Rural Observer December 2010 Issue

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Rural Serving Port Renfrew Jordan River Otter Point Willis Point East Sooke Malahat Shirley

OBSERVER Celebrating Our Rural Community Lifestyle

Communing With Cows Sun River Nature Trail

Cover Photo by John Walls of Shirley

It’s Special to be “LOCAL”

Vol. 7 Issue 5 December 2010

The Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society Mission Statement A group of Juan de Fuca residents formed a non-profit society to launch a news and advertising publication for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.

We provide a forum for our rural communities to share news, exchange ideas and develop a sense of community. At the same time the publication gives businesses within and outside the electoral area an opportunity to promote their products and services and reach potential customers. We also hope to make current information about the region and its services available to the many tourists who visit the area each year. Our goal is to protect, preserve and enhance rural life.

The publication will rely on community members to share their interests and points of view through articles, correspondence and photographs.

We welcome articles and letters reflecting the very diverse interests of our member communities and expressing all points of view. The editorial committee reserves the right to edit for brevity, accuracy, clarity and taste. Though every reasonable precaution will be made to verify the accuracy of material submitted, the editorial committee assumes no responsibility for the content of published articles. The responsibility is that of the writers. References and descriptions of products or services are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.

We’re online! www.ruralobserver.com If you wish to submit an article for an upcoming issue of the Rural Observer, please email it to:

NEW INT R P O FOT HERE AD

submissions@ruralobserver.com Or mail to: Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society 6790 East Sooke Road, Sooke BC V9Z 1A6

BECOME A MEMBER or RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP! Celebrate our rural community lifestyle by helping us share stories and information about our region. Become a member of the Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society today. Our fee structure is as follows - you may renew/join at the basic level of $10, become a “Friend” of the Rural Observer for $25, a “Supporter” for $50, or a “Lifetime Member” for only $100.

We recommend the lifetime membership - you won’t need to remember to renew each year! The Rural Observer needs your support to keep it strong, viable and independent. Please make out cheques to the Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society and mail to: J.Roots, 6790 East Sooke Rd, Sooke, BC, V9Z 1A6

Jo in U s

Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society

2011 MEMBERSHIP / RENEWAL FORM

Name ____________________________________

Address _______________________________________ ______________________________________________ Phone ____________ E-mail ______________________ Are you able to help? _____________________________ Return to: JdF Rural Publication Society, 6790 East Sooke Rd, Sooke, BC, V9Z 1A6

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December 2010

Communing With Cows by Susan Nelson Our first cow arrived in May of 2007. Some of you have met Nell the gorgeous Jersey grand dame Centre of the Universe of Dairy. She stepped a bit shakily out of the trailer, but when she surveyed the burgeoning spring pasture free of bossy bovine competition, she relished her ascent from bottom cow to queen of the green. Her lack of enthusiasm for head knocking at the manger had made her skinny and not highly productive in the milk department. With her new unlimited gastric autonomy and the showering of love and adoration from her humans, she soon became a cow of substance with a truly regal bearing.

didn’t get a great reception to the idea of a water buffalo which produces 11% butterfat, the Jersey’s 5% was next best. Plus, Nell would win any dairy beauty contest. Just refer to her cover photo on the Rural Observer a while back. I also wanted a reasonably healthy, good-natured young cow 3 or 4 years old who would be coming into her prime and would exhibit signs of longevity in her conformation. Mostly that means a “well-attached” udder and nice legs.

We met Nell in 2005 when she was living with 20 or so other Jersey cows on the farm where we volunteered for a winter.

That’s when we realized that a life without cows, and in particular dairy cows, was terribly deficient not just in digestible calcium and delectable milky by-products, but in some kind of soul nourishing, character building, patience inspiring relationships.

The narrowed down quest was on. The first cow I looked at was clearly not the one. She was thought to be a Jersey Angus cross but she had Holstein written on her high hips and long face. The second was a lovely almost all Jersey cross whom I went to see with my cow mentor. Bev fortunately was on the ball and asked questions that seemed to indicate more questions about the reason the cow was so bony. Also her first calf was still born. At that point I knew it was time to go east.

There’s something deeply different about communing daily with a being who is a source of food. A being who shares, generally with good humour and grace, its milk. Certainly there are days when she would wish it otherwise and so would we. This is not a Hollywood story. The relationship brings up all types of philosophical and practical questions. Wouldn’t hunting and gathering be a fairer way to relate to animals? Isn’t dairy just another form of subjugation and exploitation? Aren’t dairy cows in particular genetically modified (over millennia of breeding for giant mammary glands and agreeable dispositions), and warped beyond belief? Wouldn’t it be best to just not breed them at all any more and let the complications fade away with extinction?

