October 2023 Issue 179

OCTOBER 2023 ISSUE 179

LOCAL FOOD GUIDES I FALL EVENTS I COWICHAN ARTISANS

OCTOBER EVENTS

The Fiancee: A fast paced comedy. Chemainus Theatre Festival 1-800-565-7738 chemainustheatre.ca runs to OCT 22

About Face featuring Art Carlyle Rainforest Arts 9781 Willow St Chemainus runs to Oct 28

1Diana Durrand & Kenna Barradell Art Show Open House 1-3pm CPAC Lobby 2785 James St FREE

Chemainus Classical Concerts Domagoj Ivanovic violin & Noel McRobbie piano

6Friday Art Circle Mill Bay Community Hall 12:453:15pm 1035 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd

Cowichan Dance Temple w/ CatNess. 7-9pm @ The Hub, 2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan. $20 6&13Fearless

7Makers Market w/ food, vendors, pumpkins 10-3pm Miller + Co. 4540 Koksilah Rd FREE

7&8The Gravitational Pull of Bernice

Trimble by Beth Graham:live performance by the Mercury Players 2:30pm Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St www.mercuryplayers.org +OCT 14

Pumpkin Scones, Pumpkin Muffins, Butter Rolls and the BEST Pumpkin Pies out there!

We’re thankful for a lot of things, and Thanksgiving is surely one of them! Pick

SOMATICS

Somatics classes on Zoom

2pm St. Michael’s Church Chemainus Reserved $23/$25 250-748-8383

Cowichan South Arts Guild Acoustic Jam, all skill levels 3:30-6:30pm Mill Bay Community Hall

2Every Child Matters March 9am Si’em Lelum Gymnasium 5574 River Rd FREE

Birding Australia presented by Val George 9am Fish Health Building 1080 Wharncliffe Rd FREE

Reading & discussion group

“Final Report of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” 1:30-3pm Cowichan Library 2687 James St Duncan FREE +Oct 16/23/30

3&10Journey through the chakras w/ Dance & Sacred Healing Sound 6:30-8:30pm,Collective Space 166 Station St www. adelinewholistichealing.com $33 +Oct 17

4Sunrise Waldorf School

Kindergarten Open House

2:30-4:30pm Sunrise Waldorf School 2148 Lakeside Rd RSVP sunrisewaldorf.org

5Lila Community Choir Open House 6:30-8pm 3228A Gibbins Rd Cari@ cariburdett.com

8Loves Triangle Community Kirtan w/ Arie leading 2:304pm Collective Space 166 Stn St. lovestriangle108@gmail. com by donation

10‘Inspired By Reading’ Book Club “Ducks” by Kate Beaton 6:30-8pm South Cowichan Library Mill Bay Centre

11Warmland Book & Film Collective “Namwayut: we are all one: a pathway to reconciliation” by Chief Robert Joseph 5-7pm zoom link: WarmlandBFC@gmail. com

12Lila Community Choir Thursdays 6:30-8pm 3228A Gibbins Rd Cari@ cariburdett.com +OCT 19/26

12&26Makers Circle Bring your creative projects & connect! 1-3:15pm Shawnigan Lake Community Ctr

13CVRD Plan Ideas Fair for Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cobble Hill 4&5:30pm Shawnigan Lake Community Centre FREE

14CVRD Plan Ideas Fair for Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cobble Hill 11&12:30pm Shawnigan Lake Community Centre FREE

Violet Reynolds RMT - teaching since 2008

Somatic Yoga at Cowichan Community Centre Individual appointments somayogaviolet@gmail.com

5&6The Gravitational Pull of Bernice

Trimble by Beth Graham:live performance by the Mercury Players, 7:30pm Duncan United Church 246 Ingram St +OCT 12&13

Period Poverty Photovoice Exhibition, CVAC Studio, FREE runs to 11/14

14Cowichan Folk Guild Coffeehouse:Ed Peekeekoot Doors 7pm/7:30

Show Duncan United Church Hall 246 Ingram St $5/$10

15Explore the healing potential of Medicinal Mushrooms Webinar 11-1pm www. ancientoriginsmedicinals. com/workshops

Help Raise a Totem Pole, meet the artist w/ music, refreshments, auction 1012pm The HUB at Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Rd.

Inspire! Youth Explore & Create Mask Making 1:303:30pm Evergreen School Salal Rm 3515 Watson Rd Cobble Hill

BC Culture Days Concert feat. Oktopus 2pm CPAC 2785 James St by donation

17“Nechako White Sturgeon” presented by Kara Geory 7:30pm via Zoom Email for linkcvns@ naturecowichan.net

18Seed Saving Workshop & Seed Cleaning 2-4pm, 2431 Beverly Street Duncan FREE!

19Railroading on the BC West Coast w/Doug Harrison 7pm St John’s Church Hall 486 Jubilee St by donation

19-20Weavers & More Show & Sale 114pm Cowichan Community Ctr 2687 James St 250-9292700

21Weavers & More Show & Sale 12-4pm Cowichan Community Ctr 2687 James St 250-929-2700

Cowichan Fleece & Fibre Fair 10-4pm The Hub at Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Rd donations welcome

Traditional Drum Making Workshop & Ceremony 102pm Realign Body Soul Mind

166 Station St $262.50 julie@ realignbodysoulmind.com

22Make your own Drum and/or Rattle w/ Hwiemtun (Fred Roland) 101pm Sacred Cedar Centre Registration 250 710 4174

Loves Triangle Community Kirtan - come sing with us!

2:30-4pm Collective Space

166 Stn St. lovestriangle108@ gmail.com by donation

23Tenancy Resource & Advisory Centre Webinar 5:30-7:30 pm, https://bit.ly/virltenant to register. FREE!

24Dogman the Musical 6:30pm Cowichan Performing Arts Centre cowichanpac.ca

Suite Dreams: Secondary suites info session 6:30-8pm, Chemainus 55+ Activity Ctr 9824 Willow St

25CVRD Plan Ideas Fair for Eagles Heights & Koksilah Village 4&5:30pm Eagles Hall FREE

26CVRD Plan Ideas Fair for Cowichan Bay

4&5:30pm Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay FREE

Unwind:Body & Mind

6-7:15pm Realign 166 Station St $88 runs to 11/16

27CVRD Plan Ideas Fair for Sahtlam 4&5:30pm Sahtlam Fire Hall FREE

Self-Massage & Yoga for Arthritis w/Elise The Hub at Cowichan Station 1:15pm 1st class is free! 250-777-4544

Elise’s Yoga Activate Kundalini

2:45pm The Hub at Cow Stn templegoddessjourneys.com Try your first class for free!

28Cowichan Fall Festival w/food, music, market

11am-3pm Waterwheel Park, Chemainus visitchemainus.ca

28CVRD Plan Ideas

Fair Youbou & Meade Creek

11am&12:30pm

Cowichan Lake Rec Centre FREE

Autumn Mini Sessions hosed by Robyn Paige Photography, robynpaige photography@gmail. com

Sampler Adult Workshop Multi

Media on Canvas w/ Carmen Stanek 9:3012:30pm Shawnigan Lk Community Ctr

Downtown Duncan

Trick or Treating 1012pm FREE

28-29

Cowichan Artisan Fall Studio Tour

10-5pm www. cowichanartisans. com

28-29 Garden House

Charity Book Sale

9-3pm George Bonner School 3060 Cobble Hill Rd

29CVRD Plan Ideas Fair

Honeymoon Bay & Mesachie

11am&12:30pm

Honeymoon Bay

Community Hall FREE

30ReelAlternatives

film “Blind Ambition”

7pm CPAC, 2687 James St. Duncan $17 250-748-7529

31Magical Pumpkin Path at Sunrise Waldorf School 5-8pm 2148

Lakeside Rd www. sunrisewaldorf.org/ events-1 by donation

Our Wine Shop is open for Drop-in Tastings on Saturdays and by appointment on Fridays.

250 597-4075

6798 Norcross Rd, Duncan

October 2023 Issue 179

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 Calendar

Stephanie Sayers Diana Pink Stephanie Sayers

Advertising Enquiries: Please contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for a print ads rate card, and seasonal promotional campaigns.

Next Ad Deadline October 15 for November 2023 Issue 180

*Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE!

Next EVENTS DEADLINE October 15 for November 2023 Issue 180

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 and articles due to space limitations.

SPECIAL THANKS TO FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICES

Jennie Stevens, Arie Vander Reyden, Karen Allen, Jennifer Shepherd, Steve Flood, Craig Spence, Midori , Paulina Kee, Margot Page, Jock Hildebrand, Julika Pape, Brad Boisvert, Niki Strutynski, Jessica Schacht, Bill Jones, Jen Rose Miller, Donna Shaw, Diana Durrand, Kenna Barradell, Cammy Lockwood, Janice Roberts, Grant Easterbrook, Sonia Furstenau, Samaya de Laat, Tammy Bricker, Katherine Lampson, Bernie Dinter, Amy LuckMacGregor, Allysa Simmons, Carolyn Morris, Vida Glaser, Kristy Landry, Silvia Graber, Ranji & David, Terence Miranda, Tina Foster, Dr. Jasmine Rose Oberste, Melissa Brown, Beverly Suderman, Alistair MacGregor, Teddy Kellam, Madeline Southern, Patty Abbott, Shiloh Badman, Debbie Wood, the lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, 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, Victoria, Tofino and Parksville.

Cover Image: A Table for Everyone courtesy Live Edge Design featuring Live Edge table with goods from Cowichan Station Creamery, Promise Valley Farm, Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese, Tatlo Road Farm, Sunrise Waldorf School Garden, Duncan Garage Cafe & Bakery, Cathi Jefferson, Pipi original art for everyday living, Mimi Roy and Margit Nellemann.

Interested in a business feature?

Request our 2023 Monthly Print Ad Rates Card for more details

Next ad deadline: October 18

NOW BOOKING HOLIDAY ADVERTISING FOR NOVEMBER & DECEMBER ISSUES

Contact us at: info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Phone: 250 746-9319

Text: 250 709-8846

Turning Seasons

Now Until October 3

There are still a couple of days in the month to see Turning Seasons. This exhibition is mixed-media, non-juried exhibition, contemplating how flow of summer into fall evokes thoughts of life’s many transitions.

Cedar: A Celebration

October 10 – Nov. 10

More than 35 artists share their contemplation of the iconic cedar. Humans have complex relationships with the sweeping giants –traditions, myth, function, art, contemplation, the wild, and survival. While you’ll certainly see artworks made of cedar, this is a multi-media show and artists present in their media of choice.

On October 21, Hwiemtun (Fred Roland) & Rob McLean share the insights, cultural perspectives and histories the works evoke.

Westcoast Reverence

Now Until October 13

Artists Krista Crowther, Sydney Dudley, Sherri McCulloch, Julie Proulx & Darlene Tully invite you to enjoy their Westcoast Reverence exhibition.

Loving Clay by Iris Churcher

Now Until October 18 Come to the Loving Clay Exhibition in the Annex Gallery and meet artist Iris Churcher on Saturday October 14. Iris will give an informal talk about her practice. A rare opportunity to see artworks of exceptional delicacy.

Printmakers Only Group Exhibition

October 20 – November 4

The Printmakers return for their 32nd Annual Show, featuring original, hand-pulled prints. These diverse works represent many mediums: etchings, linocuts,woodcuts, monotypes & more. Lots of unframed pieces for sale too!

OPEN CALLS

Lego Family Show

December 18 - 22

We’re looking for Lego fans to join us for the Lego Show. This year’s theme is from the students at Alexander Elementary: Nuts’a’wuqw which means Community. Check out “Events” on the CVAC website for details & to register.

Sign Up for Youth & Children Programs

CVAC provides full-day, Pro-D Day art camps and after school programs for children and youth. These small-group sessions are led by experienced artistinstructors who share the joy of exploration and creativity.

We are also looking for teens to join our Youth Leadership Council –this is an opportunity to learn about art and the art world, and share you message through art and arts events.

See the CVAC website or contact us for details to participate in any of our activities. We’d love to hear from you!

Cowichanvalleyarts council.ca. | 250.746-1633 | manager@ cowichanvalleyarts council.ca

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

About Us

C.Friesen-Ford Ashurst

Darlene Tully

Lynn Starter

OCTOBER EVENTS

October 1 3:30-6:30pm

Acoustic Jam

All skill levels and instruments are welcome! Mill Bay Community Hall

October 6 & 13 12:45-3:15pm

October with Cowichan South Arts Guild

Thecozy season of exploring indoor pursuits, beginning projects, finding and chatting with kindred spirits really ‘settles in’ during October. It’s never too late to drop in and see all that is happening around the community! Our programs are ongoing, and welcome you and your family members at any time of year. You can drop in to check us out for free- and annual CSAG memberships (including free admission to most events) is only $15 ($20 for families).

Maybe you like to play (or sing, or hum) music in a small friendly group? Try Acoustic Jam, Oct 1st, and thereafter - second Sunday afternoon of each month, or come to our Spotlight Series to enjoy local musicians perform in an intimate setting.

Perhaps visual art is your craving? Drop in to the Makers Circle first and third Thursdays, or the Fearless Friday Art Circle second and fourth Fridays - or sign up for periodic workshops by local professional artists (like Multi Media on Canvas with Carmen or Metis Beading with Brigette Furlonger)

Looking to engage the kids? Try Inspire! Youth Explore & Create, third Sundays - this month it’s Mask Making- and we also host seasonal familyfriendly singalongs and special events like storytelling - check out our Storytelling Nook at Shawnigan Lake’s Fall Festival and Market, October 22nd.

CSAG continues to be very active in networking with other groups to host events

in Shawnigan Lake, Cobble Hill, and Mill Bay. We are a Non-Profit organization made up of dedicated volunteers and enthusiasts, all committed to the shared vision of creating an inclusive community arts culture for families and individuals of all ages. We’d love to have you join us - and there’s always room for more volunteers in a variety of roles, from one-off event support to regular help with your favourite program (fun through osmosis!)

For more information on how to share in CSAG’s vision, please email us at hello@ cowichansouth artsguild.com look up our website: cowichansouth artsguild.com.

Fearless Friday Art Circle Mill Bay Community Hall, 1035 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd

October 10 6:30-8pm

‘Inspired By Reading’ Book Club

Book: ‘DUCKS’ - by Kate Beaton South Cowichan Library, Mill Bay Centre

October 12 & 26 1- 3:15pm

Makers Circle

Bring your creative projects, share conversation & connect! Shawnigan Lake Community Centre 2804 Shawnigan Lake Rd

October 15 1:30-3:30pm

Inspire! Youth Explore & Create Mask Making Evergreen School 3515 Watson Rd Cobble Hill

October 22 11-3pm

Storytelling Nook at SLCA Fall Festival & Market

Shawnigan Lake Community Centre 2804 Shawnigan Lake Rd

October 28 9:30-12:30pm

SAMPLER Adult Workshop

Multi Media on Canvas featuring Carmen Stanek Shawnigan Lake Community Centre 2804 Shawnigan Lake Rd

All events FREE for CSAG Members!

YEARLY MEMBERSHIP $15 FAMILY MEMBERSHIP $20

For more info contact: hello@ cowichansouthartsguild.com

REIKI WELLNESS CENTRE

250-743-8122

DEBBIE SHKURATOFF - REIKI MASTER TEACHER

Teaching Usui Reiki - Level I & II, Advanced & Reiki Master

Reiki Therapy/Chakra Balancing/Alignment - Foot Detox

Amythest Infrared Bio-Mat - Red Light Therapy

Young Living Oils - Nature’s Sunshine Herbs & Supplements

K.B. GaChing Kong, M.Ed.R.Ac - ACUPUNCTURIST

Moxibustion - Counselling - Breathwork

Nutritional Planning - Bodywork and Movement

Francoise Moulin - CERTIFIED REFLEXOLOGIST

Aromatherapy - Healing Touch - Art Therapy

Fall’s Feast

Harvest time: ‘You reap what you sow’. That saying is not only just common sense but there are many somewhat similar sayings.

Daytime • Evening • Weekends • By Appointment Only #13 - Upper Level • Valleyview Centre • Cobble Hill www.reikiwellness.ca • reiki-wellness@shaw.ca

For example: ‘What goes around comes around.’ It sure does. As that old time song says ‘She’ll be coming around the mountain’ - finishing with – ‘and we’ll be singing Hallelujah,’ in its heartfelt, poetic connotation of course. Not the religious one.

Nishan Panwar stated it well ‘You’ll never change your life until you change your choices’. Yep, we need to sow something different if we want different results.

Einstein called it insanity: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” And then there is the ‘law of reciprocity: ‘We need to give before we receive.’ That also makes sense, and Nature operates that way. It is natural that we are provided with the fruit of our labour!

Speaking of fruit, way back when people were gatherers, nature provided abundantly. Out of thousands of apples, or any other fruit, only one would eventually turn into a full-grown tree. The rest of the apples were for the picking.

Nature reciprocates when we live in harmony with it. And that applies to our material wellbeing, our mind, and our emotions. Give before receiving and it will be reciprocated. Praise and you will be praised, which is a variation of ‘Judge and you will be judged’. Even our pets know this. Most pet owners will verify that dogs or cats reciprocate their owner’s feelings. And pet owners know that animals have feelings, like fear, joy and love.

The language of feeling is in the HOW we express ourselves. Laughter, song, chanting, dance, are expressions of feeling that are received and reciprocated. Smile and it bounces back. But be angry and it bounces back too.

Anger is re-active and it is induced by an external reason. I am miserable because . . . but what good does it do to yourself or anybody else? We are able to be pro-active with our feelings. We just need to take the initiative and decide to laugh or sing. Yes, laugh without reason. Be joyful without reason. As Dr Katari the originator of Laughter Yoga taught –‘laugh without reason. Just laugh’.

You feel great and it will be reciprocated. So make your Fall a Feast of the Heart.

LOVE’S TRIANGLE Arie

Vander Reyden: Harmonium, Karen Allen: Guitar: Autoharp, Jennifer Shepherd: Hand Drum, Percussion, Steve Flood: Bass Contact: lovestriangle108@ gmail.com

Our Practitioners are certified with 20+ years of wisdom and experience!

Valley Voices: Introspective, retrospective, perspectives

Craig Spence

Valley Voices was launched in the spring of 2021. Since then, about 30 stories, reflections, and poems have been published by Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine in partnership with the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society. It’s been a rewarding initiative for creative writers and readers.

As part of the CVCAS’s Writers Forum, Valley Voices is a space where storytellers in any genre— fiction, creative non-fiction, memoir, or poetry—can share their work with a regional audience. The Forum’s overall mission, which is still very much a work in progress, is to offer online, print, video, and audio venues where storytellers at every stage in their development can share, collaborate, and publish.

Collaboration is the driving impetus here. Submissions to Valley Voices aren’t ‘rejected’. They are read and responded to with the intention of seeing them published. The guiding principle is: It’s your story, to be published under your name; let’s make it the best we can.

To stay on track, it’s important to ask ourselves why people want to

be authors and poets. For most, it’s certainly not the prospect of fame and fortune. For many, it’s a vocation. They want to tell the stories of their culture and communities, engage in a process of self-exploration, entertain, challenge notions of what it means to be human, create alternative realities, shock people, make them laugh or cry, and...

The CVCAS wants to build on that kind of creative energy in its Writers Forum because literature is a foundational art. All you need to write a story is a pen, a notebook, and an inspiring idea. And if you are masterful, you will present your readers with something wondrous—a story they get to bring to life in their own imaginations. That’s the gift of literature. It engages audiences in the creative process like no other art form or medium.

In the coming months, the CVCAS will be looking for ways to realize its Writers Forum goals. If you have ideas you’d like us to consider, please contact literature@cvcas.ca

Submitting to the Valley Voices page is easy. Go to CVCAS.CA/ submit-to-valley-voices and send us your idea.

