August 2012 Issue 45 by Cowichan Valley Voice

COWICHAN VALLEY FOOD FARMS ART EVENTS RECREATION COMMUNITY

Delicious Summer Recipes • CGC Community Fruit Save Project • 103rd Cobble Hill Fair • CFS Local Farmers Feature • Watching Whales in Cowichan Bay • Jacob Hokanson Solo Show Painter Collin Elder

AUGUST 2012 ISSUE 45

FREE 1

103rd COBBLE HILL FAIR Friday, August 24th - Outdoor Concert

COBBLE HILL FAIRGROUNDS Rain or shine - 6:30 p.m. start Alcohol-free event Bring your chairs and blankets Adults: $20 Children: 12 and under $10 5 and under - free Tickets at the gate or in advance: Cobble Hill Market, Laughing Llama and Bicycleitis

Saturday, August 25th - Fair Day SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Rotary Pancake Breakfast Grand Parade with Bicycle Contest Official Opening of the Fair Exhibits Open in the hall Cobble Hill Horse Show starts Miniature Horse Show starts Women’s Institute Tea and Luncheon SPCA Pet Show Scarecrow Competition Judging Poetry Contest Sheep Dog Demo StageEntertainment Outdoor Activities and Events

7:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. TBD TBD All Day All Day

www.cobblehillfair.ca

Sunday, August 26th - 25 Mile Dinner Featuring Chef Bradford Boisvert Chef/Proprietor Amusé on the Vineyard

RAISE THE ROOF!

Lend your hands to raising a new roof for the Cobble Hill Hall

Celebration 25 Mile Dinner

5p.m. - 10 p.m. Tickets $50 (Advance sales only) Community Celebration of our Rural Lifestyle Fabulous Food, Wonderful Company with a Live & Silent Auction

103celebrationdinner@gmail.com 2

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

Published by Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine 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 Copy Editor Maeve Maguire

Advertising Enquiries Please Call Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 or 250 748 0926 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 and is prioritized by 1st sent, 1st printed. Next EVENTS deadline Aug15th for Sept 2012 Issue. E-mail to: events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations Valley Voices Bill Jones, Cathi Jefferson,, Raelynn Gibson, Rick Dennis,Victor Vesely, Nicolette Genier, Dee Kinnee, Collin Elder, Robin Sturley, Lynn Shortt, Victoria, Penny Cameron, Jacob Hokanson, Brenda Boyd, Gerry Giles, Ajay Appelaar, Heather Walker, Fiona Percy, Sandra Greenaway, Jean Crowder, Joy Story, Peter Oliphant, Selinde Krayenhoff, Kenzie Cuthbert, Simon Pidcock,Tina Hamill, Cari Burdett, Sheila Jones, Robin Massey, Julia Star, 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. 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 Image Cobble Hill Fair Image Photo courtesy Kevin Oke For more info on his stock images and his work visit www.kevinokephotography.com

Get ready for Back To School and more local marketing in YOUR community. We’ve enjoyed the summer but now it’s back to business! Advertise NOW to over 27,000 local readers and visiting tourists from over 450+ locations! Contact Adrienne Richards for info about Back To School Page Promotions

Now Booking SEPT 2012 Issue 46 AD Deadline: August 18th 250 510 6596 adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Our Community Let Fruit Save Pick Your Fruit! 5 August Community Calendar 6 Stir The Sleeping Spirit; A Call to Action for Sansum Point 7 Theatre Camp at Chemainus Theatre Festival 24 Wild Arts Camp To Inspire Creative Genius 25 Computer Security For Small Business 30 Dee Kinnee’s Chemainus Report 31 Duncan’s First Natural Health Food Store 33 All About Our Pets 37 Summer Camp Fun For Kids 40 Crowder’s Corner 42 Websites, Emails and Verbal Lint 43 Cowichan Valley Feature Listings 44 Cowichan Valley Directory 46-47 Local Food and Recipes Cowichan Eating:Salmon Time 9 Monsoon Coast: Roast Lamb with Morrocon Spiced Crust 10 Cowichan Bay Seafoods Traditional Peruvian Ceviche 15 Farmhouse Poultry Fresh Summer Herb Rubbed Chicken 11 Taste of Tea 13 Farm & Garden Pages Biodynamic Farming - What’s all the Fuss About? 18 Helpful Garden 19 Growing Success With Containers 19 On The Farm with Makaria Farm 20 Frontyard Farming 21 Community Farm Store Pages 38 - 41 Home & Design A Confluence of Remedy 16 Designing Green: Grilling Time! 17 August Event Highlights Barn Dance and Pig Roast at Bird’s Eye Cove Farm 8 Edible Garden Tour 10 Cowichan Bay Regatta 13 Jacob Hokanson Solo Painting Show 15 Parkville Beach Festival 26 CVACS Music Event August Spotlight 28 103rd Cobble Hill Fair 36 Art, Music, Theatre Musical Blessings 22 CRAFT Cowichan Valley Artisans 26 Talking Arts: Collin Elder 27 Imagine That! Chemainus Artists 29 Sport, Recreation & Healthy Living Cowichan Bay Whale Report 14 Cycle Therapy: Women’s Specific Design 32 Golf Tips from A Pro 32 South Island Fishing Report 37 Body, Mind & Soul What Day Is It? 23 Coaches in Your Corner 31 Seasonal Foot Care 34 Balancing with EMF 35 Mid Summer Magik 42 Auguust Horoscope with Georgia Nicols 45 Outnumbered by Sue McKitrick 45

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

foodways this summer, the FruitSave Project may be just what you’re looking for! The goal of the FruitSave Project is two-fold. Firstly, making sure that fresh, locally-grown fruit doesn’t go to waste; but more importantly, providing this healthy harvest to those in need through local emergency food providers. Last year volunteers picked over 3500lbs of fruit!

CGC’s Robin Sturley picking plums in Downtown Duncan

Let Fruit Save Pick Your Fruit For You!

ave you ever come across a forgotten fruit tree and wondered how many people that tree could have fed? Or, maybe you have fruit trees yourself, and each year you wish you had a little extra help to harvest the fruit. Well, the FruitSave Project, coordinated by the Cowichan Green Community (CGC), is one of those win-win-win situations for everyone who gets involved. If you want to get outside, eat healthy, contribute to your community food banks, and learn about sustainable

Not only can volunteer pickers take home up to 1/3 of the harvest, fruittree homeowners are also entitled to 1/3 of the day’s pick, and all wind-fallen fruit is pressed into CGC’s Community Apple Cider. In the Fall, as the harvest season draws to a close, CGC also holds our annual Preserve the Harvest workshop series to assist the community in preserving food for the Winter.

When you think of picking fruit, you may envision bright, sunny days, belly aches from gorging on fresh-picked cherries, or getting lost in the quiet beauty of the leafy canopy. We live in a valley of abundance, with many long-lived orchards, but unfortunately much of this fruit still goes uneaten. If you are a fruit tree owner or would like to help harvest this abundance, get involved with your local FruitSave Project!

Do you have fruit in your backyard? This summer the FruitSave Project is looking for: •Sour Cherries •Plums •Transparent Apples •Other early Apples •Crab Apples •Pears •Peaches •All kinds of Berries!

FruitSave Project

coordinated by the Cowichan Green Community (CGC) 250-748-8506 For more information please contact robin@cowichangreencommunity.org 250-746-4204

Thank you for choosing Valley Voice advertisers FIRST! They help keep the community informed.

Community Calendar Throughout August

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Chemainus Theatre Festival 1800 565 7738

1 7 -10pm

Wednesday Night Walkabout Duncan Summer Festival Various Locations See cowichanfestival.com for schedule

to Aug 25 11am / 2pm

August 2012 25 7:30am

9:30am Parade

103rd Cobble Hill Fair – Rotary Pancake Breakfast Activities begin 10am Adult $6, seniors $4, Juniors 12+ $4

25 4 - 10pm

Barn Dance & Pig Roast at Bird’s Eye Cove Farm 5881 Genoa Bay Road, Duncan $30 250-748-6379

Animal Tales A Participation Kidzplay Ages 4 and Up Chemainus Theatre, 9737 Chemainus Road 1800 565 7738

26 6:30pm

103rd Cobble Hill Fair –Raise the Roof 25 Mile Celebration Dinner Advance Tix $50 250 743 5466

1 - 25

Chemainus Artists on View Imagine That! 251 Craig St, Duncan

29 9:30am - Wild Food Walk- Ecosystems Walk with Genevieve Singleton Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area 250-748-8506 Noon

2 9:30am Noon

Wild Food Walk- Medicinal Walk Della Rice Sylvester Bright Angel Park, Cowichan Station 250-748-8506

2-5

Sun Fest Country Music Festival sunfestconcerts.com Cowichan Exhibition, 7380 Trans Canada Hwy Duncan

3,10,17,24, 31 5-9pm

ArtBeat - ArtWalk and Street Party Every Friday Willow Street, Chemainus

3-5

Jacob Hokanson Solo Show Reception 7pm Aug 3rd Quamichan Hall of the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre

4&5

Cowichan Bay Regatta Beachfront Cowichan Bay To register pbskye@yahoo.ca

4 9am - 6pm

Cob Oven Building Workshop in Lake Cowichan For info 250-701-2768 CowichanValleyClay@gmail.com

4 11- 4pm

Hand Crafted Clothing Sale Ali Bertin, Hilary Else Upstairs @ Alderlea Farm Cafe, Glenora

4,11,18,25 10am -2pm

Honeymoon Bay Outdoor Market Coffee Mill Site, Honeymoon Bay 250-749-7233

O.U.R Ecovillage Guided Public Tours 4, 12, 18 10am - noon 1565 Baldy Mtn. Road, Shawnigan Lake 250-743-3067

Ongoing

Year-round studio tour of 14 artisans www.CowichanValleyArtisans.com

For event listings please send: Date, Time, Event Title and Contact info to: events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com by the 15th of each month.

OUT OF TOWN 1 - 19 9am - 9pm

Quality Foods Canadian Open Sandsculpting Competition & Exhibition Parksville Beach www.parksvillebeachfest.ca

3 -6 10am - 6pm 10am -5pm

30th Annual Filberg Festival Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park - 61 Filberg Road www.filbergfestival.com Tickets $15

August Children’s Camp Schedule AUG 1 - 25 9am -Noon Ages 4 and up Tickets $12 Buy 3 get 1 free

Animal Tales A Participation Kidzplay Chemainus Theatre, 9737 Chemainus Road Join a confused and caring Naturalist, a fun-loving Sparrow, and their many animal friends in a lively romp through folk tales around the world. It’s a summertime highlight full of magic and delight for all ages!

AUG 6 - 10 9am - 4pm Ages 3 - 5 Ages 6- 8 Ages 9 -11

Earth Dance Children’s Camp with Moondance Dynamic Arts School OUR Ecovillage, Shawnigan Lake A morning of music and dance with an afternoon learning on the farm For more info call 250.743-3067 or visit ourecovillage.org

AUG 7 - 10 9am -Noon Ages 6 -8 $100

Science Day Camps Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre Learn about nature and the ecology of estuaries with hands-on field and laboratory activities. Topics will include tidal action, birds, fish, invertebrates, plants, and other wildlife.

AUG 7 -10 9am - 3pm

Byte Camp - Flash Video Game Design Island Savings Centre, 2687 James St., Duncan Create your own wacky characters, cool game play and fun levels in your very own on-line game! The final project is a video game built from scratch that will go on-line! www.bytecamp.ca, 250-748-7529

4 -26

Chemainus Artists Showing in Cowichan Bay Cowichan Bay Maritime Center, Cowichan Bay Waterfront

4 7pm

Songwriter’s Open Mic Night Hosted by Skellig Willow Street Café, Chemainus 250-246-2434

5 2pm

Country Music Day Duncan Summer Festival Various Locations See cowichanfestival.com for schedule

5 10am -3pm

South Cowichan Farmers Market 4485 Trans Canada Highway at Koksilah Road

6 10am 4:30pm

BC Day is Kids Day @ BC Forest Discovery Centre 2892 Drinkwater Road, Duncan Admission charge $15 - $10

6,13,20,27 Doors 4:45

BINGO Loonie Pot, G-Ball, Bonanza & 50/50 Draw Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Everyone Welcome!

10 & 11 11am start

2 Day Chemainus Accordian Festival Waterwheel Park, Chemainus cvcas.com

AUG 13 -17 9am -3pm

11 7pm

Double Play Seniors Dance $8 Includes Lunch Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Everyone Welcome!

