April Issue 53 by Cowichan Valley Voice

Cowichan April 2013 Issue 53

Cowichan Valley I Food I Arts I Events I Health I Community 1

Elizabeth May Comes to Duncan

SATURDAY

APRIL 27

Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and one of our country’s most respected environmentalists will be coming to speak in Duncan. Elizabeth was an active community organizer from a young age. As a teenager in Nova Scotia, she led a campaign to prevent herbicide spraying on the forests of Cape Breton Island. She is the Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands, an author, an Ofﬁcer of the Order of Canada, and a loving mother and grandmother.

Details of Elizabeth’s visit will be available at www.VoteKerryDavis.ca Approved by K. Davis, ﬁnancial agent, 250-701-4782

APRIL EVENTS

1 - 13th

BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story HELD OVER by popular demand! Chemainus Theatre Festival, www.chemainustheatre.ca, 1 800 565 7738

EASTER AT PACIFC NORTHWEST RAPTORS Learn all about raptor parents, raising chicks, and the life of a raptor. 1877 Herd Rd, Duncan 250-746-0372 EASTER EGG HUNT AT ABBY LANE FARM 10:30am or 2pm wagon ride with egg hunt Limited seats. $15 for Hunters $10 for riders 7233 Mays Rd For info 250-709-5405

COLLEEN WIKE AND CHRISTINE ALLAN on display at Imagine That! 251 Craig St., Duncan April 2 - 27

ELDERCOLLEGE INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM 4 Weekly Sessions April 4, 11, 18 & 25 10am - Noon Island Savings Centre, 250-746-0414 4 sessions / $44.00 +$5 membership

DINNER THEATRE golf jokes, Bluegrass, even Patsy Cline! Cocktails and Buffet Dinner 5pm Show 7pm April 4-7 $25 Mt Breton Golf Course Tickets at 49th Parallel, Chemainus Foods & Mount Breton Golf Course 250-246-2259

5RHYTHMS® WITH SHAUNA DEVLIN Thursday Night Waves 7-9pm April 4, 11 & 18 Harmony Yoga, 111 Station Street Suite 201

SHAMANIC SPIRIT JOURNEY CIRCLE Harmony Yoga Studio, 201-111 Station St. Duncan 8-10PM $10 www.orcahealing.com

HORSE HEALTH WEEKEND April 5 -7 Onsite Equine Safety Services supports a holistic approach to horse health and safety Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association Providence Farm 1843 Tzouhalem Rd, Duncan 250.746.1028 For full Schedule visit www.equinesafetyservices.com DANCING INTO THE HEART MEDITATION, YOGA AND ECSTATIC DANCE JOURNEY With Christy Lindell 5-8pm $30/ session Harmony Yoga, 201-111 Station St. reflectionsholisticretreat.com

CHEMAINUS GARDENS GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER FOR THE ELKS 9am - 3pm. 3042 River Road, Chemainus 250-246-3569 Tables $10

NEW WARRIOR TRAINING ADVENTURE Men Mentoring Men Through The Passages of Their Lives Camp Pringle, Shawnigan Lake info@mkp-bc.ca Begins 5pm April 12

6 12-14

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEMO DAYS Sat 10am-4pm Sun Noon - 6pm Demo an Element; Altitude or Instinct. Mount Tzouhalem Parking Lot Wade Simmons, Geoff Gulevich & Andreas Hestler will all be on site For info 250 597-0097 www.facebook.com/CycleTherapyBikes

6&7

SHAWNIGAN GATHERING 2 DAY EVENT Everyone is invited to take part! Participate in a Discussion Group/RoundtablePerform music, Display art, Entertain and be entertained For more info georgia@ shawniganwatershedroundtable.ca or call 250-743-WATER SUNDAY TEA+TALK 8350 Richards Trail, North Cowichan $10 www.teafarm.ca

ART & SOUL INTERFAITH GATHERING family-friendly inspirational gathering 11AM 1756 Wilmot Ave, Shawnigan Lake Village 250 743-5846

COWICHAN READERS THEATRE No prior acting experience is necessary- just a love of theatre and literature, and a desire to share this with like-minded people 261 Southshore Rd. , Lake Cowichan 250 749-3728 GROW FOOD WITH JOY! Onsite Gardening Classes 6-8pm 3 part Starting Wed April 10, 17 & 24 For more info contact Joy at 250-743-1352 or growfood@shaw.ca. INTRO TO PERMACULTUREDESIGNING YOUR OWN PROPERTY 3 Days Friday, 6:30 -8:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4 pm $175 April 12 - 14 Contact nora@cowichangreencommunity.org.

COWICHAN VALLEY GARDEN CLUB FLOWER SHOW & PLANT SALE 10am - 2pm Duncan United Church Hall, 246 Ingram St $3 Children under 5 free. CLOTHING SWAP FUNDRAISER FOR MS SOCIETY 11am - 4pm Matraea Centre, 170 Craig St For clothing donations please call Nika 250 710-7339

W O T

“ALL THE DIRT” authors will speak about their organic gardening book, 1 -3pm Ten Old Books, 330 Duncan St, Duncan OPEN MIC 5-7pm - Coffee On The Moon 501 Canada Ave, Duncan VI KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, MultiPurpose Hall Island Savings Centre For more info conctact 250-748-9111 THE JUG BANDITS from Victoria presented by Cowichan Folk Guild Doors 7pm Duncan United Church, Duncan CFG Members $5 Non-members $10 ORKESTAR SLIVOVICA, Balkan Brass Band, 8PM Duncan Garage Showroom, www.orkestarslivovica.org $25 Door/$20 Adv OPEN MIC 5 - 7pm Coffee On The Moon, 501 Canada Ave, Duncan

BIRDS EYE COVE FARM MONDAY PIZZA NIGHT SEASON OPENER 5 - 8 PM April 15, 22 & 29 Picnic style Rain or Shine 5881 Genoa Bay Road, 250 748 6379

RANDY BACHMAN’S VINYL TAP TOUR “Every Song Tells a Story” 7:30pm Cowichan Theatre Tickets $46

COWICHAN STATION’S 125TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, AGM, official ribbon cutting, and dance 6:30 pm THE HUB 2375 Koksilah Rd, just West of the Highway

TEATIME IN THE PRESCHOOL Open House at Sunrise Waldorf School 1-2pm Cowichan Station Call to Register 250 743-7253 www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org

OM CHANTI KIRTAN WITH KAREN ALLEN & FRIENDS 8pm Harmony Yoga 201-111 Station St. Duncan 250 701-0360

COUPLES/BIRTH PARTNER PRENATAL YOGA WORKSHOP WITH SADIE BARTRAM 7-9 PM, Matraea Centre, 170 Craig St 250-7482089/ sdbartram@gmail.com

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

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LADIES NIGHT in COWICHAN BAY PLUS FASHION SHOW! 5:30-9 pm Live music, Free Samples, giveaways and more! Fashion Show at Cow Cafe 5:30pm Prize Draw 9:15pm Cowichan Bay

EVALYN PARRY PERFORMS SPIN Bicycle as Muse 7:30 - 9:30pm ArtSpring 100 Jackson Avenue, Salt Spring Island Adults: $23; Youth: $5 250 537-2102

COWICHAN VALLEY GREEN PARTY MEETING - All are welcome! 7pm VIU Café, Cowichan Campus 2011 University Way, Duncan 250-746-7763 WORK OUT AND WINE GALA - Ladies Only 5:30-6:30 pm $12 Enrico Vineyards, 3280 Telegraph Rd Mill Bay 250 748 9863

PARENT’S UNITE GARAGE SALE FREE 9am-Noon Vendor Tables $20 Island Savings Centre, 250 746-0405

SMALL SCALE VEGGIE FARMING Sat & Sun, Apr 20-21; 9am-3pm Instructor: Nick Versteeg Register at VIU Cowichan Campus 250-746-3519

LOCAL BEES INFO LUNCH SESSION 2pm & 4pm with entomologist Gord Hutchings Earth Day Celebrations at Merridale Farm April 20 & 21 1230 Merridale Rd 250 743-4293 Please reserve your spot. TANSOR ELEMENTARY’S SPRING MARKET Garage sale and Bake Sale! Including a plant and seed sale from Backyard Diva 10am 3594 Auchinachie Rd, Duncan EARTH DAY CELEBRATION presented by the Cowichan Green Community 11am-3pm, Charles Hoey Park (Downtown Duncan) SNOUT TO TAIL SUSTAINABILITY DINNER an informative interactive dinner with Chefs presentation between courses 5:30pm Reservations Recommended Merridale Bistro, 1230 Merridale Rd For reservations 250 743-4293

ANNUAL STINGING NETTLE FESTIVAL AT ALDERLEA FARM 11am -6pm Celebrate the wild of spring! 3390 Glenora Road, 250 597 3438 For more info johnkaty@shaw.ca

COBBLE HILL CLASSIC MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE Registration Sunday morning 10am -11:30am Race 12pm, $20 for Ex and Int, $10 for Beginners NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK April 21-27 SACRED CHANT CIRCLE AT RIVENDELL YURT (in Glenora) 7 - 8:30pm by donation Sadie 250-748-2089/sdbartram@gmail.com Reel Alternatives BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD 7pm Cowichan Theatre 2687 James St, $12 / $5 Students A-C rows Benefits Cowichan Valley Hospice 250 748 7529

BLOOD DONOR CLINIC Tuesday & Wed: 1:15 - 7:15 PM Thursday: Noon - 6 PM April 23-25 Island Savings Centre -- Heritage Hall WHAT MAKES A SLIDE SHOW w/ Pat Haugen Ladysmith Camera Club Hardwick Hall, High Street at 3rd Ave $5 Non Members drop in fee www.LadysmithCameraClub.com COWICHAN VALLEY FINE ARTS SHOW 10am -9pm Opening Reception 7pm -9pm Portals Gallery and Cowichan Suite Admission $5 (Children under 12 Free) Island Savings Centre, 2687 James Street, Duncan Runs to April 28

DELICIOUS LIES Opens Chemainus Theatre Festival, Runs to May 18 Various Times www. chemainustheatre.ca, 1 800 565 7738

26-28

COWICHAN VALLEY ARTISANS ANNUAL STUDIO TOUR EVENT All studios open 10am - 5pm (see page 24 & 25 for info)www. cowichanvalleyartisans.com April 26 - 28 LADYSMITH’S INAUGURAL SPRING ART TOUR All studios open 10am - 4pm April 26 28 www.ladysmithwaterfrontgallery.com

ST. ANN’S PLANT SALE & FARM GARAGE SALE 9am -3pm Providence Farm 1843 Tzouhalem Rd

GREEN PARTY LEADER ELIZABETH MAY COMES TO DUNCAN Location and Time TBA Details at www.VoteKerryDavis.ca WILD FOOD FORAGE EXPERIENCE with renown chef, author and mycologist Bill Jones of Deerholme Farm 11-4pm $125/person (plus Tax) (or $225/couple) 250 748 7450 PLANT SALE to support Malawi Girls on the Move 9am -2pm 2836 Oceanside Lane, Mill Bay For info. 250 743 0965 Fall & Winter Gardening Linda Gilkeson Register at VIU Cowichan Campus 250-746-351 10am-4pm

Handmade Tile Projects Would you enjoy learning how to do handmade tile projects for your home? To get tips and see how it can be done visit Nan at Sacred Mountain Studio, 1529 Khenipsen Rd. Duncan tel. 250 746 4130 or email nangoodship@telus.net The studio is open most days. It’s best to phone ahead. Sacred Mountain Studio 1529 Khenipsen Road Duncan 250 746 4130

April Ongoing EARTH DAY CONTEST Tell merridale how you contribute to making the Valley greener for your chance to win a dinner for 2 in the bistro. Contest closes April 30. Enter at www.merridalecider.com. COWICHAN VALLEY ARTISANS YEAR ROUND STUDIO TOUR View and DownLoad brochure at www.cowichanvalleyartisans.com MEDITATION THURSDAYS 7 PM VIU Cowichan Campus RM: 210 Info: 250. 710. 7594 EATING DISORDERS ANONYMOUS MEETING A 12 step meeting for those seeking recovery from an eating disorderanorexia,bulemia and emotional eating, Cobble Hill Call Louise for more info 250 709 2199 6:30pm COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE SATURDAYS 10am - Noon Group Sessions Silverfern Clinic 160 Jubilee St, Duncan For more info 250 510 1910

SYSTEMIC FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS with Jan Hull 9:30am - 5pm Alderlea Farms 3390 Glenora Rd, Duncan janhull@shaw.ca.

TRUST YOUR INTUITION! presented 1pm and 7:30 pm Travelodge 140 TC Hwy, Duncan 1-877-969-0095 (Toll Free) $16

Look at all the things to do in your community!

The new monthly community calendar format has been generously sponsored by Sacred Mountain Studio.