It’s your story, to be published under your name; let’s make it the best we can.

have heard of “Cowichan Valley.”

climate, abundant nature, friendly

Community Supported Restaurant (CSR)

Unsworth’s Community Supported Restaurant (CSR) program is back! The Unsworth team are again working with local farmers and producers to create unique and changing menus.

Members can enjoy three, five or ten x 3-course meals, reedemable through March 20, 2024. Reservations are always appreciated but no longer mandatory. Each dinner, valued at $85, includes tax and an 18% gratuity.

abroad. Since our children had been learning horseback riding from a young age, we decided to enroll them in Queen Margaret’s School, a place where they could learn both horseback riding and English simultaneously. While my children have already completed their overseas studies and returned to Japan, I made the decision to stay in this place. We let go of my business and our home in Japan, and after six years, we finally managed to immigrate to Canada.

My Japanese friends are familiar with places like Vancouver and Salt Spring Island, but very few

an authentic Japanese-style ramen

Our goal is to contribute to the local community through our restaurant business. Canada welcomes immigrants from many countries, and it gave us, not so young and not so fluent in English, the chance to start a business. We will continue to embrace and coexist with the diversity of this country and work to become a restaurant firmly rooted in the beloved Cowichan Valley. Neko Ramen, 171 Canada Ave, downtown Duncan www.nekoramen.net

Midori/Neko Ramen

The Mercury Players Present

The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble

Mercury Players’ season opener, The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble, is a powerful, hearttugging, darkly funny play that tackles two very difficult subjects. Written by award winning Canadian playwright Beth Graham and directed by Lake Cowichan’s Erin Butler, it’s a story that is playing out in many homes across the country and you may recognize yourself in one of the characters.

The vivacious, recently widowed Bernice Trimble has summoned her three children to a “family meeting” and, before serving her famous everything-that’s-badfor-you-casserole, calmly announces that she has early-onset Alzheimer’s. Bombshell dropped! Thinking back, Grandma had dementia too. So who’s next? As the siblings contemplate life without their matriarchal centre, things fall apart. Old tribal patterns emerge and Mom must play peacemaker. Sarah, who is headstrong and histrionic, immediately calls for a second opinion and Peter, who is introverted and accepting, happily dodges all conflict. Middle child, Iris, is caught up in a whirlwind

of emotions, while trying to support her Mom. Bernice, still up for a good laugh, is finally ready to put herself first, while protecting her children from what she knows is coming.

This play, which was shortlisted for a 2015 Governor General’s award, pulls no punches but shows us, through relatable characters and some really funny moments, how we can and do deal with situations we don’t want.

Warning: Mature themes and strong language.

The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble runs October 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 7:30 pm and October 7, 8 and 14 at 2:30 pm at the Duncan United Church Heritage Hall at 246 Ingram Street. Doors open 1/2 hour before show time. Ticket are $25 General Admission and $20 Seniors/ Students and are available at Ten Old Books or online at eventbrite.ca or www.mercuryplayers.org.

Photo Mony Vesseur. From Left to Right, the actors are: Kathleen Ramsay, Chrissy Kemppi, Kathy Yewell, and Chadd Cawson

SHOP WITH US

MARGOT

Using my expertise in enamelling, I have the wonderful choice of illustrating Mythical Creatures using steel and copper as the backgrounds for my work and mounting the images onto simple glass vases and onto glorious journals, small rare earth magnets, bookmarks and brooches.

Firing the powered glazes in my Flash Firing Kiln gives form to my imagination! Mermaids, dragons, cephalopods, molluscs and more imaginary underwater, celestial and terrestrial creatures, mushrooms and undergrowth designs challenged by the owners of gift shops which sell my artworks, often at the request of their customers

I am pleased to say that I have been making enamels for 28 years for Imagine that! Artisans Designs, for over 10 years for Artzi Stuff in Nanaimo and for Rainforest Arts, run by the Chemainus Valley Arts Society and the Millstone Art Gallery in

Nanaimo. Recently the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and Point no Point Resort in Shirley added my works to their selections.

I began using enamelling powder in 1975 while teaching drawing at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. Another instructor showed me the basics and it took off for me from there.

Enamelling has been around since artisans discovered that natural oxides, melted at high temperatures, could form permanent colour to metal goblets and shields and sword handles.

The art form has evolved with many glazes being manufactured in Europe and in China and Japan and the US. I have my favourite suppliers and also have all the copper shapes which I design myself, plasma cut by Steve Schlaifer in Nevada..maybe a long way to go, but an artisan/ machinist whom I can trust to understand my demands, is a treasure to me.

View Margot’s work in the window at Imagine That!

Artisans’ Design 251 Craig St. Duncan for the month of October.

Margot has been enamelling since 1975 and works from her studio in North Cowichan. In her 79th year, she is pleased that her fingers are not too arthritic, and her imagination is still functioning. She is grateful to all those who have supported her efforts over the years since she left Oakville and arrived on the West Coast,

her

PLAN B: THE EXHIBITION: A SHOWCASE OF ARTISTIC VISION AND COMMUNITY DEDICATION

TheCowichan Public Art Gallery (CPAG) has emerged as a testament to the confluence of artistic vision and unwavering community dedication. In the heart of the Cowichan Valley, amateur and professional artists, art enthusiasts, collectors, and an indomitable group of individuals have orchestrated the creation of a thriving cultural haven. Their collective energy and relentless efforts have materialized in the form of the “Plan B” exhibition, which offers a captivating window into the diverse world of artistry that defines CPAG.

The Tale of “Plan B”

“Plan B” got its name from the quick change of plans required due to technical challenges that prevented the scheduled opening of the “Educated by a Basket” exhibition. While the “Basket” show has been rescheduled for the coming year, “Plan B” stands on its own as an innovative interim showcase of artistic prowess and creative resilience.

The Essence of Motivation

Embedded within the “Plan B” exhibition is an implicit narrative of profound motivation. It reflects the unyielding ambition

that underpins the creation of a public art gallery in the Cowichan Valley—a vision driven by individuals who believe in the transformative power of art. CPAG, as an entity, owes its existence to the remarkable work of its board and various committees, a collective force that has turned dreams into tangible cultural contributions.

A Kaleidoscope of Artistry

“Plan B” is an eclectic assemblage that mirrors the multifaceted personalities of its creators. It captures the essence of artistic diversity, ranging from the meticulous strokes of professionals to the unbridled creativity of amateurs. The canvases speak in a variety of tongues, from the vast expanses of landscapes to the intimate portrayals of figurative and nude subjects.

Board Members as Artists

At the heart of CPAG’s artistic journey are its Board members and CPAG’s volunteer chairs and volunteers who have not only championed its cause but have also contributed their own creative endeavors to “Plan B.” These individuals embody a cross-section of the artistic spectrum, each offering a unique perspective.

Jock Hildebrand, DipFA, is the President of the Cowichan Public Art Gallery

Westview Learning

Technology Classes for All Ages

Where: 3248 Cowichan Valley Hwy “The Old Somenos Hall”

Contact: Heather@westviewlearning.ca 250-701-3359

Beginning mid October

Onsite at WestView Learning

• Using Your iPhones and iPads - Mondays 2:00 - 3:30

• Microsoft Office 365 - Mondays 5:00 - 6:30

• Windows 11 - Fridays 2:00 - 3:30

Private Lessons are available upon request. Cost $45/hr

October 2023

After School for Kids 3:30 - 5pm

* Wednesdays - Lego Robots

* Wednesdays - Kitchen Capers

* Thursdays - Coding Smorgasbord

* Thursdays - Crafts: Mosaics

* Fridavs - Coding Smorgasbord - FJCC

To learn more AND register visit....www.westviewlearning.ca

WVL Kids..

TEN OLD BOOKS

Facets of Food Security

Julika Pape, Marketing Coordinator at Cowichan Green Community

Fallis the time of harvest festivals, sharing food and giving thanks for the summer’s abundance - and its been a big one, with bumper crops of fruit and vegetables growing in local gardens and at the many farms in the Cowichan Region. For the team at Cowichan Green Community (CGC) it’s also a time to reflect on what has been achieved so far this yearalthough CGC’s many programs are, by no means, slowing down.

The mission to increase food security in the Cowichan Region has been guiding CGC’s work this summer, especially since the cost of food has risen so much in recent months. The Government of Canada defines Food Insecurity as “the inability to acquire or consume an adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to do so”.

In turn, the concept of Food Security is based on four pillars: Availability, Access, Utilization, and Stability. Food Insecurity often disproportionately affects marginalized groups, children, seniors, and low-income households.

CGC has been working to improve all aspects of food security, creating a variety of programs and initiatives to strengthen not only availability of food, but also the accessibility to those who need it. Another important aspect is the nutritional dimension of food. CGC is committed to increasing access to fresh, local, organically grown and nutrient dense foods. Food Security is a work in progress. In fact, our entire food system, from seed back to seed, is in need of reimagining. CGC is working to fill the gaps of this broken system, one initiative at a time. From connecting farmers to a wider customer base, to creating pathways of access for un-housed

community members.

The organization works out of 4 separate locations: The Station building on Duncan Street is home to the reFRESH Food Recovery Program and reFRESH Marketplace, as well as Meals on Wheels and the local fruit gleaning program FruitSave. The Kinsmen Community Gardens, Kinpark Youth Urban Farm and Kinpark Kid’s Camp are located in a public park on Alderlea Street. The Cowichan Farm and Food Hub on Beverly Street has established itself as a beautiful and productive local farm over the last 2 years, offering not only produce and plants for purchase, but also a variety of educational and communal programs. Last but not least, CGC is also facilitating the Community Cob Oven, located at Centennial Park, which is offering free pizza to precariously housed youth on Thursdays, as well as to the wider local community.

With all these important initiatives in mind, we want to highlight 3 programs and activities that work to increase food security in different ways.

reFRESH Cowichan

Every week, the reFRESH Food Recovery Program collects thousands of pounds of excess produce from local grocery stores and redistributes the donations to partners such as food banks, daycares, shelters and community groups. This not only reduces food waste, but also increases access to food for vulnerable community members.

A small portion of produce from select stores is made available for purchase at reFRESH Marketplace at a reduced cost. Shopping here supports all of CGC’s food security initiatives. In an effort to help to increase

Powered by ‘STEAM’

stable access to food, CGC is currently fundraising for the reFRESH Coupon Program that supports low income families with a coupon to shop in the store each week. Funding for this program has been a big challenge over the last year - often leaving participants in uncertainty about the future of the program.

CGC Kitchen

The CGC Kitchen is busy as ever, producing upwards of 1800 hot meals a month as well as products and baked goods for reFRESH Marketplace. Using food received through the Food Recovery Program, the team is quick on their feet to figure out best uses for what is available each day. The CGC Kitchen makes daily meals for Meals on Wheels, the Trunk Road Village, as well as the Island Health Youth Outreach team.

Elders Gathering Garden

The Elders Gathering Garden Food Program supports food insecure seniors by providing them with an affordable, supported community garden space that enables them to grow their own food. This year, CGC was able to provide additional farm produce to these seniors, many of whom are on a fixed income, and struggling with the rising cost of living. Realizing the importance of this program, the team is currently looking for more funding and fundraising so that this service can be offered to a wider community of seniors, including Quw’utsun elders.

The Elders Garden is located at the Cowichan Farm Hub (2431 Beverly Street). Visiting the farm gives a sense of what a healthy local food system can look like. The ways we relate to the land, the seeds that we plant, the choices we make about soil and water, what we do with the harvest, and who we share the food with, all reflect the commitment to learning more harmonious ways of feeding the community.

After a wonderfully busy summer, one thing is for sure: the work to increase food security is not yet done, and support for initiatives like these is always needed.

Community Choir Open House

Seventeen years ago we came together to sing as a community and we continue to serve the wider community and to bring joy through our singing together. If you feel the call to join us, to sing songs in different languages, to meet other people in a playful, community setting, where everyone feels included and where no one is better than the other, then please come check us out.

We are NOT your “Ordinary singing choir”. We believe that every voice can sing and has a place. We dance, sway, giggle, snap, clap, improvise and sing great songs that uplift our spirits. We welcome you with open arms to the cosy fireside yurt.

Open House on Thursday

October 5th 6:30pm – 8pm

Thursdays in October and November, Lila Music Centre, 3228a Gibbins Rd, Duncan. Trades available. www.cariburdett.com

www.joythroughmusic.com

OCTOBER

- 8pm

LILA COMMUNITY CHOIR

All Voices Welcome

Begins October 5th for 9 weeks

$180 for Season

Scholarships and trades welcome

PRIVATE

Happy anksgiving! ank you for supporting the farmers that feed our community with abundant harvests each year.

Order

Turkey

Locally Cured Specialties at Cure

The roots of Brad Boisvert began with his chef’s training at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. His education led him to work in France, where he had great exposure to the art of charcuterie making from the masters. “9 years ago, charcuterie was a dying art and I wanted to make sure it did not completely die out. Many people had never heard of it.” shares chef of Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese of which he co-owns with his wife Leah Boisvert. “Through my training I had the opportunity to work with many European chefs as well as take specific classes around charcuterie, I have always had a passion for cooking and food and the art of both so I really took to charcuterie.

If you haven’t had a chance to try something at Cure there are three bestsellers that they constantly keeping up with. Their Chicken Liver Pate, Dry Sec Sausages - Landjager and Red Wine Fig and their Andouille Sausage. Set these items out with some gourmet crackers and three of your favourite cheeses and you are set to serve.

One of the great charms of Cure is that their in-house products are made in small batches or sourced from smaller artisan producers if

made pizza, sausage rolls and a delicious array of made to order sandwiches with house smoked turkey, roast beef, ham, pastrami, porchetta and a rotating selection of freshly cured Italian deli meats.

For special occasions Turkey Rolls and Fondues are available for pre-order as well as Porchetta Roasts, Beef Wellingtons, Beef Roasts and pre made Charcuterie boards. To avoid disappointment pre-order your boards and custom meats 12-24 hours in advance.

This year you can pre order your main Thanksgiving essentials - Turkey Roll, Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce, Bacon Bread Stuffing and Cure Gravy. All you have to do is prepare your potatoes and roasted veg! Stop in to this traditional European Deli and specialty food shop. The selection ebbs and flows based on production, product and ingredient availability. “We may be out of an item or two as our products are small batch hand made, but we will always have something to try. We love to talk food and sample items with you, some come on by and have a taste!”

5-1400 Cowichan Bay Road, Valley View Centre (lower level) 250 929-CURE Open 7 days a

THE SELF-CARE OF BAKING SQUASH

By Paulina Kee

Let the oven do the work while you read, sip tea, or lie with your legs up the wall. Delicata, Blue Hubbard, and Red Kuri squash are top of my list but some love butternut. You do you. You will need a sharp heavy knife and baking sheet(s), as much squash as you like, and olive oil.

The recipe: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. On a stable surface, cut squash in half from stem to base. Use a sturdy spoon to scoop out seeds and pulp. (Seeds may be cleaned and dried for a future snack). With an oil brush or your fingers, rub/brush oil on the surface of the baking sheet(s) and over the cut sides of the squash. Bake with cut side down for 40 minutes. Check in at 30 minutes, each oven is different and times vary depending on squash size and when harvested. Freshly harvested squash contains more moisture and takes longer.

When sugary squash juice is caramelized around the squash, it is ready. The squash skin is also edible after baking. Use oven mitts to remove baked squash and let sit on a cooling rack.

There are several ways to enjoy your roasted squash. Add butter and salt and enjoy it as a side dish. Or cool it, cut it into thick slices and store in the fridge. Throughout the week add squash slices to your meals and snacks for a boost of flavour and nutrition. Baked slices can be added as toppings to your grain or green salads, be an afternoon power snack or replace toast for one day of the week. Consider this an atomic habit.

Today for lunch I topped a cheek of delicata with what was in my fridge and pantry - feta cheese, fresh basil, and chopped hazelnuts drizzled over with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. It was simple, delicious, and filling. Luxurious even.

I hope you enjoy these ideas and may your meals nourish you and your loved ones!

Cow-Op: Supporting Cowichan Valley Farmers Since 2014

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it’s the kick off to the holiday season!

We hope that you, like us, will be taking full advantage of the abundant fresh produce available right now! We are so fortunate to have a plethora of small scale farms that specialize in growing delicious fruits and vegetables right here in the Cowichan Valley! Whether your go-to holiday dish is mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, turkey or dessert (pumpkin pie, please!) Cow-op has you covered!

Imagine friends and family gathered together to share a meal

of roasted turkey that was locally raised, trimmed with Cowichan grown produce like winter squash, brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower and heirloom apples! Don’t forget a great dessert; Nanaimo bars, cookies, and a variety of pies - better get the Drumroaster coffee brewing too! Finding all of your favourite produce from several different farms can be challenging, and that’s where we come in! Cow-op is a Cooperative of farmers and food processors in the Cowichan Valley, offering an online farmers market for locally grown and made products. Shop from a huge selection of leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat, organic dairy, fresh bread, frozen meals, and more.

We aggregate products from over 80 members each week at our warehouse. On Thursday we deliver your order to your door or you can collect your order at one of our neighborhood pickup locations from Victoria to Nanaimo. We support local farms and small businesses and you can too! When you shop Cow-op you’re investing in your community and money stays in our local economy. We are all about fresh! All produce is harvested to order and in your hands within 72 hours.

To enjoy the best produce this island has to offer, visit Cow-op.ca to get started and use promo code VALLEYVOICE10 for 10% off your first order!

them!

LOCKWOOD FARM COBBLE HILL

This fall we will have an abundance of winter squash, colourful cauliflower, rainbow carrots, cabbage, salad greens, turnips and more. Stock up for your Thanksgiving feast!

online guide to a

HARD TO COME BY FARM MILL BAY

Apples for fresh eating, juicing or baking. We have many varieties including Gravenstein, Greensleeves, Liberty, Elstar, Pacific Gala, Jonagold and others.

CURE ARTISAN MEAT & CHEESE

Thanksgiving offerings at Cure: Turkey Roulade, mulled red wine cranberry, turkey gravy, pecan bourbon smoked chocolate tarts. Charcuterie and of course cheese.

WISHING WELL FARM NORTH COWICHAN

Specializing in ‘Corno di Toro’ sweet peppers, and carrots. Expect leeks, butternut squash, and lots of fresh herbs this Fall!

ACORN VEGGIES & UNDER THE OAK FARM

Located in North Cowichan, we offer fabulous fall veggies such as carrots, peppers, collards, leeks, tomatoes, gourmet potatoes and herbs.

GLENORA FARM

A variety of veggies to offer in the month of October including leeks, onions, tomatoes, frozen tomatoes, kale, garlic, and winter squash including butternut, spaghetti, and delicata.

hOMe GROWN FOODS LAKE COWICHAN

hOMe Grown Living Foods offers a wide variety of certified organic, sprouted, gluten free pantry staples and low carb baking mixes. Try their UBake Pumpkin Spice Cookies, Bread or add their Candied Walnuts to your Thanksgiving Feast.

KINPARK YOUTH URBAN FARM

Squash varieties including Kuri, Delicata, Butternut, Acorn and Spaghetti, leeks, kale, cabbage, carrots, mixed lettuces, spinach, mustard, corn salad, and dried herbs.

A&S FREEZE-DRIED SNACKS

A&S Freeze-Dried Snacks is located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Our freeze-dried organic fruits are the perfect healthy snacks for you. They are flavourful, light, crispy, and very nutritious.

50km local food diet

Order by Monday for pick up or delivery by Thursday

BOOTS N’ ROOTS PERMACULTURE

COWICHAN STATION CREAMERY

Heritage, grass-fed Guernsey cows roam the hills of Promise Valley Farm bringing you products that are rich in taste and quality, such as creamy yogurt in Plain, Wildflower Honey, Vanilla, and Lemon flavours.