Ages 10 - 18 $175

12 2pm

Keating Farm Estate Guided Tour 5250 Miller Road Glenora 250-737-1401 $7 Donation

Chemainus Theatre Camp - Immerse yourself in professional theatre with real actors and producers Mon - Thurs Rehearsal Hall, Production Facilities, 9574 Bare Point Roadm Friday Chemainus Theatre, 9737 Chemainus Road Cost includes admission for students to see our productions of Animal Tales and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat. To Register: education@chemainustheatre.ca 250-246-9800 ext 7090

18 10am - 3pm

Edible Garden Tour - Various Locations Tickets at CGC 181 Station St or call 250-748-8506

21 7pm

Skagway - Bluegrass, traditional and modern music. Waterwheel Park, Chemainus cvcas.com

AUG 13 -17 9am -5pm Ages 6 - 11 $175

Wild Arts Summer Camp OUR Ecovillage, Shawnigan Lk Kids will take part in painting, drawing, building, bouncing, acting, dancing, Jedi training, pattern making and much more. To register call 250-544-4057

24 6:30pm

103rd Cobble Hill Fair –Norman Foote Robyn & Ryleigh Gillespie, Timebenders Adult $20, Children Ages 6+ $10

AUG 13 -17 9am - 3pm Ages 9 - 12

Science Day CampsCowichan Estuary Nature Centre (please see above August 7-10 description) $225

25 11am start

Jubilee Jazz Festival- Razz ma jazz, Hot Velvet and more! Waterwheel Park, Chemainus cvcas.com

Ages 11 - 14 $195

AUG 20 - 24 Science Day Camps Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre (please see above August 7-10 description) $252 9am - 3pm ages 13 -17

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

Struc with bone Dunc 2507

Structural Health Class with Lorene Benoit (strong bones and ﬂexibility) Duncan White Spot $15 250743-0544

Stir the Sleeping Spirit;

A Call to Action for Samsum Point

Honeymoon Bay Every Saturday Outdoor Market Every Saturday 10am - 2pm May - Thanksgiving

For market info call Bob at 250-749-7233 or 250-510-1113

Look for in-season local produce, plants, flowers, sewing, baking, preserves, handmade soaps, bodycare, arts & crafts and more! Follow the signs to the Coffee Mill Cafe in Honeymoon Bay.

o one who has walked on the property or even seen pictures of it can argue that the greatest value of Samsun Point,thetoMoment: us, is in remaining and intact. Capture Chemainusuntouched BIA People travel across the world to ashrams, temples and Photo Contest. retreats to be enlightened but in truth, we have those same Last chance to enter! Take a pic in gifts of solace right here at Sansum Point. It’s presence enter to win cashand prizes. aloneChemainus is of valueand – environmentally spiritually. Land Two categories: Lifestyle & Architecture. like this must be protected and revered. Deadline to enter is Aug. 15. Registration & rules at visitchemainus.com Without question, the need for healing and enlightenment on our planet has never been more profound. To solve the problems, we first have to recognize that the ailing conditions we are witnessing are but a symptom of the real condition of our times; that we have lost our way and we have lost our connection with the “source”. Maybe finding the answers to our problems starts with asking new questions. For example, where does our power and strength and motivation to live well, work hard and be good really come from? Is it something that you can teach? Is it something you can preach? No. It has to be birthed from within and the most amazing tool we have at hand to remind us who we are can be found in nature. Here is a quote I love by Emory J. Michael; The Alchemy of Sacred Living: “Walking in nature … appreciation of beauty is one of the most exalted qualities of the spirit. This is one reason we feel drawn to nature, for the beauty of the natural world inspires us with wonder. Reflecting on the beauty of great art or the masterpieces of nature can provide “the kiss” that stirs our sleeping spirits. For today, let’s all contribute our $5.00 to the campaign to pay for Sansum Point and then continue our efforts to find ways, with conscious intention and personal action, to preserve the adjoining properties. . Your contributions can be mailed or dropped off at the Community Farm Store. Just look for the Nicolette Genier is the can! very happy co owner ot Duncan’s Community Farm Store.

Sansum Point

An August Pig Roast and Barn Dance !

fifteen minute drive from Duncan, just past Maple Bay brings you to beautiful Bird’s Eye Cove Farm There stands a tiny farm store stocked with delicious eggs, seasonal vegetables and ready to heat meals, the farm is also home to a magnificent traditional timber framed venue barn built by Macdonald & Lawrence. Bird’s Eye Cove Farm is owned by Heather Skoretz and family. It was a Chisholm homestead and presumed to be one of the oldest working farms in the area. The farm raises Highland Beef, eggs and other produce and the commercial kitchen run by Ashley Lee, produces ready-to-eat highland beef products such as hearty meat pies, lasagna, meatballs and more. Ashley sources local ingredients, prepares everything from scratch from the tomato sauce made from local tomatoes and herbs, to the pasta which is made by hand. When dishes require eggs, they are collected and

used the same day. This spectacular barn is not normally open to the public, however on August 25th Bird’s Eye Cove is hosting a special Pig Roast and Barn Dance featuring Southern BBQ flavours created by Chef Andrew of ‘Fat Daddy’s BBQ. Enjoy generous helpings of hot BBQ pork salads, sides (including cornbread, vegetables etc) and desserts. (*grilled Portobello mushroom alternative will be available for vegetarians) Each ticket holder will also receive one drink ticket and live entertainment. Music will be performed by Cowichan Valley Bluegrass favorites The Maple Mountain Boys.

Barn Dance & Pig Roast Bird’s Eye Cove Farm Tickets $30 5881 Genoa Bay Rd Duncan 250-748-6379

info@birdseyecovefarm.com

NEW Summer Hours 11am - 6pm Dinner Tuesday/Friday/Saturday

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

Cowichan EATING Salmon Time

almon are one of the more majestic inhabitants of our oceans. Sleek, powerful and silver flashes of fish that line our coves, battle up our rivers and feed the people, animals and plant life of the island. The local First Nations culture was built on this abundant food source. Some extrapolate that the life giving nutrition and abundance of salmon allowed our local First Nations the time to develop their incredible art work and

cultural themes. Salmon represent more than food in the local culture, they are a sacred link to both the planet and their ancient heritage. It is interesting to note that salmon is now considered a health food. Indeed, our community health would be much improved if we could all substitute more salmon in our diet in place of the empty proteins and calories that we currently consume.

MAPLE SALMON GRAVLAX

Recipe courtesy Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm Sockeye salmon makes the best gravlax, but ocean-caught pink salmon is a close second and a much under-appreciated fish. The spice of the maple syrup compliments the natural flavours of the salmon beautifully.

Amount

Ingredients

1 about 2 pounds (1 kg) small-side wild salmon (sockeye or pink) 3 tablespoons (45 mL) coarse sea salt 1/4 cup (65 mL) maple syrup 1 tablespoon (15 mL) lemon zest 1/2 cup (125 mL) mixed herbs (fennel, marjoram, sage, chives, etc.) In a non-reactive (glass, non-stick or stainless steel) pan, place the salmon, skin side down. Sprinkle evenly with the salt. Drizzle the syrup evenly over the salmon. Sprinkle with the herbs and lemon zest. Flip over salmon and cover with plastic film. Place another flat tray on the fish and place something heavy on top (cans of tomatoes, a brick covered with tinfoil, etc.). Place in the fridge overnight or at least 12 hours.The next day, drain the dish, wipe off the salmon and wrap again in cling film until ready to serve. To serve, slice very thinly with a long sharp knife. Serve with sour cream, capers and thinly sliced red onion on a dark rye bread. Squeeze over a little fresh lemon juice and serve immediately. Makes 8 to 12 servings.

Times are changing for the salmon. The oceans are under pressure from pollution, over fishing, predators, nutrient overload and temperature rises. Our streams our becoming urbanized, forests are logged, erosion is filling gravel beds with silt and watersheds are under incredible pressure. Sounds like a horror show but there are glimmers of hope in the mix. Two years ago, an astonishing 30 million sockeye returned to the Fraser River to the bewilderment of scientists and fishermen. I think it illustrates how little we know about the ocean and how powerful forces of both destruction and healing are at work on our planet. Habitat destruction is a huge issue in the world of salmon. After they leave on their mysterious world journey the salmon return home to the same streams to spawn and produce a new generation. Those streams are dependant on water flow. Debris and silt from erosions (often caused by logging, road building and urbanization) clog the stream and make it difficult for salmon to return to the beds they were hatched in. Our current government is slowly (or sometimes quickly) getting out of the business of habitat restoration and leaving it in the hands of community groups to do this critical work. In some ways these community groups

are far more efficient and suited for the job. They do it working with small budgets and relying on donations and volunteer to get that job done. These are the positive stories we should also be celebrating in the news, but we rarely take the time to celebrate the good that gets done in the world. We believe a big thank you is due to these stream guardians for helping to preserve salmon for future generation. At Deerholme Farm, we will be holding a Salmon Celebration Dinner on Saturday August 18 and donating a portion of the profits to the Lake Cowichan Salmonid Enhancement Society. Come enjoy a fabulous salmon dinner and help restore some of the life to our local streams. Bill Jones is an author, chef and food consultant who can be found at Deerholme.com

Roast Lamb Rack with Moroccan Spiced Crust

Recipe courtesy Monsoon Coast A perfect way to enjoy local Cowichan Valley or Salt Spring lsland lamb!

Method:

You Will Need: 1 8-bone lamb rack, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2 portions. For the crust: 2 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp each chopped mint and parsley 2 tsp Monsoon Coast Moroccan La Kama Coarse salt to taste For the sauce: 1 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup tomato sauce 1 Tbsp each chopped mint and parsley pinch sugar and salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450F. Let lamb rest at room temperature for about 1 hour. Combine crust ingredients in a small bowl. Rub or brush lamb with crust mixture. Roast approximately 15 minutes for rare, 20 for medium rare and 25 for medium. Remove from pan and place on a plate. Let rest, loosely covered with foil, for 10 minutes. While this occurs, you can make the sauce. Remove excess fat from the lamb cooking pan, place on the stove with the stock, tomato sauce and sugar. Simmer and stir until lightly thickened. Add mint, parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Serve lamb, whole or sliced into chops, on a pool of sauce. Accompany with a selection of simply steamed market vegetables such as new potatoes, beans, carrots and chard.

3rd Annual Edible Garden Tour

Tickets $10 / $15 non members or $20 Family Kids Under 13 Free Saturday August 18th 10am - 3pm Tickets available at CGC 181 Station Street, Duncan 250 748 8506

y nature, humans are very curious creatures. We snoop in people’s bathrooms, kitchen cupboards, fridges, and music and book collections (to name a few), but what about your neighbours yards and gardens? You might do a drive-by and see the beauty captured in your fleeting cruise home, but what if the homeowner came out and said, “Hey! Come over here and check out my yard! I would love to show you my secret garden…heck, I’ll even give you some tea and you can ask me questions too!” This August Cowichan Green Community (CGC) invites you to its third annual Edible Garden Tour where you

can openly explore some of the most striking and tasty gardens this Region has to offer. With 14 unique locations to visit, this year’s extended tour is a self-guided day that promises to inspire even the most seasoned green thumb with gardens that are not only candy for the eyes, but also pleasing to the palate! “Tours like these are really unique because these aren’t cookie-cutter gardens… these are gardens that have evolved over time with people’s creativity and ingenuity,” explains Alyssa Loucks, CGC’s garden tour organizer. “These are the kind of inspiring gardens that provide beautiful flowers and more importantly, months and months of nutritious food.” Proceeds from this event will go to support CGC’s non-profit programs like FruitSave, Grow-A-Row, and regional community gardens. For more information email alyssa@ cowichangreencommunity.org or call 250 748 8506.

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

JULY COOKING CLAS

July 23 SUMM SEASO Kilrenn July 31 THE O

Fresh Organic Artisan Pastas & Pasta Sauces “It’s fresher from here”

Fresh Summer Herbs Rubbed Grilled Chicken This delicious grilled chicken recipe makes good use of all those fresh summer herbs growing in the garden. Serve the chicken hot right from the grill or it can be served cold for a picnic or outdoor luncheon.