Issue 53 APRIL 2013

Published by Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine Editors Sheila & Richard Badman Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com 250 746 9319 - 936 Arbutus Avenue, Duncan V9L 5X4 Visit us online at www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com Distribution Copy Editor Proofreader Linda Dirksengale Maeve Maguire Diana Pink Advertising Enquiries Please Call Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 Next Ad Deadline APRIL 15th e-mail adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

*Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire. COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Please upload your information through our website Please include: Date & Event Title IN SUBJECT Be advised that space is limited to up to 2 spots per business, space dependant and is prioritized by 1st sent, 1st printed. EVENTS DEADLINE APRIL 12th for MAY 2013 Issue E-mail Date,Time, Location, Event Title and Cost to: events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Please list event title in subject with the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;EVENTâ&#x20AC;? Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations VALLEY VOICES IN THIS ISSUE Devon Gilllot, Bruce Stewart, Katy Ehrlich, Pam Stiles, Mark Holford, Margit Nellemann, David Coulson, Eliza Faulkner, Kelly Landry, Suzan Kostiuck, Ajay Applelaar, Sandra Greenaway, Sheila Walmsley, Nicolette Genier and The Wonderful Staff at The Community Farm Store, Heather Kaye, Anne Marie Koeppen, Sandra Beggs, Paulette Tarnawski, Sophia Auton, Linda Dirksengale, Swarn Leung, Stephanie Jennings, Amanda Clarke, Nelmaar Bekkema, Andrea Strachan, Lara Brunschot, Rick Juliusson, Kenzie Cuthbert, Pat Amos, Nelmar Bekkema, Rick Dennis, Sue McKitrick & The Lovely Georgia Nicols. 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 contirbutors. Please always send a query e-mail prior to sending your article as space is limited and may not always be available. Editorial deadline for April Issue, March 12th. 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 from the Victoria International Airport Arrivals Hall. Cover Photo DEVON GILLOT SESSIONS 250.710.4301 www.facebook.com/DGillottSessions Floral design by Andrea Strachan of Leaf & Petal Flower Studio

Contact Adrienne Richards for more information or to requesta Spring 2013 Rate Card 250 510 6596

adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Our Community

April Community Calendar 4-5 Cowichan Bay Ladies Night 9 Downtown Duncan Business Spring Feature 26 Enterprising Woman Shae Culetsi 28 Community Farm Store Pages 36 - 37 Websites, Emails and Verbal Lint 43 Cowichan Valley Directory 46-47

Local Food And Recipes

Benefits of Stone Milling 7 Quinoa, The Superfood 8 Island Farmhouse Poultry: Baked Chicken Nuggets 10 Cowichan Bay Seafoods: Halibut In Cream 11 Thinking About Starting Your Own Vineyard? 12 Celebrate Stinging Nettle at Alderlea Farm 14 Taste of Tea: Yerba Mate 15

Farm and Garden

On The Farm with Sol Farm 8 Is Floral Design a Dying Art? 40 Helpful Garden: I Vant to Bee Alone! 41

Home & Design

Designing Green: Cultivating Bamboo 16 Natural Forces 17

Local Arts

Talking Arts: Richard Young 21 CV Arts Council Spring Fine Arts Show 23 Cowichan Valley Artisans Studio Tour 24 Imagine That Artisan Christine Allan 22 Outnumbered! by Sue McKitrick 42

Family

Simplicity Parenting 30 Teen Skincare Solutions 31 What Would Ms Polly Do? 32

Recreation & Healthy Living

Paddles Up! 29 Green Living 31 Cycle Therapy: Group Rides 33 South Island Spring Fishing Report 37

Body, Mind & Soul

Coach In Your Corner 29 Ancient Daoist Five Element Theory (Wu Xing) 34 Healthy Relationsships:Triggers and Reactions 35 Georgia Nicols April Horoscopes 42

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

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Image Lesley Stewart

Benefits of Stone Milling

n early human civilization it was discovered that grinding the seeds of certain grasses using a mortar and pestle resulted in a powder that could be used to make bread. This discovery led to the intentional planting of the seeds (agriculture), which arguably is responsible for humanity transitioning from the nomadic hunter-gatherer to societies centered around the growth of their food. In the 17th century humans became adept at developing ingenious ways to grind grain kernels into flour. The most effective approach was to use a water-, wind- or animal- powered stone that was adjustable and rotated over a stationary lower stone. With the invention of electricity came high-speed grain mills and different styles of grain milling became prominent, including hammer mills or steel roller mills. Most modern grain mills are the steel-roller variety where the grain is crushed between successive rollers at high speeds and high temperatures. These

inventions allow the milling of hundreds of times the quantities of flour in a much more cost effective manner. Despite all of these advancements in technology, many still seek stone-milled grains. Their reasons generally fall into fives areas: Nutrition: Stone mills typically grind relatively slowly and at much lower temperatures than roller mills. It is believed the vitamins and minerals remain more intact when not subjected to the high temperatures as a result of this process. Flavour: Stone-milled flour is preferred by many bakers and natural-food advocates because of its texture and nutty flavour. Freshness: Stone-milled flour is typically fresher because the wheat germ is not removed in the milling process. It is the germ that causes rancidity and limits the shelf life. Flour with the germ removed can be shipped further

continued next page

Eat, Drink and Buy Local Food!

continued from pg 7 and be on store shelves for well over a year. Food Security: There used to be a mill in every town and there was a real connection between the farmers the millers and the

bakers. In North America, the vast majority of our wheat is milled in a handful of facilities by only a few companies. Processing: Large-scale milling usually involves the adding of flour treatment agents to improve baking functionality.

According to Wikipedia, there is a wide range of conditioners used in bakery processing. They include bleaching agents, oxidizing agents, reducing agents or enzymes and emulsifiers. Stone milling at a small scale is generally is much simpler. Sometimes the old way of doing

quinoa the superfood

uinoa (pronounced keenwah) is a centuries-old grain that has recently been heralded as a new superfood. A South American staple for generations, this tiny little seed packs a nutritional punch that has experts, like health wizard Dr Oz, encouraging us to include it as part of a healthy, balanced

Bruce Stewart is co-owner of True Grain Bread in Cowichan Bay and President of Cittaslow Cowichan.

Quinoa stalks. Seeds are stripped off the stalk by hand.

diet. This GMO and glutenfree powerhouse is extremely high in protein, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and fibre. A complex carbohydrate with a low glycemic index digests slowly without spiking insulin levels, making it a great addition to diabetic or weight-loss meal plans.

Quinoa has gained some popular uses: a healthy alternative for rice, served cold in place of tabouli in a salad, or used to bulk up soups, similar to barley. Yet there is so much more to this dynamic superfood. Books like Quinoa 365 and Quinoa Revolution (both written by sisters Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming) are abundant with recipes and information to inspire you to add quinoa to your weekly meal planning. Recipes include Moist Chocolate Cake (a flour-free cake using cooked quinoa), homemade baby food, and meatless burgers and the delicious Baked Chicken Nuggets with quinoa on page 10! (www.patriciaandcarolyn.com)

things makes a lot of sense!

Most health-food stores sell quinoa in whole, flake, or flour form. Rinse whole quinoa seeds prior to cooking (if it has not been pre-rinsed) to remove any saponin that naturally coats the seed. Just soak and rinse the seeds until the water runs clear. Whole seeds can also be sprouted for a variety of uses in raw food diets.

Cowichan Valley Food - As fresh as it will ever be!

You can add quinoa flakes and flour to gluten-free flour mixes to enhance protein, mineral, and fibre content. Store-bought flour should be refrigerated, or grind your own flour from seed using a home mill like the Nutrimill by Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Equip or a high-speed blender. Use the flour immediately to ensure maximum nutrition. For breads or leavened (yeasted) baking, add small amounts of quinoa flour as a partial substitute for regular flour. Replacing the flour entirely may not result in a pleasant taste or texture, but it can be entirely substituted in gluten-free cookies, muffins, pancakes, pizza dough and flat breads â&#x20AC;&#x201C; giving your favourites big flavour with even bigger nutrition! Bulk sacks of quinoa can be ordered locally from www.healthykitchens.com. Pam Stiles is a Cowichan Valley lover of all grains and can be found at www. healthykitchens.com

held at the Cow Cafe and enjoy a Cowichan Bay Merchants spring fashion show showcasing the latest clothing and accessories available from all the shops right here on the waterfront.

Ladies Night

and Fashion Show

April 18 5:30pm - 9pm Cowichan Bay Waterfront Fashion Show - Cow Cafe at 5:30pm Doors Prize draw 9:15pm Cow Bay Pub

Attention all ladies!Attention all ladies! Spinning Ninny and the merchants in Cowichan Bay are inviting you for a night of Fun, Fashion and Food! Begin your evening with delicious 2 for 1 appetizers

The show will feature, new Nomads hempwear collections from Radway Clothing, chic local designers from Spinning Ninny, spring hats from Wildish Wear, hand painted clothing from Pipi Tustian at Tangerine Dream gallery boutique, Luxe organic mineral makeup from Naked Mermaid, handmade artisan jewelry from Fentiman Ave and more! Once you’ve picked your favourite looks for spring, mingle though all the participating shops and get your ballot stamped to

canadafashionswap.ca

invitation to join

fashion swap website

buy, sell or trade sign up, list items, post photos, chat, barter, swap, sell fashion

info@canadafashionswap.ca win prizes! You’ll see special event discounts like 20% off everything from Out of the Blue, free chair massages from Rumours, Hellerwork shoulder and neck releases from Janelle Hardy, bonus outfits from Bamboletta, free coffee and chowder samplers (while supplies last) from Lighthouse Eatery, plus

COME JOIN FOR THE SOUTH COWICHAN TREASURE HUNT!

SATURDAY, MAY 11

10am sharp - 4pm

A self-guided culinary tour of the South Cowichan region featuring samples & products from over 15 participating farms, wineries, restaurants & shops. New - coordinates will be added to map! This fun, tasty and educational event will begin at the Mill Bay Centre A Draw will take place the next day for great prizes!

Eat, Drink and Buy Local!

raffles, snacks, wine, door prizes, giveaways, samples and music throughout the Bay all night long! The prize draws for completed ballots will take place at the Cow Bay Pub at 9:15pm. So grab your best friends and head down to Cowichan Bay for this event.

How do you participate? Register with Shauna Benson at southcowichanchamber@shaw.ca $25 registration per person –Limited to 75

*Registration includes treasure map, basket to collect your Booty & entries into Grand prize draw. VISA & MasterCard accepted

Teatime in the Preschool - Open House at Sunrise Waldorf School

“It’s fresher from here”

Baked Chicken Quinoa Nuggets

Chicken nuggets are always a favourite with children, and you can relax knowing these ones are wholesome and homemade. Serve them for supper or as an appetizer with your favourite dips. Dipping the pieces in butter before coating them makes a tender crispy coating, but if you prefer leaner chicken nuggets, bake them without the butter.

Ingredients Ground Chicken White or Golden Quinoa Water Salt Dry Breadcrumbs Basil Thyme Butter (Optional) Parmesan cheese

Enjoy a playful visit in our Kindercottage preschool, full of wonder, magic and warmth. We’ll have tea together. For families with children of preschool age.

Wednesday April 17th 1-2pm Please RSVP 250-743-7253

admissions@ sunrisewaldorfschool.org

Amount 1 Lb 1/4 Cup 1/2 Cup 1 tsp 1/2 Cup 1/2 tsp 1/2 tsp 1 Cup 1/3 Cup

* Reprinted with permission from Quinoa 365 The Everyday Superfood by Carolyn Hemming & Patricia Green

Bring the water and quinoa to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for a additional 5 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork and set aside to cool. Combine the ground meat with the quinoa and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate, shallow bowl combine the breadcrumbs, cheese, thyme and basil. Preheat the oven to 400F (200 c). Lightly grease a large baking sheet or spray with cooking oil. (Orline the baking sheet with parchment paper.) Create even sized nuggets by using a tablespoon and forming the meat mixture into flat ovals, 1/2 inch(1cm) thick. Dip the nuggets in butter (if using) then coat in the breadcrumb mixture and place on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes on the center oven rack. Remove from oven, flip the nuggets over and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot with any of your favourite dips.

1615 Koksilah Road Cowichan Bay BC 250-746-6163 • www.farmhousepoultry.ca Chicken available from Country Grocer, 49th Parallel, Duncan Butcher, Chemainus Foods, Crofton Foods and Thrifty Foods

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

LIVE CRAB • FRESH FISH • LOCAL SPOT PRAWNS AND MORE!

Baked Halibut in Cream I Serves 2

Method

Halibut season will open on March 23rd this year and we hope to see fresh halibut in the store by March 28th, weather permitting.

1. Grease a small shallow baking dish with butter. 2. Season lightly beaten eggs with salt and pepper. 3. Combine parmesan cheese and cornﬂake crumbs.

Fresh will be available through to the end of November.

Amount

Ingredients

3/4 lb 2 eggs Pinch of ¼ Cup

halibut fillet, skin off lightly beaten salt and pepper parmesan cheese (good quality, finely grated) finely crushed cornflakes whipping cream fresh handpeeled shrimp chopped parsley

¼ Cup 1 Cup ¼ lb 1 Tbsp

Spring Hours Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 am to 6pm

4. Cut halibut ﬁllet into two portions. 5. Dip each portion in egg mixture and roll in crumbs. 6. Bake uncovered at 350 for 15 minutes . 7. Meanwhile, in a small pot over medium heat stir together whipping cream, shrimp and parsley. Do not allow to boil. 8. Pour over halibut and bake 5 – 8 minutes more. 9. Mop up with a crusty baguette and a fresh green salad. Yum!