We are dedicated to growing food in a natural and regenerative manner. Our seasonal veggies are winter squash, cabbages, lettuce mix, mustards, pea shoots, kale, potatoes, garlic, chard, cilantro and green onions.

FARM

Thanksgiving meal planning is easy with Farm Table Inn’s farm fresh chickens and turkeys, apple pies, pumpkin pies and more.

WESTHOLME TEA CO. RICHARDS TRAIL

Spice up your tea experience with locally hand blended organic teas and tisanes from Westholme Tea company celebrating 15 years in the Cowichan Valley.

Local artisan made cheese made from milk from happy, grass fed cows. Perfect for a thanksgiving feast! Taste the difference kindness makes.

SAYWARD

Haven Farm is located in Cobble Hill on Hutchinson Road near Arbutus Ridge. We grow a variety of greens in the Fall, and fresh baby ginger. It’s juicy and fleshy with a smooth flavour and a customer favourite.

FRUIT FOREST FARM COBBLE HILL

32 Varieties of apples for snacking, baking, juicing or cider. No sprays, naturally grown. 7 varieties of kale sold right into the winter.

GARDEN OF EATIN’S CHERRY POINT/COBBLE HILL

From asparagus to zucchini, The Garden of Eatin’s provides the most delicious and beautiful varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs, with recipes to bring to your table.

KEATING FARM GLENORA

This fall season we are offering turkeys, pork, apple juice and honey on Cow-Op! Also, lamb will be available later this year.

Sayward

HAVEN FARM COBBLE HILL

TABLE INN LAKE COWICHAN

PROMISE VALLEY FARM AND CREAMERY

Growing Garlic

so long as conditions permit (e.g. the soil isn’t too wet, frozen, or covered with snow!).

it to rot. Last, you may want to mulch it with an insulative layer of straw for the winter to protect it from the freeze-thaw cycles that can occur in our region. The mulch may also help suppress weeds in the spring. Either way, you will want to control weeds around your garlic, as it does not size up as well with a lot of weed pressure.

Garlic doesn’t usually need much irrigation, but if we do have a hot dry spring you may want to water it a few times in May and June. Make sure to stop watering a couple weeks before harvest to help the leaves dry down. Typically, we harvest our Red Russian garlic in mid-July, when we see that about 5 leaves are dry and brown.

from a seed company or garden centre that sells certified seed, or a local farmer that can confirm the absence of garlic disease on their farm.

We’ve been growing garlic on our farm for 10 years now. While we started with a few different varieties, purchased from farmers in the Interior, we gradually narrowed them down to just Red Russian. We love its size, flavour, large cloves, and beautiful purple-tinged colour. This variety was originally brought Canada over 100 years ago by the Dukhobors from Southern Russia and Ukraine. It thrived particularly well in the cool damp climate of Southwest BC and has now become a BC heritage variety.

Growing garlic is simple and wonderfully satisfying, not to mention it’s one of the easiest crops for which to save your own “seed”. Technically when you plant garlic, you’re planting individual cloves (not seed), and each clove is a clone of the parent bulb. For this reason, nearly all types of garlic can be traced back to just a handful of varieties, which fall into one of two subspecies: hard-neck and soft-neck.

Growing technique for hard and soft neck garlic is the same. The main differences are that in late spring hard-neck garlic will produce “scapes”, which are delicious to snap off and eat, while soft neck does not. However, if you’re wanting to make beautiful garlic braids with your harvest, I would recommend soft-neck for this purpose (it also tends to be ready for harvest slightly earlier than most hard-neck types and potentially stores for longer).

If you are just starting out, ask yourself how much do you want to grow? Think in of how many bulbs you’d like to have for the winter, plus how much you’ll need to plant your crop for next season. Garlic is planted in the fall, and in our region really that means any time between September and even as late as February,

When planting, use individual cloves spaced 6” apart, in rows that are 12” apart. For example, if I want to have 50 heads of garlic for the year (enough for ~1 head/ week), then I would need to plant 50 cloves. And don’t forget to factor in extra for replanting your crop in the fall (so that you don’t have to buy new “seed” garlic each year).

The number of cloves per head can vary a lot depending on the variety. On our farm we grow Red Russian, which is known for its large heads and cloves, but it only has 5 cloves per head on average (other varieties often have more). If I’m planting Red Russian and I want 50 cloves for replanting, then I would estimate saving about 10 heads for this purpose. So in total I would grow 60 heads (i.e. plant 60 cloves) at the outset, in order to produce 50 heads for eating plus 10 heads for replanting.

In addition to the row spacing mentioned above, some other considerations for growing garlic are nutrients and water. Garlic is not a huge feeder, but will appreciate the addition of some compost and/ or organic bone or fishmeal at the time of planting. It’s important to plant the garlic in well-drained soil or a raised bed, so that it’s not too saturated over winter, which can cause

After harvest, cure your garlic in a warm, dry place for a couple weeks. After that, garlic stores best in a dry, cool (1-10 degrees C), and well-ventilated space.

Last, a note about buying seed garlic. Do not just plant random garlic that was purchased at the grocery store! This can introduce various diseases (the worst being White Rot) that can make it impossible to grow garlic in the future. Instead purchase it

Our farm is known for growing beautiful, large garlic, but I honestly don’t feel like we can take that much credit. Really the best first step you can take when growing garlic is starting with good “seed”. That is what we did, and now we are happy to sell our garlic on to others who want to grow their own (or anyone who simply wants to eat it!).

Niki Strutynski is the co-owner/ operator of Tatlo Road Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Crofton.

•Lab Assessments/Education

•Individualized Lifestyle and Wellness Plans 250-931-0012

sageheartnutrition@gmail.com

www.sageheartnutrition.wordpress.com

History Glass

Somemight dislike the idea of a historical take on the Cosmopolitan – it’s from the 90’s, it couldn’t possibly be history yet! That ubiquitous 90’s cocktail was popularized largely thanks to Sex and the City – but it’s roots actually trace back through the decades all the way to 1934. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, the Cosmo is actually a great seasonally inspired cocktail thanks to its cranberry flavour. With a beautiful colour and sweet-tart flavour, it may be time to revisit The Cosmopolitan.

The oldest known reference to the Cosmopolitan is from the 1934 Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars. It called for gin, Cointreau, lemon, and raspberry syrup (reminiscent of a Clover Club or a margarita). The Cosmo that came to rule the 90’s was widely popularized by Dale Degroff, a variant of Toby Cecchini’s 1987 recipe. These cocktails used the newly released lemon vodka, lime juice, Cointreau, cranberry juice.

Here’s a local twist for your Thanksgiving table

1 ½ oz Per Se Vodka or Esquimalt Wine Co Limoncello ½ oz Triple Sec (try Sons of Vancouver’s Quadruple Sec)

1 oz cranberry juice (bonus points for making your own)

¼ oz lime juice (freshly squeezed)

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

By Jessica Schacht

Everyfall/winter season, we invite our local community to purchase Memberships in our CSR program, which is modelled after the Community Supported Agriculture programs that have been organized around North America since the 1980s. By purchasing a CSR Membership with Unsworth, you can support our local food system and ensure our Restaurant staff stay busy by continuing to serve you during a quiet time of year.

From October 11, 2023 through March 20, 2024, our kitchen team works with local farmers and producers to create unique and changing menus. CSR members recieve a Membership Card redeemable for 3, 5, or 10 X 3-course dinners to use at their leisure during the 21-week period. Each dinner, valued at $85, includes tax and an 18% gratuity*.

www.unsworthvineyards.com

Local Harvests

After20 years or so in the Valley, it has been a pleasure to watch the agricultural community grow and evolve. The main farmers market has moved a couple of times. From the “mound” to the agricultural grounds to their present home in downtown Duncan. The effect on the local economy has been profound, with new farmers and part-time food producers adding to the wonderful mix of local products. The market has also evolved to a social gathering place for the community. We should be proud of what has grown in our community. Now we also have other options, like the Cowichan Green Community gardens and sales (on

Thursdays). And the many providers of excellent products like Glenora Farm, Keatin Farm and Boots and Roots (just to name a few places I frequent).

Fall is the season of harvest and a good time to learn and practice our preservation skills. Pickling, drying, freezing and fermenting are great ways to extend the season. Fall also brings the rain, which fuels our annual wild mushroom harvest. One of my favourite times of the year (even with our changing and challenging climate).

Please go seek out your local markets and choose local products. Or go to the garden and harvest that bumper crop of tomatoes or zucchini and feel good about the bounty of our beautiful valley.

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

Green Onion Kim Chee

Courtesy Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm

You can use a variety of vegetables or store-bought green onions. Sui choy is an Asian cabbage (sometimes called Napa Cabbage) you can sub with cabbage, kale or chard. You can also add a cup of sliced mushrooms (I like chanterelle for this). The salt will start to ferment the cabbage as it sits on your counter.

Ingredients

1 head sui choy (Chinese cabbage)

2 cups green onion (or leeks)

1 carrot (peeled and grated)

1 Tbsp fresh ginger, shredded minced

1 Tbsp hot sauce (or more to taste)

Method

1/4 cup sea salt

1 Tbsp fresh garlic, minced

1 tsp honey

2 Tbsp fish sauce (optional)

Chop the sui choy into bite size chunks. Rinse under cold water and allow to sit and drain. Add to a large bowl and add the wild onion, carrot, salt, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, hot sauce and honey.

With clean hands, massage the cabbage mixture to work in the salt and seasoning. Transfer to 1-2 clean liter mason (canning) jars. Pack the vegetables into the jar and cover with a clean kitchen cloth. Place on counter and allow to sit overnight.

Taste the mixture the next day, the longer you leave the kim chee the stronger it will taste (a slight sourness comes with the fermentation). Cover the jar with a screw lid and place in the fridge for 1 week to develop the best flavour. It will keep for several months in the fridge.

Women Gathering in Lobby Gallery

Art Show

Whenwomen get together, conversation flows, and the newly renovated Lobby Gallery at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre is reverberating with dozens of emotional, intellectual, and poetic crosscurrents since A Gathering of Women opened on September 25, with a reception on October 1, from 1-3 p.m.

The works by Diana Durrand and Kenna Barradell speak volumes about the life experiences of two mature artists, who are exploring and expressing their lived realities.

“My pieces are usually about women’s stories that don’t get heard or don’t get attention. I want people to hear those stories,” Barradell said.

Most recently, she has been responding ‘ekphrastically’ to the work of Los Angeles poet Alexis Rhone Fancher—they are collaborating on a book titled Triggered, to be released

in October. The poetry is described as ‘erotica’, but Barradell takes exception to the label. The show is more about a search for love, she said. Durrand’s pieces are contemplative mixed-media portraits. The series began with her Paper Doll portraits, inspired by the fashion paper cutouts children used to play with, dressing up cardboard facsimiles, mostly of women. “Every day you get up in the morning, you make a decision of what to wear, what to cover your body with. The patterns and colours found in the fabric are endless and often inspire and motivate me.”

It’s that kind of intro/ extrospective approach that Barradell and Durrand share; how it lands on the canvas is altogether different—and vive la différence, they say.

A Gathering of Women is on display at the Lobby Gallery until Oct. 30. The gallery is located on the 3rd floor of the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre and is open for public viewing one hour prior to show times without a ticket. Private viewings can be arranged by emailing Laura Stephenson at laura. stephenson@cvrd.bc.ca.

Diana Durrand’s In the eye of the storm, feeling calm and Kenna Barradell’s Attachment will be part of their show at the Cowichan Performance Centre’s Lobby Gallery.

2022 Blue Grouse Rosé Blue Grouse Estate Winery

This Cowichan Valley wine is 100% Gamay Noir and has vibrant notes of citrus, luscious pomegranate, and delicate white flowers. Traditional Roast Turkey and Cranberry sauce: Our dry rosé can cut through the richness of the turkey and pairs well with the herbaceous stuffing balancing the savory flavors nicely. As well, the citrus and fruit in our rosé will harmonize with the tangy sweetness of cranberry sauce. Serve rosé slightly chilled, it will enhance its refreshing qualities and make it even more enjoyable alongside your Thanksgiving meal. $27.99 per bottle, 10% off when you purchase a case!

2021 Pinot Noir Unsworth Vineyards

Turkey & Cranberry sauce: Cowichan Valley Pinot Noir is the perfect accompanying wine for any thanksgiving table. Its bright red fruit flavours, restrained oak and subtle tannins make it extremely versatile as a wine to pair is a huge breadth of food. The secondary aromas and flavours of coastal cedar forest and underbrush help welcome in the fall season! $38.90 per bottle

2022 Blanc De Noir Emandare Vineyard

The perfect pairing for the comfort foods of fall. Enjoy with your charcuterie boards, wild salmon, creamy pasta dishes or your turkey dinner. This is Pinot Noir made as a white wine. Savoury and soft with the earthiness of Pinot complemented by the apple, citrus and floral notes of a white wine. A true crowd pleaser that will pair with anything you throw at it this fall.

$26 per bottle

$312 per case

Quail’s Plume Green Tea

Westholme Tea Company

This green tea offers a gentle steep like sweetly toasted tobacco to pair beautifully with turkey and cranberry dinner. On second and third steeps, the taste is reminiscent of fresh-cut autumn firewood.

$25/10g bag and $55/25g bag

“Come taste the difference kindness makes.”

It’shard for me to remember, but there was a time in my life when I did not farm. I grew up in Duncan and James and I started farming in 2011. We have been regulars at the Duncan Farmers’ Market since. I remember Thanksgiving pre-farming, it didn’t really register as much of a holiday on my radar. It was a nice weekend in October to see family, an extra day off. Thanksgiving changed for us when we started farming.

12 years in now, and we see Thanksgiving as our ‘Friday Night’. We see winter as our down time, and Thanksgiving ushers it in. We turn around and look at the year. Again, it seems that despite our mistakes, despite the challenges of each year, be it Covid, heat domes or drought, there is ALWAYS an abundance in October.

My most joy-filled moments are out in the fields harvesting

Supporting Our Farmers

for our customers. We continue to pour so much love and care into all that we produce.

So what is available in October for your Thanksgiving?

• Chard and Kale. So big, so colourful and uncompromising on flavour.

• Root Crops. for an endorphins rush, pull a carrot from the soil, or surprise yourself with the size of a

locally grown winter turnip. Feel the need to dye your kitchen purple? Try some beets!

• SQUASH! These magnificent lumps of deliciousness are such a gift! Their flavour develops with cold weather, they look amazing on any harvest table, and they are a staple for any winter diet.

• Eggs. Such a great stable, always available and always in season. We are blessed to

have chickens that lay such great quality eggs.

• Meats. Local protein from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture is arguably more sustainable than alternative proteins that are part of a global supply chain.

• Cauliflower, Cabbage and Broccoli. Cauliflower makes a stunning meat replacement in a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

You can find Lockwood Farms and many other wonderful local farmers and producers at the Duncan Farmers’ Market, every Saturday, 9-2pm at the Duncan City Square. See you on Saturday!

Cammy Lockwood farms with her husband James Together they own Lockwood Farms and EcoEggs.

Freshly harvested greens at Lockwood Farms market stall

LOCAL APPLES

• Hard to Come by Farm

Gravenstein, Akane,

• McBarleys- Juice, Sparkling

• North Haven - Cider

LOCAL BRUSSELS SPROUTS

• Katie Farm

• Dudinks Garden

• Empress Acres

LOCAL GARLIC & ONIONS

• Crowbourne Farm: 16 varieties

• Boots ‘n’ Roots Farm

• Earth Craft Farm

• Island Shire

• Empress Acres

• Glen Eden Farm

• Holy Stick Farm

• Kinsol Valley Farm

• Hermeneutics: Pickled Garlic

LOCAL POTATOES

• Katie Farm: Melva, Bentji, Fingerling, Autumn Rose

• McNab’s Farm: Yukon Gold

• Dudinks Garden: Sieglinde

LOCAL BEETS

• Earth Craft Farm

• Glenora Farm

• McNab’s Farm

• Lockwood Farms

LOCAL CARROTS

• Boots n’ Roots Farm

• Earth Craft Farm

• Empress Acres

• Holy Stick Farm

• Lockwood Farms

• McNab’s Farm

LOCAL GREENS

• Alexander Aqua Greens: Mix

Lettuce, Spinach, Chard

• Boots ‘n’ Roots Farm

• Holy Stick Farm

• S.S. Sprouts: Microgreens

LOCAL SQUASH & ZUCCHINI

• McNab’s Farm: 20+ varieties

• Earth Craft Farm: Pumpkin

• Wild Plum Farm: Georgia

Candy Roaster, Delicata

• Katie Farm: Gourds, Acorn Spaghetti

• Empress Acres: Kabocha, Grey Ghost, Jarrahdale

• Lockwood Farm: Winter Blush, Carnival, Gem, Butternut

LOCAL BEETS

• Art of Slow Food: Buns, Slow-fermented breads, pizzas. Vegan and GF

• Bite me Cookie Company: Tarts, cookies, pies and cinnamon buns

• Farm Table Inn: Bannock

Sourdough, Banana Bread, Potato Buns, Apple Pies

• Kindred Bakery: Vegan baked goods with GF options

• Kloosterman’s: Pies, tarts, Traditional Dutch baking

• Well Bred Bakery: Naturally leavened breads, pastries, tarts, galettes, scones

LOCAL EGGS

• Lockwood Farms Eco Eggs

• Empress Acres

• Dudinks Garden

• Holy Stick Farm Duck Eggs

• Earth Craft Farm: Tatsoi, Salad Mix, Arugula

LOCAL FLOWER BOUQUETS

• Grow & Gather Farm *

• Botanical Bliss Products

• Nielsen’s Honey

**Order bouquets in advance

LOCAL MEAT

• The Drift: Sustainably sourced fish, locally raised meat

• Farm Table Inn: Turkeys*

• Lockwood Farm: Non GMO

Chickens

• Henry Farm: Turkeys*, Grass Fed Beef, Chicken

**Order turkeys in advance

LOCALLY GROWN TEA

• Westholme Tea Company: Green, Herbal, Black

LOCAL HONEY

• Nielsen’s Honey: Creamed Honey, Wildflower, Fireweed

• Island Beeswax: Honey, Pollen

Thanksgiving Salad

FOR THE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE:

2/3 cup Rosemary extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup Pomegranate balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 clove garlic, pressed or finely minced

¼ teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

FOR THE SALAD:

3 medium pears, ripe yet firm, thinly sliced Juice of ½ lemon, or more, as needed

16 ounces salad greens, such as spring mix, with or without baby spinach

8 ounces Brie, thinly sliced and cut into 1-inch pieces

Seeds from 1 large pomegranate

1 ½ cups pecan halves, toasted

INSTRUCTIONS:

To prepare Balsamic Vinaigrette, measure all of the ingredients into a mason jar. Tightly screw on the lid and shake vigorously until everything is thoroughly combined. Alternatively, you may briskly whisk the ingredients together in a medium bowl, or blend them in a blender or mini food processor. Immediately after cutting the pear slices, place them in a large plastic baggie and squeeze fresh lemon juice over them. Close bag and gently shake to coat. In a large salad bowl, layer salad greens, pear slices, pieces of Brie, pomegranate seeds, and toasted pecans. Just before serving, dress with desired amount of Balsamic Vinaigrette and toss until salad ingredients are evenly coated.

Enjoy!

Courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station

Featuring: Pomegranate Balsamic, and Rosemary Extra Virgin Olive Oil

World Food Day

Trees across the Cowichan Valley change into beautiful hues of orange and brown. The produce of autumn – gourds, apples, and cranberries – bring a brightness to the darkening days ahead. And the heavy rainfall of October almost tricks me into forgetting about the severe drought experienced across the province this summer. Almost. October 16th is World Food Day, and this year’s theme recognizes the inseparable connection between food security and water security. World Food Day was founded

by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945 and has been observed annually since 1981. “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind,” the FAO writes about World Food Day 2023.