Amount

1 1/2lb boneless 2 tablespoons 2 teaspoons 2 teaspoons 1 teaspoon 3 cloves 1/4 cup 1/2 cup To taste

Ingredients

Island Farmhouse Chicken Fresh Parsley, chopped Fresh Rosemary, minced Fresh Thyme, chopped Fresh Sage, minced Garlic, minced Olive Oil Balsamic Vinegar Salt and Pepper

Fresh organic artisan pasta locally made in Cowichan Bay. We use only organic grains in our pasta. Classic Italian pasta sauces : Bolognase, Puttanesca, Amatriciana & Marinara (made at the farm) Visit our Farm Store Thurs to Sun 11 am to 6 pm Check kilrennyfarm.com for more info or call 250-743-9019

Method

Combine parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, oil, vinegar and salt and pepper and blend together using hand mixer or blender. Place chicken in a glass dish or bowl and pour blended marinade over the chicken. Cover dish and refrigerate to marinate for at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours. Preheat grill to medium high heat or if grilling in the oven, set to broil. Remove chicken from dish and discard ALL leftover marinade. Grill for 6 to 7 minutes per side and watch for burning. Grill until chicken is no longer pink inside and juices run clear when poked with a fork. Can be served hot or cold. 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

Taste of A

little while back I tweeted to a foodie friend saying that ‘if you would not serve instant coffee why would you serve a tea bag?’ Well, I was not ready for the storm that followed in twitter world. The intention was not to demean the tea bag but rather to share my belief that a loose leaf tea experience is much more satisfying. A hand picked whole leaf tea or herbal

TEA

infusion invites a much different sensory experience. Seeing your tea will provide the opportunity to appreciate the work that has gone into making it. Colour, shape, smell all add to the textural qualities of your tea preparation. We all have different palates and loose tea gives one the freedom to choose how much tea to use and invites more ways of enjoying your tea. With the warm weather finally upon us, the option of turning your favourite tea into an iced tea can be part of your taste adventure. Consider also that in several tea drinking countries hot tea serves to cool as well.

Gazpacho with Teafarm tea Photo Carolyne Kennedy

innovative recipes using tea for one of our recent farm events. A highlight was a gazpacho made with our smoky Cowichan Caravan tea served in shooter glasses. It was a sensational culinary experience. Preparing a pot of loose leaf tea is a gift that allows you to slow down and appreciate the moment. Whether it is in your cup, glass, dish or on a plate, the world of loose tea is yours to explore in new and interesting ways. Victor Vesely is a tea farmer and purveyor of fine and fun organic teas. www.teafarm.ca

The culinary applications of loose tea are equally very exciting. Cooking with tea adds a whole new dynamic to your kitchen creations. Chef Bradford Boisvert of Amusé on the Vineyard created some

Put Your Fruit to Good Use!

ur Cowichan Valley is rich with fruit. So rich, it’s hard to know what to do with it all. We are spoiled with an abundance of wild blackberries, bursting cherry trees, and too many apples to know what to do with — you can only make so much apple pie! Put your

Open Wed - Sun 10am - 5pm

overflowing buckets of juicy plums and strawberries to good use. At McBarleys you can turn your fruit into wine, cider, port or sherry so delicious you can taste the cheer of summer even in the depths of winter. For more information check us out online w.mcbarleys.com or call 250.748.8440

8350 Richards Trail

North Cowichan

250 748 3811 www.teafarm.ca

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

Cowichan Bay Regatta August 4 & 5 11am start each day Cowichan Bay www.cowbay-regatta.ca

n August 4th and 5th the Cowichan Bay Sailing Association will host its 33rd annual regatta. Every year approximately 100 boats from all over the Pacific Northwest converge on the Bay to take part in two days of highly competitive racing. Boats of all sizes and shapes take to the race course at 11:00 am each day. The race courses vary, with the bigger and faster boats often going all the way to the north-west side of the Saanich Peninsula while the smaller boats duke it out in the bay, feverishly charging back and forth around

preset marks. Always a spectator favourite are the multi-hulls, trimarans and catamarans, who use this event to decide the winner of the Pacific Northwest Multi-hull Championship. Spectators can best view the boats in action from the Fishermenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pier in Cowichan Bay, as all boats are required at some point in their races to round a mark set deep in the Bay. Watching from the water is also an option, but be sure to stay clear of the racers.

best record over the course of the two days.

Photo Andrew Peter Bradley

A silver trophy, first awarded at the original Cowichan Bay Regatta in the early 1900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, has been resurrected and is awarded to the member of the Cowichan Bay Sailing Association who posts the

What’s Going On In

Cowichan Bay? Cowichan Bay Regatta August 4 - 5th

Family

here is nothing quite like a Southern Resident Orca Super Pod. To witness 85 Orca Whales socializing, playing, mating and generally have a big party is truly humbling. We humans could stand to learn a few lessons from the resident orcas. These whales are matriarchal, their children never leave their sides and they all get along. There is never any fighting between family members and they listen to their elders. I have been lucky enough to witness several “greeting ceremonies” in the past 10 years. There are three resident pods or families of southern resident orcas that make up one community. These families are “J Pod”, “K Pod” and “L Pod.” When these families meet up after not seeing one another for a time they often have a greeting ceremony. Each family lines up abreast and approaches the other family, all diving and surfacing in synchronicity. As they get close to each other they all dive in unison for an extended period, longer than their normal dives. Then all of a sudden the water explodes with orcas breaching, doing cartwheels and socializing. The best way to describe it would be to compare it to

the best fireworks show you have ever seen, flying orcas everywhere. On average we see about a dozen true super pods throughout June, July, August and September each year. During these months the resident orcas are seen almost daily in the waters of the Salish Sea. They are here for only one reason, the mighty Chinook of the Fraser River. The orcas travel up to 150 miles in a 24-hour period constantly searching for salmon. The matriarch of J Pod is one of the most amazing whales in our waters. J2 “Granny” is the oldest living southern resident orca, she turned 101 years old this year. Typically female orcas live between 50-70 years old, so she really is an exception. She has outlived all of her offspring and is still thriving, to think what she has witnessed in the past 100 years. I had her breach in front of my boat last week; it is truly amazing that she is still able to throw her 9 ton body completely out of the water. I have been watching these whales daily for the past ten years and they never cease to amaze me!

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

Simon Pidcock is Owner/Operator of Ocean Ecoventures in Cowichan Bay www.OceanEcoVentures.com

excellent eaten cold. When you are buying the cedar for the plank make sure it is untreated. *BBQ Salmon cedar planks available at Cowichan Bay Seafoods.

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

Summer Hours Open 7 Days a Week 10 am to 5:30pm

Traditional Peruvian Ceviche - Rivadeneira Family Recipe Fish for ceviche should be sushi grade ﬁsh. Caught quickly, bled upon capture, gutted soon after and iced thoroughly-The freshest ﬁsh possible.

Amount

Ingredients

Fish

1-2 pounds Halibut or Firm White Flesh Fish 12+ Key Limes (do not use lemon) 1 Red Onion, thinly sliced Bunch Fresh Cilantro, Chopped 1 Minced Garlic 1 Hot Pepper (habanero or thai chilis) finely chopped To Taste Salt and Pepper 1 Crisp Lettuce Head 1 Yam, Boiled Corn on the Cob *A colander and a rectangular glass dish is also required.

Preparation Method 1.Thinly slice red onion and place in colander. Sprinkle with a generous covering of salt and sweat onions for 1/2 hour. After the 1/2hr give the onions a good rub using your hands and rinse well, under running cold water. Let the excess water drain. Be sure to rinse the onions super well, or the dish will be too salty. 2. While sweating onions, juice your big bag of key limes. (If you cannot find key limes, regular limes will work. Key limes are best due to their acidity.)Set lime juice aside. 3. Cut fish into 3/4” bite size cubes. Place cut fish into a rectangular glass dish, scattered evenly, so the lime juice can penetrate. 4. Pour lime juice over the fish, ensure you have enough liquid so the fish is sitting in a lime-juice-pool. Dont skimp on the lime juice as it is the key ingredient for cooking the fish. 5. Let fish and lime juice stand together until the exterior of the fish meat changes from glossy to white, stirring occasionally. 6.You can choose to let your fish sit for 10 minutes to up to an 1 hour depending on how you well you like your fish cooked. If marinating for an hour keep fish cool - but not too cold. If you just stir in lime and eat immediately, the result will be a more tender sashimi style very tasty fish. Do not let the fish sit for too long or it will be tough and chewy. 7. Once the fish is ready to your desired doneness, add the minced garlic, chopped hot pepper, salt and pepper and stir. Sprinkle sliced sweated red onions and cilantro over fish. 8.To serve, plate ceviche on a leaf of crisp lettuce with a boiled yam sliced 1” thick and corn on the cob. It is not recommended to keep ceviche as leftovers. Enjoy it fresh!

Cowichan Bay Seafoods

Jacob Hokanson Solo Art Show

Quw’ utsun’ Cultural Centre Duncan August 3, 4, 5 Opening Reception at 7pm FREE

got a big restaraunt, a big personality and big art. Thirty of his large scale canvases will be on display for three days beginning with an opening reception on Friday, August 3rd at 7 pm.

There is going to be big vision on display in the Cowichan Valley this summer. Owner of the celebrated Rock Cod Cafe, Jacob Hokanson, will be hosting a solo art show in the Quamichan Hall of the Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre . He’s

Hokanson is taking on some big subjects too. Not one to shy away from uncomfortable places, he asks questions about every day issues that affect him and his community on everything from a personal to a global level. Jordan

1751 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay 250-748-0020 E-mail: info@cowichanbayseafood.com

Stratford, author of the upcoming literary series Wollstonecraft, says: “Jacob Hokanson’s work reaches into your amygdalae and strangles them. Each painting is a Master’s thesis in depth psych. They’re not always pretty, or comfortable, or (sometimes) even appealing – but real work rarely is.”

Hokanson trained at the Alberta College of Art & Design and Grande Prairie Regional College. He is an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and has lived in the Cowichan Valley intermittently since the age of three. He currently resides in the area with his wife and two children.

Hokanson’s painting offers an authentic and personal look at his inner landscapes. His technique brings to mind the Native Group of Seven artists Daphne Odjig and Norval Morrisseau, whose original and deeply cultural works are defined by fluid black lines and strong colours.

Local musicians No Don’t Stop and members of the Gillian Stone Band will be performing during the familyfriendly opening reception at 7pm on Friday, August 3rd, and will continue until late in the evening. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Admission is free.

Home of the Cowichan Valley’s “100 Mile Dawg” A locally based, socially conscious mobile food alternative FOR UPDATES

depotdawgs

@depotdawgs1

To book events call 250 732-5250 or email depotdawgs@gmail.com.

A Confluence of Remedy A few Septembers back, I was involved in the construction of a longhouse-style sweat lodge up the river near Somenos. We started by charring cedar posts and burying them in the silt. We then set some dry stacked foundation stones, upon which we created formwork for the walls, into which we placed and gently tamped a light-clay infill. Light clay (a mixture of

liquefied clay and woodchips) is an ancient practice that was common throughout temperate regions of Europe and Asia. This building process involves a manyhands-in approach that is more cost effective than mechanization. The beauty of light clay work is that it involves a range of motions so simple and gentle that most anyone can offer a genuine contribution. The dangerous tools can be put away for a

Featuring Southern BBQ flavours created by Chef Andrew of Fat Daddy’s BBQ Musical stylings by Cowichan Valley Bluegrass favourites The Maple Mountain Boys

spell and all members of our community can gather and play in the health-enhancing materials. Pictured here is my son Rhys, then 18 months of age, infilling a lower wall section. He was doing a great job – and he knew it. If it is true that “our issues are in our tissues”, then engaging in such healthenhancing activity along side one another, with a lateral emphasis upon an overt task creates a safe environment for anyone to unwind. Witnessing the concrete results of one’s efforts each day feels good. Knowing that one’s efforts

basic need for healthy, natural shelter, our relationships become more positive and our communities are therein renewed. As for the sweat lodge, shortly after the roof was placed it was partially submerged in the big flood of November 2009. At one point there were salmon resting inside as the river ran through it. The soaking wet lodge thereafter endured a few freeze-thaw cycles through the winter but by the next spring it had completely dried itself out---natural building wisdom. After a bit of plaster

Work meets play. Photo Sadie Bartram.

are genuinely valued by family, community and the Earth feels even better. As we welcome people of all ages within our community to play a valuable role in manifesting our

repair and final clay-lime wash, it was ready for use. Patrick Amos, M.A. is proprietor of Shizen ‘Clay Works’ a natural building company offering a confluence of personal, social and environmental remedy. somatome@gmail.com

*Licensed Event* Limited Tickets $30 to purchase please call 250-748-6379 or email info@birdseyecovefarm.com

5881 Genoa Bay Road Duncan BC

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

DESIGNI NG

green

Sleek bamboo cabinetry with Island Mist Marble tops

Grilling Time! All components Found Locally

ell, the summer is calling and the clock says it’s time to grill! With this kitchen, it won’t be weather dependent. The sleek solid bamboo cabinets by KWB Cabinets house a restaurant quality four stage fan that pulls 1200 CFM (cubic feet per minute) and is complimented by a matching make up air unit so no smells, ‘just grillin’. The cooktop is an impressive 48” 4-burner gas c/w indoor center grill

that the writer can attest, cooks like a pro. The four foot wide drawers below are self closing and house an entire pot collection per unit. The gorgeous counter tops are Island Mist marble, locally quarried and honed from Matrix Marble. With a deep two compartment SS sink from Andrew Sheret and an overhead spray hose sink faucet, you are ready to take on any food task that comes in the door. If you think the heat of grilling indoors might get to you, Will from Exchange Energy will fix that with a staged heat pump that delivers a constant 20 Celsius. Again, without hardly a whisper. Now you may say this is a bit inefficient for today’s modern and sustainably built home. Well in fact, this home scored 84 on the Energuide testing making it one of the most energy efficient homes built in Canada today. It also attained platinum rating, the highest level with

Indoor grilling station and powerful fan

Built Green Canada. Our first test dinner was local beef strip loins from Quist Meat Market, marinated in my client’s tasty secret recipe. And low and behold, crank up the fan, which was barely audible, and the results were just minutes away. Without a hint of smoke, this will make every cook happy and

he’ll never have the excuse of walking away and burning his favourite catch. All of this in the comfort of your own kitchen - you can’t beat that. 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.

