Berry. Weeks before ripening, the blueberry plants were laden with nice clusters of healthy-looking berries. However, when the berries approached maturity, they began to turn tan and reddish colours. Within days they shrivelled, hardened, and dropped to the ground. Those that appeared blue were dry and pithy inside.

Research told us that the Monilinia fungus overwinters in pseudosclerotia, or mummified fruit on the ground. It can survive for at least three years or more but requires a chilling period of many hours below 7 degrees Celsius to grow fruiting cups, also known as apothecia. After these extended cold periods, when temperatures rise above

7 degrees, and leaf and floral buds are beginning to break, the apothecia begin to emerge. They continue to do so for an average of 15 to 17 days but may continue to mature for up to 28 days. Some types of spores are dispersed by wind, and others by wind, rain and even pollinators. Infections are most likely to affect flowers just as they open.

As we learned that the mummified berries harbour the fungus, we were deeply concerned about future crops. Research indicated that there were chemical controls for fungus management. We, however, follow sustainable and organic practices and looked for alternative solutions.

We adopted cultural control methods which included raking the mummies at least one inch under the ground to prevent the apothecia from reaching the surface. Then we added a threeinch layer of bark mulch. Careful weeding ensured mummy berries did not resurface.

Then came the long waiting period to see to see if our approach had been successful. When buds formed and flowers opened in Spring, all appeared healthy. We knew that those appearances did not mean that the fungi had not been working silently. We did not see any brown, urn-shaped apothecia forming cup-shaped structures beneath the plants. Large clusters of berries formed on all the plants. Still, we knew they could become desiccated in a week.

To our grateful surprise, since the beginning of July this year, our blueberries have ripened steadily, producing our biggest crop to date. Our grandchildren wore happy, blue-faced grins when they nibbled in the garden a week ago. We are all generously gifting our bodies with rich antioxidants. Our freezer is full of berries for those winter visits when grandpa makes his special, blueberryloaded pancakes.

“More blueberries, please, Grandpa. They’re so yummy!”

Verna Buhler, Retired teacher; CV Rhododendron Society Newsletter Editor; Master Gardener; outdoor enthusiast

Georgia Nicols M.A. Georgia’s book, You and Your Future is a best seller with international printings in 3 languages. georgianicols.com

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This is a playful, fun-loving month! Make plans for fun outings because romance will dazzle. It’s the perfect time to be on vacation. Socialize, plan activities with kids and explore romance. (Old flames will be back on the scene.) Allow extra time for work because you might encounter staff shortages, errors, silly delays and mixed-up communications due to Mercury retrograde. Nevertheless, you can still look for ways to boost your wealth! This is also a great time to finish projects.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You’re focused on home, family and real estate this month. Tackle home repairs or redecorating projects. Fortunately, you have positive gusto and optimism because lucky Jupiter is in your sign, helping you to get a lot done. Nevertheless, this is a playful, fun-loving month! Old flames might be back on the scene. Interaction with a parent could be significant. Competitive sports will be lively. (Avoid purchases of computers, cell phones and ground transportation from Aug. 8 to Oct. 1 because of Mercury retrograde.)

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

It’s time to put your big girl pants on and get to work. The pace is busy! Plan on short trips, errands and appointments. Relatives might be camped out on your doorstep. Good time to tackle home repairs because this month is about interruptions on the home front due to visiting guests, residential moves or DIY projects. Stock the fridge. Your ruler Mercury is retrograde from August 23 to September 15. (However, if buying big ticket items, avoid a bigger window of time –August 8 to October 1 to be extra safe.)

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

This is an excellent time for business and commerce, plus financial negotiations because you can attract money to you. Respect your moneymaking ideas. Meanwhile, you’re

slammed with appointments, short trips and errands. This is an excellent time to wrap up old business, especially if you’re in sales, marketing, teaching, acting or writing. Because you will buy beautiful things for yourself and loved ones, be smart and avoid shopping for computers, cell phones and ground transportation from Aug. 8 to Oct. 1.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This is a great time for you! The Sun and Venus are in your sign; and until June next year, lucky Jupiter is at the top of your chart (happens only once every 12 years) making you look successful! Jupiter will attract work-related travel and increased dealings with other cultures and countries. It’s a time for promotions at work, public recognition and enjoying the increased respect and esteem from your peers. These astrological aspects combine to make this a winning time for you! Knowing this, don’t waste this opportunity. Go after what you want!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Now and until next July, marvellous opportunities exist to travel and educate yourself. Explore avenues in publishing, the media, medicine and the law. This month, work behind the scenes and keep a low profile. (A secret love affair is possible.) Meanwhile, your ruler Mercury goes retrograde on the 23rd; however, it slows down before that date, which means transportation delays, mixed-up communications and car problems are likely after Aug. 8th. Expect people from your past, especially exspouses and ex-partners. Look good because living well is the best revenge.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This month three planets in your House of Friendships are encouraging you to hang out with friends, especially with younger people and creative, artistic types. A platonic relationship might turn romantic? This is also an excellent time to think about your future goals and get feedback from others. Since this is also a time when you have increased involvement with clubs and organizations, perhaps a colleague will have ideas for you? It’s easy to get the support of others now –both practical and financial.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Take a bow! This month the Sun is at the top of your chart, which symbolizes that the Sun is shining down and flattering you! (Good lighting is everything.) Bosses, parents and people in authority see you as capable and super effective, even if you don’t do anything different. (A bonus from the heavens!) Knowing this, you can make things happen! Demand the advantage and go after what you want because people are impressed with you! Mercury retrograde will attract old friends from your past back into your world. Look sharp.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