This summer, drought conditions led food producers across the province to worry about the viability of their crops. BC residents were worried about the availability and affordability of food. It is more important than ever to work towards strengthening the resilience of our water and food systems. The Food Security Hubs on Vancouver Island are an example of the some of the great work being done locally to enhance food sustainability. These hubs aim to create healthy communities where no one is left hungry. Our Food Security Hub is the Cowichan Green Community (CGC), which has done fantastic work at reducing food waste, distributing local foods to people in need, and supporting local farmers. As the sustainability of our water systems is paramount to food production, I celebrate the invaluable work of the Koksilah Watershed Working Group. As so many rely on the Koksilah Watershed, effective

stewardship of the water and land that sustains us is essential to a healthy community. Droughts have become increasingly common – not just in Cowichan, but across BC. As our communities face challenging conditions that impact our water and food security, we will be best

served by our existing and established relationships across our communities. I encourage everyone to get engaged and involved with an organization that is helping to create water and food security in the Cowichan Valley.

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

DISCOVER FARMS CLOSE TO

PROMISE VALLEY FARM & CREAMERY is a small, family-run organic dairy farm. We produce organic, grassfed, cream-top A2A2 milk and yogurt from our heritage Guernsey cows.

Our delicious yogurts come in four flavours: Vanilla Bean, Honey, Lemon, and Plain. We use plant-based packaging,

and don’t add any thickeners, preservatives or additives. They’re available at our farm store and various stores from Victoria to Qualicum Beach. Fill up a bottle with our nonhomogenized, low-temperature pasteurized milk on-tap during our farm store hours: Thursday – Saturday, from 10am-5pm. Find us at 7088 Richard’s Trail in Duncan, and online at promisevalleyfarm.ca.

At KEATING FARM we are dedicated to providing exceptionally healthy and delicious food to our community. We believe in slow, sustainable, ethical, regenerative farming methods and are driven by these philosophies in everything we do. We currently offer pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, eggs, honey, hay, and apple and pear juice. In addition to our farming operations, we also provide tours, accommodations, and host weddings and events.

We love celebrating farm life with our community and hope to provide our guests and customers a taste of the incredible bounty that the Cowichan Valley has to offer.

COWICHAN MILK COMPANY is your local choice for home delivery and we carry over 400 Island products to customers throughout the Cowichan Valley. We bottle our own milk into reusable glass bottles and it is available in 3.8% cream-top, 3.8% homogenized, 2%, 10% half & half and 3.8% chocolate milk. Our mik is available through our home delivery, local stores and cafes and at our self-serve farm stand at 4590 Koksilah Rd. (M-F 7am-5:30pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Closed Sundays)

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health

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

Sheep’s Wool: A Natural Wonder for Medical Care

In the realm of healthcare, innovation often takes center stage with high-tech solutions and cutting-edge treatments. However, sometimes the most effective solutions are found in nature, and sheep’s wool is a prime example. Unfortunately in the last 50 or years, its been brushed aside in favor of synthetics. However, this humble, natural material has been used for centuries in medical care Hippocrates himself was an advocate of wool for healing, because, quite simply, wool offers a plethora of benefits that modern medicine cannot begin to compare.

• Moisture Regulation: Sheep’s wool possesses remarkable moisture-wicking properties, making it an ideal material for wound dressings and bandages. By efficiently drawing moisture away from the wound, it creates an environment conducive to healing, preventing infections and complications.

• Insulation and Comfort: Sheep’s wool is renowned for its insulation properties, keeping patients warm and comfortable during recovery. This is particularly crucial in cases of shock or hypothermia, where maintaining body temperature is vital.

• Hypoallergenic: Contrary to common belief, sheep’s wool is hypoallergenic. The lanolin, a natural waxy substance found in wool, repels dust mites and allergens, making it an excellent choice for patients with allergies or sensitive skin.

• Pressure Sore Prevention: Sheepskin overlays have long been used in healthcare settings to prevent pressure sores. Their soft and supportive nature

distributes pressure evenly, reducing the risk of painful ulcers in bedridden or wheelchair-bound patients.

• Natural Antibacterial Properties: Lanolin also harbors natural antibacterial properties, which can help prevent infections in wounds and alleviate certain skin conditions. This is especially valuable in environments where antibiotic resistance is a growing concern.

• Non-Irritating: Unlike synthetic materials, sheep’s wool is gentle on the skin, reducing the risk of irritation and dermatological complications, making it suitable for individuals with sensitive or damaged skin.

• Biodegradable: With a growing focus on sustainability, sheep’s wool is a biodegradable and renewable resource, making it an eco-friendly choice for medical applications.

• Cost-Effective: Sheep’s wool products are often cost-effective compared to high-tech medical materials, making healthcare more accessible, especially in resource-limited settings.

The benefits of sheep’s wool in medical care cannot be overstated. Its natural properties, including moisture regulation, insulation, hypoallergenic nature, and antibacterial capabilities, make it a valuable asset in healthcare. Whether used for wound dressings, pressure sore prevention, or patient comfort, this age-old material continues to prove its worth in modern medicine. Moreover, its sustainability and cost-effectiveness make it a responsible choice for healthcare providers seeking effective, ecofriendly solutions. In a world of ever-advancing technology, the enduring value of sheep’s wool in medical care is a testament to the wisdom of harnessing nature’s gifts for healing. So move over, synthetics, wool is baaa’ck in healthcare!

All Classes in the Cowichan Valley *unless stated

Samaya de Laat, connoisseur in cozy comforts and lifetime Soul Comfort product reviewer.

Weavers & More Show and Sale

TheTzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild has had an exciting 2023 celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Now we are pleased to announce the return of the Weavers & More Show & Sale after a three year hiatus. This fabulous event will be held at a new location this year; The Cowichan Community Centre, 2687 James Street, Duncan. 3 full days of shopping pleasure!

Times are: 11 am - 4 pm October 19 & 20 and noon4pm October 21.

The Community Centre offers plenty of parking and there are no stairs to climb for a visit!

This is the perfect opportunity to purchase directly from amazing local artisans, quality crafted gifts for someone special including yourself! Be sure to pick up some handwoven and knit treasures such as our always popular 100% cotton woven tea towels, table linens, woven rugs, hats, scarves, baby blankets, handspun yarn

and much, much more.

Come out and meet some of our talented guild members and watch a weaving or spinning demonstration while you shop; you won’t want to miss it!

If you are interested in becoming a guild member, we meet twice a month at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Duncan. We have an amazing group of members from all skill levels - beginner to expert craft persons. The guild is always welcoming new members from all over the valley. We work on a wide variety of fibre crafts; all types of weaving, spinning and beyond that: knitting, crocheting, bobbin lace, needle felting, and more. The meetings include time for sharing ideas and projects, learning skills from each other and from guest speakers on a variety of fibre related topics, as well as socializing, laughing and supporting each

other in our many projects. Workshops are held annually for members; this past year’s workshops included: tapesty and rug weaving as well as a natural dye workshop.

Come join the Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild and learn new skills and make new friends.

Please visit our guild website at

https://www.tzouhalem spinnersweaversguild.com for more information.

October meetings; October, 10, 12-4 pm, October 24, 6-9pm, St. Peter’s Church Hall 5800 Church Road, Duncan

Tammy B. Is a weaver and member of the Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild.

www.cowichanstation.org

All Things Fibre: Tried, Tested and True

Sincetime immemorial, humans have embraced the warmth, protection and longevity provided by the fur and hides of animals. Wool, in particular, has been used around the world and across cultures for the creation of clothing and a diversity of household items. We can all relate to curling up under a wool throw or blanket on a cold evening.

Over the past 50 years, our civilization has embraced ‘manmade fabrics’. Great strides have been made in developing fabric such as polyester and acrylics. These ‘new’ fabrics have great benefits and serve great purpose for comfort and mobility. One must consider where the fabrics come from, how they are made, the ease of access and their longevity. These materials are not as friendly to our environment. Wool is a locally produced resource that Is biodegradable and a benefit to the environment. We are blessed in the Cowichan Valley to have an abundance of farmers raising sheep, llamas, alpaca & goats that provide us with a diversity of colours & textures to work with. Many of

the local hobby farms embark upon many stages of the journey with the fibres. Once sheared, the wool is then cleaned, carded, spun and then possibly dyed. The final stages of creation range from woven blankets, knit sweaters, mittens, hats and more.

The annual Fleece & Fibre Fair is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the people who engage, at all different levels of the process, to create delightful products to share. They’ll tell you stories about their livestock or perhaps the natural dyes used to get an exact pigment. There are items from every level of production from raw wool to intricate knits.

Join us in celebrating the wonders of wool at this ‘glorious gathering of all things fibre’. The Cowichan Fleece and Fibre Fair is Saturday, October 21st at the Hub at Cowichan Station, 2375 Koksilah Road.

Carolyn is the event and rental coordinator at the Hub at Cowichan Station.

WATSON WHEELS are handcrafted all wood spinning wheels. There are two designs available, the most requested is the” Marie” that has a 30” diameter wheel based on a Norwegian design with a level table, braced columns. The “Martha” is a compact accelerator wheel with double wheels. Both models have double treadles, double drive and scotch tension. Both can be ordered with a variety of ratios to suit all levels of spinners. The models will be available at the fair for you to give them a spin. There will also be drop spindles, combs, bowls, trays and quilt racks. For more info contact watsonspinningwheels@ gmail.com www.watsonwheels.com

SHEEPLESS YARNS is an online yarn store specializing in wool/lanolin-free yarns. It was begun in 2020 out of Elizabeth’s desire to be able to buy different kinds of yarn from one store, instead of buying bits and pieces here and there (and paying the shipping from everywhere). Each yarn is tested by the owner to learn its characteristics and check the quality before being accepted for sales. Currently, the yarns include bamboo, cotton, milk, sugar cane, Chinese nettles, silk, and blends containing these fibres. Some of the more popular yarns sold are the Sugar from Lana Gatto, CoBaSi from Hikoo, and the Bamboo Pop/Bamboo Pop Sock from Universal Yarn. As an online retailer, Elizabeth loves taking part in local fibre festivals in order to connect with customers and introduce them to these interesting yarns and fibres. We look forward to seeing you soon!

www.sheeplessyarns.ca

Craftsman

Top image; Marie spinning wheel. Bottom image Martha spinning wheel.

Fall Studio Tour

October 28 - 29 10-4pm

Catherine Fraser I Cowichan Bay / Duncan

Representational I Abstract I Nature I People

COWICHAN ARTISANS STUDIO TOUR

OCTOBER 28 & 29

STUDIO & GALLERY OPEN

1516 Khenipsen Rd.,Duncan

jlart@telus.net

www.jenniferlawsonart.com 250 748-2142

Margit Nellemann

Ceramics

very interested in history and eco conservation - you will recognize many of the landmarks I’ve painted! Commissions accepted.

www.jenniferlawsonart.com

Fall Studio Tour

October 28 & 29

MARGIT NELLEMANN CERAMICS

8350 Richards Trail, Westholme I 250-748-3811

www.margitnellemann.com

Japanese concept of wabisabi—the wisdom and beauty of imperfection—Margit uses the traditional method of hand-building and forms and finishes all her works individually by either slab or coiling methods. The raw clay texture and the smooth finish of the glaze balance each other in a beautifully functional fashion. All Margit’s ceramic pieces are created with love and care for every-day enjoyment.

FB margitnellemannhandbuilt ceramics

Jennifer Lawson - Come visit the oldest house in Cowichan - on the riverby the estuary and tucked underneath Mt Tzouhalem - where you’ll find all my latest paintings, prints and cards. I paint florals, houses and gardens, landscapes, animals and antiquity... and as a location painter

Catherine Fraser ArtNew artworks done outdoors in Italy, Spain and Orkney during artist residencies will be shown. I used the three colours of yellow, red and blue. This combination of colours was introduced to me many years ago in Hawaii by artist Richard Nelson. I chose to mix the colours with water and medium to paint thinly in layers. I was interested in the light, the sunrise and the shapes of the trees. Visit Catherine’s studio and multi media artworks with guest artist Linda Weech artist and photographer. Images are representational and imaginative of landscapes and figures. At 1 pm each day of the tour, there will be a talk, demo and activity for those interested in learning more about the work.

www.catherinefraserart.com

COWICHAN ARTISANS STUDIO TOUR OCTOBER

28 & 29

Fallis here and so is the Cowichan Artisans Fall Tour. October 28th and 29th.

It’s easy… click on each number, find each studio’s address and directions, grab a friend, and take a fall road trip. You can also find our brochures at various locations around the Cowichan Valley and beyond.

Who are the Cowichan Artisans? We are a group of 16 professional, skilled artisans who display our work through gallery/ studio tours and group shows in the Cowichan Valley offering Jewelry, fabric and furniture art, metal sculpture, pottery, paintings, glass art, mixed media, and collage art.

All of the Cowichan Artisans invite you to see, with new eyes, the artistic works they have spent months creating during the Cowichan Artisans Fall Tour, October 28th and 29th. Cowichan Artisans Tour map is available on our website cowichanartisans.com where you’ll find a google map link.

The highlight of our tours is that we all love to share our stories and our processes with you, along with our unique spaces, where we create and perfect our skills. You have opportunity to take home a piece of unique and beautiful art to continuing enjoying, or an amazing original gift for Christmas.

Your tour can start from the North, the South or somewhere in between but following the

map, from the south, you’ll find Bev Robertson, in her Shawnigan Lake studio, creates bold, floral paintings, seascapes and more. A short distance away in Cobble Hill is Mixed Metal Mimi’s studio. Using recycled vintage silver, copper and brass serving platters, trays and plates Mimi creates one-of-a-kind jewelry. Also in Cobble Hill, Hayes Glass Designs will blow you away with Tyler’s glass sculptures, globes, mugs, and custom creations. Not

far now to Cowichan Station… Morgan Ann Designs, an awardwinning silversmith, Morgan offers a shining example of a highly skilled artisan with her unique silver jewelry designs. Next stop, Whippletree Junction, Studio 1867 where Pipi Tustian, well known fabric artist/ designer and Ruth Warkentin, a talented fabric/furniture designer, upholsterer have teamed up to

continued on page 42

“Art is not what you see, it’s what you make others see.”

- Edgar Degas

Duncan

When I was 8, I remember looking at a beautiful blank sheet of manila art paper on my desk. We were asked to paint a vase with flowers. Glancing at my seat partners work, my breath stopped in my chest. Her painting was full of yellow and blue and looked to me like a Van Gogh looks to me today. It was thrilling and emotional and it made me want to make something equally wonderful.

3103 Agira Road, Duncan

LIVE EDGE DESIGN CUSTOM WEST COAST FURNITURE

Duncan

Live Edge Design is an art furniture experience. Trees tell us their stories. Our job is to relate that story to our customers as beautifully as we can. Quality is first, quality in how we salvage local wood, quality of each piece of art we create, and the quality of work conditions for our artisans.

5195 Mearns Road, Duncan

Duncan

Artworks are created in a series, trusting in the process, with a strong interest in colour and design. Paintings are created using a variety of media including acrylics, watercolours, oils, and photography. The subject matter gives me clues as to how I express it. A sense of place, both real and imaginary is important.

5412 Gore-Langton Road, Duncan

MARGIT NELLEMANN HAND BUILT CERAMICS

Duncan

Margit Nellemann grew up on the small Island of Funen in Denmark. Surrounded by orchards and the sea, nature became an integral part of Margit’s life and inspiration for her work in clay. Using the traditional method of hand-building, each piece is individually formed and finished to create one-of-akind ceramic art.

8350 Richards Trail, Duncan

Creative from the core since early childhood, I find my greatest inspiration in the natural world. Shapes, forms, textures, and colours, all inform my play and creations. Details unseen by the casual observer catch my attention, especially when I have my camera in hand. Proportions, frameworks, the relationship between things, and the “bones” of things interest me.

4705K Trans Canada Highway, Duncan

Welcome to the colourful world of mixed-media artist and certified creativity coach, Caroline Storie. Originally from the south of England, Caroline moved to the Cowichan Valley over 18 years ago where the shapes and colours of the water, mountains, and farmlands of the Valley, inspire her to create with paint, canvas and stitch.

1015 Holmes Street, Duncan

Travis has been creating with metal for 20 years. He works closely with his customers commissioning unique west coast work for all parts of their home and property. From gates and railings to fireplaces and wall hanging art. Travis’s passion comes alive when he creates art that reflects nature and geometry in a sacred way.

5648 Riverbottom Road West, Duncan

Duncan

Creative since her beginning, Pipi grew up in an immigrant family of makers and creators who found happiness in the simplicity of handmade tradition. Both her Grandmother and Mother used fabric as their way of expressing themselves. Pipi’s childhood was steeped in Latvian colour, patternmaking, music and ancestral folklore, which still influence her work today.

4705B Trans Canada Highway, Duncan

LAUREL HIBBERT PAINTER

COWICHAN ARTISANS STUDIO TOUR OCTOBER 28-29 CATHERINE FRASER

Shawnigan Lake

Bev paints a diverse range of subjects from seascapes to children but is most recognized for her floral paintings and her way of capturing the light shining on the flowers and sometimes the glass that holds them. When you visit the Wildflower Art Studio you will find a small studio designed to maximize the space but that leaves room for Bev’s creativity.

2152 Wildflower Road, Shawnigan Lake

Maple Bay

Bev lived in Nepal, developing her etching and printmaking practice at Atelier II of renowned artists Dr. Seema Sharma Shah and Uma Shankar Shah. Since her return to Canada, she has settled on Vancouver Island and has a studio in Victoria and Maple Bay.

6688 Drummond Drive, Maple Bay, Duncan

Maple Bay

Wilma grew up in Chemainus and is a third generation islander. She lives in beautiful Maple Bay where she works from her home studio in a charming, fishing cabin near the beach. Wilma creates curiously creative collage and assemblage artwork featuring original antique papers, maps, and found objects.

1010 Redcap Street. Duncan

JENNIFER LAWSON STUDIO PAINTER Cowichan Bay

Jennifer Lawson is a well-known Canadian artist recognized for her beautiful watercolours of flowering gardens, charming homes, country farms and antiques. Their refreshing impressionism and inviting images are radiant with light and colour.

1516 Khenipsen Road, Duncan

CERAMIC

SALT FIRED

STONEWARE

Duncan

Cathi Jefferson creates exquisite salt fired stoneware pottery inspired by the natural environment that surrounds her. Living right on the Cowichan River, her studio is a must see. You will find finely crafted functional pottery as well as beautiful, unique, sculptural piece

5656 West Riverbottom Road, Duncan

BOROSILICATE

GLASS ART

Cobble Hill

Tyler is a borosilicate glass blower by trade. He created Hayes Glass Designs in 2014 after combining his 15 year glass jewelry business with his talent and skill for creating larger works of art. Hayes Glass Designs showcases Tyler’s sculptures, globes, mugs and custom cremation pieces, as well as his wearable jewelry art. 3845 Cobble Hill Road, Cobble Hill

MIXED

MIMI

MIMI ROY

JEWELLERY

Cobble Hill

‘Saving the planet one platter at a time’ Mimi Roy has always shared an affinity with the past. Mimi’s process of “old treasure to new trinket” is recycling at its finest. Each discovery Mimi makes is different from the next. As a result, no two pieces of jewelry are alike.

3096 Colman Road, Cobble Hill

STERLING

JEWELLERY

Cowichan Station

Set among the farm fields in rural Cowichan Station and just a ten-minute walk from Bright Angel Regional Park, you will find jewellery designer Morgan Saddington working in her studio-garage. Morgan works primarily in sterling silver and has developed a love of metalsmithing by practicing traditional silversmithing and chain maille techniques for over 20 years.