For full design/build service, give us a call

 250.746.5372 • coulsondesign@shaw.ca • www.davidcoulsondesign.com  17



Biodynamic Farming - What All The Fuss Is About hink about a relationship. farming.

In order to remain healthy and vital, both parties need to be able to give and receive. This natural flow, when allowed and encouraged, sustains friends, family and couples by deepening their understanding and care. A farmer’s relationship to the land is no different. If the farmer is interested in simply taking from the land, soon enough the one-sided relationship will require forcing what otherwise is offered up naturally. The land will be putting forth produce that increasingly lacks vitality and nourishment. No one can give what they aren’t receiving, and don’t have. But if a farmer is interested in learning how to be in a healthy relationship and is able to listen carefully, the land responds generously. The farmer assumes practices that nurture and support the land and in turn, the land offers up the harvest. This mutuality of relationship is the basis and understanding of Biodynamic

By tuning into the natural properties of the land being farmed and the environment surrounding, a farmer using biodynamic methods looks to cultivate a complete, balanced ecosystem. These practices include choosing property that offers a natural mix of meadow, stream and forest. Pests are less likely where there is a harmonious diversity of plants and animals. Connecting deeply to the rhythms of the natural universe, the farmer commits to learning how to recognize and support the same patterns and dynamic tensions that echo from the activities of the minutest cell to the wide swing of the planets. Biodynamic farming is like medicine that heals the soil. At Alderlea Farm eight biodynamic preparations are sprayed on the fields or applied to the compost pile. These preparations jumpstart processes that nourish and revitalize the earth. The result

is that the plants have great material to build themselves with—and they pass that vital dynamism on to the consumer. Biodynamic Farming sprang from the spiritual/scientific initiatives of Rudolph Steiner during the 1920’s in Europe. Steiner delivered a series of 8 lectures outlining a spiritual foundation for the renewal of agriculture, and met an untimely death soon after. However, from his insights a wide body of knowledge and work has evolved over the last 100 years. Today Biodynamic Farms are

operating throughout the world. For more information about biodynamic farming visit: Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association www.biodynamics.com At one local farm, Alderlea Farm, Farmer John and Katy Ehrlich have been farming biodynamically for over 8 years now. The positive results are evident in many ways. Their land is becoming increasingly healthy and responsive, their base of customers and shareholders is building, and the food they grow has to be tasted to be believed. By Selinde Krayenhoff

S L OU

ESCAPE

ESTHETICS Est. Since 2006

NEW LOCATION and LIQUOR LICENSE! 3106-115 Fulford-Ganges Rd in Grace Point Square, Salt Spring Island

Hours of Operation Tues-Sat 11:30-3pm / 5:30 to close (+/-9) Sunday 11:30am-2pm / 5:30-close Monday Lunch only 11:30am - 3pm Reservations or Take Out 250 931 3399

The first and only green spa in the Cowichan Valley. Offering Certified Organic skincare Eminence from Hungary. We specialize in skin care, foot care and offer a full range of spa treatments. #4 -5777 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan BC 250.748.2056 www.soulescape.ca

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

Gunnera in Garden

Farm and arden Pages

g Growing Success with Containers

Helpful Garden

ome plants inspire feelings of delight, some of wonder. The Gunnera inspires awe. It’s the kind of plant that causes exclamations of “Wow” and “Holy Cow”. In Coombs at Arrowsmith Greenhouses, awe struck customers are a daily occurrence. The front boundary of the property is lined with dozens of these plants with leaves up to (I’m serious here) 8 feet or more across and 10-12 high. Gunnera Manicata is native to Patagonia. They are also known as Giant Rhubarb and even Dinosaur food because of their Jurassic Park like appearance. Winter protection usually consists of covering the crown of the plant with it’s own end of season leaves, though a layer of hay and a large plastic tub may be used too. I’ve got one that came home with me last month and hope that in several years it will achieve those massive proportions. It’s new home was prepared by doing some research online. All other plants were

removed a meter and a half from the giant hole that was dug. The hole was lined with some plastic garbage bags to help hold in the moisture, which needs to be constant. I filled the hole with many bags of manure, compost of all sorts, Sea Soil, potting mix and topsoil, added a bunch of slow release Osmocote fertilizer and a couple handfuls of bone meal. Gunnera Mantica went in on top, and then I surrounded it with more manure and compost. Water needs to be fairly constant, so it gets several doses a day along with a water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer once a week. Leaves are growing and it’s doubled in size in a few weeks. If we can keep the deer and any marauding Stegosaurus away from it, in a year of two we’ll be hearing “Wow” and “Holy Cow” from our visitors too. Ajay Oppelaar is an experienced horticulturist and President of the Mill Bay Garden Club. Contact him at arkengardens@gmail.com

You Can Grow Food Anywhere! Photo Joy Story

or the second year in a row, Grow Food has won “People’s Choice Award” for Growing in Containers at the Mill Bay Garden Club’s Annual Flower and Garden Show. Last year’s entry was a suitcase filled with mixed salad greens, while this year’s entry was a child’s pram from the 1960’s, with edible greens growing in it. Growing in containers can be fun, but there are a few key factors to keep in mind to experience success with containers. Firstly, “Bigger is better.” Small containers look cute but often dry out quickly, whereas larger containers can hold onto water for longer. Good drainage is essential for container gardening which often means drilling holes in the bottom of whatever you are using.

Lastly, place your container in full sun. Most food crops want full sun for a minimum of 6 – 8 hours a day. Some salad greens will grow in dabbled shade, especially in the heat of the summer, but tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers will want as much sun as you can give them. Experiment with different containers and have fun…. Growing in containers is a great way to increase your growing space without needing land to grow on. If you like to Eat – Grow Food!

Fertility needs to be high in the soil. Well rotted manure or compost in the bottom of the container can make all the difference. Organic fertilizer can also be used. Half way thru the growing season, liquid fertilizer is often required. Yellowing of the lower leaves will be a good indication of when it’s time to apply fish fertilizer or compost tea.

Meditation at Nichiren Peace Center

Joy Story, helps people grow food! Check out her on-line Magazine and Newsletter growfoodnetwork.com

Website: www.VIRetreats.com

“From our path of vision,we free ourselves from unbalanced desire perceiving true nature, ﬁnding the balance of joy and freedom” Nichiren Buddha Society Vancouver Island Retreat Garden Peace Center Phone: 778. 422. 0155

Weekly Meditation • Buddha Services • Spiritual Counseling • Nichiren Buddha Society www.VIRetreats.com

Vancouver Island Retreat Garden, Peace Center

Phone 778 422 0155

on the farm

with Makaria Farm

ruschetta. Salsa. Sliced Black Krim tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. If words like brandywine make you drool, hold onto your socks: the season of tomato abundance will soon arrive in the Cowichan Valley.

For seasonal eaters like ourselves who can’t bear to buy the grocery stores’ sad, cardboard-flavoured tomatoes in the winter, August and September are a time of decadence. We fry sliced beefsteaks for breakfast and

snack on cherry tomatoes in the fields. We sample our farmer friends’ varieties in search of new favourites, and the seed wish list for our annual tomato plant sale grows by a few more names.

Markaris Farm Heirloom Tomatoes Photo Heather Walker

These are also busy months in the kitchen as we stockpile tomatoes for the rest of the year. We have a reliable salsa recipe thanks to Brock’s sister-in-law, and dozens of jars will soon fill our cupboards. As for tomato sauce, ketchup and other staples, we’re just too busy to bother with unnecessary canning in the summer. We learned this handy trick of freezing tomatoes whole from Brock’s parents at Little Town Farm in Chemainus to feed us through the winter: • rinse the tomatoes,

• cut out the cores of the larger tomatoes, • and put the tomatoes into Ziplock bags, then into the freezer. When we make stew or chili in the winter months, we add a few whole frozen tomatoes and they soon cook down. Frozen tomatoes make fine pasta sauce, soups and whatever other cooked tomato-meals you like. But now is the time for sandwiches, salads and other fresh tomato treats, so here are a few experiences to add to your tomato bucket list: • Eat an heirloom tomato. • Taste-test different- coloured tomatoes (green, yellow, brown/black, pink).

McLeod Family Salsa Heather McLeod, Makaria Farm

5 cups blanched and chopped tomatoes 3 cups chopped onions 3/4 cup chopped sweet peppers 6 chopped hot peppers 1 clove crushed garlic 1 can tomato paste 1/2 cup vinegar 1 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp lime juice 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp oregano 1 bunch chopped cilantro Simmer 1 hour, then can. (See www.bernardin.ca for canning instructions.)

• Eat a “coreless” tomato. • Ask your farmer for their favourite tomato recipe. Heather Walker owns and operates Makaria Farm with her husband Brock. www.makariafarm.com

www.rainwaterconnection.com

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

rainwaterconnection.com

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

globes of meaty offerings is nothing short of a miracle. Last year I secured a 12 foot gutter to my fence, filled it with dirt and now have a sweet little kitchen herb and baby lettuce garden growing just outside my back door. My garden is also full of edible flowers like sunflowers, nasturtiums, cornflowers and calendula. The 50 or 60 sunflowers will likely be blooming just in time for the Edible Garden Tour on August 18th. Everyday I sprinkle our salads and meals with edible flower petals just before serving Nicolette and her beautiful grandson Thorin Photo Cara Bjornson

Front Yard Farming

y urban gardening adventure began 3 1/2 years ago when I purchased my first home on Cairnsmore, a busy street near the Duncan Elementary School. As a food growing advocate I decided that it would be the perfect location for a “demo” food garden. Dozens, if not hundreds of people and children would pass by every day. Since the spring of 2009, the front and back lawn has been repurposed into a Mecca for food, art, chickens and flowers. It has been great fun and the benefits are infinitely rewarding. I now call it my “front yard farm” and I figure it’s as much a gift to the neighbours as it is to myself. Vandana Shiva, the outspoken Indian food activist, said that farms are zones of peace on this planet. Urban gardening today is my way of participating in this peaceful revolution. By growing food in my front yard, I am creating a feast for the eyes — as well as for the table. My favorite plants to grow are artichokes. The plants are prehistoric looking and the flowers are stunning from start to finish. After that it’s cucumbers, squash, beans and peas. Tomatoes are also great fun to grow and I always seem to have success with them. They love to be fussed over and I usually end up with tomato trees. I also love eggplants. Watching those beautiful purple flowers turn into glorious shiny

Our chickens do so much work for us. Besides the good organic manure they provide, they scratch the soil so it is ready to work. They eat slugs and woodbugs and they lay eggs. I have had virtually no slug problems after letting them free range in my garden for the last 2 years. To encourage the bees I allow patches of borage, nettle and comfrey to grow throughout my yard. Comfrey and nettle are nutritious for the garden when made into tea by wilting the leaves and leaving them in a pail of water to “rot. When it smells like a really bad case of halitosis, it’s ready to add to the garden. So is human urine so in our household, the boys all have to pee outside!

yards on Cairnsmore Street will turn into food or food friendly crops. As for the backyards in Cairnsmore my neighbours and I have some fun plans coming up to keep sheep and goats. Of course since I just heard that they did not pass the chicken bylaw here in Duncan I guess we’d better not talk to loudly about our plans. Funny isn’t it. Here we are one of the most progressive food growing communities in BC and we get a council that can’t manage to pass a simple bylaw allowing chickens. Thanks to the efforts of one councilor who really did not want the chicken bylaw to pass and used whatever methods known to him to solicit “no” letters, we will have to remain in the dark ages. Well, I guess us urban chicken farmers are going to have to “squawk” a little louder or except our role as Nicolette Genier is the “outlaws” very happy co owner ot of society. Duncan’s Community Farm Store.