1751 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay

Cowichan Bay Seafoods

250-748-0020 E-mail: info@cowichanbayseafood.com

Meals on the Ground is looking for volunteers Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5pm at the Cowichan Green Community, 360 Duncan Street. For info contact Anne at 250-710-0351/ a.balding@hotmail.com or Chuck McCandless 250-715-5599. Together, we can help each other create a more food-secure region.

april merriment at merridale celebrate earth day all month long

what’s the buzz?

april 20th and 21st – join us for a free presentation by Gord

Hutchings at the merridale farm. learn about the importance of the bees to our survival.

snout to tail dinner - celebrate sustainability!

april 20th at the bistro – it’s all about sustainability! A fascinating

and tasty meal involving all parts of the animal sourced from the cowichan valley. served at long tables, this will be an evening to learn, taste, and meet new friends. limited seating, so please reserve.

tell us your story at www.merridalecider.com

april contest - visit our website and tell us how you contribute to making our valley green - best “green” story wins dinner for two. contest closes april 30th. april hours open 7 days a week:

ciderbar 11am-5pm monday-saturday/ 10-5pm sundays bistro 12-4pm Monday –saturday/ 10:30-3pm sunday brunch merridale ciderworks • 250.743.4293 I visit www. merridalecider.com

Eat, Drink and Buy Local!

11 fresh han

cured mea

Rocky Creek Winery vineyard owner Mark Holford

love what I do. It’s a good thing too, because there are times when you just want to rip your hair out. A lot of people seem to think running a small winery is a license to print money. Well I have news for them… it’s not… not by a country mile. Fundamentally it’s a farm first and foremost. Farming is a) hard work and b) a risky venture.

Available from Cherry Point Vineyards, The Worldly Gourmet, The Community Farm Store, Ingredients Health & Apple Cafe

rosettastonekitchenware.com

So… you want to start you own vineyard? Here’s a look into our years in the business so far. 2005 - Year 1 - Nice quality grapes but quantity was down because of excess vigor in the vineyard. 2006 - Year 2 - Nice quality again, but quantity was still down because of vigor, and we chose to pick a little early because the weather forecast a huge rainfall (concern over grapes splitting when they take up excess water from the soil) so our Pinot was not quite as ripe as our 2005.

2007 - Year 3 - We finally solved the vigor problem so our crop almost doubled from the previous two years. This year was much cooler, so our grapes were not as ripe again, resulting in higher acidity in our Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. 2008 - Year 4 - We were busy planting our estate vineyard in the spring. Crop set was light on the Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Summer was very cool and wet and while we had good quantities the overall weather picture was cooler. We didn’t pick any grapes until Thanksgiving weekend, and when we went for our first pick (Ortega) the night before had a severe killing frost which decimated the leaves and prevented any further ripening. Our most urgent picking season ever - we had all of the grapes off the vines in under 10 days. First experiments with Sparkling and Rose as our grapes were even less ripe then 2007…. 2009 - Year 5 - Spring is warm for a change! Excitement builds

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Thinking of Starting Your Own Vineyard ? Musings from An Owner as buds start bursting in April. Early May brings 2 killing frosts - extensive damage to our baby leaves. Early frost kills many of the primary buds (each bud area on a grape can have as many as 3 actual buds, the first being very fruitful, the second having much less fruit and the third having no fruit at all). This also causes the grapes to pause for a couple of weeks while they start growing the secondary bud. Frosts followed by brilliant hot summer and nice long fall. Fruit was really nice but limited due to frost damage. 2010 - Year 6 - We leased a second vineyard this year - bringing us up to 3 vineyards in total. Crop set was good, weather was cool. Our grapes were starting to get nice and ripe and then the starlings found our newly leased vineyard and descended on it like a scene out of “the birds” and within a couple of days they had eaten over 90% of the grapes right through our bird netting. Disaster! The small amount of grapes we salvaged was turned into Jubilee, our rose sparkling. Our vineyard in Chemainus still had a good crop, so all was not lost… but after sinking all those extra costs into an additional vineyard we had practically nothing to show for it. 2011 - Year 7 - This spring was super, super late, and the summer was cool and wet…. Coldest summer by far since we started the

winery. Grapes were so under-ripe even the birds weren’t interested. We ended up picking right up to the first of November. Fruit set was okay, but the cold, wet summer played havoc with disease - powdery mildew hit us in October, and we lost half our Ortega, and quite a bit of our other varieties. With smaller amounts of less ripe grapes we made double our normal amount of sparkling to take advantage of grapes with higher acid and lower sugar. Cab-Foch grapes were about 2 weeks riper then our Pinot Noir. The bright point in an otherwise frustrating year was picking for the first time in our estate vineyard! 2012 - Year 8 - Well with the issues in 2011 we decided to cancel the lease on the first vineyard we had in Chemainus and concentrate on the two in Cowichan Bay. We needed to focus our efforts. Another incredibly cold and late spring. Fruit set was poor in many cases because of the cold weather during flowering. Then summer finally hit - and stayed!!! The incredible warm fall weather continued right until midOctober which resulted in our grapes coming in riper then we’ve seen in all our previous years. But the poor fruit set was compounded by another battle with Starlings. By leaving our grapes until November, the birds had ample time to pick away at whatever fruit

they could reach. Our volunteer Wwoofers that put up the nets in our leased vineyard didn’t do a great job (too much time suntanning, not enough working) - with both of us busy on other projects and unable to supervise closely enough. Live and learn. Most of our volunteers are very diligent, but you can’t always count on that. So we ended up with good quality, but lower quantity again… So there you have it, our trials and tribulations so far. Here’s to a magical 2013 where we get great crops both in quantity and quality…

Vineyard Wish List • An early start, nice warm spring • No early killing frosts (no sudden cold snap after the warm spring) • Warm, hot summer • Enough rain to keep grape clusters from being too small (we don’t irrigate!) • Nice dry warm weather all the way up to harvest (no early fall frost) • No birds!

Buy from Cowichan Valley farms & wineries - As fresh as it will ever be!

Mark Holford Owner/ Winemaker at Rocky Creek Winery for the past 9 years

Alderlea Farm Annual Stinging Nettle Festival Sunday, April 21st 11 am – 6 pm

3390 Glenora Road Duncan 250 715-0799 www.alderleafarm.com

Love and Leaf: Wild Sting and Wise Cure

e’ve all been stung by love and by nettles. As we get older, we begin to see that it’s not the medium, it’s the message: Used artfully, both are powerful healers. With Valentine’s Day is behind us, let’s focus on nettles. Farmer John and cook Katy Ehrlich of Alderlea Farm are hosting their annual Stinging Nettle Festival in Glenora Katy speaks of stinging nettle with authentic passion. “This plant is the spring tonic of the wild and for the wild!” Katy’s smiles, a tad mischievously. “I just love to hear the stories of the wise elders who picked and prepared stinging nettle when they were wild and young.” Yet most of us have learned to shun it in forest and field. Knowing its benefits, and getting over our urban dislikes, is part of the process of bringing back ancient wisdom displaced by the industrial revolution and the reliance on synthetic medicines and supplements. “This highly nutritious plant is also the panacea for almost everything that ails one, from hair loss to arthritis to anemia. This super food is a natural cleanse that removes wastes and gently stimulates the lymph system. Once the body and the soul tastes this delicious superfood, it craves the taste

SOUPER ORTIES SOUP (The taste is all in the name)

Amounts

Ingredients

4 tbsp. butter two medium onions 4 small potatoes, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 lb. young stinging nettles to taste pepper

every spring. It quickly becomes a family tradition to pick and prepare the stinging nettle each year.”

Method

Katy explains: “Once the leaves are cooked or even macerated, they loose the sting. People of all ages savor the taste of the stinging nettle soup, quiche, spanakopita, chips and pesto in the cafe or at the annual stinging nettle festival.”

Add in the cut up potatoes and salt, and pour cold water or stock to cover by two inches. Bring to a simmer, then cover with lid and cook for ten minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.

Stinging nettle is particularly abundant in the Pacific Northwest, anywhere the soil is moist and has been disturbed by humans or animals. “It might well be springing its nutritious head and growing wild in your own backyard,” Katy says. The Nettle Festival is a chance for young and old to learn, hands on, about healthy alternatives to mowing it down.

Melt the butter in a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add in the onion, and cook for five minutes, until softened, stirring regularly to avoid coloring.

Using plastic bags on your hands to handle the stinging nettle, wash the stinging nettle leaves and stalks. Add them to the pot and cook for five more minutes, until the leaves are soft and wilted. Purée with an immersion blender or in batches. Grind in some pepper, taste, and adjust the seasoning.

Recipe courtesy Katy Ehrlich, Alderlea Farm & Cafe

Astri Wright writes on inspirational and sustainable artistry, locally and globally.

Annual Flower Show and Plant Sale Saturday April 13, 2013 • 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Feature presentation at 10:30am and 11:30am “Is Floral Design a Dying Art?” by Andrea Strachan of “One Pot - 4 Ways” Planter Demonstration at 11:00am by Sandpiper Gardens Flower Show and Photography entries welcomed from the public.

Duncan United Church Hall, 246 Ingram Street Admission $3.00 Children under 5 free

More information at www.cowichanvalleygardenclub.com

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Teafarm Yerba Mate

Taste Of Tea

ravelling through the eastern part of South America you will undoubtedly come across people clutching small drinking containers in the form of gourds, wood, leather or ceramic. There will be a beautifully crafted metal straw sticking out of the vessel’s opening. This is how one traditionally drinks yerba mate and yerba mate is what the majority of people from Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina consume as their daily hot beverage. Yerba mate (Ilex Paraguariensis) is a native plant to subtropical Paraguay and is related to the holly family. Originally, it was enjoyed by the native people of the region before European settlers helped spread its use to the neighbouring countries. It is a tree whose leaves are harvested and processed for consumption. As a stimulant containing slightly more caffeine than tea, yerba mate also boasts high amounts of antioxidants and is

known to have additional antiinflammatory and cholesterol lowering benefits. This may explain why mate is becoming a popular substitute for coffee here in North America. The utensils used for the consumption of mate play an important part in the daily ritual. The gourd, or vessel, is known as the ‘mate’. What the mate holds is the ‘yerba’. The straw, made with a filter at the end to help strain the loose-leaf yerba, is called a ‘bombilla’. All the components of preparing yerba mate, from the sweet grassy smell of the yerba, to the beautiful colours of the gourds, the skillfully crafted bombilla, the care taken in preparing and pouring water at the right temperature make yerba mate a rich and healthful treat.

coming soon 1843 TZOUHALEM ROAD

Margit and Victor create an eclectic experience of tea+art+nature. www.teafarm.ca

Eat, Drink and Buy Local!

100% Natural Latex Foam Rubber is the most durable mattress material available. It is completely renewable, sustainable,nontoxic, hypoallergenic, temperature regulating and terriﬁc for pressure point relief. 100% Natural Latex Foam Rubber is from the milk of the rubber tree. Rubber trees grow within 10 degrees of the equator and constitute some of the best managed forest systems in the world. Therefore, natural latex is very eco-friendly. the foam made from these trees is not subject to the body impression issues that you ﬁnd in regular coil mattesses. Natural Latex Queen Mattress with bamboo cover $1199, King $1499

Duncan Foam & Futons 4485 Trans Canada Hwy (in Crossroads Centre) (Serving the Valley for 20 years)

250 746-0702

DESIGNI NG green More Bamboo Talk

es, this column can be as invasive as this species of grass. Spring is perfect time to consider planting bamboo, a fabulous oxygenating evergreen (yes, they produce oxygen 24/7. How’s that for carbon busting?) If starting from seed, you will have a tedious but rewarding time and you will definitely need a greenhouse for incubation. Seeds are rare to find as some species have never had documented flowering and they say some only flower each 200 years or when the time is absolutely right. Glad I’m not married to a bamboo! I have only witnessed one flowering of one species in 20 years. I prefer the method of division so I pack an axe wherever I travel in lust for wandering roots (rhizomes) a large one, and a pry

bar or pole of some girth to rip the rhizome free of the ground. Not work for the faint of heart. The rhizomes can be aggressively divided as a means of containing growth while gaining a new plant with a developed root structure, which represents three or more years of growth by comparison to seed starters. Early spring or late fall or is best for division. The soil should be wet and loose, as the cutting does not want to dry out while it takes a new hold on the earth.. Upper growth is also in dormancy but if the soils are warm enough, root growth will continue. If planting in the ground like any growing plant, give it enough room. As an invasive runner species consider a very large container - minimum 4’ diameter and 2’ deep. Or cheaper yet, take old steel roofing and cut flexible strips, screw together and put in the ground 24” deep like any grass containment and pitch it outward about 7 degrees. The

Timber bamboo rhizomes David Coulson bamboo will flourish and bounce off the metal forming vertical rather than horizontal growth. The same can be done for hedging, except create a longer trench container. If you pot your bamboo water daily after May 1st or risk losing it very easily. Avoid very windy locations, slightly sloping to very sloping is good and never stand in water or it will rot. Bamboo is known in Chinese as ‘knit-bone’ for it’s river bank stabilization so it is a great plant for loose draining ground and it loves a steady trickle of water once in season. Never Let It Dry Out.

nitrogen and cannot be overfed so chicken manure large patches, milorganite or any fertiliser with a high first number. The best selection for ready to plant potted bamboo are at The Plant Farm, 177 Vesuvius Bay Road, Salt Spring Island on the way to Ganges. www. theplantfarm.ca. For more reads also check out ‘The Gardeners Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboo’ by Michael Bell and of course the bible, ‘The Book of Bamboo’ by David Farrelly.