4480 Koksilah Road, Duncan

WILMA MILLETTE COLLAGE ARTWORK

STUDIO 553

BEV THOMPSON PRINTMAKER

CATHI JEFFERSON POTTERY

ARTIST

HAYES GLASS DESIGNS

MORGAN ANN DESIGNS

SILVER

METAL

COWICHAN ARTISANS STUDIO TOUR OCTOBER 28-29

WILD FLOWER ART STUDIO BEV ROBERTSON PAINTER

continued from page 39

create wonderful pieces for your home. Keeping on track… It’s a scenic drive in Cowichan Bay to visit Jennifer Lawson’s Studio, well known watercolourist who depicts historical houses

and gardens and nearby is Catherine Fraser studio. A worldrenowned painter/mixed media artist, Catherine paints thought provoking, vibrant images from her home and travels. Next on our journey, Live Edge

Designs, world famous furniture creations are designed and built from salvaged local wood, or fallen trees, exposing the story of the life it lived and sharing the beauty within.

COWICHAN ARTISANS 2023 STUDIO TOUR MAP

Nestled in a quaint neighbourhood of Duncan, Caroline Stories Mixed Media brings fun and whimsy in her imaginative art using fabric, thread, paint and more.

Just a hop, skip and a jump away is Laurel Hibbert’s Round Woman Studio. Laurel paints stories of old-world village women who will hop, skip, and fly their way into your heart.

It’s well worth the drive to your next destination to find Cathi Jefferson Stone Fired Pottery, artfully crafted functional pottery as well as beautiful unique sculptural pieces and just a stone’s throw a way is Wroughten Art. Travis makes fabulous iron gates, firepits and sculptural iron art.

Perhaps the next studio is just your cup of tea. Westholme Studio (also Westholme Tea Company), Margit hand builds funky, fantastic tea pots, mugs and more.

Maple Bay is our next port… at Creartful Dodger Studio, you’re likely to see a whale or at least find one or two in Wilma’s nautical collages or a bird on a bike will catch your eye. Rounding out our tour, travel across the street to Studio 553, Bev Thompson printmaker, painter, teacher, world traveler, whose work is inspired by her travel experiences and the cultures of the world. www.cowichanartisans.com

STUDIO HIGHLIGHTS

tranquility. Together, they create a balance of contrasting qualities, reminding us of the importance of harmony in life.

www.wroughtenart.com

Big Leaf maple and river rock to create a modern West Coast centrepiece.

www.liveedgedesign.com

Wroughtenart by Travis

Rankin - This metal art piece depicts the delicate elegance of bamboo and the beauty of a lily flower. The sharp and sturdy lines of the bamboo represent resilience and strength, while the graceful curves of the lily convey softness and

Live Edge Design - This thanksgiving gather around the table with loved ones and celebrate being together. We believe that the dining table is the heart of a home and the perfect place for celebrations and story telling, for feasting and friendship. This recent river table features Western

Oil

Paintings by Bev Robertson - Wildflower Art Studio

Peony Bouquet 22” x 28”

Come see my latest painting including this beautiful painting of peonies in a Jar. I’m often asked how I paint glass ...and I explain that I don’t paint the glass I paint all the patterns, reflections and distortions in the glass that

convince you there must be glass there.

www.bevrobertsonwildflowerartstudio.ca

Did you know that a typical home renovation or new build can involve over 10,000 decisions? For many, this process can be daunting and extremely stressful however, this should be a fun and exciting adventure and we’re here to help make it so.

Fascinated by architecture and design at a young age, Donna decided to turn her passion into a career after graduating with a diploma in Interior Architectural Design in Victoria.

With nearly 15 years of experience in the design/ build industry, DB Interiors + Design is here to help plan, coordinate and manage all design details, taking on all the headaches that would otherwise fall on you,

DB Interiors + Design

allowing you the freedom to enjoy the process.

Our philosophy is simple: we believe that open communication and building strong relationships based on trust is integral to success of any construction project. We focus on bringing life and character to each project; displaying clients own unique personality and stories

into spaces while making sure they are livable and functional.

The kitchen is the heart of the home; a place of gathering and connection and of course, my favourite space to design! Whether you’ve got a renovation or new construction, a project large or small, it all starts with an introductory consultation where we discuss your project requirements along with your budget, timeline, and scope of work. Before moving onto the next phase, we will provide a detailed proposal that outlines our process and the fees associated with each phase and leave you a clear understanding of what to expect in the coming months.

We then dive deep into the research and development stage where we further explore your needs while taking in account your inspirations, coveted furniture and possessions and analyze site details/bylaws and document anything that will help us create your curated space.

The concept and design development stage will unfold through mood boards, material and finishes selections and drawing packages. Room by room, we will fine tune every detail through numerous meetings and showroom visit. Any permit plans or construction drawings will be created and approved before finalizing your material and finishes selections. You’ll be provided these drawings and a design specification package to seamlessly communicate your design to your builder or trades for tendering and implementation.

Your home should be a reflection of YOU and we believe that the connection you have with your home can have a positive influence on the way you live. Get in touch and let’s create something beautiful together! www.dbinteriorsdesign.com

We are a full service residential design firm focusing on custom homes + renovations. Through the process of collaboration between clients, designers + trades, a well thought out home is the difference between existing in a space and truly living there.

Oceanfront craftsman style renovation

Modern mediterranean style custom home

Donna Burdulea is lead Interior Designer at DB Interiors + Design.

The Dining Table

At no other time does a Dining Table shine as brightly as at Thanksgiving. In his novel “The Table Comes First”, Adam Gropnik emphasizes the central importance of the dining table to family and community. “Never before have we cared so much about food. With inimitable charm and learning, Adam Gopnik charts the America’s recent and rapid evolution from commendably aware eaters to manic, compulsive gastronomes.” (Penguin Random House Canada, September 2023). Friends gather around the dining table to share food, holidays and special occasions, harvests, rites of passage, each day’s events and important discussions. Many memories are triggered by a dining table and the smell of a good meal or a glass of wine. A dining table is privy to the most intimate and celebratory events of a family.

A solid maple live edge table, built by Live Edge Design nearly 20 years ago was recently brought back in to Live Edge Design for a modern face lift by the original customers. Discussions with them revealed that while they wanted to increase the seating capacity and modernize the look. They wished to save the wood, which was salvaged from a local tree as well as the special memories embedded in the table. Because the table was made from solid maple it could be re-worked and refinished and could be again used by the next generation in 20 years. There was opportunity to add more wood or leaves, but together it was decided that resin

to the outside of the live edge would create a modern straight edge and make the table larger. The effect of clear resin on the outside edge of the table creates the impression of a “shoreline” and made the table markedly larger and, with the straight edge, easier to sit more people closer together.

The wood was stripped of all finish and placed in a mold to hold the epoxy resin which is poured in as a liquid. The resin is vacuum treated to prevent bubbles from forming and being trapped in the finished product. Once the resin is cured a few days later, the entire table is put through a giant planer and sanded to perfection. Fine woodworking is 20% joinery and 80% sanding. The original legs were able to be reused with just a thorough refinishing. Solid wood furniture has a near infinite ability to be reworked and refinished; it is always the best choice for heirloom furniture.

Gathering around the Thanksgiving table can bring out some of the best – and worst – conversations. In general, good things happen when we are brought together for meals. For instance, research shows that when children eat with their

parents, they consume more vegetables and have higher selfesteem. If food is one common thing that brings people together, then the dining room table is, without a doubt, the home’s soul. The dining table is a place of emotional value, perhaps it’s where you hosted a child’s birthday, or learned of tragic (or fantastic!) news in the family. It is a place for a focused audience where you can have one-to-one private discussions away from the prying eyes of others. Sisters

share their deepest secrets, parents counsel their children, and kids can share the highlights of their day. The dining table also allows limited space in a home for families and friends to be unplugged from distractions by their gadgets or other technology.

The dining table has long been one of the most important elements of a home. As our dining habits change, it’s no secret that the function of a dining table changes with it. The ability to rework and refinish a dining table is something that has never before been grasped. Eating at the dining table doesn’t have to mean longer mealtimes. It’s simply a dedicated space for eating meals, so the right dining table should actually make it a more efficient process. A dining table is a place that fuels conversations, strengthens bonds, cements relationships, and weaves memories - the dining table is the heart of a home.

Emily Lore, BID, CHS Marketing and Sales Associate at Live Edge Design

OCTOBER TABLE D’HOTE

Sunday through Thursday - 3 Courses $49

Add Wine Pairings to your meal for $

SMOKED HALIBUT & POTATO CROQUETTE

mornay creme, prosciutto crisp

Meyer Family Vineyards McLean Creek Road

Chardonnay, Okanagan, BC

PORK TENDERLOIN

pomme puree, pan roasted Brussels sprouts

hazelnut and apple salad, brown butter vinaigrette

Rust Golden Mile Zinfandel, Okanagan, BC

CRANBERRY & WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

almond cookie crumble

Stags Hollow Ice Wine - Okanagan, BC

1701 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay Reservations (250) 748-3714

www.themastheadrestaurant.com

taxes and gratuities not included

The

Cowichan Station Area Association (CSAA) is excited to announce that Rupert Scow is gifting a totem pole for the community to raise together at The HUB! Rupert is a skilled carver, artist and teacher of the Kwikwasut’inuxw “ The people of the Bear,” from the village of Gwa’yasdams on Gilford Island near Alert Bay. He has become an inspirational and valued member of our community since being welcomed to the lands of the Quw’utsun people to complete his family totem. Everyone has benefitted from Rupert’s efforts to build community, the stories and teaching that have come from witnessing the journey of the totem pole.We invite your participation at the Totem Raising ceremony to accept Rupert’s gift. Rupert will speak, and there will be a chance for others to talk as well. There will be refreshments, music and an auction table with items to support the totem raising and on going maintenance. You can also support this project by donating at https:// cowichanstation.org/raisinga-totem-pole-at-the-hub/ Come and share this special moment with us!

Many voices have joined to welcome Rupert as he has shared the process of this special project with the community.

“I think that in order for reconciliation to begin people need to be brought together first. That way dialogue can start. It will begin with different people expressing ideas and getting to know one another. By getting to know one another we will learn that we are all human and need to work together to find peaceful solutions that we can all live with.”

Rupert Scow

www.rupertscow.ca

Help Raise a Totem, October 15, 10am - 12pm The Hub at Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Road, Duncan

Submitted by Totem Committee at the Cowichan Station Area Association

-

Sous Chef

Joel Peck

Help Raise The Totem!

Fall Makers Market

Theannual Fall Makers Market is back bigger and better than ever, and it will surely put you in the fall mood with yard games, cozy seating areas and nearly 50 varieties of specialty and heirloom pumpkins! Along with flowers from hosts Miller + Co. Flower Farm, they will have offerings such as roasted garlic finishing salt and pumpkin spice simple syrup made from farm grown ingredients. Miller + Co. Wood Studio and Pottery will have their wares for sale - shelves brimming with new bowls, candle holders, peppermills, serving boards perfect for Thanksgiving entertaining.

They’ll be joined by an impressive and talented roster of guest vendors:

Food/Beverage: relax and enjoy on site deliciousness from The Local Picnic and/or get your caffeine fix with Routine Coffee.

For provisions for Thanksgiving gatherings, South Island Small Batch and Uncharted Chocolates have you covered. Accessories show up to family dinner looking extra cute and cozy with new bling from Hart + Stone Jewelry or Deedle Dee Design. We can’t forget the littles... Wild Littles will have adorable children’s accessories and soft goods. Essential for West Coast fall days, you’ll love Cozy Threads by Sarah’s toques!

Home & Other to make sure your “hygge” needs are met, all natural and delicious Pacific Coast Candles, adorable mugs from Ceramics by Jenny and luxurious Forest Etiquette apothecary. Searl Soap Company will provide all you need for your zero waste home cleaning and some body care products, too. Paper Trail Goods will provide unique letterpress work perfect for host/hostess gifts. Be sure to have Silver + Tin Tintype Photography capture the moment and the season with his insanely beautiful tin portraits.

This event is free to attend. Although there is a large field for parking, they are anticipating the event to be well attended and for everyone to have the easiest, most stress free experience possible - they recommend carpooling if possible. Rain OR shine - please be ready for any kind of West Coast Fall weather that may occur. See you there! Saturday, October 7, 10-3pm 4540 Koksilah Road, Duncan.

Pumpkin

A SELECTION OF IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL WORKS

Image; Jeremy Koreski

varieties above; from bottom left to right Triamble, Porcelain Doll, Marina Di Chioggia, Ugly Duckling, American Tondo, Snowball, Warty Goblin, Jarrdahal, Popcorn and more Snowballs.

Showcasing locally created, magnificent wooden bowls that are truly awe inspiring; the epitome of functional beauty.

Located in the Seaside Village of Cowichan Bay the gallery is a curated collection of the exceptional and the exquisite.

LINDSAY CAMPA, RMT

Embracing the Healing Power of Medicinal Mushrooms

This Fall

We work with mindful plant lovers to grow unforgettable gardens that thrive in Vancouver Island’s coastal climate. Our approach is low- impact, sustainable, and puts Mother Earth first. Always.

As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, fall brings with it a sense of transformation and renewal. Fall is the perfect time to explore the lush forests of this region and uncover the hidden treasures that lie beneath the towering conifers. These fungi are not only a crucial component of the ecosystem but also boast a wide array of medicinal benefits that have been recognized for millennia. Our local forests are filled with beautiful medicinal mushrooms, each holding its own unique bioactive profile and capacity for supporting our body systems.

As we transition into the cooler months, strengthening our immune systems becomes a top priority. Medicinal mushrooms support our immune systems in a variety

of ways. Many of the medicinal mushrooms are high in Beta-glucans; polysaccharides that are responsible for the immune modulating effects of mushrooms. Local medicinal mushrooms like reishi species, turkey tail, red belted conk and agarikon are top picks for their immunomodulating properties and contain an abundance of betaglucans! These fungi contain compounds that can enhance the body’s natural defense mechanisms, such as improving host resistance to infections, reducing stress, promoting a balanced nervous system, enhancing memory and cognitive health as well as normalizing cellular functions and improving the energy production of mitochondria, making them essential allies in maintaining our well-being during fall season. Let’s delve into a couple of these remarkable mushrooms:

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum): Known in Chinese medicine as the mushroom of longevity, Reishi is a prized adaptogen

Megan Waddy with wild harvested Artist’s conk (Ganoderma applanatum)

Artist’s conk (Ganoderma applanatum) dual extract tincture

that modulates stress responses, fortifies immune system, supports liver detoxification and protects against cancer and heart disease. Psycho-spiritually, Reishi is deeply grounding and is a metabolizer of experiences. It supports us to integrate our experiences while being held by the wisdom and stillness of the ancient forests where it’s found. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reishi is used to nourish the Shen (the energy related to the heart that influences the mind, consciousness, and emotional balance). Reishi is supportive for bringing balance to any disturbance of the Shen (anxiety, insomnia, nightmares, mood disturbances and poor memory).

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor): is a powerful immune modulator and antioxidant, making it a great ally to ward off bacterial and viral infections, as well as to support and nourish a depleted immune system. Beyond immune support, turkey tail supports our detoxification pathways (specifically the liver), digestion (acting as a prebiotic for the microbiome) and an effective adjunct to cancer treatment. Psychospiritually, Turkey Tail helps us to connect with our

authentic self and discover harmony by revealing patterns and conditioning that no longer serves. It is a valuable ally during times of change, uncertainty and the changing of seasons.

If you’re keen to explore the healing potential of Medicinal Mushrooms further, we invite you to join us on October 15th for a FREE two-hour webinar that delves deeply into the world of these remarkable fungi and their incredible benefits. During this educational session, we will guide you through the following key topics: Introduction to Medicinal Mushrooms: Get acquainted with the fascinating world of medicinal mushrooms and discover their centuries-old history as natural remedies.

Exploring the Health Benefits: Learn about the extraordinary health benefits associated with our top 5 selected medicinal mushrooms, and how they can enhance your well-being.

Understanding Extract Types: Gain clarity on the distinctions between dual extracts, micronized extracts and powders, empowering you to make informed choices when incorporating these mushrooms into your daily routine.

Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium: Understand the crucial difference between the fruiting body and mycelium of mushrooms, and why this distinction matters in maximizing their medicinal potential.

Selecting Trusted Suppliers: Discover the importance of sourcing your medicinal mushrooms from reputable suppliers, ensuring the purity and efficacy of your chosen products.

Confidently Incorporating Mushrooms into your life: Gain the knowledge and confidence you need to start integrating medicinal mushrooms into your life, making them a valuable

addition to your wellness routine.

October 15, 11am- 1pm Register at: www. ancientoriginsmedicinals. com/workshops

Ancient Origins Medicinals is offering 15% off all Medicinal Mushroom products for the month of October. To shop Mushrooms, please visit ancientoriginsapothecary. com and use the promo code: MUSHROOM15 at checkout.

Please note: The webinar will be recorded, and the replay will be available for those unable to attend live.

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)

Hello Autumn!

Self-Massage and Yoga for Arthritis

October 27November 24

1:15pm 1 hr

Elise’s Yoga

Activate your kundalini. Work with it tantrically tantrically.

October 27November 24 2:45pm 1 hr

Come

Registration: text 250-777-4544

TempleGoddessJourneys.com

The Legendary Ed Peekakoot

There is only one Ed Peekeekoot. His unassuming charm and humility make it easy to take his presence here in the Cowichan Valley for granted, but it’s not hyperbole to call him a legend. Watching some of his performance videos on YouTube makes me want to call an emergency meeting with everybody who has TikTok. “This man should be a star!” But Ed Peekeekoot doesn’t need to be a star. In a 2010 interview Ed said “an artist is aware of surroundings and their beauty” and Ed has been reflecting the beauty of his surroundings for over 50 years. In carvings, paintings, stories, instruments and in his music, “ear paintings,” as he calls them, he takes his direction from an incorruptible personal credo: “if it moves your spirit, it will move others, because we’re all connected.”

Ed Peekeekoot is from the Ahtahkakoop Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan. He grew up in a musical and supportive family, however, that support did not always come in the form we might naturally assume it did. While his uncles got him started on the guitar, there was a limit to how much musical instruction they would give to the young boy. “Nobody

taught me” he says recalling his early experiences. He took his lessons listening to his uncles, taking his fiddle into the woods alone to find his voice. “Each step was an adventure. I valued each different stage. Learning new chords was so exciting.” When his uncle finally gave him the guitar off the wall, which the young Ed Peekeekoot had long admired, his mother put it in an open tuning and showed him how to use a butter knife to play slide.

Over the past 50 years, Ed has played every kind of gig you could imagine and many you probably would not. He has joyfully brought his music to festivals, schools, corporate events, retreat gatherings and snowmobile dances across North America. Asked to describe his relationship to an audience, Ed says “you treat them as well as you can, like they came to visit in your house. Hopefully they come out inspired.”

The Cowichan Folk Guild is thrilled to present Ed Peekeekoot at our October Coffeehouse, held as always, on the second Saturday of the month in the hall of the Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram Street, Duncan on October 14th. Our open stage before the feature is open to everybody, and the show begins at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm.

www.peekeekoot.ca

Garden House Charity Book Sale Almost Here

Withthe 15th Garden House Foundation Fund charity book sale fast approaching, organizers want to ask you bibliophiles a question. Do you suffer from abibliophobia at this time of the year? If you are one of the many afflicted with the fear of running out of fall and winter reading materials, here’s a quick fix. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 28th from 9 am to 3 pm and Sunday, October 29th from 9 am to 2 pm and head to Mill Bay with your book bags and shopping list in tow.