In total, my garden is home to 60 different varieties of fruits, veggies and herbs; not including the flowers and perennials. This last winter I had kale and greens all winter and in the spring I had a delicious crop of purple sprouting broccoli and early cauliflower. Most of the time I have more food than I can eat so I invite my neighbours to help themselves. After that I share with friends and family. I suspect that I will harvest over 100 lbs. of blackberries and raspberries this year and likely a few wagonfuls of squash. Although I call it a front yard farm, there is actually food growing everywhere. Front, back, sides – even the porch. Anywhere my shovel found loose soil this spring I planted potatoes or squash. One day I imagine that all the front

Musical Blessings

“ We gather with friends and family in gratitude this day for the magnificent abundance

August Schedule - Tuesday Evenings 7pm

that graces us in every way”

hen I teach the Parent and Child Music Class we take a little snack break after the singing and movement. At this time the children recognize the songs that lead us into snack and wait until all the children and adults are quietly sitting in a circle. Then we say a blessing to bring us all together and prepare us to share our snack. The blessing is part of the ritual of eating and helps to being a mood of reverence for what we are about to eat and who we are about to share

our food with. In my own family we use blessings at every meal, it is a beautiful observance that helps us to find a moment of stillness before we eat and to gather as a family. More and more in our busy daily lives, it is important to find moments of stillness and connection to the beauty and grace that is all around us. Cari Burdett breathing life into music and music into life. www.joythroughmusic.com

with Massimo Pintus -

Werbeck Singing, Uncovering the voice Mondays: Parent + Child Music 9.30 - 10.30 am 9 classes 150$ per fam-

Voice Lessons

with Cari Burdett BMUS, MMUS from Royal Academy of Music London, UK Folk, Musical Theatre, Classical, Improvisation

Guitar Lessons with Massimo Pintus Folk, Pop, Classical, Jazz, Flamenco, Finger independence

Community Music Programs & Workshops • 100 Voices for One World Community Choir •Threshold Singers • Gong Choir • Vocal Improvisation Class • Helios Song • Parent and Child Music • Intuitive Pedagogy: Movement & Musical Games

Everyone can Make Music Specializing in Voice and Guitar Lessons for children and adults. REGISTER NOW FOR FALL CLASSES.

Visit Joythroughmusic.com Call to Register 250 701 0978

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley Offering Private and Group Music Classes

What Day Is It?

y husband and I run a licensed family daycare in our home. One of the first questions the children ask, after they’ve waved goodbye to their parent and washed hands is: “What day is it, Tina?” a 3 year old asks. “It’s pancake day.” I answer with a smile. “Yay! I love pancake day!”

through play. With boundaries in place, they easily immerse themselves in their play within a warm consistent environment, helping them feel loved, cared for, safe, and secure. The same applies to mealtimes! Children enjoy, relax, and look forward to eating when the majority of the deciding is done for them and the time and rituals around eating are consistent. Our style is a repeated “set menu” rather than “a la carte” dining! Children especially can’t wait to eat when given

the chance to help in the kitchen. It could be as simple as stirring the porridge pot or as tricky as cracking an egg! When a child feels the food is prepared with love and laughter, then invited to the table to eat, it is like a celebration—even more so with daisies in a vase, a candle to light and a blessing to sing! Bon appétit! Tina and Hadi Hamill own La Ronde Family Care Childcare providing a vegetarian organic menu made with love from scratch.

Image: Making apple crisp at La Rondede.

Off he goes to play fishing. “What day is it, Tina?” a 4 year old asks. “It’s miso soup day.” I reply. “Oh, GREAT! I LOVE miso soup day!” Off she goes to build a house. Something simple, yet golden, I learned in my infant toddler training is how children digest the world

C C

Theatre Camp

his year the Chemainus Theatre Festival is celebrating their 20th anniversary season. As part of this celebration, they are going to be offering a summer “Let’s Celebrate Theatre Camp!” Join in for a week long celebration and exploration of what makes theatre so incredible! They will explore performing, theatre games, movement, improvisation and script work using costumes and props. Taught by industry professionals, as well as guest actors who are starring in both Animal Tales and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat productions. This week long camp will culminate with the children having an opportunity to perform in a final presentation on stage at the Chemainus Theatre Festival as part of the 20th season celebrations! If you are between the ages of 10-18 years old, you are eligible and you won’t want to miss this camp experience! The camp will run Monday- Friday, August 13- 17, 2012 from 9am- 3pm. The camp will be held in the professional rehearsal hall located at 9574 Bare Point Road, Chemainus. The cost is $196.00 ($175.00 + hst) The cost includes admission for each camp student to see both summer productions, Animal Tales and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat. Lifelong learning is a vital part of the Chemainus Theatre Festival. Their offerings range from post show discussions to season long activity - there’s something for everyone. Since 1993, Chemainus Theatre Festival’s educational programming has kindled the spark of creative curiosity by offering live productions, summer camps, workshops, print material, tours and an “insider’s” look at the process. We would like to acknowledge the Nanaimo and Cowichan branches of Coast Capital Savings for being a sponsor and enabling youth in our community. For more information or to register your child for our summer theatre camp, please contact Education Co-ordinator, Nicolle Nattrass at education@chemainustheatre. ca or call 250-246-9800 ext.7090 for more information.

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

Photo Cim MacDonald

Camp To Inspire Creative Genius

hat greater gift is there than the encouragement of our creative genius? Aren’t the people we remember most fondly the ones who inspired us to be ourselves, without judgement or doubt? Pure supporters who reminded us that, “Yes, you can do anything you put your heart into.”

Being Curious about what the child wants to experience and produce not only opens up the child’s creative space but our perspectives as well. The word experience here is key. Being too focused on the goal or product can greatly diminish intuition and inspiration and shuts the flow of the process down.

into the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.” For 2 weeks, Wild Arts Victoria, is offering an opportunity for Cowichan Valley kids to explore their creative genius. Registered participants will partake in a special world creatively filled with painting, drawing, building, bouncing, acting, dancing, Jedi training, pattern making and much more. Intuitive, creative play will help kids find their authentic expression and the roles they want to explore within the context of bringing their own village to life. Led by Fiona Percy, Industrial and Permaculture Designer, Artist and champion for the creative process Fiona will help each child discover their own brilliance, beauty, talents and fabulousness! For details and registration see wildartsvictoria.com or ourecovillage.org/events.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart reminds us, “Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go

PAINTING • DRAWING • BUILDING •

To encourage creative genius in others, simply be excited in what excites them. Offer them the freedom to explore in their own ways. And occasionally, to help boost creativity, ask playful questions to expand their possibilities and Wild Arts Creative Play Summer Camp reboot their own at OUR Eco Village, Shawnigan Lake Trust and Curiosity when conviction For Ages and confidence start 6 -11 ! to wobble.

August 13 - 17 and August 20 - 24 9:00am - 5:00pm • Includes LUNCH! To Register 250-544-4057

For more info: wildartsvictoria.com BOUNCING • ACTING • DANCING • JEDI TRAINING

• PATTERN MAKING AND MORE !

Kids need unfiltered space to play and explore in order for their creative genius to flourish. We can create this space, void of limiting expectation, through Trust and Curiosity. Trusting in children’s divine connection - that they know what to do - and understanding that ‘failing’ along the way is an essential part of the creative process. (Thomas Edison tried 10,000 times before he got the lightbulb to work!)

craft

Photo Craig Carmichael

World Class Sand Sculptures

t’s been 30 years since the Parksville beach and community park first played host to sand-sculpting competitions and this year is even more special. The Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition is complete and the Exhibition is displaying 18 amazing sculptures for all to enjoy. The annual event, organized by the Parksville Beach Festival Society, has grown into a 5 week celebration of summer, sun and fun. The competition, an official qualifier for the 2013 World Championship of Sand Sculpting, hosted master sculptors from Australia, Spain, the U.S., Mexico and Canada and in only 24 hours they created inspiring works of art. The exhibition gates in Parksville Community Park are open daily 9 am to 9 pm until the exhibition ends August 19. Admission is by suggested donation of $2.50 per person (25% of the proceeds goes to community groups and projects). Visitors should bring cameras.There is much more to experience beyond the sculptures... Beside the sculpting zone, visitors can enjoy free entertainment, with talent ranging from comedy, illusion and music, from marimba to folk, pop and Latin. Look for

the entertainment schedule on www.parksvillebeachfest.ca. Yoga on the Beach will take place every Sunday at 8:30 am, accompanied by Peter Jack Rainbird on instrumental guitar. The artist “Monk” is offering free painting lessons, and you can also learn how to Zumba or play the ukulele. On Saturday, Aug. 4, children can participate in a real treasure hunt with pirates (eye patches and maps provided), followed by a brilliant light show of fire spinning, juggling and acrobatics. There will be an 80’s Beach Party on Saturday, Aug. 11, with prizes awarded for best 80’s outfits and star look-alikes. Also in the Community Park during the exhibition, check out the Oceanside Overdrive car show Aug. 5 and the Quality Foods fireworks and Kidfest August 18 and 19. On Tuesday evenings wander up to the Summer By the Sea Street Market on Craig Street, 6-9 p.m. until Aug. 28. Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Castle Competition 9am - 9pm $2.50 Donation Parksville Community Park Corfield Road, Parksville www.parksvillebeachfest.ca

Peter Spohn in his Sacred Mountain Studio

August is a great month to explore the Cowichan Valley. We often have family and friends that come to visit this time of year and you wonder what can you do that would be a lot of fun for everyone. Visiting the studios and galleries of the Cowichan Valley Artisans is a great way to spend the day. We ‘create where we live’ so it’s always interesting to see what the different artists are bringing into existence. Mary Fox could be sitting at her potter’s wheel. Ken Broadland may be turning a salad bowl on his lathe while Peter Spohn is putting the finishing touches on a painting. You never know what you will discover but it’s sure to be interesting and educational plus you get to see lots of beautiful art while driving into scenic areas of the Cowichan Valley. Brochures for the Cowichan Valley Artisans year round studio tour are easily found at the Duncan Garage Organic Cafe & Bakery at 101, 330 Duncan Street, Experience Cycling at 482 Trans Canada Highway, the Duncan Chamber of Commerce, and many locations throughout Duncan and the Cowichan Valley. Or go to CowichanValleyArtisans.com

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

Collin Elder

www.collinelder.com

ollin Elder’s paintings are part of Canada’s Raincoast at Risk: Art for an Oil-Free Coast, a nationwide art tour and book project, involving some of Canada’s most prominent landscape artists, supporting the Raincoast Conservation Foundation in its protest against the proposed Enbridge pipeline and resulting oil tankers in the Great Bear Rainforest. Collin’s recent travels to the area with the artists has re-enforced his belief in the power of art to inspire social change through beauty and the ecstatic upwelling of universal selfexpression. The project is set to launch in November. visit raincoast.org. Collin started painting two years ago after leaving a career in ecological conservation. His artwork is focused on our deep and often inexplicable connections with the natural world. Collin sees his work as a transition from conservation,

Talking Arts • Collin Elder and how we relate to the past, into redesigning reality. Collin’s paintings reflect a yearning to dive deeper into the interdependent nature of our connections with all life. It shows how the health of our human community depends on remembering and strengthening these connections. Collin paints stories of re-inspiring our reciprocity with the fluid and ever-changing natural landscape. These stories are a reflection of an ancient desire to heal spiritual amnesia and re-unite our mental concepts with our bodily awareness, grounding them in the living world. The paintings play with the idea of looking through our investigations, classifications, sciences and technologies, into active, subjective participation with an integral, holistic and mysterious ecosystem. With an intention for them to

recall a sense of spontaneous participation with mystery, he aspires to create images that connect us with nature and light up our brains. Often the images come as acute perceptions or vague seeds in daydreams that coalesce after sketches solidify the final story. He uses oil paints to bring a surreal, yet lucid aspect to the painting. They allow him to blend colour and form into smooth brushstroke-free detail, giving a vivid feel, panoramically

and microscopically. Using oil allows for depth created through layering and longer working times, which is necessary for his process as the image takes shape slowly with fine brushes. Heavily laden with symbolism, each piece tends to be painted one symbol at a time, each with patience and intention, linking each part back to the whole. Image Left; Systemic Shore; 36”x48”, oil on canvas. 2012 Right Image; Coalescing Quiescence; 36”x48”, oil on cradle board, 2012

Paintings • Prints • Cards • Painted Clothing • Art Classes • Murals

Invisible Sun Arts

Featuring the works of Barry Cote

1721C Cowichan Bay Rd. Cowichan Bay Classes start (In the old Udder Guys location) in September Telephone: 250-597-4142 Website: invisiblesun.ca OpenTuesday to Sunday 10-5pm Late Friday and Saturday Nights

shopping IN

Ice

CHEMAINUS

Willow Street Merchants

Antiques & Collectibles 9756 A Willow Street 250 246-4333 English & European Antiques

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

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

* Toad Hall Emporium 9738 A Willow Street 250 246-4400 THE fun place to shop for all ages

Eliza Hemingway Art and Design Studio 9756C Willow Street 250-324-2212

* The Wine Den 9779 Willow Street 250 324-2215 Wine Kits, Equipment and Supplies

Etc. 9747 Willow Street 250 324-2227 Beads and Beading Classes

* Utopia Bakery A-9780 Willow Street 250 246-9992 Fresh Bread and European Pastries

See you soon!