Most temperate species love partial to full sun. There are shade varieties. Bamboo loves

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

David Coulson is a local certified Built Green design builder. He has a staff of 25 that have built throughout the Island for over 20 years.

Natural Forces

The Cowichan Valley Arts Council is seeking artists for a themed exhibition celebrating

Alisando plaster finish Ezio Cusi

“Transformation” in First Nations Art Submitted artworks must reﬂect this theme. Inspirations may come from legends, storytelling, or nature, for example. Application Deadline: May 1, 2013 Exhibition Dates: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 – Friday, June 21, 2013 Opening Reception: Thursday, May 30, 2013 6:30-8:30 pm. We are also looking for an artist to create a logo for this show. For more information and submission requirements please contact curator, Suzan Kostiuck at 250-746-1633 or email cvartscouncil@shaw.ca

he basic elements of nature – air, water, fire and earth are everywhere. The most ancient health arts and the most modern scientific tools of inquiry tell us that at the subtlest levels of matter these elements are also what our bodies are composed of. Add spirit and we are alive. The basic elements of nature are always at work sorting things out. When hot meets cold, they exchange and equilibrate. This is why, in the colder season, the warmer air inside a dwelling is trying to get out and colder air outside is trying to get in and visa-versa in the warmer months. Wherever there is an opening in the dwelling’s membrane an atmospheric exchange occurs and a draft results. In an attempt to keep the warm air inside, modern building practice works to stagnate the exchange process by sealing up the building’s membrane. But trouble arises when other natural forces are not accounted for. Warm air has a naturally higher pressure than cool air, and these pressures also want to equilibrate. Wherever there is even the tiniest crack, hole or slice in the conventional dwelling’s vapour barrier, high pressure will send the warm air through the fissure. This would not be a problem per se except that warm indoor air is

at times very humid. Through our cold-season activities of breathing, cooking, washing, drying out soggy jackets and boots… water becomes vapour and atmospheric humidity rises. When the warm humid air enters the space behind the vapour barrier it begins to cool and the vapour condenses in the wall/ ceiling/floor cavity – creating an environment in which mold thrives. The simplest and most reliable way to manage excess indoor humidity is to let the walls breathe. Nothing works better at absorbing and releasing water vapour than clay. This is why clay-based dwellings last many hundreds of years without rotting. Here in the temperate rainforest, a fully natural wall system made of light-clay and stud or timber frame offers an ultimate combination of humidity regulation and insulation. For a conventionally crafted dwelling, constructing interior divider walls with adobe brick or wattle and daub will also offer superb breathability. Such walls provide excellent sound insulation, and can also serve as radiant heat sources by embedding hydronic tubing, electronic warm wire or woodfire chimney flues into their fireproof mass. In a preexisting dwelling,

swapping out an old metal-body woodstove for a adobe radiant earth heater will do wonders. But the simplest and least costly modification of all is to apply a skim coat of clay-based plaster over pre-existing painted drywall. Here in the valley a growing number of artisans are home-crafting durable interior

Home & Living

finish plasters and successfully applying them for the cost of a high quality paint job.

Patrick Amos, M.A., is a process worker, natural builder and natural health practitioner. shiizenclayworks@ gmail.com

elcome to toddlerhood, 8 1/2 acres--you just turned two! After a couple of lesson-filled years we still fall down a lot, but we can now walk--and sometimes run; we’re still babbling but we can talk too.

Our family started as four would-be urban refugees from Vancouver. With a dancer, a writer, an artist and an elevator mechanic between us we began growing and selling vegetables four years ago in the Big Smoke. A half a dozen back and front yard garden plots scattered across the city had us racing around by bicycle to provide a CSA program for Vancouverites hungry for local organic food. Our need for more growing Parts of our watershed ran dry last year due to mismanagement.

Pledge To Vote For Local Control Of Our Watershed We know it’s time for action when the whole front page of our local newspaper shouts “The Cowichan: a river abandoned?” Everything we do depends on a healthy watershed. From the water we drink, to growing

space and a desire to leave the complications and stresses of the metropolis behind led almost accidentally to the Cowichan Valley. Here we were lucky to find a farm with a neglected orchard, more rhubarb than we thought possible and enough black soil to launch our market garden business. We currently sell vegetables, fruit, eggs and honey through our CSA box program, at farmer’s markets in Duncan and Nanaimo, at the Community Farm Store and at our roadside stand (6776 Somenos Road at HWY 18). Though we strive to be economically self sustaining, the realities of small scale organic farming and upholding our ecological values make this a long term goal. Fortunately we have been aided by a constant stream of volunteers from the city, many of them--like us--seeking alternatives to urban life. Where we were once four, the influx of friends, mothers-in-

Happy Birthday 8 1/2 Acres!

Keeping it close...and fun. The 8 1/2 acres gang on the farm. Joan Kallis

law, fathers, babies, exgirlfriends and their ilk has seen our workforce swell to nearly a dozen at times. Our use of hand tools humanizes farming while dissolving the separation between social life and work; and the emphasis on shared living similarly blurs the line between friends and family. The unexpected result goes beyond economics: rather than simply being a business

good food, to providing sustainable jobs, to visiting our favourite swimming holes – all of these things and a great deal more rely on taking good care of where we live.

advisory. We want to change this by delegating some real authority to this Board so that it can begin to deal with the many challenges we face, locally here in the Valley.

Yet, these days we’re not getting a lot of love from Ottawa or Victoria. Protections are being rolled back, scientists are being cut or muzzled, and local knowledge is being ignored. Last year the Cowichan River ran dangerously dry because provincial officials ignored the requests of Cowichan Tribes and local officials to store more water in Cowichan Lake for the dry summer.

The new citizens group One Cowichan is mounting a non-partisan BC election

There is a solution. The Cowichan Watershed Board is a model of First Nations and local officials working together for the good of our shared watershed, but at present its role is largely

growing food, the farm has evolved into something different and more wonderful than we imagined. It is a place of celebration and good meals shared; of education, workshops, and entertainment; one of peace and of beauty. Most of all we like it to be about fun for one and all--so please come on down to the market and say hello. www. facebookcom/8andahalfacres

campaign to have local people pledge to vote for local control of our watershed. Visit onecowichan.ca to find out more, to make the pledge, and to join fellow citizens in this push. Together we can take back our watershed. By Matt Price, One Cowichan

Michelle Rose CSF Fisherman Guy Johnston

Interested in buying the finest catch of the season straight from your local fishermen?

Become a member of Cowichan Valley’s first Community Supported Fishery for access to top quality, sushi grade seafood mindfully caught using low impact fishing methods. As a member you buy a share of the year’s catch before the season commences at prices that are fair to both members and fishermen. prawns • coho and pink salmon • octopus For more info go to michellerosecsf.com or mrfishing@telus.net

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

on the farm

with Sol Farm

recently attended an all-day farmers’ conference held in Victoria, with about 150 other busy farmers. In addition to an interesting selection of workshops led by a diverse group of people including farmers, chefs, elected government officials, writers and others, we were welcomed by Her Honour, Judith Guichon, B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor. A cattlewoman herself, the Lieutenant Governor brought her own farming perspective to her opening remarks and made some interesting observations that apply to all of us, not just farmers. Guichon expanded on the theme that we are all stewards of the land, and the only species that can build top soil by recycling nutrients and sequestering carbon. She referred to farmers as those who “harvest sunshine”, a rather lovely image and one I’ll reflect on as I spend these less than sunny spring days seeding. Brent Warner, the keynote speaker, was the Industry Agritourism and Marketing Specialist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture (27 years) and was a board member of the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association for 15 years. He spoke about how food buying factors into the average family’s disposable budget. North Americans spend most

of their disposable income on communications, and way at the bottom of the list—dead last—is food. The next time you grumble about the price of groceries, think about how much you spend on your phone lines, internet, computers, televisions, iPads etc. Food is an amazing bargain, and we are blessed to live in an area of the world where we can grow or harvest virtually anything. We eat amazing, healthy food—for peanuts. The rest of the day was spent in various workshops where farmers generously shared their insights and hard-won expertise, and I’ll pass a few tips on raspberry varieties to you. We learned about the best varieties of berries for the island from a small-fruit breeder who focuses on berry cultivars that are resistant to pests and diseases. Recommended raspberry varieties include “Cascade Delight”, which has some resistance to root rot, “Qualicum”, “Tulameen” which tastes wonderful but is somewhat susceptible to root rot, “Chemainus” and “Cascade Bounty” which is a good variety if you want to get into jam production. Many of these varieties were developed for this part of the world, as you can probably guess by their names, and they should all be available through your local nursery as they are in current production. Happy berrying! Ramona FroehleSchacht of SOL Farm raise vegetables, berries and chickens with her family. www.solfarm.ca

serving fair trade certified organic island roasted coffee delicious homemade soups artisan teas specialty coffees

At Whippletree Junction

fresh baked goods Food to go

250 597 4490

What The Hub?!!!

irthday parties are always fun, but April 12 is the rare chance to enjoy a 125th birthday bash – the birth of The Hub of the Universe, no less, which happens to be just 5 minutes south of Duncan. Back in the good ol’ days, when Duncan was just a lonely little train stop, Cowichan Station was a bustling metropolis (community hall, hotel, 2 churches…) which pioneer Jack Fleetwood dubbed “The Hub of the Universe.” To celebrate 125 years after the opening of our namesake train station, Cowichan Stationites have celebrated by turning the old school into “The Hub”, the valley’s vibrant new community centre. Volunteers have raised over $650,000 from grants (including $265,000 from Heritage Canada), amazing CVRD support, corporate discounts, and bounteous community member contributions to revitalize the old building, including: • New gym and school roof, restoring the heritage twinpeaked design • Renovated gym and theatre for multiple cultural and sports events • Renovated annex, which is now rented to various groups and a (soon to be launched) Montessori preschool

• Geothermal heat pump for Green energy • Expansion of the kitchen and indoor seating area for coffee shop and events

While work continues on the main part of the old school (and hopefully a new clay studio), you can already find people at The Hub most anytime, enjoying concerts, capoeira, school plays, seniors social, art shows, men’s groups, fitness boot camp, drop-in soccer & youth hockey, movie nights, Girl Guides, homelearners open gym, open mic nights … Please join us at The Hub in Cowichan Station (2375 Koksilah Rd, just West of the Highway) on Friday, April 12, 7pm until late, for some 125th birthday cake, ribbon cutting, dessert potluck and community DANCE. It’ll be the Party of the Century and a Quarter! Rick Juliusson FreeRange Consulting Sustainable funding * Effective operations * Achievable vision

of Sky- Heart of Earth, and the thought provoking St’at’imckalh, Spirit of the People. For the dramatic film fare, the award winning film The Lesser Blessed and Discovery Island, a new short from Coast Salish film maker Stephen Davies. Entry to all film nights is by donation.

9th Annual Aboriginal Film Festival

he 9th annual Cowichan Aboriginal Festival of Film & Art, April 17-20, promises to deliver another four days of exceptional films, food for thought in pre and post screening film makers discussions, and dynamic workshops. Interwoven throughout this all will be the artisans village, where you will have the chance to purchase unique items created by masters crafts persons. This year, Opening Ceremonies, a ticketed event which includes dinner and entertainment, will honour and celebrate our community. The four great nations that

have influenced the history of the Cowichan will be introduced from the four directions. Performances will be a sharing of story, song and dance from the four nations, hosted in the traditional way of the Coast Salish people. Special guests will include the makers of Spooksville, a new television series which will be filmed in the area over the next six months. Film buffs will welcome independent films from New Zealand, Germany, New Mexico, and the North. Featured documentaries include the visually stunning Mayan film, Heart

Youth and emerging film makers participating in the festival this year will have a chance to attend workshops and gain audition experience in both voice/song and acting. Auditions for the Youth Voice Award will be held Friday, April 19. This new award for a professional recording session and video of that recording session is sponsored by Lila Music Centre, Woodshop Recording Studio and Cowichan Today. This audition is open to all youth, however pre-registration for your audition time is required. New as well will be the Friday night Youth Awards Ceremony, where everyone is invited to come and celebrate the award winning youth films and film makers and see selected performers from the new youth voice auditions. The festival takes place April 17-20, at the Quwutsun Cultural Centre,in Duncan. For more information, to purchase tickets for Opening Ceremonies or to register for workshops or auditions www.aff.cowichan.net. Or 250-746-7930.

Dale Nigel Goble Releases Limited Edition 2013 Prints Bouquet (for Cheryl) 2013, Dale Nigel Goble silkscreen on coventry rag smooth 22” x 30” This particular image was a Valentine’s print for the artist’s wife Cheryl and also a working sketch / concept for a large steel sculpture (see below) The silkscreen is currently available on the artist’s website, dimensions 22” x 30” $200.00. Visit www.maplemountaineditions. com to view this and other new works by the artist.

www.makecheese.ca

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

p m l a l “ t t o w i

R w a o h t o r i f s p a s

Richard Young 250 597 3388 hello@huxterdesign.com www.huxterdesign.com Studio: 6798 Beaumont Ave Maple Bay

ichard Young stopped at the top of the stairs, panting. He is a strong man but his breathing was laboured after carrying up a large granite boulder. He looked at his wife and said, “When we need a sink for the bathroom, can I just go to a hardware store and buy one? No, I need to go into the woods, find a rock, and carve it into a sink.” Richard takes this approach with all his projects. He looks at his environment and pulls out elements that enrich the home and garden. He carved the stone sink and placed it on a blue-patina copper-andresin counter top. The effect is stunning. The sink is the focal point of the bathroom, something he hopes gives people a sense of calm. “With a regular sink, it’s just a sink, you don’t think about

Talking Arts • Richard Young

where it came from. With my sink, you want to feel the surface of it, the rough and the smooth. And it came from the ground under my feet. It’s comforting.”