Be prepared to spend a while checking out the 20,000 high quality books priced mostly between $.50 (all children’s books) and $3.00, and don’t forget to have a look at the silent auction, with starting bids at $20. Other popular items

include $5 book sets (hello book clubbers), CDs, DVDs and our newer Christmas, Halloween and Holiday theme section. Speaking of Halloween, don’t be surprised if you spy some ghostly or otherworldly beings in the aisles as you wander.

People often ask where the profits from the sale go. Every time you buy a book you are helping to grow the Garden House Foundation, which is a fund held at the Victoria Foundation. Each year grants are given to three Cowichan Valley organizations that support families and animals in crisis. The grants grow, as does the fund, and will be given in perpetuity. In the end, those in need of counseling or strategies to address street harassment as well as children dealing with the effects of witnessing abuse or stray and injured animals in need of medical care will be the ones that benefit from your kindness and compassion.

For more information please call 250-743-4627 or visit www.gardenhousefoundation. wordpress.com Cash or cards accepted.We hope to see you at the sale! October 28 9am3pm & 29 9am-2pm, George Bonner School 3060 Cobble Hill Rd, Mill Bay

INNER WISDOM COACH

Discovering and Strengthening Your Connection to Your Inner Wisdom *Living Your Truth*

CHRISTINE VAUGHAN BSW, RSW 250-510-7249 clvaughan@shaw.ca

CHARITY BOOK SALE

Dog Man The Musical

The Cowichan Performing Arts Centre is proud to present TheatreWorksUSA’s Dog Man: The Musical on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:30pm. The New York Time’s Critic Pick, Dog Man: The Musical is a hilarious action-packed adventure for the whole family (recommended for ages 6+).

Based on the worldwide bestselling book series by Dav Pilkey, Dog Man: The Musical is a funny and heartwarming new production following the chronicles of Dog Man, who with the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture.

While trying his best to be a good boy, he does his best to save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings! Can he catch Petey, the world’s most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder? And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime? Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of beloved characters from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants.

Dog Man: The Musical has a book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (Two-time Emmy Award-winning writer of the PBS show Peg + Cat), and music by Brad Alexander (Drama Desk Nominated See Rock City & Other Destinations), with original direction and choreography by Jen Wineman, scenic design by Timothy R. Mackabee, costume design by Heidi Leigh Hanson, lighting design by David Lander, and sound design by Emma Wilk.

Tickets to Dog Man: The Musical are $55 for adults, $50 for seniors, $35 for children/students and $140 for families (2 adult/2 child tickets). Tickets can be reserved online, by calling 250-746-CPAC (2722) or by visiting the Ticket Centre. Family tickets cannot be purchased online – only by phone or in-person at the Ticket Centre. For further show information visit our website at www.cowichanpac.ca.

Meadow Wren Flower Farm & Garden Services

• Sustainable garden design & maintenance

• Garden planning & market garden planning

• Annual mason bee subscriptions

• Cut flower sales for weddings & events

• Seed & plant sales

• Workshops & more!

Reach out for a free half hour consultation

www.meadowwrenflowerfarm.com

meadowwrenflowerfarm@gmail.com

Kindergarten Open House at Sunrise Waldorf School

Do you have a young child and are you exploring the educational path that’s right for your family? “Research shows us that three essentials are necessary for the young child’s learning; first, a broad palette of sensory experience; second, both vigorous and fine movement in response to sensory input; and third, the opportunity to imitate everything the child sees modeled in the environment. Each of these works in concert with the others to foster vigorous brain development. These activities are the backbone of the academic foundation that parents look for in an early childhood program,” says Sharifa Oppenheimer, author of “What is a Waldorf Kindergarten”.

In our kindergartens, children will experience, through outdoor and indoor play, movement that allows them self-expression, and also challenges them to develop coordination and strength through hand games, skipping, handwork, and more. Our beautiful rural campus offers endless opportunity for sensory learning, as does the simple inviting warmth of the classroom and natural playthings. Baking, painting, singing, building, and cooking are all woven into

the rhythm of the day and the week, creating predictability and flow, and offering a solid foundation for future learning.

“Watching my children grow throughout the kindergarten program at Sunrise has been a transformative experience. With calculated risks, and daily opportunities to build foundational skills in a warm and nurturing environment with experienced and dedicated teachers is why I highly recommend Sunrise Waldorf School’s kindergarten Program. The children build confidence and social skills to carry them through their grade school journey,” says one Sunrise parent.

Come to our Kindergarten

Open House on Wednesday, October 4 to learn more. The family friendly event will run from 2:30 to 4:30pm, your children will love exploring the space. Our kindergarten teachers will lead the group in a simplified version of a day at kindergarten, and our Admissions Director will be on hand to answer practical questions about how to apply. RSVP to admissions@ sunrisewaldorf.org to save your spot as space is limited!

Can’t make it in October?

Sunrise Waldorf School Kindergarten will host another Open House on November 15

Playing in the ECE sandbox at Sunrise Waldorf School.

Gardening in Small Spaces

Population pressures are resulting in living spaces becoming smaller. This limits the space available for plants and a rethink of designing a garden. Plants will always be part of our surroundings with the benefits they bring aesthetically and psychologically.

Any space receiving light, from full sun to deep shade can support plants. If soil is not available, they will have to be in containers. There are plants for any specific location and with an understanding of their requirements they will thrive. With research and planning, successful planting can be done in any space.

A wide selection of dwarf plants is available with attractive foliage, texture, form, and blooms. The challenge is to create a pleasing combination of vertical, rounded, spreading and trailing forms. Make sure that the plants are suited for the light conditions and not outgrow their space. Consider a specimen that will steal the show with the other plants creating a lovely backdrop. Widely used plants are dwarf cut leaf Japanese Maple and Hydrangeas that provide attractive summer blooms. There are many new compact and colourful varieties coming on the market. For more formal settings consider interesting topiary forms. If space allows a small tree such as upright Japanese Maple, Dogwood, Snowbell and Sumac may fit. In sunny locations, consider edible plants such as dwarf and columnar apple and on a wall or fence espalier forms of fruit trees. There are compact varieties of blueberries and for walls and fences, grapes, kiwi, and blackberry.

Locate your small garden in a highly visible area such an entry way, deck, patio, or a well-travelled walkway. Add seasonal interest with potted bulbs, summer annuals and smaller topiary forms. Every time anyone passes this planting, they will be reminded of the joy living plants can bring.

PLANTS TO FIT ANY SPACE

Create

• Dwarf conifers and Japanese maples

• Dwarf shrubs - Mock Orange, Hydrangea, Burning Bush and more

• Dwarfs Rhodos and Azaleas

• Dwarf Perennials, ground covers and alpines

• Heathers - Winter flowering Erica

• Bonsai and Topiary

• Fruit trees - columnar, dwarf and espalier forms

• Small fruits - bush and vine forms from blueberries to grapes

• Garden Mums for fall colour

• Patio pots, all sizes in plastic and ceramic

Fall Hours:

Weekdays: 8:30 to 5:30

Weekends and holidays: 9 to 5

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

tel: 250-746-5212 • fax:250-746-7034 sandsfuneral.com/duncan email:sandsduncan@arbormemorial.com

187 Trunk Road, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 2P1

Cowichan Station Creamery

Cowichan Station Creamery welcomed a new calf

this season. They call her Siri (mom’s name is Alexa). “They are both Gir cows. shares cheesemaker Henry Rekers. “Gir cows are native to India and also found in South America. Renee discovered this breed in her extensive search for a more healthy hearty milk. They have high milk fat, and high milk solids which makes for a very efficient cheese process. Also, they are naturally A2 beta casein and have many other immuno benefits. They are descended from one of the oldest breeds of cattle.”

The young calves get mostly cared for by momma cow. We make sure they are nursing properly and get a good start to life, then she takes it from there for the first few months. When mom and calf are ready to be separated we ease the calf off slowly. Until then, we share the milk. Gir cows take longer to reach puberty, so it’s about three years for them, but for the other breeds, generally two years for us.”

A Day at The Farm

Like us, our cows like to sleep in, so we don’t get up too early. We’re typically heading out to the barn at about 6:30am. First is cleaning the barn, then it’s milking time. Typically, we milk at 7:30-8:00 am and pm... with a bit of variation. You can see us on the live webcam if you time it right.

The cows are the superstars at Cowichan Station Creamery. Henry and Renee raise a few few different breeds including Jersey, Norwegian Red, Brahman, Holstein and Gir. “They love fruits and veggies, most of them love apples and Bumble especially loves chocolate. But they only get small amounts as to not upset the magic that happens in their rumen. And everyone gets some cake during the holidays.”

Customer Favourites

Koksilah - A creamy gouda with a full load of probiotics added.

Best Evah - A nice alpine with garlic and basil for that pesto type flavor. Norrie Creek - A bold European flavour, firm but still melty.

Special Secrets

The barcode on each cheese can be scanned with a smartphone to tell you exactly which cow’s milk was used in that batch. Plus there’s a link to each cow’s bio and a link to take you to the main page where our live cams and all our other info is. For convenience customers can stop by the farm’s Cheese Vending Machine which is open7am7pm, 7 days a week. Add some cheese to your Fall meals!

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

www.cowichancream.ca

Cremation & Reception Centre-Duncan by Arbor Memorial

Sands Funeral Chapel

Janice Winfrey

Funeral Director

Alexa and Siri

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

Amy LuckMacGregor Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician

Atits most basic, regenerative agriculture involves leaving the soil in better condition than it was found. It’s different to the idea of “sustainable” – keeping something in it’s current state or level for the future – which implies that where we’re at is actually acceptable. There’s no denying that agricultural practices over the course of human history have degraded eco-systems both above and below ground. Broadly speaking, finding ways to allow us to continue to grow enough food into the future would be sustainable. Restoring life above and below ground as we grow –that would be regenerative. We now have a deeper understanding of the damage caused and how to measure our efforts to remediate it.

Even within circles of folks practicing regenerative agriculture, there is difficulty pinning down a precise definition. Part of this is because (thankfully) there are multiple practices that work across various contexts. So it’s not necessarily the “what”. As Nicole Masters (my favourite soil nerd) puts it, it’s more about the “why”, and being transparent along the way. Trying to distill something as complex as ecosystem function into a set of boxes that could be certified is a very reductionist approach. One could argue that it’s this way of thinking that got our soils in this mess in the first place. In Nicole’s words: “regenerative agriculture calls forth terms around integrity, restoring natural cycles and transparency of food production systems… any definition, therefore, requires that we know where our starting points are. Are you re-building, restoring, and bringing more life to your land every season?”

The regenerators at Hope Farm are doing just that. This past season, an experiment was set up to explore the effects of 7 different strategies to restore soil health across 16 plots of corn. 8 plots combined conventional management (treated seeds, chemical fertilisers, herbicide) with biological management (composts, compost extracts, seed coating, various biochar concoctions) and 8 additional plots looked at the same biological management strategies with untreated seeds, this time without the chemicals. I’m

excited to share what we chose to measure as our starting points, and the results, over the coming months. Stay tuned!

Amy Luck-MacGregor Spring Hill Soil Laboratory www.springhillsoil-lab.ca

Volunteers Celebrated at the CVCAS

One definition of ‘volunteers’ is plants that pop up in your garden without any preparation or notice—a bonus crop.

Another is the people who dedicate hours of their time and energy to make organizations like the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society function. They are a non-profit’s most valuable asset, and the CVCAS makes a point of thanking them for their contributions.

So the annual volunteers’ potluck dinner was convened at the home of Past Chair Bob Johns Sept. 14, and a crowd of volunteers and their significant others gathered for a delightful evening of conviviality, dining, and song.

Everyone left with the feeling that they belong to a community organization that brings an enriching variety of arts and entertainment to the community each year.

For example, a report to the Board from volunteer coordinator Brenda Bell on the Music in the Park series says 26 concerts were held at the Bandshell, and more than 40 volunteers were on the roster to help with setup, stage management, takedown, merch tables, and concessions.

Then there’s Rainforest Arts, a venue where artists in the region can display their works and art lovers can come to

browse or buy. Volunteers keep the gallery running Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also hang shows, keep records, publicize openings, and do all the jobs necessary for the successful operation of a popular gallery.

The cultural society is stretched but wants to do more. Its latest initiatives include the Literary Forum, which reaches out to the region’s authors, storytellers, and poets and looks for venues where they can share and publish their works; and the Little Town Christmas, an annual celebration in the spirit of the season, which has migrated into the CVCAS fold.

“We’re stretched,” CVCAS Chair Bev Knight says. “But we can do more if we can encourage more members and volunteers to join us.”

Unlike the garden variety, community volunteers don’t simply pop up every spring. It takes lots of planning and promotion to grow the membership list and volunteer roster. But it’s well worth the effort to see the arts blossoming in the Chemainus Valley and to experience the satisfaction of working with a dedicated team. Find out more about how you can join at CVCAS.ca/becomea-member.

craigspence.ca

Fall Hours: Closed Mondays (begins October 1)

Bringing Hygge to Your Outdoor Spaces

Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 - 5pm www.oldfarmgarden.ca I @oldfarmgarden October, a time for gathering, being thankful and in my mind - the official start of fall. Fall can often make us feel like we have to head indoors and hunker down to get ready for winter. While I’m all for enjoying the coziness of the indoors this time of year, I also love to take in all of the changes of the season outside as well. As a former Edmontonian, I will stubbornly sit outside in any temperature that does not have a minus sign in front of it. Over my last few years living in the Cowichan Valley I have come up with a few tricks to extend the enjoyability of my time outside well into the cooler months.

Fall brings with it shorter and darker days. I say we put on our Hygge hats and embrace it! Hygge (pronounced hyooguh) is the Danish way of thinking that welcomes this darker, cooler time of year by creating cozy environments to enjoy with great company.

Once the cooler weather and rain allows for the fire ban to be lifted, fall is one of my favourite seasons to host bonfires. A beautiful fire bowl is a great way to bring warmth and ambiance of Hygge to any gathering. Add in some great fall coloured foliage such as a Barberry shrub, Dogwood, or an ornamental grass and you get the perfect setting for some peaceful fireside chats. Fall on the West Coast is almost synonymous with extra layers.

I love adding layers of warm blankets and pillows to my outdoor entertaining areas to bring the feelings of coziness outside. Another great Hygge addition to your outdoor spaces (or indoor for that matter) this time of year, are candles and lanterns. Candles add instant warmth to any atmosphere, and they are a great way to combat the early dark skies. By utilizing any of these tips you can fully enjoy your outdoor patios and have a truly Hygge filled season.

You can find the perfect fire pots, plants, blankets, lighting and decor to bring your Hygge dreams to life at the Old Farm Garden Center. We are happy to help you create the cozy and warm spaces you need to entertain outdoors this time of year!

Allysa Simmons The Old Farm Garden Center @oldfarmgarden 5174 Francis St. Koksilah

With one-of-a-kind plants, beautiful home and garden decor and friendly, helpful staff, we can help you create the garden of your dreams.

Celebrate Island

Craft Spirit Distillers

OnNovember 4th Merridale Cidery and Distillery will welcome over ten Vancouver Island Craft Distilleries to celebrate the flavours and ingenuity of local industry leaders.

Expect an immersive and vibrant evening of tasting craft spirits, both neat and in cocktails. Talk to the distillers, meet the makers and experience the nuances and passion of craft spirits made right here on the Island. Pair with hand held appies to round out this taste sensation.

Located in the Merridale Farmhouse, the event is the perfect opportunity to learn about what truly goes into craft spirits. Craft is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but there’s actual legislative criteria that a distillery must meet in order to be designated as a craft distillery. First of all, the spirits must be made using BC ingredients. This inherently supports local farming, encourages sustainability and

reduces long supply chains. And secondly, they must be produced in small batches. This means the distillation process is more handson and the producers are directly connected at every step of the process.

Whether you are a spirit connoisseur or just dipping your toes in, the evening is a great place to enjoy some drinks with your friends and learn about the vibrant craft spirit industry on Vancouver Island.

As the first small-batch craft distillery in B.C, Merridale has a rich history of ambitiously producing enticing and awardwinning tastes and flavours that celebrate life on Vancouver Island. Owners Janet Docherty and Rick Pipes are industry pioneers who advocated for legislative changes, opening the craft distilling industry in British Columbia.

“We’ve come so far,” said Pipes, “And we want to bring attention to the innovative and cutting-edge craft distilling industry here on Vancouver Island. That is our goal with the Craft Spirit and Cocktail Festival - it’s an opportunity to experience local distilleries all under one roof and taste all that the local industry has to offer.”

With a pop-up shop, transportation available from Victoria, Langford, Duncan and Nanaimo and hand-held eats available, this unforgettable festival is sure to be a memorable evening celebrating all that the craft distilling world has to offer.

A limited number of tickets are available, visit merridale.ca/craftspirit-festival to purchase your tickets.

VI Classic Auto Detailing

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

A Tiny Home Romance Story

Do you know of someone who has wished to live in a tiny home? The idyllic setting on a forested piece of land near a creek?

What a romantic idea! Unfortunately, just as in some romances, you might end up heart broken….

Why aren’t there more year round liveable tiny homes in the area?

The answer isn’t simple. Some questions to consider: Is the tiny home on wheels, is it a recreational vehicle or is it a building?

If it is on wheels, then it might be a recreational vehicle - like an RV?

If it is not on wheels then it might be a building?

If it is a building meant to be used as a dwelling, does it have CSA approval? If not, then it requires a building permit and land suitable for a permit for this type of home. It must also have the needed infrastructure for water, sewage disposal, power hook ups and a substructure or foundation.

This is where the romance might result in heart break:

Treat yourself with this limited time facial special that includes a complimentary 30 minute Back Massage (regular price $62) This anti-aging service is perfect for hydrating and helps to correct pigmentation. $115

Monday-Friday 9-5pm Saturday, Sunday and Holidays – Closed

109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza)

250 748-2056 I www.soulescape.ca

From Cowichan Valley Regional District: A tiny home (on a chassis with wheels) “may be used for intermittent camping at an approved camp site, but it is not designed for permanent human habitation. Placing this structure on your land for the purpose of using it as a year-round dwelling

will be a violation of your local Zoning Bylaw and the BC Building Code”. In North Cowichan Municipality - a “factory built” tiny home must follow “regulation being the BC Building Code” and have manufactured home CSA approval.

Where can you find the piece of forested land near a creek?

Ask your real estate professional to look for freehold land. Always check with local municipal planners to see if your type of tiny home would be permitted for year round or seasonal use on the land. Minimum dwelling size requirement and distance watercourse setbacks may apply.

If other dwellings exist, zoning suitable for a secondary dwelling unit would be necessary.

Consider that your “tiny home” would need to meet manufactured home standards requiring CSA approval. (CSA Z240 MH or CSA A277) or would require a building permit and must meet BC building code. The land would also need to have an ample water source and approved sewage disposal.

Consult a trusted real estate professional to help you check local municipality zoning bylaws, before you commit to your tiny home romance.

For professional advice call Vida Glaser, a Realtor proudly living in the Cowichan Valley.

778 966 9177

Time to renew your mortgage?

Here are 5 things you can do.

Valley View Centre

In the last two years, the conventional mortgage lending rate for five-year term mortgages rose 77%.

According to the Bank of Canada, the 1.4 million Canadians who got a mortgage in 2020 or 2021 could see their average monthly payment be 30% or higher within five years. If it’s time to renew your mortgage, higher payments could impact your financial strategy. Here are five things you may want to consider to help control your payments:

1. Pay a lump sum

Renewing your mortgage may be the best time to make a lump sum payment. Putting down a lump sum at the time of renewal goes directly toward reducing the principal and typically can be done without incurring any penalties. If you don’t have the cash on-hand, you may want to consider liquidating assets if it makes sense for you. Be aware, though, that this could mean selling assets at a less-than-optimal time.