It’s time to expand your world, especially by travelling somewhere new and exciting. But if you can’t travel, be a tourist in your own town. Go places you’ve never been before. Explore new shops, new restaurants, new neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, with Mercury going retrograde at the top of your chart, you might reassess your life direction in general. You might also re-connect with bosses, parents and authority figures from your past. It’s also a good time to undertake new studies

to boost your career. Your ambition is aroused and you’re full of ideas!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

This is the perfect time to get in touch with your inner self. You might be doing things differently. You might feel as if compulsions are steering you in new directions. You want to experience life on a feeling level – not just an intellectual understanding. You might encounter someone that produces a need within you for psychological self-inquiry? You might also be more concerned with finances and shared property or the wealth of your partner. Meanwhile. you will also have a strong desire to study, learn and travel. (This is important stuff.)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is the only time all year when the Sun is opposite your sign, which increases your focus on your closest relationships. You might feel you’re getting to know someone close to you better. Perhaps you have new and fresh observations? Venus will make these relationships warmer and cozier. Meanwhile, energetic Mars is in a sexy part of your chart -- so many of you are getting really cozy! (Say no more.) This influence combines with the fact that now and well into next year, you have a wonderful chance to improve family relationships – as well as your home. Bonus!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You’re in work mode. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and dig in. Venus will help you to get along with coworkers, friends and colleagues who might be of assistance. Admittedly, with Mars opposite your sign, you might feel more aggressive than usual with partners and close friends. Conflict is possible. But if you channel your energy into work (whether you get paid for it or not), this will be a gratifying experience and give you a personal sense of reward as well as pleasure from seeing the results of your efforts. Expect to hear from old friends and ex-partners.

www.georgianicols.com

print ads or to book a directory listing for the next issue. Deadline

I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do

The Chemainus Public Market invites you to join our amazing team at the Cowichan Valley’s only Unique Boutique Mall! Looking for a line cook in Captain Andy’s seafood restaurant, willing to train the right candidate. Also hiring for waitress position, and barista/cashier. Contact Patricia at patriciaberryco@gmail.com

Holistic Health and Healing

BIOMAGNETISM & ENERGY HEALER

Recover your health & well-being focus on root cause of illness

Pets and Remote Sessions offered Kathryn Lowther 250-891-5138 www.biomagcanada.ca

Hidden Gem Reiki Studio

Judy Johnstone, Reiki Master

250-661-0192

www.hiddengemreiki.com

Reflexology by Joy

Relax and rejuvenate each and every part of your body, including the glands and organs.

jstalinski@shaw.ca I 250 246 1401 specializing in toes•calves•lower legs• knees

GRATITUDE TO THE RAINFOREST FLYING SQUAD FOR THE DEDICATED WORK TOWARDS PROTECTING WHAT REMAINS OF OUR OLD GROWTH FORESTS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND. THANK YOU WITH ALL OUR HEARTS.

Nutrition

•Functional Medicine and Nutrition Consultations

•Lab Assessments/Education

•Individualized Lifestyle and Wellness Plans

250-931-0012

sageheartnutrition@gmail.com www.sageheartnutrition.wordpress.com

SAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS!

All NHPs must be approved by Health Canada before they are legally allowed to be sold in Canada. For almost 20 years, Canada has been a global leader in the regulation of NHPs, leveraging a dedicated regulatory framework that supports safety and efficacy of these products. Canadians should feel confident that the products they use are safe, effective, and high-quality. Health Canada’s proposed changes will decimate NHPs hurting many Canadian businesses, increase prices, and limit the amount product choice you see on store shelves – a cost our industry and Canadians cannot bear in these inflationary times. Stop Health Canada from taking away your NHPs. www.saveoursupplements.ca