Richard is a third-generation artist. His father and grandfather were both potters. Richard is inspired by British artist Derek Jarman and Pablo Picasso because, like these two men, he challenges status quo design to catch people’s attention. “Every room should have a feature. No room should be dull. There’s a lot of dull stuff out there. It’s nice to put something into the world that no one else has made before, something that makes people stop and think.”

Last September, Richard started his business— Huxter Design—selling hand-carved, local-stone sinks, sculptures, cabinet pulls and card holders. Richard has spent many hours refining his carving process. He applies the best tools to achieve the highest polish on the bowls. He deliberates over the selection of each stone, choosing only those with an irregular shape and size to make the most outrageous and impressive vessels. Richard is motivated to make superior products in reaction to a world in which so much is heaped onto the garbage pile. For example, his business cards are not

made of paper but copper. “I wanted a business card that people couldn’t easily throw away. That first impression is worth every penny because it represents my products. Whether you buy a Huxter sink or card holder, you’re going to have it for the rest of your life. It’s a piece of art.” Images courtesy of Kristen Charleton Photography. Top, Polished Stone Sink 2013, Vancouver Island Breccia 2’ x 7”. Below; Stone Sink and Patina Copper Counter Set 2012, Vancouver Island Breccia, 2 1/2 ’ x 7”.

For full design/build service, give us a call

 250.746.5372 • coulsondesign@shaw.ca • www.davidcoulsondesign.com  21

in her life, including having had cancer, and strongly believes in the healing power of creating and observing art. She is constantly creating new things. Examples of her new work will be at Imagine That! in April. Christine does commissions, regularly donates pieces to raise funds for Cancer research and supports The Art for Healing Foundation. Her work has been shown locally and internationally, with many pieces in private collections. For more information, see www.chrisallanartgallery. com. On display at Imagine That! Artisans’ from April 2 - 27.

of stories which travel from 19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, peeling back layers of history to ultimately reveal a profoundly contemporary and personal heart to her theme of liberation. April 23 7:30pm Adults: $23; Youth: $5 ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island For more info 250 537 2102.

Singers Wanted!

Green Horizon by Christine Allan

Artist Christine Allan Having spent many years living in small communities where her husband worked as a policeman, Christine Allan loves living in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Teachers have been a huge influence in her artistic endeavours. Encouragement and support from her grade-school and university teachers, her daughter’s native art teacher in a remote native community, and a nursery-school teacher in New York have been instrumental in her pursuing art as a career.

Image Jeremy Mimnagh

Bicycle As Muse

Innovative and award-winning Toronto artist Evalyn Parry takes her audience on a theatrical and musical journey that celebrates the Bicycle as muse, “musical instrument Christine, who is from Winnipeg but and agent of now lives in Chemainus, is a mostly social change”. self-taught artist who has been creating Inspired in part art in one way or another for most of her by the incredible life. She learned early on that art could be an escape from family difficulties. Art true tale of Annie started out as a refuge but quickly became Londonderry – the first woman to ride a passion. Art has been a constant, from creating it to studying other artists’ work. around the world on a bicycle in 1894 – Parry spins a web Christine has overcome many obstacles

Come sing this spring! Join 100 voices choir & sing for joy!. Singing makes you feel good, opens the lungs, raises the vibration. Meet new people, builds community, increases vitality & health & is fun! All voices welcome, all ages, no experience necessary. Singing in a circle formation, no need to read music. Family choir & community choir 10 weeks April - June. For more info www. Joythroughmusic.Com 250 701 0978 Direction by Cari Burdett, Lila Music Centre

Your local source for organic Yerba Mate and accessories.

Tea & Tango

Saturday April 27 @ 7pm Experience a traditional tango performance! $10/person-limited seating-call to reserve Open Wed-Sun 10am-5pm

8350 Richards Trail North Cowichan

Local Arts

250 748 3811 www.teafarm.ca

Image Julie Nygaard

Annual Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show - Brings you the ‘Best of the Best!’

ancouver Island is home to an impressive number of artists and artisans, many of whom live and work right here in the Cowichan Valley. Once again, the annual Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show provides a wonderful opportunity to see the creative output of your Valley neighbours. This year, the 43rd annual show will be held from April 25 to April 28 at the Island Savings Centre in the Cowichan Suite and PORTALS - The CVAC Centre for Arts, Culture and Heritage located at 2687 James Street in Duncan, B.C. The show traditionally features a wide variety of art including painting, pottery, fabrics, metal work, glass, photography, multi-media, and weaving. “We carefully review the comments and evaluations received from participants and organizers from the previous year,” noted Suzan Kostiuck, show co-organizer. “This helps us plan the current show. We receive many helpful suggestions, the overarching consensus, however, is that people are enormously proud of the quality of art produced in the Cowichan Valley. We are an

artistic jewel on the island.” This year’s theme is the ‘Best of the Best.’ While the Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show is one of the largest non-juried shows on the island, every effort is made to achieve high standards,” Suzan explained. “All artwork submitted must not have been displayed anywhere on the island before, so you will be able to view up to 164 original, recent works produced by a diverse group of artists during the show.” With this in mind, twenty-five pieces of work will be selected by a three-person professional jury to take part in a travelling show throughout the Cowichan Valley. “We are delighted to showcase some of the very best artistic creations our region has to offer.” Look out for the travelling ‘Best of the best’ at the Cowichan Bay Wooden Boat Museum, Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery and PORTALS this summer. For more information, please visit www. cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca or call the CVAC office at 250 746 1633. See you at the show!

Weaving, knitting, spinning and dyeing classes for all ages Group workshops available

Leola’s Studio 250-597-0820 Whippletree Junction Local Arts

Cowichan Valley Artisans

he Cowichan Valley Artisans welcome you to their Year Round Studio Tour! While each studio sets its own hours throughout the year, the Artisans are kicking off 2013 with a traditional studio tour weekend: all fourteen locations are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 26th, 27th and 28th and are ready to show off their latest creations! Valley potter Mary Fox, well-known for the sensuously curving bodies of her sculptural vessels and unique lithium and crawl glaze finishes, will be introducing new sculptural work. Cathi Jefferson’s studio is exhibiting the latest pieces in her finely crafted salt-fired functional pottery as well as her nature-inspired sculptures.

Next door, in the oldest log house in the Cowichan Valley, the Jennifer Lawson Gallery features Jennifer’s critically acclaimed watercolours which capture the soft light and vistas of our valley while evoking comparisons with pastoral English landscapes and gardens.

At KilnArt Glass Studio you will find Jo Ludwig’s glittering kiln-formed glass vessels and Peggy Brackett’s exquisite dichroic jewellery including her new Batik line.

This self guided tour also invites us to stretch our conception and understanding of craft by including other skilled artisinal ventures: at Venturi-Schulze Vineyards visitors are introduced to high quality estate grown wines and ancient method balsamic vinegar; Doc the Barber, a traditional barber in Chemainus, offers hot towel straight razor shaves, and Alderlea, a biodynamic community farm and Organic Cafe grows and prepares biodynamic food for you to enjoy.

Woodturner Ken Broadland and custom furniture makers Michael Moore and Karen Trickett are also featured on the tour. Moore’s diverse knowledge, innate skill and impeccable workmanship are apparent in his carefully crafted custom furniture. Trickett specializes in finely crafted furniture, marquetry, automotive trim and custom restoration work, whereas Heartwood Studio is home to the beautiful turned bowls of Ken Broadland. Participating painters include Peter Spohn, Jennifer Lawson and Nan Goodship. At Sacred Mountain Studio, Spohn, a well known landscape artist, will be introducing this year’s signature painting, “Morning has Broken” and displaying his most recent work alongside partner Nan’s distinctive hand-painted ceramics and custom tiles.

New this year are two textile artists. Gloria S. Daly, known for her ability to capture the essence and spiritual message of her subjects, combines traditional methods with contemporary design and materials in her studio while traditional weaving, knitting and community tapestry projects are on display at Leola’s Studio situated in the quaint and picturesque Whippletree Junction.

The Cowichan Valley Artisans studio tour is a wonderful way to explore the rich culture and stunning landscape of the Cowichan Valley! Studio Tour maps and brochures are available throughout the Island. Details and information can also be found at www. CowichanValleyArtisans.com

Red Fox Creative Studio

Cowichan Valley Artisans

Spring is the Season By Eliza Faulkner

pring is the season for rejuvenation and awakening. It’s the perfect time of year to clean out your closet, refresh your home, or give yourself a mini makeover. Downtown Duncan is also in a constant state of growth and this year is no different. We’ve seen new businesses open and others close so be sure to visit the downtown to see what’s new and different.

Refresh your wardrobe, cleanse your palate or decorate your home at some of Duncan’s best new businesses. ‘Tin Cup’ Cafe on Canada Avenue is one of downtown’s newest additions. With beautiful décor, comfortable leather armchairs and fresh locally roasted Drumroaster coffee, it’s the kind of place you might not want to leave…even after a few cups of coffee! After a little spring-cleaning on the home front it may be time for some

“It’s the very best toyshop in the whole wide world!”

Formal Wear Seasonal Coats & Jackets Casual Wear Ballet Wear Christening Gowns Footware Jumpers Pj’s and more!

www.gigglegearclothing.com

For the fashionista seeking locally made and sustainable clothing options, peruse through ‘ReThreads’ at the end of Station Street for unique, one-of-a-kind up-cycled garments. When lunchtime rolls around, stop by Slice of Life on Jubilee Street. Now under new ownership, this downtown classic offers the best pizza as well as comforting soups and Umbria coffee. The cozy vibe alone is enough to keep you coming back for more. If starting a new exercise routine

Quality clothing for kids From Newborn to size 14 for both boys and girls!

63 Station Street Duncan 250 748 4445

new home décor. With a location already in Ladysmith, ‘Black Door Décor’ on Station Street opened its Duncan doors last autumn. This delightful shop will provide you with some fabulous new pieces to decorate your home or office.

158 Craig Street

Downtown Duncan 250 748 5545

Downtown Duncan Business Association

April Events

Downtown Duncan April 6 1- 3pm author Gwynne Hunt “Rampage” Ten Old Books April 13 1- 3pm “All The Dirt” organic gardening book authors booksigning Ten Old Books April 13th 6:30pm Using Cloth Diapers Workshop April 13th & 14th 5 -7pm Open Mic Coffee on the Moon

is on your to-do list this season then hop across the road to ‘Body Wrapsody’ for your workout gear. Catering to local dancers and ballerinas, ‘Body Wrapsody’ also stocks great leggings, bras, and tanks for any exercise routine. End your day with the most satisfying meal in Downtown Duncan by having supper at Phad Thai on Station Street. Aromatic and bursting with flavour -you will not be

disappointed by any of their curries or stir-fries. If the timing is right, make sure you visit the incredible row of blossom trees on Canada Avenue. They never fail to delight the senses. Indulge yourself and stroll underneath them – the perfect end to a perfect Spring day in Downtown Duncan.

April 20 1- 3pm Yvonne Maximchuk author of “Drawn to Sea Ten Old Books” April 20 7pm Ken McCoy Band- no cover Craig Street Brew Pub April 23th 11am – 4pm Clothing Swap Fundraiser for MS Society Matraea Centre April 27 1-3pm Kendra Stwich showcases her Wee Folk Art delights Ten Old Books

Excellent FrameWorks and the E. J. Hughes Gallery

Now Open Canadian designed and manufactured ﬁt wear, yoga pants & hoodies, plus a range of yoga mats and props.

Art for your empty walls. Gifts for yourself and others. We can print your photos on canvas. We want to frame your art for you. 28 station St downtown duncan 250-746-7112

55B Lois Lane in Duncan’s City Square Monday – Saturday 10am-5pm I

(778) 422-1316

Downtown Duncan Business Association

Enterprising

Women

Brought to you by Oilcheck where every Wednesday is Ladies Day. Be surprised!

Specializing in mens designer fashions, when the successful business owner of Outlooks Victoria decided to open a shop in Downtown Duncan he called upon his former star employee Shae Clutesi to partner on the new venture. As a co-operator with Miles Anderson of Outlooks Duncan and the fresh, front end face in the store Shae works closely with customers to build wardrobes that fit well and match their style. Just the right looks whether casual or formal.

Cruising Alaska

laska is a fantastic vacation for families and couples and cruises start in May from Vancouver and Seattle.

Norwegian Cruise Lines offer one way trips travelling further north to Whittier where “Many times men will come in to buy something new for a you can then take land tours particular event. They will be looking for a shirt that you would visiting Denali National Park wear in the evening with a dress jean or casual pant.” smiles

The most popular months are May – Aug to experience the midnight sun and spring flowers.

Denali National Park and Preserve is over 6 million acres and is located in Interior Alaska and contains Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest mountain in North America. There are lots of excursions in Alaska dog sledding or travelling on the White Pass Railway are just a couple.

Inside cabins start at $680 per person tax included subject to availability. For best prices book early and take advantage of cruise line sales happening in the spring. I personally cruised last May with Holland America exploring the inside passage and it was a wonderful experience. My trip was roundtrip from Vancouver and we visited Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

You can also fly to Anchorage and take a rail tour with Alaska Railroad Vacations . If you would like a complimentary video recording of experiencing Alaska please contact me and I will send one to you.