2. Are there tax implications?

When you change the frequency of your mortgage payments, you not only change how often you pay, but the amount you pay toward principal.

If you choose to pay more frequently, more of your payments go toward principal, meaning you’ll pay less interest over the life of the mortgage, and you’ll be able to pay it down faster. On the other hand, a less-frequent payment schedule means you make fewer payments per year, which could enable you to manage your cash flow more easily.

If you choose to pay less frequently, you could choose to make lump sum payments during the year if you find that you have extra cash. Be sure to read the terms of your mortgage before doing this, as many lenders have limits on how much extra you can pay per year.

3. Renew for a shorter term

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), more Canadians are choosing shorter-term fixed-rate mortgages. Shorter term rates typically come with higher rates, but the hope of many Canadians is that the Bank of Canada will choose to lower rates before their next renewal.

4. Extend your amortization

If you increase your amortization, you extend the amount of time you’ll be paying down your mortgage, but you’ll likely reduce your payments. This could enable you to have better control

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

over your cashflow, but you’ll likely spend longer paying down your mortgage.

5. Downsize or co-habitate

If you find that you’re unable to afford your mortgage payments, selling and downsizing for a more affordable home could be an option to consider. Living with and splitting payments with a friend or family

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

member could also enable you to better manage your payments.

What you do depends entirely on your unique situation. Before you renew your mortgage, you should research all of your options. Talk to me about how the choices you make could impact your financial strategy.

Kristy Landry Financial Advisor Edward Jones

Beginner Quilting Class at The Spoolyard

In this beginner quilting class you will learn accurate cutting and piecing practices, how to make a quilt “sandwich” and options for quilting and binding your quilt. We will be making a modern baby quilt, you choose the colours and decide the layout of the versatile half square triangles. Two dates to choose from:

Sundays October 29 - November 12 Fridays November 17-December 8. Cost is $375 and includes all materials and supplies. 250-715-1165 www.thespoolyard.ca

Taking

to keep them in beneficial balance, and one way to really nourish them and keep them happy is by feeding them well. Think of these beneficial microbes as the flowers in your garden, while prebiotics, the food we feed them, serve as the fertilizer to enrich the garden soil and help the flowers to thrive.

The beneficial microbes that support great mood, balance the immune system, and nourish our gut lining enjoy and thrive eating plant foods!

The parts of the plant-based foods that are especially beneficial are complex carbohydrates, specifically fibre, as well as special sugars called oligosaccharides. To our microbes, these are a feast! They take these foods and generate antiinflammatory compounds (short chain fatty acids, or SCFAs) that help prevent colon cancer and support nutrient absorption. SCFAs also circulate our entire body, helping to regulate blood sugar, appetite, mood, and immune system (and thus, allergies and eczema), provide a source of energy, and healing for our gut cells.

•Functional Medicine and Nutrition Consultations

•Lab Assessments/Education

•Individualized Lifestyle and Wellness Plans

250-931-0012

sageheartnutrition@gmail.com

www.sageheartnutrition.wordpress.com

Here’s my top list of foods to choose within your weekly menu!

• Onions, garlic, leeks, chives, scallions, shallots, etc.

• Jerusalem artichokes

• Asparagus

• Dandelion greens

• Nectarines, pears

• Raspberries

• Watermelon

• Greener bananas and plantains

• Beans (especially chickpeas), lentils

• Apples with peel

• Whole grain sprouted wheat (if tolerated)

Resistant starches are another category of prebiotic foods that are utilized by your beneficial gut bacteria. Top resistant starches include:

• greener bananas and plantains, raw banana flour

• cooked and cooled beans, peas, lentils, rice, and potatoes

Tending Your Internal Garden

slow. This is normal and will decrease over time.

• raw potato starch; and whole grains including gluten

If prebiotics are not a regular part of your diet, it is VERY important to introduce them slowly. As the microbes shift or find themselves with a new abundance of food, they will get extremely happy and eat, eat, eat! And as a result, you may find yourself a bit... gassy. Hopefully not to the point of discomfort, so take it

I recommend aiming for at least 29 g dietary fibre per day, plus 1-2 prebiotic foods per day. This will help your probiotic bacterial community to thrive. when you support your microbes’ growth and vitality, they return the favour in immeasurable ways.

good care of your gut microbes is essential

Silvia Graber, Registered Nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner specializing in digestion and mental health.

Free workshop on Secondary Suites offered by CRA

Secondary suites can be a win-win-win for homeowners, renters, and communities looking for ways to address the affordable housing crisis.

So the Chemainus Residents Association is teaming up with the Municipality of North Cowichan, representatives from the building trades, and financial advisors to present Secondary Suites: Getting Started, an October 24 evening workshop that will cover the basics and let participants ask questions.

Affordability affects renters and homeowners alike, and legal suites—Additional Dwelling Units is the official terminology in North Cowichan—offer relief both ways: for renters, they increase the availability of quality housing; for homeowners, they are a source of income to help meet the escalating expenses of buying and maintaining a property.

“Providing affordable housing options is essential for the health of communities like Chemainus,” CRA Chair Kristi Hagen said. Without a stock of affordable housing, workers can’t find places to live, and businesses suffer because residents are spending so much of their income on accommodation. “That’s a lose-lose,” Hagen said.

ADUs will be especially suited for young people who are setting out and seniors who are downsizing.

Although the free workshop is being organized by the CRA, it is open to anyone in the North Cowichan region who wants to attend.

Workshop speakers, beginning with North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas, will present information about what homeowners need to consider and steps they need to take to get from conception through to completion of their projects. They will also outline municipal bylaw and procedural changes being imple-

mented to make it easier to get ADUs approved and built.

Building contractor and CRA board member Tim Openshaw will provide an overview of ‘what to expect’ working through the approval and construction phases of building a secondary suite. MNC planning and building department staff will take participants through the detailed steps needed to get a secondary suite approved and ensure it meets bylaw and B.C. building code requirements. Information on how to finance your ADU will be provided by a representative of the Coastal Community Credit Union. For the last half-hour, the floor will be open for participants to ask questions. “We hope a forum like this will encourage people to consider building secondary suites, adding to our stock of affordable housing,” Hagen said. The workshop will be held on October October 24, 55+ Activity Centre, 9824 Willow Street, Chemainus from 6:30 to 8 p.m. More about the CRA is available at ChemainusResidents.ca.

OCTOBER EVENTS

October 7 9:30-11:30am

Mastering the Shirt Collar $65

October 7 11:45-1:45pm

Mastering the Shirt Cuff $65

October 7 2:30-5pm Dopp Bag $105

October 10 6-9pm

The Perfect T-Shirt (2 weeks) $135

October 12 6-8:30pm

Sweatshirt (2 weeks) $135

October 14 10-1pm

Adult Learn to Sew (4 weeks) $375

October 14 10-2pm

Nova Jacket A dramatic cocoon coat $375

October 14 3-5pm

All about Zippers: Take the mystery out of installing zippers $65

October 15 12-3pm

Quince Jacket (2 weeks) $180

October 19 3-5:30pm

Grow with me Pants $60

October 21 2:30-5pm

Carbon Copy $75

Full Day Drum Making Workshop & Ceremony

Inthis day-long workshop and ceremony, we will make our own 14” (Elk skin) drum with the guidance of Tsartlip Nation Elder, Frazer ‘Ko Le Sa Luk’ Smith. A potent opportunity to learn and grow as you weave your intentions into the drum in a good way. The day will include opening and closing circle, storytelling and all necessary materials.

October 21st, 10-2pm, $262.50

To register email julie@realignbodysoulmind.com

October 14 12-2pm

Learn to Quilt (4 weeks) $375

October 24 10-2pm

Nikko Mock Neck Top $135

October 24 12-3pm

Bucket Hat $95

October 25 6-8pm

Serger Refresher Bring your serger and relearn how to use it! $60

Enquiries: info@thespoolyard.ca

250 710-1165

WWW.THESPOOLYARD.CA

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Healing Anger: TBA for November

Also coming this fall: Communicating with Confidence Finding Freedom from Financial Fears

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

Phone 250-748-8281

email:cfla@cowichanfamilylife.org

Why We Should Read The Strangers

Thismulti-generational tale of women, Métis writer Katherena Vermette’s second of three companion novels, is a saga full of tragedy as well as some hope.

Telling of Margaret, her daughter Elsie, and her granddaughters Phoenix and Cedar, it weaves together the present with glimpses of the past, helping to make sense of how each of these women got to where they are.

It brings in an array of issues such as: racism – with Elsie at one point thinking “They’re the kind of ladies who bitch about Indians on their Facebook pages and then get all weepy if someone calls them racist”; abuse – and how children who have been invaded do not learn the skills to selfregulate; the conditions that Indigenous kids like Cedar face in foster care – such as being fed a separate (lesser) diet than the foster parents and their biological children; society’s double standards –violence by those in power

is condoned, whereas by the marginalized it is prosecuted; and much more.

The book gives a taste of so many layers of put-downs that Indigenous people face in daily life, showing how much this can wear on a person. “Margaret used to think this was normal, that all families were made up of so many sad stories. But as she got older, it seemed only Indians, Métis, who had sorrow built into their bones, who exchanged despair as ordinarily as recipes, who had devastation after devastation after dismissal after denial woven into their skin. As if sad stories were the only heirloom they had to pass on.”

Cedar’s story ends hopefully – after her father, with whom she has developed a good relationship, drops her off at university, you can feel her excitement and sense of possibility when she is invited to hang out with other Indigenous girls. The Hope of Community, at last.

The Warmland Book & Film Collective – begun in 2018 as a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – explores, celebrates, and learns from Indigenous authors and filmmakers. We are welcoming new members – if you enjoy friendly, spirited, and interesting conversation, email us at WarmlandBFC@ gmail.com for the zoom link. All books we read are available through VIRL. We next meet online October 11 to discuss Namwayut: we are all one: a pathway to reconciliation by Chief Robert Joseph.

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

Submitted by Ranji & David, on behalf of the WBFC

Hearing and Cognition

Hearing is inextricably linked to cognition. Audiologists will say that the ears collect sound but it is the brain that hears. There is substantial research that highlights a connection between untreated hearing

loss and cognitive disorders. More recent research is showing that improving hearing reduces the risk of cognitive decline. Keeping our hearing healthy is an important part of helping to keep our brain in an optimal state.

Because we can not fully close our ears like we can do with our eyes, the brain is constantly receiving and processing sounds. This processing keeps the auditory centres of the brain engaged and ‘exercised’. When we hear, the brain chooses to pay attention to some sounds (e.g. conversations) and decides not to pay attention to other sounds (e.g. the hum of traffic).

We all have a certain amount of cognitive capacity or ‘brain power’. This cognitive resource is of course limited

and the amount we have at a given time depends on a whole myriad of factors, for example, on how fatigued we are. When we have untreated hearing loss, we use our cognitive resources, as well as our vision, to fill in the blanks of what our ears are not giving us. When we have a conversation, it is of course necessary to hear before we can understand the content. A hearing deficiency commands cognitive resources first and what brain power is left over can then be used to process, remember, recall, think ahead, draw analogies, create and understand jokes, etc.

Research has shown that there is a significantly higher incidence of cognitive disorder in people with untreated hearing loss. For example, individuals with hearing loss between the ages of 45-65 have been shown

to have from 2-5 times the risk of reduced cognition and dementia, depending on the severity of the hearing loss (Lin et al., 2011; Livingston et al, 2020). More recent research (e.g. Jiang et al., 2023) is beginning to show that when hearing loss is treated, cognitive performance is significantly improved.

The primary advantage of correcting milder degrees of hearing loss is the potential cognitive benefit. When missing sounds are filled in with assistive devices such as hearing aids, it reduces demands on limited cognitive resources which can then be deployed for higher order cognitive tasks.

Terence Miranda, AuD, RAUD, RHIP Doctor of Audiology Resonance Hearing Clinic

Immune Strength and Supplements

Thisis the time of year to take extra care of your immune system, heading into the colder months when we are spending more time indoors with the doors and windows shut. Keep following a whole foods diet, avoiding sugar laden processed foods and flours. Drink adequate fluids, including lots of warm supportive herbal teas. Exercise and stress management, are oh so essential!- Get outside daily for at least a walk and find take some time each day to slowdown and be for you. Ensuring an adequate nights sleep is also essential, for your body’s cells to replenish, your brain to rejuvenate, and for body and mind to function adequately. Take extra care of yourself, organize your day and prioritize all these essential-towellness lifestyle choices!

These will support your whole body, and its an excellent idea to add in some extra support on top of what we are already doing. Here is a list of top immune enhancing/boosting supplements:

1. VITAMIN D- with less sunshine in the fall and winter months, and living in the Northern hemisphere, supplementing is a major must. This superhero aids every disorder, inflammation, and aids immunity.

2. VITAMIN C- 1000mg+ daily, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, a vital antioxidant and antiviral.

3. ZINC- an effective preventive for all kinds of infections. Many people are deficient in this vital mineral.

4. OMEGA 3s- helps the cardiovascular system, brain, and also a powerful immune booster. Omega 3s help vitamin D to function more optimally! Available in wild fatty fish and oils, algae oil, and in ALA form in seeds.

5. PROBIOTICS- help to balance gut bacteria, by adding in beneficial strains. Important to take post antibiotics, if experiencing poor digestive symptoms, and if immune compromised. Also great idea to include fermented foods in your diet, such as plain organic yogourt, homemade sauerkraut, and tempeh to name a few.

6. SELENIUM- Our modern soil is lacking this mineral. Regular supplementation reduces viral risk and cancers. It works synergistically with Vitamin E (found in healthy fats/oils) to amplify defense.

7. ASTRAGALUS- a traditional Chinese root/herb long known for its superb immunity and adaptogenic qualities. Enhances white blood cell activity, to fight against pathogens. Great idea to take long term throughout the fall and winter seasons.

8. ECHINACEA- a well known booster to use both preventively and to combat cold/flu. Should be taken for a couple weeks at a time only, with a break after.

9. VITAMIN A- Essential fat soluble vitamin with major role in immunity, including influencing activity of T and B lymphocytes, which are white blood cell that fight for you. Eat lots of bright coloured fruit and veggies, and leafy greens, as beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in the body.

9. BLACK SEED OIL- giving this a special mention, as it has been studied extensively and shown to boost immunity against certain viruses quite effectively. Also excellent for any bronchial, lung issues, sinus congestion, and asthma.

Extra goodies many people like to go to again and again, are medicinal mushrooms like Reishi and Turkey tail, herbs like Andrographis, Licorice and Ginger roots, Elderberry, Garlic, there are many things we can use to support ourselves now and every day. A combination approach is best!

Essential Remedies

141 Craig St, Duncan 250 748-9632

www.essentialremedies.ca

Good health to you! Tina Foster, RHN Essential Remedies

Social Permaculture in the Cowichan Valley: A Collaboration between Boots ’n’ Roots Permaculture Farm and the Sunrise Waldorf School Garden

The core ethics of permaculture include care of both the earth and of people, also referred to as ecological and social permaculture. At its core, social permaculture

recognizes the inherent value of diversity and interdependence. Just as a healthy ecosystem thrives on the diversity of species and their symbiotic relationships, a vibrant society benefits from diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences of its members.

Social Permaculture is a holistic approach that applies the principles of ecological permaculture to human interactions and community dynamics. It aims to cultivate sustainable, harmonious, and regenerative social systems by emphasizing principles such as diversity,

cooperation, observation, and resource mindfulness. Social permaculture seeks to create resilient and inclusive communities that thrive through collaboration, empathy, and a deep connection to both people and the environment.

Over the past five years, Sunrise Waldorf School has extensively developed their school gardens, using ecological principles of permaculture. One key permaculture principle is to Observe and Interact. Student gardeners regularly “Observe and Interact” with the garden ecosystem. This hands-on engagement helps them understand and respond to the garden’s changing needs, fostering a deeper connection to nature.

A mutually supportive collaboration between the Sunrise Waldorf School and Boots ‘n Roots Permaculture

Farm this year provides a great example of the principle of “Share the Abundance.” Sunrise wanted to get an earlier start on plant starts in the spring but had not yet built a greenhouse. Farmer Kelly shared her ample greenhouse space in Glenora to help the school start tomatoes, cucumbers and other seedlings which were both planted in the school garden and sold at the Sunrise farmstand to support the school garden; during the summer when the school farmstand was closed she sold flowers and produce from the school garden at the Duncan Farmers Market, with the proceeds being shared–a fruitful community partnership!

Dr. Jasmine Rose Oberste, DACM Integrative East Asian & Functional Medicine

What is the vagus nerve and how can intermittent fast help tone this nerve for optimal health and a regulated nervous system? The vagus nerve is the information superhighway of your autonomic nervous system. It connects your brain to organs and glands throughout the body and acts as the main conduit of your parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system. Vagal nerve activity touches just about every system in the body, including your respiratory, immune, cardiovascular, digestion and the gut microbiome. For health reasons we want to have a high vagal tone, because that indicates a generally relaxed state where our body can focus on growth and repair. The term vagal tone refers to how active your parasympathetic nervous system is. When the vagal tone is low the sympathetic or fight or flight nervous system is dominant.. This is not good and can chronically deplete the body and wreak havoc on the gut. We only want the SNS to kick in when we are under acute threat or stress, and we don’t want it running in the background all the time. Unfortunately,

Toning Your Vagus Nerve With Intermittent Fasting

a chronically stressed, sympathetic-dominant state is the norm for most people.

So how can we help tone this vagus nerve and live a life with a more parasympathetic dominance?

There are many ways such as movement practices, meditation, laughing, chanting, cold water, positive social engagement, and intermittent fasting.

What is intermittent fasting and how does that improve vagal tone?

Put simply, Intermittent fasting alternates periods of fasting with periods of eating.

This can occur during the same day or you can fast 2 days per week and eat the other 5. Many people who practice intermittent fasting adjust their eating schedule to align with the natural rhythms of hormonal and sleep-wake cycles of the body. It can be fasting for 12 hours and eating for 12 hours, or it can be fasting for 16 hours and eating 8 hours. I myself usually fast from 7pm to 11am.

Intermittent fasting yields well-documented health benefits, especially for cardiovascular disease risk factors, insulin sensitivity, inflammation and oxidative stress, and other markers of

metabolic health. Many of these benefits are mediated in part by vagal activity. By allowing our digestion a rest each day can improve your vagal tone and health on so many levels. Intermittent fasting also stimulates BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) which plays an important role in neuronal survival and growth, it also increases parasympathetic activity in neurons connected to the gut, arteries and heart. One more amazing aspect of intermittent fasting is it improves our heart rate variability (HRV) which puts the break on sympathetic arousal and allows us to experience more peace, presence and wellness in our lives!

Please reach out if you would like more information or support with Intermittent fasting and if you would like support with toning your vagus nerve!

Melissa Brown is a Hellerwork Structural Integration Practitioner, Functional Medicine Coach and Somatic Counsellor, Practicing in Cobble Hill and Victoria

PERIOD POVERTY COWICHAN A Photovoice Exhibition

survey about period poverty in the region; and

3. Using photovoice as a research method. Using photographs taken and selected by research participants, the emotions and experiences that guided the choice of images can be explored.

Period Poverty describes the struggle many low-income women and girls face trying to afford menstrual products (pads/ tampons, pain medication and underwear). Difficulty affording products can cause menstruating people to stay home from school and work, with lasting consequences to their education and economic opportunities.

The Province of BC is exploring ways to address the issue of menstrual equity: • making sure that people have the means, supports, and choices to decide how they want to take care of their menstrual health, and • ending stigma around periods that has prevented decision-makers, healthcare providers, educators and individuals from ensuring that menstrual health is a priority.