Seasons Tickets on Sale Now!

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.

www.visitchemainus.com

* British Allsorts 9776 Willow Street * Karens Uptown Bistro 250 246-9737 Sweets, Treats and Teas 9779 Willow Street 250 246-1059 Local and Seasonal * Hansel & Gretel’s Candy Company Accordion 9748Festival Willow Street 246-1059 August 250 10 &11th Assorted specialty Waterwheel Park. Chemainus Willow Street Café Sweets 9749 Willow Street By Donation 250 246-2434 Chemainus Valley Cultural Homemade Lunch, Snacks, Pizza, Dessert Arts Society presents

Accordion Festival. This year’s event is in memory of Jubilee Jazz Festival the Accordion Fest founder August 25 11am Start Hilary Everitt who passed Waterwheel Park. Chemainus By Donation away in November 2011. Food www.cvacs.com August 11 was Hilary’s birthday. Featured artists are the ACCHORDS an acoustic The Chemainus Jubilee ensemble formed in 2002. Jazz Festival is an all day They play lively danceable event starting at 11 am in music, including old time Willow Street SoapsWaterwheel Park by donation. waltzes, polkas and singalong Featured bands play various 9748 Willow favourites. The group has Street won 250 246-4230 styles of Jazz including Dave many awardsFine nationally andSoaps Imported Quinn’s RazzMaJazz (see andThe Luxury Bath Items internationally. Acchords photo above) Dixieland band, name is derived from “chord” smooth jazz with Phil Newns’ meaning harmony as well as Hot Velvet Jazz. Al Eskelson notes blending in tune with and the Cat’s Meow. John each other. Also appearing on Wade Trio with the incredibly Saturday in Watrerwheel Park talented Charlie Wade on is Eric Oscar, the Valley’s congas, The Bilge Bouys button accordion star who with Don Wilkie, Blue Bones also composes fun tunes eg. and Dave Griggs, Laura Marmot’s March. Mary Ross Cardriver: easy listening a Vancouver Island favourite classic vocals and piano. The returns this year with her Jazz Festival finishes with bright and beautiful playing. a wine tasting at the Legion Bruce Bakker and friends as and features local wineries well as Casey van Veltzen and food too! Entertainment appear all day on Waterwheel by Les Smith and George Park stage weather permitting, Robson with Poa Trio. or in St. Michael’s church if rain comes. The Gypsy Belles After a parade from the play in Old Town Chemainus Legion back to the park, a Big during the day on August 10 Jazz Jam rounds out the day starting at 10 am. To round at sundown. Guaranteed to be out the weekend events on a day full of musical fun and Saturday, the Legion will host something for everyone. chicken or steak BBQ at 5:00 pm with entertainment by Falshback Freddy. Tickets $15 in advance from the Legion or call 250 246 9898.

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

he Chemainus Artists group was formed a year ago to unite individual artists interested in working together to show their works. They meet monthly and have no difficulty finding ways to fill their agenda. Recently their diligence has pay off in several successful shows in the valley. In August, look for their works in the window at Imagine That! in Duncan and the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre. For them, each show is a learning opportunity as well as a fun way to meet new people and sell their works of art. Members include: Back Row Rosemary Ratcliff, photographer Brian Nicol, photographer Colleen Wike, rug hooker Judith Gurr, ‘animal sculptor’ Lizzie Borring, acrylic painter David Whittles, acrylic artist

Front Row Tiffany Burrows, sculptress Jeff Ratcliff, wood carver and photographer Lorraine Taylor, silk painting Members missing from photo: Mo Sealey, acrylic painter Robert Parkinson, photographer “Our goal is to unite local artists in order to share our enthusiasm and passions. We welcome new members.” Contact Lorraine 250-2462305 A selection of the Chemainus Artists’ artwork will be on display at Imagine That! Artisans’ Design, 251 Craig Street from July 30 to August 25. * The Chemainus Artists are also showing at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre August 4 - 26th on the Cowichan Bay Waterfront.

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)

CALL US TO DISCUSS YOUR PLANS

201 – 64 Station Street Duncan BC V9L 1M4

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

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

Computer Security for Small Businesses

ver the years, I have had many discussions with small-business owners concerning computer security. I have found that, almost invariably, small-business owners fall into one or more of these categories when it comes to their beliefs about computer

So how do small businesses determine what kind •Computer security is a concern only for large of security measures corporations. are required for their systems? It all starts •Their company is too small with a risk assessment. to be a target for hackers. Although this may sound like a complex and •They are secure because demanding process, it is they are using brand X virus simply an identification scanner. of the information assets that, if compromised, •Their computers contain would damage the no information of value to company in some manner. others. Once those assets and the possible threats against security: them have been identified, These fundamentally false it is then a relatively simple notions are only reinforced matter to choose the security by media reports of technologies that are best able high-profile attacks that to mitigate those threats. perpetuate the belief that only large organizations are being targeted.

Capture The Moment - Photo Contest Take a picture in Chemainus and enter to win cash prizes. Two categories to enter:Lifestyle & Architecture. Deadline to enter has been extended to September 15. Registration & rules at visitchemainus.com

The simple truth is that anyone who uses a computer has information that is of value to those with malicious intent. Hackers no longer care whether a computer belongs to Acme Global Enterprises or Joe the Plumber.

The risk assessment that Joe the Plumber undertakes may not be quite as rigorous as that carried out by a multinational organization but the methodology is identical.

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

Ian Parker is the president of Sentinel Ridge Consulting Group sentinelridgeconsulting. com.

Trinitude performs August 14

Famous In Chemainus

oseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat Don’t miss this show! Fabulous music, showstopping dancing and raucous fun until‘till Sep 8. Chemainus Theatre. chemainustheatre.ca ArtBeat - every Fri, 5 to 9pm, Willow Street An ArtWalk and Street Party takes over a downtown block with art exhibits, live music, artist demonstrations, boutique shopping, dining out and street chalk artistry by all! artbeatchemainus.com Animal Tales. Chemainus Theatre’s participation KidzPlay Join a confused and caring Naturalist, a fun-loving Sparrow and their animal friends. Runs‘till Aug 25. Chemainustheatre.ca All we need is music, sweet music… Sat Aug 4, Songwriter’s Open Mic. Hosted by popular Celtic Rockers ‘Skellig’. 7pm. Willow Street Café. 250-246-2434

Stretch Out Your Summer

Tue Aug 7 - Luv Train. This popular band chugs in to serve up Rhythm & Blues Motown. 7 pm. Waterwheel Park. cvcas.com Sat Aug 11 - Accordion Day. A mini Accordion Fest featuring local and guest performers. Waterwheel Park. cvcas.com Tue Aug 14 - Trinitude -The Trio with Attitude. Celtic flavoured Roots, Folk and Blues with a touch of punk rock! 7 pm. Waterwheel Park. cvcas.com Tue Aug 21 – Skagway. Bluegrass, traditional and modern music. Soaring vocal harmonies and blistering solos. 7 pm. Waterwheel Park. cvcas.com

Summer is a time of activity, interactions and lazy days. So often I hear people say “summer goes by so quickly.” Make the most of your summer by creating intention around what you want to do. This way, at summers’ end, you can happily say you “did it all!” Book in Your Fun time. What are the things you would love to do with the rest of your summer? Write them in your calendar, this will bring them closer to reality. Now start planning for how you are going to make it all possible. What do you need to make it happen? Money? Time? Supplies? Telling your friends and family about your plans, will further enforce their actually happening – yay! Discuss your plans with your partner. This will ensure you both know what is important to the other and will prevent any last minute miscommunications or disagreements. It also provides an opportunity for you to plan for events together, therefore spending quality time on nourishing your relationship. Are you wondering how you are going to fit fun time into your summer? Life coaches are a resource for you. They are trained to assist you to create goals, make action plans to achieve them and to help determine and diminish obstacles that get in the way. This enables you to take charge of creating what you want in life, control the demands on your time and ‘do it all’. Sheila Walmsley

Dee Kinnee is the Marketing and Event Coordinator for the Chemainus BIA. ChemainusBIA@gmail. com

Women’s Specific Design…To Buy or not To Buy

s a woman thinking about purchasing a bike there are a few key things to consider. The main difference between the male and female body proportions is that when comparing, for example, a woman and man of the same height, the woman will tend to have longer legs and a shorter torso. That being said, women below the height of 5’4” might (and I emphasise might because I’ve comfortably ridden a standard bike for years and I’m 5’2”) need to look at a Women’s Specific Design (WSD) simply because it will increase her range of choices. Not many bikes that small are manufactured in a standard design so a

bike your size may be difficult to track down. I won’t call them “men’s specific” because they’re not…they’re just standard bikes. Some WSD bikes simply have a more ‘girly’ color scheme and feature a WSD saddle. Optimally, the WSD will also have a narrower handlebar width and perhaps even a longer stem, but not all of them will. You may want to ask the retailer you are dealing with if they will offer a credit to change up the saddle to a WSD saddle that you find comfortable (totally worth taking note of this detail), the handlebars (again ensure they are the proper width for you…usually the same width as your shoulders) and the stem. Most will… but you’ll want to think about all these things because they

are integral to your comfort on the bike. If you’re over 5’4” the key is to ensure you have the proper fit on your new bike whether it’s WSD or standard and again…consider all your contact points…i.e. the saddle, your handlebars and your crank length, as well as the stem. Remember that a man the same height as you

may need a totally different size frame. So my advice is to not limit yourself to WSD bikes…but don’t overlook them either. They can offer some terrific options. Sandra Beggs owns and operates Cycle Therapy in Duncan. wwwcycletherapy.ca

Golf Tips From A Pro

Fix Your Slice

ast year while working at Glen Abbey in Oakville ON my Wednesdays started at 6:30 am and finished at 8:00 pm. It was one of those steamy days in July where the mercury reached 35C.

FREE Bike Clinics All summer long! Basic bike maintenance, Tire maintenance and questions 9:00 am Saturdays

Needless to say when my 7 pm lesson showed up I was a little depleted. He said to me that for the last 20 years he had sliced his driver. I explained to him my schedule for that day and if I could fix his slice in 5 minutes could we call it a day. His comment was not only could we call it a day but he would buy me a

drink in the clubhouse. The only reason the ball slices or turns from left to right for right handed players is because the clubface is what we call open or pointed to the right relative to the path the club is swinging on. Please note that I said the clubface is pointed to the right of the path and not necessarily to the intended target. This relationship between clubface at impact and swing path is what is called the D plane with the position of the clubface having the greatest impact on the direction the ball goes. The easy fix for the slice D plane disparity is to strengthen your grip, aim your body to the right of your

target and feel that you swing to the right of your target through impact. See inset pictures for strong grip and path drill. Obviously there is more to it than that. Talk to your local CPGA Coach and take a lesson to have a greater understanding of a slice tendency. At 7:10 it was good to enjoy that drink in the air conditioned comfort of the clubhouse.

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

Peter Oliphant Director of Instruction GBC Golf Academy at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club

Valleyview

Duncan’s First Natural Health Food Store Still Stands Strong After 35 Years!