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Glacier Bay and experiencing the calving of a glacier. This is when a large piece of glacier separates and falls into the sea it is amazing to see and hear. Princess, Celebrity and

Shae “This combination is perhaps what we see the most; however, men are also buying for themselves just to add to their wardrobe; something classic and new to freshen up what they already have in the closet.” Their fashion buyer has 22 years of experience and does all the ordering for both stores. Shae has joined him on buying trips on a few occasions and would like to mention that finding quality, designer clothing “is not an easy task”. “This may come as a surprise, but our top selling item in the store is jeans.” says Shae “Our jean selection is amazing and what is MOST important with our jeans and all other garments is that the fit is just right. We do all the tailoring and make sure you walk out the store looking fantastic.”

Outlooks Duncan

Outlooks Duncan will be celebrating their 2nd Anniversary this spring and part of the secret to their success? This sassy lady Shae.

53 Station Street Downtown Duncan 250 597 2848 www.outlooksformen.com

Join the Club! Amanda Clarke Dream Choice Vacations And Cruise 250 932 -0010

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2752 Beverly Street Duncan

Local Woman Raises Money for Clean Water

his April, Duncan resident, Elly Ruge will join fellow Canadians, Team Offtrax as part of the tri-annual Rickshaw Run. Navigating 3500km+ on a three-wheeled glorified lawnmower, over 14 days, the team will start their journey in Southwestern India, completing the race in the upper Northeastern corner of the subcontinent. With no specified route, support, nor prize money it took 61 year old Elly a bit of convincing to commit to the team. However, after learning that the ‘race’ was to build awareness and raise funds for clean water charity, FRANK Water, she easily said, “yes”. Having been to India in 2004 as part of Rotary

International’s pledge to eradicate the world of polio, Elly encountered first hand the graciousness and charm of the Indian people, and the need for clean water, if not only to drink, then to cook with as well. FRANK Water works with local NGO’s and rural communities, building sustainable clean water projects. Not only does Elly believe in the need for clean water, mainland companies, Chawel, LensPen and CottonCarrier have gotten on board and added their support to the team. For more information on Team Offtrax, their sponsors or to donate go to www.offtrax.ca to start following the team’s progress live beginning April 7th.

Image Jess Watt

A Fresh Point of View “Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” - Alphonse Karr

Do you see a rabbit it the image above? Or do you see a bird? It’s the same picture, but different people will see a different image. Some will have an easier time of seeing both images and some will struggle. This is a perfect metaphor for how many of us look at the many situations in our lives. When a person allows their mind to stretch and see a situation from a different perspective they increase their opportunity for growth, learning and understanding. Improved relationships, increased creativity and greater empathy are all positive outcomes of seeing other points of view. “What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” - John Lubbock

EK Hair Design

250-701-4247

Support EK, support our community! EK only carries “ never been tested on animals” retail and colour product lines, so you can feel good about your visit to our salon. EK believes you have to be the change that you wish to see in the world.

Some people view the glass as half empty, some as half full, but to be able to see it as both half empty and half full is to have a more balanced and whole view. Often times a person doesn’t realize that they are already expecting to see one thing and don’t leave any room to see things from a fresh perspective. What have you been looking at from only one perspective? What might be different it if you were to look at this from a fresh point of view?

Sheila Walmsley

So let us start with your hair and try saving the world while making you look and feel your best. Come experience our world!

Upstairs in the Duncan Garage #205-330 Duncan St www.ekhair.ca

Simplicity Parenting: Using the

Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and more Secure Kids

ith daylight savings now behind us, we are all welcoming the increase in light and dreaming of long summer days. Our children are too, and they can feel our anticipation. We all want to stay outside just a little later, enjoying the longer afternoons and warmer weather.

Reel Alternatives presents

Beasts of The Southern Wild April 22 Cowichan Theatre Tickets $12/ Students $5 250 748 7529

In a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee, a six-yearold girl exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. Desperate to repair the structure of her world in order to save her ailing father and sinking home, this tiny hero must learn to survive unstoppable catastrophes of epic proportions.

Elizabeth May Visits Duncan April 27

Details of Elizabeth’s visit will be at www.VoteKerryDavis.ca

Leader of the Green Party of Canada and one of our country’s most respected environmentalists, Elisabeth May is a prominent lawyer, author, an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a loving mother and grandmother. Elizabeth made history by being the first Green Party candidate to be elected to the House of Commons.

NOW

MONDAY APRIL 22

SHOWING Reel Alternatives presents on the

7pm

BIG SCREEN

Beasts of The Southern Wild Cowichan Theatre Tickets $12, Students $5 rows A-C All proceeds benefit CV Hospice Services

But our children still have a few months left of school, and maintaining a consistent bedtime is just as important now as it was in the fall. Sleep is the most essential rhythm in the day. According to Simplicity Parenting and the Centre for Social Sustainability, “Everything your children do, and who they will be, is affected by their sleep, or lack of it”. Well rested children simply function better. Tired kids are harder to teach and much harder to parent. They don’t eat as well, are crankier, have slower response times, and they have difficulty assimilating new information – that is, they cannot learn as well! We all know as parents that, without enough sleep, we too are more reactive, less patient, and make weaker decisions. Of course this is true for both adults and children, but our children depend on us to set limits; providing boundaries and consistent bedtimes for them. If you are having trouble getting your kids to bed in these longer days, Simplicity Parenting has some easily established and simple recommendations.Simplifying

Family Pages

Bedtime: A consistent bedtime routine is the Key: bath, story, song, etc. When kids know what is coming next, it creates a very calming environment for them. It preps them mentally for sleep-time, regardless of the time of year. Use the Broken-Record Response: Even using the same words creates rhythm and calm for a child (and it’s simpler for you when you are tired). At bedtime you can say, “You don’t have to sleep yet. Just close your eyes.” If they get out of bed, simply lead them back. “I see you are out of bed. It’s bedtime now. You don’t have to sleep; you just need to stay in bed”. A consistent flat-line response gives them no ‘emotional oxygen’. It’s boring but calming. If you try to rationalize, or get angry, then they have won, Payne says. It could take a few challenging evenings, while your children become accustomed to this new rhythm and routine, so stay strong! The long term results will be worth it. (And before you know it, summer will be here and everyone can stay up late watching the stars by a campfire!) For more info www.simplicityparenting.com. For Vancouver Island Simplicity Parenting resources, please contact Linda at linda. simplicityparenting@gmail.com. Linda is a certified Simplicity Parenting Facilitator, living in the Cowichan. Valley.

s a teenager, skincare can be quite overwhelming - choosing makeup products, cleansing products... Recently my neighbour suggested a trip to an aesthetician to teach me more about good habits for better skin. It was amazing! Eva has a special treatment for teens to help educate us about taking care of our skin now so we can have beautiful skin later for years to come. The spa has a very inviting and relaxing atmosphere. My treatment began with a facial which included a consultation about my skin and tips to help keep my skin healthier. It is very difficult in the society we live in to find the right products for our skin and its needs. I learned that because there are so many products out there, it can get difficult to choose and if I buy the wrong face care product, I could possibly do more damage to my skin. Many skincare products contain chemicals that could do unwanted damage to our skin possibly resulting in premature skin aging. Also

there are toxins that are put into makeup products that go into the bloodstream! The products that Eva uses are specific to skin. They are organic, free from preservatives and parabens and made up from fresh fruits, vegetables, and minerals. Her products are not tested on animals and is packaged in environmentally friendly packaging. As the first green spa in the Cowichan Valley Eva is proud to be promoting these natural, organic and biodynamic skincare products. Eva showed me some products that I could be using and at the end of the treatment she wrote out a skin care recommendation just for me that will help guide me in the right direction for perfect skin. I am very grateful for this unique teen spa opportunity from Soul Escape and I have learnt a lot from this experience. If you would like to do something special for a teen in your life - send them to Soul Escape to learn more about their skin and better skincare. The future of their skin will thank you for it. 9th grader, Sophia is a keen rower and loves to read and write.

here is nothing better in springtime than the sun shinning into your home or office through crystal clear windows. Windows are often neglected throughout the winter months. The outsides are constantly dirtied from our lovely weather and the window tracks can build up mold from the condensation caused by the difference in temperature inside and out. So, how to get those beautiful streak free windows? Our green method of choice is any of the peroxide based cleaners. Available at janitor supply stores as well as most natural health product stores. What we like about these products is that they are effective at breaking down any film, dirt or debris on the glass. (also super handy for the toothpaste splatters on bathroom mirrors) If you choose a concentrated peroxide product be sure to dilute it according to instructions, if it is too strong your windows will not dry clear. Use a microfiber cloth for glass and mirrors to avoid any lint from being left behind. For a more professional approach purchase a good squeegee with replaceable blades (12 “ is a good size for most windows) and microfiber window scrubber, both available at janitor supply stores. Buy good ones they’re well worth the investment.

Green Living

teen skincare solutions T

We use an ecofriendly dish soap , very diluted in hot water, about 1 tbs/ gallon of water. Be sure to remove any screens and spray them clean with a gentle garden sprayer nozzle. You can use this method indoors as well, just squeeze the water out of the scrubber over your bucket by running your closed hand down it to drain the excess water. Tip: if you’re needing to wash exterior windows in cold weather add a little automotive windshield washer fluid to your water. Don’t forget to clean your window tracks at the same time. Clean with any all purpose cleaner and a toothbrush, then if there is mold, spray with a diluted tea tree (1 tsp/1 cup of water) solution and leave it sit to inhibit re-growth. Tracey Hanson local mompreneur and owner/operator Clean Choice EcoFriendly Cleaning Services cleanchoicecleaners. com

students far exceeds the national average. these young women are beginning to be seen in their villages as the problem-solvers and thinkers. Wide range of interesting plants available for sale and Master Gardeners on hand. The new school supported by the project now boards over 300 high school-aged girls. The pass rate in the national exams for these

Plant Sale to Support Malawi Girls on the Move April 27 9am-2pm 2836 Oceanside Lane Mill Bay 250-743-0965

Family Pages

What Would Ms Polly Do? INTEGRATED COMMUNITY HEALTH

Dr. Daisey Kent MSc ND

Josef Graf M.H.S, MSW

Naturopathic Doctor (250)510-1910

Holistic Counseling/Psychotherapy

(250)709-8583

Tobi Jane Panter AHG, R.Ac., RHN Acupuncturist, Nutritionist, Herbalist (250)715-4030

160 Jubilee St Duncan

•

silverfernhealth.net

WEBSITES, EMAILS AND VERBAL LINT By Rick Dennis MEET THE GIRLS: Originally from Winnipeg, Pipi Tustian has established herself as one of the most creative and versatile artists in the Cowichan Valley. She even turned a couple of my mother’s battered TV trays into works of acrylic art that are both funky and functional. (No, they’re not for sale! And I’ve had offers!) Born and raised in Vancouver, Lesley Fountain moved to Mill Bay in 2003 where she wrote a book called The Passionate Life, “a collection of 22 profiles of worthy Cowichan Valley women.” One of the profiles was of (surprise!) Pipi Tustian. The two women soon discovered they had a lot in common. “Lesley and I have a very similar outlook on life and art, and there is a palpable joy that comes from sharing our passions!” enthuses Pipi. “We are both aware of the nurturing strength and power of creativity, and have a great need to share it.” The result is Tangerine Dream Gallery and Studio. TWO’S COMPANY (BUT THEY LOVE CROWDS): “I have had a dream of a waterfront studio and teaching space since the 1980’s,” Lesley writes. “Amazingly, this space fell into our laps completely by chance ... We envision workshops and art parties in the studio ... the gallery side is filled with local artists working in acrylic on canvas, handcrafted glass, cedar, linen, and ceramics. We are thrilled to offer a new space in the community for people to come together, create and have fun. The fact that it is in Cowichan Bay, right on the water, makes it just that much better.” For more info log onto www.tangerinedreamgalleryandstudio.blogspot.ca/

Stay Close

When I first held from my infant daughter I cried because one day in the distant future she would go off to university; grown, far away living her wonderful life. My sister curtly told me to get over it. I felt so silly for being afraid to let go of this child but I had only held for mere moments. I wanted to never let her go. “I’ll love you forever,” I whispered in her sweet tiny ear. When she learned to stand and take her first steps she walked away and I chased after her to maintain a close proximity. At a junior high dance she asked me to leave because the bright orange ear plugs I was wearing were embarrassing to her. The music was loud and I was getting old. Now, she is in her twenties and she recently won a short trip to New York City and I offered her a sum of money to encourage her to stay for a few months to celebrate and savour life in The Big Apple. Ah, the art scene and the concerts and the restaurants. My need to stay close and make sure she is always safe with her needs met has slightly diminished. My love and caring interest has not waned. However, I have outgrown my need to cradle her in my arms but I still love to hug her. No matter how much I bribe her she is making her own way just as all of our children must do.

Our Community

Paulette is an Educator of Parents and Children in the Waldorf Philosophy. She lives in Victoria.

BENCH

ELEMENTARYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

FUN FAIR!

Saturday, May 11th 10:30am-3pm JAM PACKED for FUN, with MORE new games, activities and prizes And... Make a Basket for Mom $6 - Famous Haunted House - Cake Walk - so popular! - Petting Zoo BIG plant, book and clothing sales - Market Vendors - Mr. Mikes, Pizza, Hot Dogs and more!