The provincial Period Poverty Task Force linked up with the United Way of BC to undertake community-based research about how best to address period poverty. The Cowichan Women’s Health Collective (CWHC) project addressed period poverty by:

1. Working with 17 service providers to distribute products to menstruating people experiencing poverty, and hold focus groups to learn more about that experience;

2. Conducting an online

The photovoice images, and associated stories, will be on display at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s Studio space, in the Cowichan Community Centre, from October 24 – November 10. These images ground the concepts of menstrual equity and period poverty, by providing examples from lived experience of how people can be distressed or frustrated by their periods. The images illustrate the need for greater education and awareness about menstruation generally, but also show the economic and social consequences of period poverty for individual girls and women.

Everyone is invited! But please be aware that this show deals with the issues associated with menstruation. It contains graphic content that may not be suitable for all ages. Viewer discretion is advised!

A Word About Language

We are using the term people who menstruate, alongside the terms women and girls, to better include those menstruating people who do not identify as female.

By Beverly Suderman, Executive Director (Volunteer), Cowichan Women’s

Health Collective

The Cowichan Women’s Health Collective acknowledges that for thousands of years the Quw’utsun, Malahat, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz’uminus, Lyackson, Ts’uubaa-asatx, and Ditidaht Peoples have stewarded the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories now known as the Cowichan Valley. We are grateful to be living and working in this place, and offer our respect and solidarity for the struggles to achieve reconciliation.

“Everyone knows that women bleed. Just true fact. Everyone likes to pretend it isn’t true.”

Focus Group Participant

The Ballooning Costs of Climate Change Inaction

ability to live.

Whilemost of us were captivated by the sheer size and intensity of the climate change-fueled wildfire season in BC over the summer, we might have missed the news that broke, indicating that the Trans Mountain pipeline cost estimate has now ballooned to over $30 billion.

This is a staggering increase from the original cost estimate of $5.9 billion, which has raised serious concerns about taxpayers eventually having to absorb these costs into the future.

Already in June, before summer had even officially started, our province had witnessed fires burn an area larger than last year’s entire fire season combined. By July, it was already on record as the most destructive ever recorded.

Here in the Cowichan Valley, our beloved Cowichan River is only flowing because we have pumps in Cowichan Lake providing an adequate flow. Due in part to a warming climate, the lake has experienced a decline in its water reserves, putting extra pressure on the need for the weir to be raised.

Farmers are struggling to make ends meet with the increased scarcity of feed for livestock that contributes to the rising cost of food. As the NDP’s critic for food price inflation, I have heard testimony from Canadians across the country about how the ballooning cost of food has impacted their

As climate change rears its ugly head further and further down the supply chain, Canadians are left paying the price at checkout. All this while Liberals and Conservatives continue to debate on what pipeline to buy with your money. Pierre Poilievre said it best back in 2019:

“Here is the difference between the Prime Minister’s approach and ours. He bought a pipeline without building one. We will build one without buying it. Just like we did in the Harper era where four major pipeline projects were built, including those that shipped oil to tidewater. Literally millions and millions of barrels of oil are currently shipped through pipelines built during the time when the Harper government was in office.”

After years of promises and delays, we need to ask ourselves, what price are we paying in feeding into the pipeline pipe dream? What is the cost of continuing to propup our oil and gas sector? And why are we funneling public funds into a sector that saw its net profits increase by over 1,000% since 2019?

If we redirected these costs, imagine the public investments we could make in our communities to make them safer and healthier places to live. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition don’t seem to see the urgency in safeguarding our future on this planet.

Costly food for thought, I guess.

Alistair MacGregor is the NDP Member of Parliament for Cowichan-MalahatLangford, and the NDP’s Critic for Public Safety.

Weare in raw times. This past summer Canada saw wildfires decimate beautiful places and turn lives upside down. Farther away were droughts, famines, catastrophic floods, and so much suffering. It has been a lot to digest.

Many of us do not have people in our lives willing to talk about the climate crisis, leaving us alone with our anger, sorrow, numbness, guilt, anxiety or fear. The “business as usual” ways of life outside our homes can lead us to question if these feelings even make sense.

If you are a parent, a caregiver, an educator or anyone serving youth, eco-distress can be overwhelming.

How, as trusted adults, can we help our children feel safe when the future is so uncertain? How do we talk to children about what’s happening without scaring them? Can our understanding of emotional resiliency help them adapt? What is age-appropriate climate activism?

Young people in our lives tether us to the future. Uncertainty about that future can feel like too much to hold. In fact, it is too much to hold - alone.

We must keep our grief warm, says Francis Weller (The Wild Edge of Sorrow). We need to talk about our grief with other adults, so it doesn’t go cold.

Navigating the Climate Crisis with Kids

When grief goes cold in parents and caregivers, we become rigid and stuck in old patterns that disconnect us from our kids.

However, when we find safe places to be heard in our raw emotions, a process begins that can lift us out of numbness, confusion and paralysis. The feelings may not be fun to feel, but sharing them can bring a palpable relief, and foster our own emotional resiliency. We feel more grounded when we can speak vulnerably about the crisis and feel heard rather than advised or fixed. Grief ritual and other artistic explorations also invite emotions to the surface to move through us.

That leads us to some brain science regarding human emotions. In simple terms, the limbic system is the part of the brain that scans for belonging and feeling loved. The prefrontal cortex is the higher thinking centre that supports reasoned decision-making and

good judgment. According to Dan Siegel, when all is well these two parts of the brain are connected. When we are alarmed, the limbic system takes over and we become reactive, fragile and anxious. Because our kids’ nervous systems are hard-wired to connect to ours, that disconnection in our brains causes the same in theirs.

How does this relate to parenting through the climate crisis? When we can meet our children’s dayto-day upsets with peacefulness and warmth (at least much of the time), their brains will adapt to more easily return to calm. According to Hand-inHand Parenting by Connection educator Kristan Childs, to our children our adult anxiety is contagious, and so is our calm. We are not being asked to stop feeling worried or angry or scared, but to bring ourselves back to balance at those times, so we can maintain attachment with our children and be who they need us to be in uncertain times.

Some parents and caregivers wonder how emotional resilience meets the urgency of the moment. Don’t we need to pull up our sleeves and effect change? Absolutely. And, as research scientist Susi Moser of the National Center for Atmospheric Research reminds us, “Burnt out people aren’t equipped to serve a burning planet.” Our inner resources, sustain our outer efforts towards a more just and

equitable future.

Hannah Auer, coordinator of Cowichan Green Community’s Resiliency Project, tends to her own climate grief through both inner and outer work. As a parent, community organizer, fibre artist and a member of environmental arts collective Mother Rising, Hannah acknowledges that even though she may not be able to change the course of the crisis singlehandedly, she can build meaning into her life by taking action with a life-sustaining lens. Hannah explains:

In my own journey with climate grief, and facing the realities of these times, while raising little children, I have found that the best medicine is meaningful action. In planting meadows, or weaving baskets from invasive plants, or being in community in intentional ways, I find solace and hope.

Among several ongoing ecoresiliency projects, Hannah and her team are launching the Cowichan Green Community’s Elders Farm and Food Program to provide local farm food to elders in our area.

One way to support this new initiative is to attend a nourishing and informative evening on Navigating the Climate Crisis with Kids at The Hub on Saturday, November 4th from 7-9PM.

Teddy Kellam of Good Grief Network will explore how to talk to children (0-18 years) about the climate crisis, eco-distress, and youth-friendly activism. Hannah will introduce the evening and perform a spoken-word piece on her experience of climate grief. Please bring a journal and a pen. All proceeds will benefit the Elders Farm and Food Program. Sliding scale: $15 - $30, none turned away for lack of funds. Space is limited - we expect this event to be wellattended. An RSVP to teddy@ goodgriefnetwork.org will reserve your spot.

Teddy is a therapist who works at the intersection of climate and mental health. teddykellam.com

Photo credit naturevalleykids

GLENORA STORE &

Mussels

Muscles? Or Mussels? Which one is edible? I guess technically they both are if you’re a cannibal. The Mussels I’m talking about are of the delicious water based variety.

Living up to their name, mussels are very strong and can survive life in the wild intertidal zones all over our planet.

What makes a mussel strong? First, mussels are bivalves, which means they have two shells. Their strong shells are held closed by a muscle called the adductor muscle. The other thing that makes them strong is their byssal threads, a sort of underwater glue that the mussel excretes and uses as anchors

by shiloh badman

to avoid being swept away by waves or currents.

Most marine mussels are found in areas where there is decent water flow and tidal exchange. These intertidal organisms feed on tiny microscopic plants and animals that live in the water column, called plankton. Mussels feed on plankton by sucking water in through one siphon, filtering out food particles and then expelling waste and water through the other siphon.

What eats a mussel? Lots of creatures like mussels. Sea stars and snails are particularly fond of mussel soup. Gulls like to grab mussels and smash them open so they’re easier to eat. You can usually see this action on just about any rocky shoreline.

Humans also eat mussels, but unlike sea stars, snails and gulls, we humans have to be very careful about where and when we harvest them, as well as how we transport and prepare them for eating.

Because mussels (and other bivalves) eat plankton, they can be poisonous to humans. This poison comes from a type of naturally occurring marine biotoxin that is found in some types of microscopic organisms. The occurrence of a bloom of marine biotoxin is commonly known as “red tide”, and the resulting poisoning is called Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). PSP can be as mild as tingling and numbness in the mouth to complete paralysis and death in a very few minutes. It’s always best for humans to purchase bivalves from a reputable seafood store or restaurant.

If you do decide to harvest your own bivalves, please research where and when to harvest them safely, being poisoned and potentially dying is not worth the risk. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has all the information you need on their website.

As always, please don’t harvest any more than you can eat.

Madeline Southern Lead Aquarist and Educator, Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre

Bad Comix

Iwaslistening to a podcast that featured a comedian telling his story about slowly losing his vision due to a genetic misfire. As he lost his sight, he was trained to read braille and how to use a white cane to get around. The comedian did not yet have a guide dog, but was looking forward to one as using the white cane was a consuming piece of equipment. He explained how when using a cane, he has to feel for every little obstacle that might trip him up. His mind can’t wander. It’s an exhausting way to travel. But with a guide dog, a person can allow the dog to see the pitfalls for the person, freeing up the human’s mind to have

a nice thought or two.

This got me to thinking about a similar, yet opposite situation. When we are walking our dogs (with our vision intact) we are the eyes for our dogs. I’ve been scanning ahead of my dogs for so long that I forget I do it. When I am out with my dogs, on-leash or off, I am looking around us for possible problems. Scary people, running dogs, squirrels, rabbits, cyclists, the cookie lady in the park, toddlers with goldfish crackers, cats, balls, garbage…. I hope to see these things before my dog does and take appropriate action if needed. My number one rule with dogs is to “See it through their eyes”. My number two rule is “Don’t set your dog up for failure”. Seeing a distraction before your dog sees it can make your dog look like a super star when you calmly clip that leash back on and guide her through the situation.

If we don’t pay attention to our surroundings it feels like something “came out of the blue!”. And our dog could pay a price of eating trash, chasing inappropriately, or just being a jerk in the dog park. ABS: Always Be Scanning.

It takes work at first, but it becomes second nature. I can easily carry on a conversation and scan my surroundings without my human companion even noticing my attention is split.

Dogs have that great sense of smell, but their vision is designed to see moving objects over stationary ones.

That’s where you have the upper hand. And you’re taller. Keep an eye out for your dog. Your mind can wander, but your eyes need to be like that white cane, always searching for obstacles.

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

Biking in October

1. The Kinsol Trestle is an ideal location to start your ride. It’s is one of the tallest and freestanding wooden structures in the world. There is plenty of parking at the Glen Eagles Road parking lot in Shawnigan Lake. The Kinsol Trestle is one of many trestles along the Trans Canada Trail. Travel west along the trail and enjoy the small farms scattered along the way and the ever-changing colours of the season. Travel south on the trail and enjoy glimpses of Shawnigan Lake.

2. Glenora Trails Head Park in Glenora is another ideal location to start your ride. There is ample parking and a picnic shelter and washrooms with a water station to relax in upon your return. There is a recreation playground with a zipline and swings. Gate hours Oct-March 8am-6pm. Ideal location for a family ride. Travel west towards Marie Canyon and Skutz Falls. Enjoy the mountains, forest, and Cowichan River views. Travel south and make your way to the Kinsol Trestle.

There is a large parking area near the bridge which is a perfect vantage to view the annual salmon run on their journey upriver. The Trans Canada Trail will take you to Lake Cowichan approximately 11 kilometres to the west. View Trestle 70.2 which is the last large Trestle before Lake Cowichan.

4. Closer to Duncan travel to where Tansor Road and Old Lake Cowichan Road intersect then connect to the Cowichan Valley Trail. Travel west along the trail and enjoy the mountain views and the many small farms along the way. Point of interest includes a stop at the Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery. On just over 9 acres of land, it is said to have 124 graves and the head stones are in Chinese.

5. Chemainus and the Trans Canada Trail link up perfectly to enjoy what Chemainus has to offer. We recommend parking across the road from the Mount Brenton Golf Course and starting the trail going north. The trail will meander through neighbourhoods and alongside Old Chemainus Road on a trail beside the old rail bed. Enjoy the ever-changing scenery with ocean glimpses. If time permits bike the tour of Chemainus and enjoy the murals.

6. Thinking of doing a bike tour of the many wineries of the Cowichan Valley? Let us help you plan the perfect route.

We have many options for biking and hiking in the Cowichan Valley. Come on in, pick up maps and leave with recommend suggestions of what to do for all age groups.

Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre 2896 Drinkwater Road Duncan 250-746-4636

Natural Skincare & Cosmetics

Open: Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm Sundays 12 - 4pm

• 155 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan www.prudencenaturalbeauty.ca

3. Skutz Falls Park is the last place on the Trans Canada Trail to park and ride if your destination is Lake Cowichan. Travel to the Skutz Fall exit off highway 18 and follow signs.

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

Cooler weather and changing of colours are an inspiration to get out and ride.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This month the Sun is opposite your sign, which happens once a year, about six months after your birthday. Because of this, you might encounter opposition from others, especially authority figures. Some issues will definitely reach a point of culmination, which means now you will see more clearly if they’re working or not. (Ah ha!) Meanwhile, respect your need for more sleep this month. Be patient with spouses and partners; nonetheless, this is the time to put your cards on the table. Oh yeah.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

This month you’re motivated and determined to work hard. Not only that, you want to work smart and be as efficient as possible. In part, this is because you want to discover the best way of doing things with regard to how you manage your life. (Sensible and worthy expectations.) Meanwhile, service to family, or working on behalf of someone else’s needs will come into play for you, but you can handle this because Mars will give you drive! You’ve got energy to burn!

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This is a fortunate month for you because the Sun is in one of the most playful, fun parts of your chart! This means it’s the perfect time for a vacation. It’s also a wonderful time to socialize. Accept all invitations for fun events; plus, enjoy sports and fun activities with kids. Most definitely, explore ways to express your own creativity because this will be rewarding for you. Make plans to get out of town. Even a mini weekend getaway -- because you want to play!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

This month the Sun will travel along the bottom of your chart, which represents everything to do with your home, your personal world and your interactions with family, especially a parent. Make an effort to take time for yourself to focus on your inner world. Memories from the past will bubble to the surface of your mind. Something or someone might challenge you, or work at cross purposes. Don’t waste time on anger. Instead, focus on groups and friends. Appreciate what you have!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

The pace of your days is accelerating this month because suddenly, you have things to do, places to go, and people to see! Your life is busy and upbeat! Enjoy short trips, plus meeting new faces and seeing new places. This is the perfect time to socialize with others and polish your ability to integrate your energy with neighbours and groups. You’ll be persuasive if you want to share your views. This is an excellent time for those of you who sell, market, teach, act or write.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

This month your attention turns to financial matters because the Sun is travelling through one of your Money Houses, which means you will give more attention to money, earnings and cash flow. You might have plans to spend money and make significant purchases. At a more subtle level, you will re-examine your relationship to your belongings. Do you own your stuff or does it own you? You might also ponder your basic values in life. What really matters? (The answer is 42.)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Ta da! This month the Sun is in your sign, helping you to replenish and re-energize for the rest of the year. You will move from feeling unsure of things into a mindset that is confident, upbeat and proactive. You might find yourself reaching out to others more on Facebook, social media, or when you’re out shopping or in the

workplace because you want to be heard and you want to be seen. (This is because when the Sun is in your sign, you have a strong need to express yourself.) Get out and fly your colours!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Venus is at the top of your chart making you look attractive to others, especially bosses and VIPs. Meanwhile, the Sun is sitting in a hidden part of your chart this month, which this means that you, too, will go dark as well. You will choose to hide or work alone because in fact, your energy is privately percolating as it waits for the Sun to enter your sign on Monday, Oct. 23. When that happens, you will suddenly step out– centre stage -empowered! Until then, it’s Netflix and take out.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Get ready for a pleasant window of increased popularity and fun with friends and interactions with groups because this month, the Sun is in your House of Friendships boosting your desire to reach out to others and engage. You might take on a leadership role? You might be involved in competitive sports or physical activities? It’s an excellent time to reassess future goals. In fact, it will benefit you to share your hopes and dreams for the future with someone to get their feedback. Try it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Lucky you! The Sun is at the top of your chart this month, which is the only time all year this happens. This means it is shining down on you (symbolically speaking) and casting you in a spotlight

that is flattering. “You look mahvelous dahling.” This is why bosses and VIPs will be impressed with you even if you don’t do anything special. Obviously, this is a window of opportunity for you to make your pitch and go after what you want because you look so good. Use it!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Pack your bags because this month the Sun is in an exciting part of your chart! Get ready for increased chances to travel and explore your world. If you don’t travel and meet new faces and see new places, then perhaps you will expand your world through further education or training. (This will turn your crank because you love to learn.) Plus, it will satisfy your desire for a change of scenery and some stimulation! Venus opposite your sign promotes warm relations with others. It’s all good.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

This month the Sun shifts signs as it starts to rise higher in your chart. It will be a fortuitous time to check out counselling or some kind of activity that encourages self-scrutiny. (Beyond your bathroom mirror.) You might meet someone who will trigger major changes in your self-perception and your personal sense of selfworth. Many of you will also give more thought to wills, inheritances, debt and shared property. (Boring but unavoidable.) Just do it. Being sensible does not mean you have to buy sensible shoes.

www.georgianicols.com

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

DIRECTORY OF LOCAL SERVICES

Directory Size A - 1 logo + 8-12 word listing Full Colour 1 X $65 6X $55 12X $45 Black & White 1 X $55 6X $45 12X $35 Contact us at sales@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for more information about

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 Clutter

Dog Grooming

Lucky Dog U-Bath, Duncan

Now accepting new grooming clients. Book online www.luckydogubath.ca Or call 250-597-7364

2 sizes

are available to suit every

to the point.

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.

Reflexology I Swedish Massage Lymphatic Release Technique

Enabling your body to heal itself, naturally. Call Helga 250-732-7988

Book online at www.naturalheelingreflexology.com

INNER WISDOM COACH

Discovering and Strengthening Your Connection to Your Inner Wisdom *Living Your Truth* CHRISTINE VAUGHAN BSW, RSW 250-510-7249 clvaughan@shaw.ca

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

Marketing & Promotions

Reach the locals! Monthly Print Advertising with Valley Voice Contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Why are we losing our natural health products?

Health Canada is implementing what they call the Self-Care Framework. When fully implemented most of our natural health products will be gone. The natural health practitioners we rely on will also be gone. Health Canada will be responsible for people losing their livelihoods and, their lives. GET INVOLVED The Natural Health Product Protection Association (www.nhppa.org) is leading a campaign to stop these changes and to protect your access to natural products and natural health care practitioners. Visit www.nhppa.org for more information.