Sign up for a CSA Today SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS

OUR ECOVILLAGE Cooperative FARMER: Trent Berg

OUR Ecovillage is the North American model of “Lawful Permaculture” and demonstration site/research center with 25 acres of ‘field to fork’ integrated/wholistic food systems design. With love and skills background knowledge based in almost 50 years of farming in the Cowichan...this ‘Farm Membership CSA’ is a special CSA ‘Like No Other’. OUR team has created a slow food drive thru (not fast-food!) and your box comes with a full farm membership to bring your family, receive the Intro to Permaculture with Starhawk (in person or online), access to cuttings/ roots/rare breeds, online learning videos with OUR permaculture team, U-pick, AND canning, value-added products, plant starts, eggs, meats/poultry (if you wish), herbs, wild foods, with your usual Veggies/Fruit - you design! CSA runs 20 weeks (late harvest 10 weeks available too) $37+. Payment plans are available 250-7433067 www.ourecovillage.org

FARMSHIP GROWERS CO-OP FARMERS: Farmship Growers

Co-op

Farmship is a group of farmers growing cooperatively on a 50 acre family farm in Yellow Point. We use growing methods that respect the land, the water, our pollinators and other beneficial beings. Good soil, compost, water and sunshine are the main ingredients we use, if our plants need extra nutrition we use OMRI compliant supplements in our fields. We offer varied nutritious locally grown fruits and vegetables for your household. We celebrate 10 years of CSA offering. We grow 60 different crops from asparagus to zucchini, enough for a varied seasonal diet. Option of 3 free pick-up locations or Delivery for a fee. Summer CSA 14 weeksFall CSA 14 weeks (28 weeks total) Harvest box $25 per week Bounty Box $35 per week -New $50 Monthly box www.farmship.ca/shop for details.

Alderlea Farm CSA

3390 Glenora Rd, Duncan

$20/week Pay by the week!

Sign up at veggies@alderleafarm.com

Alderlea Farm

FARMERS: Farmer John and Farmer Katy

Alderlea Farm had been providing veggies to the community for nearly twenty years. The farm has always followed biodynamic and organic practices. For many years we were certified. Still following the same practices, we offer a great selection of seasonal veggies every week. Easy, pick-up is Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Located five minutes from Duncan in the heart of Glenora. When you pick-up, you may be tempted to enjoy a delicious feast of food at the farm-totable restaurant located right on the farm! There is no up front payment. Pay $20 by the week. You can really taste the difference! We will have vegetables until the end of November. For more information contact us at veggies@alderleafarm.com www.alderleafarm.com

Boots N Roots

Permaculture Farm

FARMER: Kelly Raye www.bootsnrootsfarm.com

Boots ‘n’ Roots works really hard at building a healthy, vibrant soil with lots of beneficial microbes, resulting in some of the most nutritious food in the Valley. Healthy soil results in healthy plants and healthy people. BNR is one of the few naturally grown market garden farms in the Cowichan Valley that practices true Permaculture techniques. This is a step up from traditional organic, and is the most sustainable and regenerative way to grow our food! We never use tractors or other heavy machinery, and practice a ‘no till’ method, where a lot of effort is put into creating a healthy soil food web - loaded with beneficial micro-organisms, fungi, and minerals. We make all our compost and fertilizers from scratch right here on the farm. We grow over 30 different veggies, herbs and berries Our CSA program is a ‘You Choose’ model, which works like a reloadable card. You get what veggies you want, when you want them! Great for people who would like to have choices. We grow 12 months a year, so veggies are available year round!

FARMSHIP

Concenti Singers Celebrates 40 Years!

became ill and unable to continue. By this time Sheila was the sole director. Jim passed away in September 2012, and Sheila eventually cut rehearsals down to once a week in 2015. As it became harder to find enough male singers to balance the sopranos and altos, it finally became Concenti Women’s Choir in 2018.

WhenConcenti Women’s Choir celebrates the fortieth Anniversary of Concenti Singers on May 7, it will be the Cowichan Valley’s last opportunity to hear the choir, as director, Sheila Johnson, has announced her retirement.