1501 Cowichan Bay Road Cowichan Bay Our Community

Ancient Daoist Five Element Theory (Wu Xing)

t the heart of traditional Chinese medicine is the ancient Daoist Five Element theory, first mentioned in the Huangdi Neijing, around 3000 years ago. Five Elements is oriented toward treating the person at the level of their deepest energetic imbalance ~ the ‘window’ through which they perceive the world. In this modality we look for the emotional or spirit level causes of a person’s disease as well as ascertaining the person’s “constitutional type”. The five main constitutional types are based around what is known as the theory of the Five Elements, described as Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal & Water, representing interactive phases or processes that are fundamental to nature & humanity. Five Elements is an expression of natural cycles that explains the principles of transformation & change throughout all of

nature and human psychophysiological processes. Along with Yin and Yang, Five Elements is the theoretical foundation for the whole of Chinese medicine. In this model, we consider that all of us are born with one element which is constitutionally more imbalanced than the others. This imbalance is like a weak link in our energetic body that causes us to have a predisposition to repetitive negative beliefs & attitudes to the world around us. We may also have a tendency to habitual emotional states or have difficulty in expressing certain emotions. Essentially, the Constitutional Type reflects our original wounding. By studying the 5 element theory you can explore the spiritual capacity or virtue of each of the elements and how imbalance in our constitution manifests in core beliefs of

who we think we are and how we employ strategies to take care of ourselves. You will learn to determine your Constitutional Type, or Archetype, through learning the correspondences, the needs, and the ‘missing experience1 for each element, as well as the virtue or gift, which when balanced, the element bestows. Learning

Spirit, Health and Well-being

acupressure points and essential oils that can be used to stay in balance can also enhance your life on a daily basis. Samantha Jennings, Dr.TCM, specialtizes in Five Element spiritually based acupuncture, acupressure and vibrational medicine.

HEALTHY

Restore Your Health with

relationships Triggers & Reactions

e are wired for connection. As babies, we are completely dependent on the care of others for our survival. Our relationship to our caregivers is our lifeline, and any perceived threat to that relationship triggers a major reaction: brains and bodies go into “high alert” until we can be sure the bond is, in fact, intact. As adults, we are not so different! Instead of looking to our parents to meet our attachment needs, we now look to our partners. If we sense that they are not there for us, we perceive a “life and death” situation and we experience a BIG reaction. Something as seemingly benign as a critical tone of voice, a lack of eye contact, or a slight turning away can trigger an attachment fear. Each one of us has a different set of triggers depending

Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture & Diet Therapy

Dr. Fei Yang 250-733-2917

on our life story. And each one of us will react to the perceived threat in a unique way. When you fear your partner is not there for you, do you tend to withdraw and go quiet and tell yourself you don’t need him/her anyway? Or do you tend to lash out with angry words, criticism, sarcasm, and blame? What about your partner? Is there a particularly sensitive area in your psyche that is easily triggered? For example, do you react strongly to being criticized, abandoned, or ignored? Learning about your attachment fears and reactions and those of your partner can help diffuse and repair -- and even prevent -- those painful moments of disconnect. And, fostering healthy relationships as adults is one of the best ways to repair the relational deficits we may have experienced as children. Swarn Leung, Registered Clinical Counsellor, works with individuals and couples in her Duncan office.

ARCHETYPES OF UNDERSTANDING

ANCIENT DAOISTS FIVE ELEMENT THEORY Course Offered May 10 - 12 In Lake Cowichan

Excellent for students of oriental Cost medicine, massage and $310.OO Early bird before April 19) health practitioners. $350.00 And for personal healing. (After April 19th) For more info or to register contact: Rommy Verlaan I rommy.v@hotmail.com 250-749-6563

Hypnotherapy is the way to use your subconscious mind to uncover and change patterns and habits that no longer serve.

Effective for: · Fears & Phobias · Stress Management ·Weight Release ·Smoking Cessation ·Pain Control ·Achieving Goals Lori Austein Clinical Hypnotherapist

Thursday Meditation VIU Cowichan Campus www.VIRetreats.com

“Personal realization of our Buddha-nature is what we should cultivate, for health, happiness and prosperity” Nichiren Buddha Society & Peace Center Phone: 250. 710. 7594

Spirit, Health and Well-being

250-597-7459 • laustein@shaw.ca

7 Retreats for Learning and Realization Next Retreat: A Day With the Buddha’s Saturday 18th MAY 2013

Schedule outline, register onLine Check out all the Retreats: www.VIRetreats.com

Community Farm Store Pages

Are You Prepared For The Inevitable?

Do You Have? • • • • •

A Will An Enduring Power of Attorney A Medical Representation Agreement An Advance Medical Directive (Living Will) An Estate Plan (that deals with jointly owned property, corporate property, trusts, registered accounts, life insurance, income tax and probate fees)

R. Brian McDaniel – bmcd@mcdancolaw.com Julia E. Henderson – jeh@mcdancolaw.com

Call Us To Discuss Your Plans 201 – 64 Station Street Duncan BC V9L 1M4

Tel: 250-748-6633 Fax: 250-748-1496

www.mcdancolaw.com

Return to a clean home and workplace.

Giving you back the luxury of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in! Providing professional, eco friendly cleaning services.

250 929 8381 www.cleanchoicecleaners.com Licensed - Insured - Bonded

hether they are riding alone or in a group… cyclists often get car drivers so worked up they will fly into a rage. Why do some drivers get so angry at cyclists even though they are supposed to be using the road as vehicles? I have a theory. I think that sometimes cyclists are perceived to violate what drivers see as the social agreement that we all make when we use the road. Some cyclists use the road as if they are a pedestrian…some like a vehicle…some goes back and forth between both. It’s crazy making for vehicles because they never know what to expect when they encounter bicycles. So…when cyclists are doing things that drivers simply aren’t allowed to do…. like running red lights; not stopping at stop signs; going

Sandra Beggs owns and operates Cycle Therapy in Duncan. wwwcycletherapy.ca

T e h t a t f w I T t b w R

K w fi p s s h

r S e A m N F b w F M h G fi v

BOB BURGESS Tel 250.246.2155 Gulf Islands Rainwater Connection Ltd. Thetis Island, BC Email: bob@

rainwaterconnection.com

The more predictably cyclists ride…the more courtesy and respect they will get from other vehicles.

F g

Home Cleaning Gift Certiﬁcates available for Family & Friends! www.rainwaterconnection.com

the wrong way on the road; randomly popping up onto sidewalks and then back onto the road; or riding in groups and blocking the road for vehicles, it drives drivers crazy. Is there a solution? Sure. The solution is education. Drivers need to learn that they legally have to share the road with cyclists and cyclists need to learn how to share the road properly. The BC Motor Vehicle Act says that cyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers of vehicles. Cyclists need to follow the rules of the road and make the effort to understand what their rights and duties are. That includes “singling up” when riding in a group. “Car back” is an oft-heard call in group rides and the message is for the group to “single up” ASAP so that the car can safely pass. It may take a few extra moments for this to happen…but drivers…. when you encounter a group ride you can rest assured that they are trying to single up quickly.

Outdoor Recreation

South island fishing report

pring is here! or is it ? We have been fooled before. The warmer temperatures early last month has sure helped on the fishing end of things. Great hatches of Stone and May flies as well as the emergence of salmon fry approximately 3 weeks earlier than what I would normally see. The insect hatches have turned the trout on in both the local lakes as well as the Cowichan River. Keeping the current weather pattern in mind fishers might want to plan to get out on the water sooner than later as peak spring fishing times could happen earlier this year.

Cowichan River - The

river is slowing a bit for Steelhead, but should be excellent for trout through April and May. Use Muddler minnows, Hare’s Ears, Prince Nymphs, and Golden Stone Flies. Try the Eyes-n-Tubes balanced Golden Stone fly www.Eyes-n-tubes.com . For dry flies try Parachute March Brown or elk and deer hair caddis. For spin fishers Gibbs crocs in Brass with a fire orange stripe should work very well.

Fishing the lakes with gear - Lake fishers should

have success with gang trolls

trailing flatfish or worms behind. Rapala’s , small spoons and small plugs will also do the trick.

84 year old Ralph Christensen with his first ever fly caught Steelhead.

Fishing the lakes with flies - Fly fishers on

the local lakes will want to keep an eye on the hatches. Chironomids were working well through March, you might want to try them as well as some Carey’s and Micro leeches in April and May.

Bass anglers - The warmer weather could really effect what we might call the peak of bass season this spring. In 2012 a lot of our local lakes had bass up in the shallows by early May. They returned to deeper waters by late May, beginning of June. It might take a bit of searching to figure them out this spring, but I would expect to find them in the shallow waters possibly as early as late April. For lures I would suggest drop shotting with soft plastics. For Flies try wooly buggers in olive, chartreuse and black. Stay safe & good luck out there. Cowichanriverwildernesslodge.com Kenzie Cuthbert 25 years of guiding on southern Vancouver Island.

Large or small we feed them all. Hours of operation Sun 10 - 4pm Mon - Sat 8:30am - 6pm

2800 Roberts Rd. Duncan (250) 746-5101, Fax (250) 597-0312

100% Fresh

100% Locally Owned and Operated

Is Floral Design a Dying Art?

f there’s one thing that will never go out of fashion, it’s beauty. The greatest source of beauty is nature, which we clearly see now that spring is upon us. With the lengthening days things are coming back to life – budding, blossoming, poking tender shoots out of the ground. This rebirth leaves us in awe, enlivens our spirits, and seduces our senses. Floral designers strive to create living works of art both in celebration of nature and in honor of our customers. Our goal is to convey emotion in our designs. Much like fine wine or an excellent meal, a stunning arrangement of flowers is temporary; what remains after the flowers have expired or the meal is over is the memory of the experience and how it made us feel. Many of life’s significant

events seem incomplete without flowers. What a beautiful impression a bride makes as she walks down the aisle with a gorgeous bouquet. When we are bereaved flowers send us a message of comfort and remind us that others care about our loss. We celebrate birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, new love, babies and other special times with a tangible expression of thoughtfulness which honours the recipient. There is, however, quite a difference between a few wilted, cello-wrapped flowers at the grocery store and a design created with intention and craftsmanship. We use the principles and elements of design to set ourselves apart. People often comment when they come into our store that working with flowers must be such a fun job, and they are absolutely right. We love what

Photos courtesy of Kurt Knock Photography

g v y g a w

we do! In many parts of the world floral designers are treated as celebrities. When I was in Bruges, Belgium last year there was a huge installation by a very famous Belgian floral designer named Daniel Ost. Thousands of people flocked to see the incredible display; it was truly awe-inspiring. There is a vibrant, exciting world of floral design which we are passionate about sharing with whoever will listen! At Leaf & Petal Flower Studio we strive to inspire delight in the beauty of creation and encourage everyone to embrace the lure of flowers. Andrea Strachan is ridiculously passionate about flowers and plants.

S OU L E S CAPE

Gardeners Delight Manicure

ESTHETICS Est. Since 2006

Special $35

You’ll also take home a full-sized Eminence Vanilla Mint Handcream (value $14) as our gift to you!

The Cowichan Valley Garden Club Annual Flower Show & Plant Sale

April 13 10 am - 2 pm Duncan United Church Hall, 246 Ingram St $3, children under 5 free The Show highlights“Is Floral Design a Dying Art?”by Andrea Strachan of Leaf and Petal, 10:30am and 11:30 am and “One Pot Four Ways”, showing how to change the design for each season by Gunnell Borge of Sand Piper Gardens and Glass at 11am. The decorative section showcases the artistic and creative abilities of both the novice and advanced floral designer. Also on display are examples of the many beautiful flowers and plants grown in the Cowichan Valley, as well as potted plants and garden photographs. The Plant Sale will include a specialty plant section, and a wide variety of interesting plants for the home garden.

Zak Stolk Violin Maker

THE ORIGINAL HUNGARIAN ORGANIC SKINCARE LINE IN NORTH AMERICA

The ﬁrst and only Green Spa in the Cowichan Valley.

25 Years Experience of Lutherie in the Italian Tradition. Making and repair and restoration of Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, and all manner of Stringed Instruments. 250-749-6563 zakviolins@shaw.ca www.zakviolins.com

#4 -5777 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan 250.748.2056 www.soulescape.ca

Farm & Garden

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T h l t m C a m

T h a i i t p f a I w s d f a b

Helpful Garden L

I ‘vant to bee alone

ast month, I discussed ways to attract solitary bees to your garden to increase pollination of vegetable and fruit crops. Even if you don’t grow food crops, it’s a great thing for the environment to actively create garden spaces that will entice beneficial insects.

Once you’ve attracted these invaluable resources to your garden, it’s a good idea to provide them with places to lay eggs, insuring larger numbers of them in successive years. These bees lay eggs in individual holes in wood, or in longer tube like structures. I’ve even seen them nesting in the tiny vents of my window frames on my house! Climbing in, laying their eggs and then sealing the vent with mud. Who knew? The most common type of bee house is made of untreated wood, and has numerous holes drilled into it at a depth of at least 3 inches. The deeper the holes, the more female bees will be produced. Random sized holes from 1/8 to 5/16 of an inch will attract a variety of solitary bees. It is important to place the house well off the ground and in full sun. Also keep the structure dry by providing cover for it from rain and irrigation. These are really only good for a year before mites/fungus/rot may take

Talk on Local Bees with Gord Hutchings April 20 & 21 2pm & 4pm 1230 Merridale Road Cobble Hill For lunch reservations call 250 743-4293

hold. Make or buy new wooden structures yearly for optimal results.