Centre

So much to oﬀer!

e’ve all strolled past Mercia’s in downtown Duncan but did you know that it was Duncan’s first natural health food store? First established in 1966 as Mercia’s Sweet Shop it Colour Therapy. My family was formerly located next history includes Herbalist the the Bank of Commerce Grandmothers on both sides on Station St. In 1968 and other early pioneer Mercia’s moved location and Herbal Practitioners.” says began the transformation to Joanna. Besides a great becoming a Natural Foods selection of vitamins, Store. “ When she was faced remedies, bulk food and with having to deal with the most extensive line her own health issues, she of natural makeup and decided to take responsibility cosmetics in the Cowichan in looking for alternative Valley. The store also offers medicines and healing.” clients speciality services shares Phil Kent and this and practioners; 2 resident was how the transformation Practical Herbalists; Aura from sweets to natural health Soma Practitioner- visiting began. In 1984 Phil Kent Ayurvedic practitioner; joined the family business Energy Medicine and managed the business practitioner (by Wednesday through many years of appointments) and a growth and two further Colour Energy Biopulsar relocations, modernizing Reflexologist every Friday. Home Home operations to meet the current needs of their client so many interesting ProlinkWith Mortgage (BC) Inc base. quality health products Marla available Daniels in the store, we The store’s current owner 250-733-2201 are curious to know which Joanna Chisholm worked Best rates, are Joanna’s Friendlyfavourites. for Phil for a year before Free Service “Royal Power—gives me taking over the business and a boost Pets every morning— growing it to what it is now contains Royal Jelly and - a lovely and convenient, other aromatic spices and customer service oriented Acidophilus—good for community natural health your digestion and wards food store. “My background off infection. Acidophilus is & Winebest selling in Natural Health includes Spirits, alsoBeer the store’s a diploma as a Practical product. Katelyn adds that Liquor Plus Herbalist and several years the Flor essence cleanse, a training in Medicine making liquid herbal tea cleanse is 250-929-1999 and numerous coursesWine, beer herand favourite spirits product. in Energy Medicine and Next time you are downtown, pop into Mercia’s and check out their quality selection of natural health care goods and signature services and feel proud to support such a longstanding community tradition in natural health.

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 Pets Dunkin Dogs 250 743-3935 Grooming, daycare, food/raw and more Computers Teky.ca 1-888-843-8359 Computer service & sales Websites & print design

Food Cobblecinos 250 743 8158 Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch Country Grocer 250 743-5639 Bakery, Meat & Produce Dragon Yuan 250 733-2335 Chinese Eat In/ Take Out Healthcare Cobble Hill Dental 250-743-6698 Friendly, Family Practice

We Welcome New Patients!

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

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Stress Reduction Depression Phobias

Seasonal Foot Care

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Diets Don’t Work— The Power of the Mind Does. Lori Austein Clinical Hypnotherapist 250 743 5685 • laustein@shaw.ca

ith summertime here and my feet either bare FREE 15 Min Phone Consultations or in sandals was able to ess Reduction, Dependencies, Relationship, Fears, Depression and Live Smoke Free Ipackages. have a real good look at my feet. My toenails looked long, my skin dry, but tanned from the sun. There seemed to be a few rough and hard patches, but for me that has always just been the price you pay for summertime feet. Now, I am definitely not one for regular pedicures. They seem to me like a luxury reserved for while on holiday, or for gift certificates for other people. Plus, I just don’t have the time. However I am one for caring for my body in the changing seasons and for me the summer is time for foot care.

Find out how Medical Qi Gong can be a part of your journey to healing, health and vitality. Contact Rommy at: 250-749-6563 rommy.v@hotmail.com

Medical Qi Gong Exercise Classes Fridays 10:15am-11:45 am Harmony Yoga, 111 Station St., Duncan

I booked in with Tina Nordstrand at Cloud 10. Her delightful little studio is just 6 minutes from downtown Duncan in the beautiful Tzouhalem area between Cowichan Bay and Maple Bay. A love for feet and a fastidious dedication to the health of her clients feet, Tina does the best pedicure around hands down. If you are looking for an “express pedi” her signature pedicure treatment is not for you. It is a full hour to hour and a half of extreme professional foot care with time dependant on the condition of your feet. Tina begins with a relaxing

german Gehwol foot soak to soften the skin. She rubs each foot carefully inspecting closely for hard skin callouses or any tell tale signs of problems or infection that could lead to unhealthy feet. Having worked previously in the health industry, it is in her professional nature to thoroughly assess her clients and then work to help fix what is wrong. I gaze through a window into a garden as Tina works hard clipping my tough outdoor toe nails, shaping them to a nice square. Using special foot oils she massages and cleans my cuticles. A pleasant and relaxing experience with her gentle touch. When we are nearing the end of the foot care stage, Tina pulls out her secret weapon for smooth, sexy feet. Her pedicure foot grinder - much like a carpenters tool, this sander works magically on all the hard to get foot spots, removing any evidence of callouses and ensuring your whole foot is happy, healthy and silky smooth. Thrilled with how my feet looked and felt I even left without any polish -usually my favourite part - just a nice nail buff to keep the toes shiny and natural. (Though I envied a lady’s red toes yesterday and may just have to book in again this August).

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

Balancing With Electromagnetic Fields

he Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Balancing Technique is a powerful therapy which can release emotional & physical issues, reduce stress and increase energy, promote awareness of direction and support from within, balance and align the energy centres, connecting you to your future potential, accelerating the co-creation of your future reality. Even if you don`t feel the energy during your session, ( you will ) the calibration is still taking place, and will continue even after the session has been completed.

through your body. This may create a warm, tingling, gentle tugging and relaxing sensation. The the `clearing` process begins as fibres of energy are streched. This allows the release of blocked energy or stress and emotional and or physical issues and results in a more relaxed and clear state of mind. During the `balancing` stage, the practitioner places their hands on or above several energy centres (chakras). This leads to energetically activating the templates and to the final adjustment of the energy session.

An EMF Session is an experience of your electromagnetic energy field and the patterns within it. A session lasts about an hour and has its own set procedure and its own universal energy grid. The balancing of the energy field begins as you lay comfortably, fully dressed on a massage table.

Each session provides a powerful realignment within the energy anatomy which strenghtens the Universal Calibration Lattice. Benefits of the EMF session include profound peace, improved wellbeing, stress reduction, calm, balance and sometimes even remarkable physical healing.

First the field is `prepared` as energy flows from the practitioner`s hands and

Debbie Shkuratoff Owner/Practitioner Reiki Wellness www.reikiwellness.ca

Start SUMMER with 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.

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The Gillespie Sisters

Image Courtesy of Kevin Oke

103rd Cobble Hill Fair Market, Laughing Llama, Bicycleitis. Adult $20, Children $10, Under 5 Free (Bring your chairs and blankets)

fun filled time awaits the whole family at the 103rd Cobble Hill Fair. Kicking off on Friday, August 24th at 6:30 p.m. is a fabulous outdoor concert with Juno Award winner Norman Foote. His entertaining and hilarious routine is followed by Robyn and Ryleigh Gillespie with their wonderful harmonies in acoustic country pop. Headlining the evening are the ever popular Timebenders. Their fast paced, high energy romp through the music of the past 60 years never fails to entertain and bring audience members to their feet. Tickets at the gate or Cobble Hill

tart our Saturday, August 25th Fair Day at 7:30 a.m. with South Cowichan Rotary’s tasty pancake breakfast. The parade gets underway at 9:30 while hall exhibit and outside activities start at 10:00. This old fashioned country fair features hay bale tossing, children’s games, 4-H participants, horse show, livestock judging and everything from African violets to zucchinis. Enter your tallest sunflower, best begonia, finest needlework, or join in the parade by checking out the fair catalogue at www. cobblehillfair.ca and downloading an entry form. Admission: Adult $6.00, seniors $4.00, Juniors (12 – 16) $4.00, Under 12 Free

unday, August 26th is our Raise the Scommunity Roof 25 Mile Celebration Dinner. This celebration is a fundraiser to put a new roof on the Cobble Hill Hall. Featuring a fabulous meal by Chef Brad Boisvert, Chef/Proprietor of Amuse on the Vineyard, the evening promises wonderful food, great company and comes complete with live and silent auctions. To attend or donate contact 103celebrationdinner@gmail.com Tickets (Advance sales only): $50

Cobble Hill Fair

Friday August 24th 6:30pm Norman Foote, Robyn and Ryleigh Gillespie and The Timebenders. Saturday August 25th 7:30am start Sunday August 26th Raise The Roof with Amuse 25 Mile Celebration Dinner See you at the fair!

AhZenya the newest salon and spa in the Cowichan Valley

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

South Island Fishing Report

e’s Back... Again. Back in 2009 a gentleman from Yorkshire England came to the Cowichan Valley to fish. On arrival he explained that he was travelling the world to fish a new place each year. Working on his bucket list. “I never return to the same place twice” He said. Here we are in 2012 and Mr. Pitman is back. This is his fourth visit in 3 years. He has fished in many places around the world but

About our Pets

My story this month is about lady at the Market who came Tommy, my rescue dog. over and said to me - “You Many will recognize Tommy have a Peruvian Hairless, from the dyke or the Duncan we have been to Peru and Saturday Market. So many have been with them” - I was folks have followed him stunned and so excited. Upon asking the same question more research I discovered “What is he?” Until recently, similarities. Tommy is also I have never been able to missing the same molars; has answer. All I could share only about six inches of hair was about his very poor up his tail; has long toes and background before I rescued webbedfor feetthe and Island in cooler on the Island him. Then the Made other day weather, has the same Mullet! when researching I came Wow! His lineage is 3000 across Peruvian Hairless years old. An Inca dog that dog - he looks so very much like that! Then I met a lovely used to belong only to Kings

our area is possibly the best. On our trip he landed Brown, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout as well as Summer Steelhead. With any luck he will catch some salmon in the ocean later in his trip. His return is already booked for 2013. I guess the other places on his bucket list will have to wait.

regulations for open and closed areas*

For the rest of the fishers in the area, what can we expect?

Any anglers fishing the rivers will find it quite difficult as the waters have warmed to a point that the fish will not respond to your baits or flies. This fishery should get better once we are into late September and waters start to cool again.

The adult returning salmon should be in our local waters through August preparing for their trip up the rivers to spawn. This is a great time to get out there and catch some of the largest and strongest fighting fish we have. Suggested methods are trolling with a flasher and either a lure or anchovy, cut plugging with herring is also very effective. *Please check the local fishing

For the lake fishers you will find with the brighter skies and warmer water temperatures you will need to fish deeper in the water column as the fish are not as eager to come up for your baits or flies.

Hope everyone is enjoying the great summer of 2012. This report was provided by Kenzie Cuthbert with over 24 years of local guiding. www.kenzies.com

- and he came to me from Chilliwack. Hmmm.....I am ever-so-grateful to own him for the rest of his wonderful life) And thank you all for caring so much and following his progress. The owner of Duncan Pets asks when taking the responsibility of owning a pet: “Please keep it for the rest of it’s life if at all possible - or return it to where you obtained it. Pets have feelings, too, and they trust us when we give them a “forever” home. Dumping it or leaving it behind when you move or can’t keep it, is not fair to them. My last rescue dog was saved from the middle of the highway - a very terrified girl!

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

Image above;Tommy as a pup.

Sheila Jones offers holistic consultations for both people and pets. www.holisticnc.ca

100% Fresh

100% Locally Owned and Operated

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

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

Jean Crowder has been the NDP Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Cowichan since 2004. Crowder.J@parl.gc.ca 1-866-609-9998

Crowder’s Corner

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for British Columbia has released its draft version of the new electoral districts and accompanying maps. Our riding will change significantly. The commission has proposed that our current riding of Nanaimo-Cowichan be split into two ridings, NanaimoCowichan and South Cowichan-Juan de Fuca. The new riding of Nanaimo-Cowichan would include all of Nanaimo, Gabriola Island,Youbou, Lake Cowichan, Honeymoon Bay and most of Ladysmith. The new riding of South Cowichan-Juan de Fuca would include Chemainus, Crofton, Duncan, Cobble Hill, Mill Bay, Malahat, Sooke, East Sooke and Metchosin. There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 7pm at the Coast Bastion Inn in Nanaimo about the boundaries. If you wish to make a presentation at this hearing or you wish to submit a comment, you must inform the commission in writing (by e-mail or mail) no later than August 20, 2012. Your notice of presentation must include: • your name, address and contact information • the organization you represent (if any) • the date of the public hearing you wish to attend • a short overview of the issues you will address The public hearings and input from the electorate had a great impact on the electoral boundaries created by the last commission in 2002. To learn more about the redistribution of BC’s federal electoral districts, visit www.federal-redistribution.ca, email bc-cb@rfed-rcf.ca or call 1-855-747-7236 (toll-free).You can also contact the commission in writing at: 1095 West Pender Street, Suite 301,Vancouver, BC,V6E 2M6.