Concenti Singers have been a fixture in the Cowichan Valley since the choir was started in 1983 by Jim and Sheila Johnson. Both had directed choirs for many years, with Jim having had the Cowichan Chorale in the 1970s.

For many years Concenti was a mixed choir, and there was often a waiting list of women who wanted to sing with the group, but the Johnsons always insisted that there be a balance between sections. Rehearsals were held twice every week, on Mondays and Wednesdays. In the early years, the choir performed twice a year, both times at the Cowichan Theatre. As Jim was a soloist who had sung in various part of Canada, the US and Europe, he had many connections with jazz musicians with whom he had worked. Each Concenti concert included a professional guest artist to share the programme. Cowichan audiences became familiar with the likes of Elmer Gill, Jerry Bryant, Themba Tana, African Heritage and Karel Rossingh,

The husband and wife team shared the directing for many years until Jim

Emandare Vineyard 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

A truly unique wine to this region and one of our flagships. Bright refreshing orchard apple and pear meets vine ripened kiwi and mouthing watering citrus zest all tied together with a silk texture. Get it while it lasts! $32

Over the past forty years, Concenti has performed at various venues in Cowichan, Nanaimo, Gabriola, Sidney and Victoria. Throughout all this time they have donated annually to the Salvation Army and the Basket Society.

NewBoat Club at Mill Bay Marina – Come down and check out the boats!

For many people, the idea of owning a boat is a dream come true. However, the costs of owning and maintaining a boat can be quite prohibitive. This is where Club Yolo comes in - a locally owned and operated boat club that offers an easy, affordable, and flexible way to get out boating.

Club Yolo operates out of Mill Bay Marina and Port Sidney Marina, giving members easy access to the Gulf Islands. The club is membership-based, with a onetime membership fee and an affordable monthly payment. The model is similar to a golf membership, but instead of access to a golf course, members get access to brand new boats.

The club has three boats available to members: the Bayliner VR5, the Trophy T20CC, and the Beneteau

Antares 7. All three boats are brand new and outfitted with top-of-the-line navigation and safety equipment. Members do not have to worry about moorage fees, insurance fees, maintenance, cleaning, or servicing the boats. All of these costs are included in the membership fee.

Club Yolo offers flexible membership payment options

Club YOLO You Only Live Once!

to suit different needs. The single membership option costs $5,000 one-time fee and $500 per month, allowing one member and one designated co-pilot. The shared membership option costs $10,000 one-time fee and $600 per month, split 50/50 between two members, with one designated co-pilot for each member. The group membership option costs $10,000 one-time fee and $1,000 per month, split between up to four members, with one designated co-pilot for each member.

Joining Club Yolo gives members the opportunity to enjoy the boating lifestyle without the hassle and costs of boat ownership. Members can take their friends and family out on the water, explore the Gulf Islands, and make lasting memories. Club Yolo is an excellent option for anyone looking to enjoy boating without the costs and responsibilities of boat ownership. So, if you’re looking for an easy and stress-free way to get out on the water, consider joining Club Yolo today. More info at www.clubyolo.ca.

Daniel Cook trio is an original eclectic roots group from Victoria. With Ryan Rocks funk driven base, Norm Macphersons magical lead guitar and Daniels well crafted song writing These contagious melodys and timeless stories are blended into a tasty mix of Indie, Folk, Funk and Country. Saturday, May 13, DOORS 7pm / 7:30pm Open Mic sign up, Show 8:30pm Duncan United Church Hall 246 Ingram St. Duncan $5 Members / $10 non Members

Local and imported cheese

Charcuterie boards

Hand made local chocolates Italian Imports

Mother’s Day Charcuterie

Mothers Day Grazing Charcuterie

Courtesy Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese

Method

1. On your favorite platter, board or plate, place large pieces of cheese.

2. Slice sausage and arrange in a decorative pattern with sliced speck.

3. Place chutney jar on board. I like to leave it in the jar so guests can see what it is.

4. Scatter fruit and nuts.

5. Slice bread in place on board or basket next to your board.

*All ingredients can be found at Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