Valleyview

Centre

Bees will fill the holes with nectar, lay an egg and then seal it with mud. Some species will fill the whole tube with a succession of these plugs, and in the spring one by one, the mature pupae emerge as adults to begin their short life. Bundles of plastic drinking straws may also be used but are problematic, as humidity builds within the plastic walls and a variety of sizes are needed. Ceramic and rubber structures are showing promise, search online for these using the key words ‘solitary bee homes’. Like always, professional assistance and online research is your best bet in fulfilling your quest for info on solitary bees. Now get out there and pollinate! Ajay Oppelaar, President of the Mill Bay Garden Club. Contact him at arkengardens@ gmail.com

Learn about the importance of bees to our survival with local entomologist Gord Hutchings. With over 450 species of native bees in BC and the Yukon, these bees still perform the majority of pollination, especially for native plants. Learn of the fascinating characteristics of our local diverse bee fauna, their habitat requirements, and how your garden flowers and food plants can benefit from their presence.

Farm & Garden

So much to oﬀer!

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Books Bucknuck Books 250-929-2665 Used books and Local authors Fitness Valley Health and Fitness 250-743-0511 Full service gym/classes Spa and Wellness Reiki Wellness *New Location #13 250 743-8122 Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Craniosacral

Food Country Grocer 250 743-5639 Bakery, Meat & Produce Healthcare Cobble Hill Dental 250-743-6698 Friendly, Family Practice We Welcome New Patients!

South Cowichan Physiotherapy & Sports Rehabilitation 250-743-3833 Physiotherapy, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Acupuncture, Orthotics

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

Aries (March 21-April 19) It’s all about you now, which is why your impulsive behaviour will reveal exciting new situations. You might suddenly fall in love. You might make new friends or meet a real character. Right now you want to be free to be who you are and do your own thing. You feel sassy, bold and ready for action. (Actually, this is a great frame of mind to shop for wardrobe goodies. Perhaps it’s time for new shades or a summer chapeau?) Hey -- it’s okay to grab the baton and run with it. Taurus (April 20-May 20 So much is going on behind the scenes right now. Some of you are dabbling (or maybe a lot more than dabbling) in secret love affairs. Others are hatching plans or working behind the scenes. Whatever you do could (hopefully) boost your income in the future. You feel you are moving more directly toward some of your goals, which were stalled in the water in the last month or so. It’s nice to get these things back on track. Just be patient. Slowly, slowly. The Little Engine That Could. Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is a lovely, popular time. Enjoy hanging out with friends, especially in group situations. You might energize a group of people or lead them in some way. This is a great time to promote the creative activities of others or to help them bond together for a common cause; but you might have a power struggle with someone about

shared property, debt or how to use the resources of others. Oops. Take time to define your hopes and dreams for the future. You gotta have a plan, Stan. Cancer (June 21-July 22) You’re high viz. right now. People are impressed with you and you’re not afraid to assert yourself. For one thing, you feel optimistically ambitious and your optimism inspires others to go along with your plans. They believe in you which is why you’re leader of the pack! You feel independent as well, which might make you break with others, perhaps even to the point where you quit your job or break relations with a partner. Some might develop a crush on an authority figure. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Sudden travel is likely or conversely, travel plans might change. Something unusual could occur with publishing and the media or anything related to higher education, medicine and the law. It could be a breakthrough or it might even be shocking news. Romance with someone from another culture or a different country will blossom for some. Others will impress groups, especially by suggesting new ideas. You need a change of scenery! Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You’re involved in shared property, taxes, debt and handling or defining your relationship to the wealth and resources of others. You might encounter a few surprises here but you’re not going to just sit back and let anyone roll over you. Oh no. You will defend your turf and your best interests and you might even defend the rights of someone else as well. You feel confident, dare we say cocky? (We did.) An unexpected gift or advantage might come

your way. Lookin’ good! Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Big reminder right off the bat: Get more sleep. Four planets now oppose your sign and one of them is the Sun, your source of energy. However, professional partnerships, intimate relationships and close friendships will hold a few surprises. Someone might demand more independence and freedom or the two of you might even redefine the relationship so that you have more breathing space. For some, something unconventional might take place. (Two is company, three is an orgy.) Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You’re determined to get things done. You have the energy, the motivation and focus. Don’t waste this blessing. You can positively influence groups now and help them with the introduction of new technology. A work-related romance out of the blue might happen. Continue with your efforts to buff your bod. Travel for work and dealings with foreign countries are likely. It’s a positive month! Yay me! Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) This is a fabulously creative time. You’re excited about life because you feel vibrant and alive. Spontaneous vacations, surprise flirtations, social invitations and opportunities to explore the arts or sports events will bring excitement and variety to your life. So much is swirling around you, your life is rather dazzling right now. “I want to play!” Romance and love affairs are blessed. Go do that voodoo that you do so well. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) You are either focused on home and family or cocooning

April

at home or both. Some of you might bring home high-tech toys this week. (Big flat-screen TV? New computer? A robot that vacuums your floors?) Spontaneous entertaining might occur. (Stock the fridge.) You continue to focus on redecorating and renovating because you’re determined to make your digs look fabulous. Hey – you’re not trying to keep up with the Joneses, you are the Joneses.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You’re hustling! It’s all about short trips, surprise visits, interactions with siblings and neighbours plus fascinating, interesting conversations with curious people. This keeps you stimulated and pumped! You’ll love meeting new people and some will strike up a new romance. If this happens, it might be short-lived but dazzling. This is a creative time for those who teach, market, sell, write, edit and promote for a living because you’re so persuasive and original. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) It’s all about money and cash flow, isn’t it? (Or should I say cash dribble?) Keep your eyes open because many of you will discover new ways to earn money: a new job, a new way to make money on the side or a new way to package yourself in terms of how you attract money to you. Spontaneous purchases, especially for technology and electronics are likely. Some cash flow could be related to travel, real estate or family. You’ve got a finger in every pie waiting for something to come out of the oven. www.georgianicols.com

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

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T g a M m i C O S a l m b b 1 O f

Participate in our readers poll online! www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com Every person who takes the time to complete the poll will be entered in a special giveaway draw and receive a gift of thanks. What will you win?

Paddles Up! Cowichan Bay’s Jolly Dragons Are Recruiting Dragon boating is a sport, where 22 paddlers, a steer (to keep us safe and on course), and a coach/ drummer (to get us fit and in time) go out on the water for fitness, fun and races. The Jolly Dragons is a active group of women AND MEN, age 50 and better, who paddle Mondays and Thursday mornings in a “canoelike” boat in the relatively calm waters of Cowichan Bay. Our season is from April – September. We start at 9:30 with a warm up in the Hecate parking lot, then make our way to the marina dock, where we board our boat and paddle, safely directed by the coach and steer, until 11:30. Our main goal is fun, fitness and friendship. We also take time to

watch the seals, eagles and other wildlife. An average physical shape is good, as we built up the endurance during the season. We like paddlers to practise both days, but most of us are retired and come and go throughout the season, hence the need for more then 22 paddlers. Membership fees are $155 for the season, newcomers can try 3 paddles for $35, which will be deducted from the fees, once they decide to join. We also have a website with lots of relevant information. www.cowichanjollydragons.ca

Chemainus Health Food

Morganne’s, uniquely chemainus

Eliza Hemingway Art & Antiques 9756C Willow Street 250 416-0363

Saltspring Soapworks

9747 Willow Street 250 246-2244 Art Gallery, Accessories, Books & Yarn

9738 Willow Street 250 246-9838 Natural Grocery, Vitamins, Hemp Fashions

9748 Willow Street 250 324-2226 Handmade Soaps, Natural Body Care

Etc.

9747 Willow Street 250 324-2227 Beads and Beading Classes

* Utopia Bakery

A-9780 Willow Street 250 246-9992 Artisan Bread and European Pastries

See You Soon!

We Accept Chemainus Dollars

Come to Chemainus; where the people are friendly and the parking is free! Enjoy shopping, excellent eateries, live music, professional theatre and special events.

COME FOR A DAY OR MAKE IT A GETAWAY.

Cultivating Opportunities for Cowichan Region Farmers Cowichan Green Community (CGC) has been hard at work on two exciting projects that are serving to fuel the growth of our local food community in both rural and urban areas in the Cowichan Region: the Cowichan Agriculture Market Research Project and the Kinsmen Park Youth Urban Farm Project. Part of CGC’s vision for a food secure Cowichan Region, is a vibrant local

food economy, where farmers and purchasers have strong, collaborative relationships, and agricultural supply and demand concurrently thrive. To help achieve this goal, CGC aspires to assist local farmers in identifying market opportunities through the Cowichan Agriculture Market Research Project (CAMP). Gathering the collective knowledge of local producers, processors, restaurant owners,

wholesalers, and grocery store managers, the research team is developing a handbook and hosting a networking event for farmers and purchasers in April. The handbook is designed to provide information to both seasoned as well as emerging farmers, such as the CGC youth interns, who have been busy building an urban farm in the heart of downtown Duncan. The Kinsmen Park Youth Urban Farm is a Skills Link project, funded through Service Canada, which aims to provide life and employability skills for six interns while they work their way towards the creation of Duncan’s first urban farm. In conjunction with the City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan, additional land at Kinsmen Park -- the current site of CGC’s much beloved community gardens and green building retrofit -- has

been licensed to CGC for this exciting endeavour. Over the winter months, the youth team has constructed a passive solar greenhouse and converted nearly one quarter of an acre of underutilized greenspace into food-growing areas that will enhance existing park space as well as lay the framework for a social enterprise that will continue to employ youth in our community for years to come. The farm will also serve as a demonstration and education site where the community can learn about a variety of urban farming topics such as composting and native bees. Join us Saturday, April 6th at 11:00 am for the official Grand Opening ceremony of the Kin Park Urban Farm. For more information on CAMP or the Kin Park Urban Farm, visit: www. cowichangreencommunity. org/projects

distributed to volunteers by Cowichan organizations.

“It’s interesting that young Canadians aged 15 to 24 have volunteered more than any other age group for over a decade,” Koeppen says.

National Volunteer Week

April’s week-long salute to volunteers will honour thousands of Cowichan people who happily donate time and energy to others. People like Pat Calveley, for example, who volunteers with the Cowichan Station Area Association as host of the area’s Senior Social Club. “Volunteering has opened up opportunities for me to get to know new community members and share my

experiences,” says the longtime Cowichan resident. “My passion is to help people overcome their barriers to achieving their goals,” says Duncan resident Julia Ellison, who’s volunteered for years as a tutor with VIU and more recently as the volunteer coordinator for Special Olympics. And during National Volunteer Week April 21 to 27, several events will showcase volunteering in the Cowichan Valley, says Anne-Marie Koeppen, Volunteer Cowichan’s volunteer services coordinator. “Here’s an opportunity for people to connect with Valley organizations at their display booths and explore resources for youth, families and seniors,” Koeppen explains. All week, coupons for a free cup of coffee will be

The Leaders of Tomorrow Awards scheduled for April 26 celebrates youth volunteers aged 6 to 21. Its purpose is to encourage nominees to continue their involvement in volunteerism and leadership activities and to acknowledge that all voluntary contributions are valuable to the community.

Image Julia Ellison, Special Olympics Volunteer Coordinator

Rob’s Lighthouse Eatery & Art Gallery Fresh, friendly, affordable and pet-friendly! OpenED Daily 8am-6pm Heated patio or take out

*Award Winning Chowder* Grilled Seasoned Fish & Chicken Great Burgers, Fries, Wraps & More!

Dine In on our heated patio or Take Out! Cowichan Bay

Cowichan Community

COWICHAN FEATURE LISTINGS Metal Artist Brad Allen

With a torch,welder and array of metal finishing tools, Brad creates joyful, nurturing and thought-provoking pieces. - Metal Wall hangings - Free Standing Sculptures Studio located in Duncan by appointment Brad Allen 250 748 0934 www.meddleart.com

Contact Adrienne Richards for more information and a Spring 2013 Rate Card 250 510 6596

adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Our mission is to inspire, motivate and most of all...to have fun! We offer encouraging, experienced tap dance instruction for beginners to advanced of all ages.

Lynda Allen 250-748-0934 lyndaallentapstudio@shaw.ca Want to learn how to make your own jewellery? Etc! offers a wide range of classes from introductory classes in Beading, Kumihimo and Bead Weaving to more advanced techniques and workshops. We have a fantastic range of beads and supplies as well as unique gifts. Call for prices and dates 250 324 2227 New Hours Monday - Saturday 10 - 5 and Sunday 11 - 4

9747c Willow St, Chemainus 250 324 2227

High quality handwoven traditional rugs and carpets made by Tibetan refugees from Nepal.

Small World Imports Tibetan Rugs and Carpets www.smallworldimports.ca 250-748-6570

Hand-knotted and made of 100% Tibetan wool in a family run venture that houses workers and educates children to alleviate poverty.

Valley Voice Magazine readers directory a great way to discover local services and businesses. 2 sizes of ad space are available to suit every business message and budget. Affordable, stylish and straight to the point. Contact Adrienne Richards for more info 250 510 6596 or by e-mail at adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com