Mid- Summer Magik T

raditionally this was a time of year for feasts and sacrifices. The true meaning of scarifies was that the shadow side is honourably released from its role as teacher and the lesson became integrated. In ancient times, this wisdom was acted out in rituals of sacrifice followed by feasting and consuming the sacrificed being. The ritual of wine to represent blood, wafer to represent flesh is an example of one such ritual. Traditionally this is a time to consider the opposites. The earth rests for several days in the mid-point of her journey around the sun. Resting at the extreme of any polarity invites its opposite to appear. So although this is a time of expectation for fall harvest, of enjoyment, pleasure in the summer months, jubilation and fecundity, like the old fairy god mother who was not invited to the christening of the new babe, we ought to take some time and honour the opposite. Therefore,

along with the jubilation of summer, this is the best time to consider all the shadow sides of the world, of our society and of course, most dangerously, ourselves.

This doesn’t mean that we fall into the darkness of our selves, into selfishness, anger, hunger, and yearning which characteristics the hell realms and those aspects of ourselves which live as hungry ghosts-the addictions which are always hungry, never satisfied. This honouring the shadow self is a way of integrating those split off parts and inviting them to join with the self in a greater way-a bigger container. This is our soul’s journey-to look to the world for metaphor and from the meanings of the metaphors to open more to the One great being. Julia Star is a spiriutal counsellor in the Cowichan Valley. For appointments call 250 709 9673.

Try This!

1. Over several days or even a week, but not more than over seven days, search for objects that symbolise those dark aspects of yourself- addictions, negative emotions, dysfunctional relationships. These objects will call to you and represent their meaning in your own terms. If you are an artisan and have the time, make a sculpture of your dark side-a body, an animal or phantasy figure. 2. On a dark night (shadow time) dig a hole in the north part of your home. If you live in an apartment, find the north side of your property or go to a power place somewhere in nature. 3. Bury the shadow side objects. 4. Do a ritual of integration over the buried objects. This can be a ritual of your own creation- a dance of victory, a prayer, a few words of gratitude for the teaching which this aspect of your life has given you. 5. Last of all, plant a seed or plant of some kind in the disturbed earth, a flower, a vegetable or a tree.

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

Moonbeams O

nce in a Blue Moon! Each year contains four seasons and twelve months, which means three months per season. Approximately every two and a half years we have thirteen full moons making one of the seasons with four full moons. That extra moon being the blue moon. August is such a time. The first full moon will rise in Victoria August 1st at 8:28pm, and the second, the ‘blue moon’, on August 31st at 6:59am. In addition, about every 19 years there is a year with two months having that extra blue moon due to how the days lined up for that year. The last time this occurred was January and March 1999. On the 1st the full moon will arrive in the sign of Aquarius which is about shifting the focus from our self and ego to others and our vast external environment. The blue moon on the 31st will be in the sign

of Pisces, essentially carries the theme of connectedness and compassion. August moons are known as Sturgeon Moon (Algonquin) representing the abundance of large fish for this time of year, Grain Moon (English) time to plant grains for fall harvesting, Dispute Moon (Celtic) disputes were historically aired and resolved, Dog/Dog Days Moon of Summer coincides with the rising of Sirius the Dog Star, Corn Moon (Medieval English) a time of harvest and preparation for winter, and Red Moon (Native American Tribes) as the moon rises this time of year it appears reddish in color. Others: Green Corn Moon and Fruit Moon. Robin Massey is a yoga & junior bellydance instructor in and around Shawnigan Lake. www.theomtree.com

WEBSITES, EMAILS AND VERBAL LINT HEY GOOD LOOKIN’ WHAT’S COOKIN’: Shelley Hayton is back in the kitchen at Arbutus Cafe. Shelley was one of the first people I met when I moved to the Cowichan Valley from Victoria almost twenty years ago. (It’s true. Time does fly when you’re having fun.) Actually, Shelley left Duncan in the mid 90s for what turned out to be a three and a half year stay in Australia. Since moving back to Canada she and husband Darcy have been living and working in Clearwater BC (I know. I’ve never heard of it either.) How long is she staying this time? Well, let’s just put it this way. Miles Dobson marks his 30th anniversary as the original owner of the funky downtown Duncan eatery next February and Shelley says she is here to help him celebrate. SPEAKING OF SHELLEYS: Shelley Smiley Vaags celebrates the 13th anniversary of Special Woodstock August 19th at Providence Farm. A professional musician who has often entertained at group homes throughout the Island, it was Shelley’s idea to organize a day of musical activities designed to – and I quote - “encourage, nurture and inspire the talents of artists and musicians with special needs”. Rick Scott has been confirmed for this year’s event. In addition to being one third of legendary BC folk trio Pied Pumkin and a Juno nominated children’s music performer, Rick is the Goodwill Ambassador for Down Syndrome Research Foundation. For more details on the event log onto www.specialwoodstock.ca. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: Jennifer Holden is “pouring her desires, ideas and vision for a more equitable world” into her role as Youth Advisory Board co-ordinator for Cowichan Intercultural Society, an organization “dedicated to inclusive leadership, anti-racism and community.” In the words of the always eloquent Ms. Holden, her hope is that the program “ will inspire youth to create positive change in themselves and their communities. After all, youth are a prophecy of what the world could be. “ By Rick Dennis

Cowichan Feature Listings 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.

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.

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.

Memory foam yoga mat PVC Free. Ideal for pre/postnatal yoga, pilates and those who need more support. Suitable for all types of yoga including, Vinyasa Flow, Power, Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Gentle and Kundalini.

Lynda Allen 250-748-0934 lyndaallentapstudio@shaw.ca

Metal Artist Brad Allen

Studio located in Duncan by appointment Brad Allen 250 748 0934 www.meddleart.com

WHIPPLETREE

JUNCTION 4705 Trans Canada Hwy

Furniture,Crafts and Specialty Bears!

Contact us for domain searches, web registration, and LOCAL hosting. Small business blogsites, web templates and other small business web based services. 250-746-9319

great

–

Joing us in celebration of our ﬁrst anniversary

Teddy Bear’s Picnic

The hom

Richard Badman rbadman@gearth.com

Leola’s Studio In The Courtyard

July 29th•11am to 1pm in our new location!

Bears in the Cupboard

- Classes - Shared Studio

- Community Loom - Gift Certiﬁcates - Locally made textiles Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday,

Summer hours 10am to 5pm bearsinthecupboard@gmail.com.

Spe beauti Cana Dining R Living Hom Ec Sof

25 www

- Weaving and Spinning

yarns, wools, needles, books and notions. 250 746 5250

BC’s Largest selection of indoor and outdoor rattan furniture! thewickertree.com

gifts!

Duncan

The Loom

The Wickertree

www.vvitayoga.ca Richard 250 746 9319 Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Distributor

LOCAL WEB HOSTING

Decor and Design at historic - Metal Wall hangings - Free Standing Sculptures Whippletree Junction Websites make With a torch,welder and array of metal finishing tools, Brad creates joyful, nurturing and thought-provoking pieces.

9747c Willow St, Chemainus 250 324 2227

Call for prices and dates 250 324 2227 New Hours Monday - Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 10 - 4

Learn and Experience the joy of textiles. leolasstudio.blogspot.com

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

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

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This month is all about vacations, the entertainment world, sports events and schmoozing with pals. You might also feel the call of artsy-crafty projects. In fact, retrograde Mercury might help you finish one of them. (Yes, forgive me, I used the F word.) Do make an effort to socialize more in the next six weeks because you’ll find almost all your dealings with others to be rewarding and gratifying. (Especially if you run across an old friend who still owes you money.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Stock the fridge. Keep good food and drink on hand because your focus is now on home and family. This is a great time to entertain fascinating guests to your table. (They will be the lucky ones.) Surely, some of these will be people from your past and if not, discussions about the past will no doubt prevail. Many of you will also tackle repairs because you’re in the mood. You’re feeling more flush than usual and ready to open up your wallet and let out a few moths. Because Mars continues to boost your energy, get as much done as you can.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

The home of fine You’re onfurnishings the move! You’ve

got things to do, people to see, places Specialising inis this a great to go. Not only time to schmooze with friends, beautiful woods and siblings and neighbours, it’s also a Canadian furniture. great time to write and read. Your ability to•sell, market, persuade, Dining Room Bedroom and teach is also totally in the Livingact Room • Tables zone. In other words, you’re runHome ningAccesories around warming up to this wonderful, fantastic Gemini blessEco friendly ing that is going to last until the

Sofas & Chairs

Fall of 2013. Competitive sports appeal strongly now, and romance will be just as physical and maybe more memorable!

Cancer ( June 21-July 22)

You love quality and value thrift. This is why your focus turns to how you want to earn your money and how you want to spend it. Of course, the bottom line is all about your values, isn’t it? What are your values? As important as this question is, we don’t often analyze our values. This is actually the perfect time of year for you to think about what really matters to you. If you know what matters, then you will know what to save and what to reject. (“I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paycheques.”)

Leo ( July 23-Aug. 22)

This month, the Sun gives you a chance to replenish, re-energize and restore yourself. Retrograde Mercury continues in Leo causing foul-ups to communications, transportation delays and silly errors plus encountering people from the past. Allow extra time for everything because there will be snafus! Double-check your work. And enjoy contact with old faces because it’s wonderful to have history with others. People want to see you now. (Venus boosts your popularity.) And Mars emboldens your Royal directives.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Make use of retrograde Mercury because it can help you to research the past. The study of archaeology, anthropology, history or research into past records will go surprisingly swiftly and generate wonderful results. “Eureka!” Furthermore, you won’t mind taking a backseat because this month you feel happy in the shadows. Relations with authority figures are excellent. (Even romantic.) And you’re willing to work hard to earn your money.

This is a time of preparation before you step out onto the stage.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This is a popular month! Everyone wants to see your face. Of course, it’s a two-way street. You’ll love schmoozing and discussing your hopes and dreams for the future. Listen to the feedback from others because it could be useful. Travel for pleasure appeals and with fiery Mars in your sign, you’ve got the energy to do it all! Nevertheless, in quiet moments between dazzling conversations, ponder your future goals. Since 2010, you’ve been creating the “new you.” (Which, hopefully, will still fit into your clothes.)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

The Sun is high in your chart throwing you in a flattering limelight. This is why others are approaching you to take on extra responsibilities. Say yes because you can easily do it. Retrograde Mercury might attract previous bosses and authority figures from your past and you might be involved with a parent. All this brouhaha will provoke you to examine your life as a whole. Are you going in the direction you want to go? Ask yourself where you want to be in five years. What do you have to do now to start to go in that direction?.

Sagittarius(Nov.22-Dec.21)

It’s as if a microchip is installed in your brain making you run around singing, “I wanna be me!” Travel opportunities abound. You’ll encounter opportunities to seek adventure and learn new things through courses, reading, or meeting experts or fascinating people from different backgrounds. You can also explore fabulous opportunities in publishing, the media, medicine and the law. This is all great stuff! These are your people. (Keep a bag packed at the door. Send me a postcard.)

August

Horoscopes

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Your ambition is driven, which is a good thing because you’re looking at a year of fabulous opportunities to improve your job, get a better job, find a better boss or just enjoy what you do. Work-related travel is also likely. And for the next few weeks, work-related romance could blossom. Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, you’re entering an intense six weeks ahead. You’ll be passionately intense about shared property, taxes, debt, inheritances and (definitely) sex. Intense. Like, really intense.

Aquarius ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This month the Sun is directly opposite your sign, which means it’s as far away from you as it ever gets. But the Sun is your source of energy! Connect the dots. You’re going to need more sleep. Acknowledge this need and respect it. Don’t worry, it won’t curtail too much partying because party mode is what you are into right now. Many of you are also feeling highly creative and very in touch with your Muse. Travel if you can because Mars is urging you to explore more of the world.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You’re gung ho to get organized. You want colour-coded closets and new shelves for your shoes. (Your CDs are still alphabetized and dusty because you listen to mp3s.) But your goals are high! Not only do you want to be organized at home and at work, you want to become healthier! You’re going to the gym, buying weights and signing up for spinning classes. And you’re becoming more diet conscious. Homedecorating appeals. You’re pulling it all together.

www.georgianicols.com

250 737 1773 www.sassywood.ca

Interested in contributing to the Valley Voice? E-mail us at editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com