Celebrate both mom and charcuterie for brunch. You have heard of grazing on charcuterie for lunch, dinner or even in the afternoon but BRUNCH. So, what is Charcuterie for brunch. Well in its simplest form charcuterie is cured, smoked meats. So, what do we associate breakfast with cured smoked meats; bacon, ham, sausage. Well, it can be more than just those few items. A Charcuterie board can contain sausage, ham and even bacon. Let’s explore.Ham style items prosciutto, smoked duck breast, speck. Bacon- pancetta, maybe even some Guanciale (cured pork jowl). When it comes to sausage the choices are endless, from Toulouse or breakfast sausage you can cook and serve cold or warm, to dried cure sausages like landjäger, smoked andouille, and Mennonite sausages just to name a few. See the brunch charcuterie board is already starting to form. Cheeses are a must as well to go with the meats, harder sharper gouda, aged cheddars have been consumed by Europeans for centuries for breakfast so why not your charcuterie board for brunch. What else that you have for breakfast could make a nice addition to your board? Oh yeah eggs. What about some local farm stand hard boiled eggs or maybe even step into the gourmet world and add a smoked hard boiled egg. If you do not have a smoker stop into Cure, we have them done for you in the case to grab some. Well maybe some sweets, little cookies, macaroons, or a sweet pecan bourbon smoked chocolate tart you would find on a board if I had one at my brunch. Simple buttery Italian Bella di cerignola olives would also make a great milder olive to accompany all those meats and cheeses. Oh… and we almost forgot fruit, fresh grapes, apples or dried apricots and cranberries are nice too. These are just to name a few items to go on toast, bread and maybe even a yogurt parfait with granola could be suitable too. Let us assemble one for you or follow this simple recipe as a guild line to prepare your own. Mothers Day Grazing Charcuterie Box, Call or stop in to place your order.

250-929- CURE (2873), 5-1400 Cowichan Bay Road, Cobble Hill (Valley View Centre).

Chicken & Spinach Pomegranate Salad

Chicken

1 pound chicken breasts

1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped finely

1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped

1 tablespoons fresh sage chopped

Salt to taste

Method

Prepare the chicken by marinating it in a bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and herbs. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Grill the chicken on a grill pan, about 8 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. Slice chicken.

Vinaigrette

1/4 cup (60ml) Medium Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4 tablespoons Pomegranate Balsamic vinegar

Freshly squeezed orange juice – 1 Orange

1 teaspoon dijon mustard salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients until well blended.

Spinach Salad

8-9 ounces baby spinach

3/4 cup pomegranate arils

1/4-1/2 cup (30-60g) feta cheese - Optional candied pecans

Toss together all salad ingredients – add chicken and serve.

Mother’s Day Brunch is back! Come celebrate Mom at the Cowichan Golf and Country Club Catered by Vancouver Island Event Catering on May 14. This fabulous All Day Brunch will include favourites like: Smoked Maple Ham Carving Station, Eggs Benny with Smoked Salmon & Champagne Hollandaise, Hot Waffles with Strawberries & Whipped Cream. An assortment of fresh salads and roasted seasonal vegetables. Scrumptious dessert and pastries bar and much, much more. Seating times 10:30am, Noon or after Church at 1:30pm. Reservations recommended email viec@ shaw.ca or call 250 701 8593 to book your seats. Catered by Vancouver Island Event Catering. 4955 Trans Canada Hwy. www.vieventcatering.com

Mother’s Day offerings from Farm Table Foods Shop for Mom’s favourite brunch items from the Farm! Fresh Breads – Sourdough, Banana, Westcoast Bannock - $6 to $8 Pot Pie Quiches - $9, Cabbage Rolls – $19 to $37 Chicken Cacciatore - $17 to $30 Fresh Seafood Chowder $22, Chocolate Mousse $13 and so much more! Pre-orders 250-932-3205 The Farm Store is open Wednesday to Saturdays or visit their farm stand at the Duncan Farmers Market Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. www.farmtableinn.ca

Mother’s Day at the Genoa Bay Cafe! This Mother’s Day we are offering a classic Blackstone Benny, a sweet breakfast treat, a Mixed Berry Stuffed French Toast and for a more savoury option we have a Lemon Scallop Risotto. Refresh yourself with our feature drink, a Paloma. Plan a meal with us before or after a lovely walk around the 3.2km Stoney Hill Trail Loop.