Like I said, there are days.

The first call was to a farm in Chilliwack that is the home of many Jerseys and a member of the Board of Jersey Canada, the breed association. The farm has seen three (human) generations of Jersey lovers which reassured me and so we set off to look at their available for sale cows. Vivi’s mother was visiting from the Cattle Capital of the world, Argentina, so she was happy to go along and see some Canadian versions.

There they were -- the contenders Renee and Daria. A 6 year old was up for sale too but Nell is 7 and I wanted a cow who would be gearing up as Nell would near retirement. The two year old Renee was an eye-catcher for sure with her dark eyes and burnished auburn look. She was bigger too, which doesn’t always equate with milk quantity but it doesn’t hurt the chances.

But Daria was cute. She also had attitude. There’s something about watching the littlest cow boss the bigger ones around that a smallish human like myself can appreciate.

There are years however in which I feel exceedingly grateful for the honour and pleasure of the human/bovine partnership in food production and distribution not to mention the fun we have.

So it made sense to buy another cow. Not that more is always better of course, but we co-own cows with a bunch of folks and there are always more who would like to participate. Due to many considerations we had decided that two dairy cows would be the most we would have at any given time.

continued on page 17

We bought Nell from the farm where we had lived and worked so we knew her people and her. The prospect of the actual purchase of an unknown new member of our family brought up all kinds of joys and apprehensions. What would she be like? How would I know that she is the one? Most importantly, would Nell approve? So a few criteria came and some went out the window and some stayed put. The hope of finding a different breed, first from among a few endangered ones then a Guernsey, faded as the search went on. The last gasp came when I visited a farm that was reported to have Guernseys and the owner told me that the last one on Vancouver Island drowned in a creek just this year. Oh well, Jerseys are wonderful and they produce the best milk in cowdom. As I 3

December 2010

BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre Wild ARC

by Angela Kendall, Administrator of BC SPCA Wild ARC

Wild ARC is a specialized branch of the BC SPCA dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned wild animals. We are the only wildlife branch in the province, and the only wildlife rehabilitation facility on southern Vancouver Island.

Before opening Wild ARC’s doors in 1997, injured wild animals in Victoria were brought to the SPCA. Caring for wildlife in the same shelter as cats and dogs was far from ideal, so in celebration of their centennial anniversary, and thanks to a significant bequest to the branch, the Victoria SPCA purchased 10 acres in Metchosin and built a facility dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation! Wild ARC has been a separate branch of the BC SPCA since 2002, and although the Provincial Office continues to subsidize our operations, we are expected to be financially independent by 2010. Since Wild ARC has no regular source of income, we rely on donations and fundraising efforts alone!

Wild ARC is open every day of the year. With a small staff of 5, we just couldn’t make it through each day without our amazing animal care volunteers, especially in the summertime when we have upwards of 250 young mouths to feed (and a tight feeding schedule to keep!).

But animal care is just one way to get involved; we also have a humane education program, an outreach team, volunteers who help with maintenance of the facility or regular cleaning duties, and of course our community council volunteers!

From the smallest hummingbird to the biggest eagle, wild animals are increasingly impacted by human activities. Through community education and specialized care, Wild ARC helps to minimize these impacts and gives the animals a second chance. In future issues, look for upcoming fundraising events and exciting stories about wildlife rehabilitation!

Also, check us out on the web at www.wildarc.com

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December 2010

Disaster Strikes - What Happens Next?

by Lee Hindrichs, JDF Emergency Program, Director of Media Communications

Over the past few months we have talked about emergency preparedness. How do we put our plan into action if the dreaded disaster occurs?

The first step is always that everyone takes care of themselves.

Becoming a casualty yourself is counterproductive. Once imminent danger has passed, ensure the safety of your family and property, if possible. If the power is out, turn off the power supply source to all appliances and lights, except one internal and one external light. These lights act as indicators for BC Hydro. Turn your battery powered radio to AM, CFAX 1070, and check to see if telephone or cell coverage is still available.

are as a community prior to an emergency. This is the ideal in emergency preparedness. Planning saves lives and property.

The Emergency Coordinator for Juan de Fuca is George OBriain at 250.642.2266, fax at 250.642.2023 or email jdfemerg@telus. net . The Juan de Fuca Emergency Social Services Director is Barb Broster at the same telephone contact information.

Next check on your neighbours; this is when your neighbourhood POD jumps into action. Alternative communications will be accomplished through ham radio amateurs - there are a number of them around - and CB radios. The Emergency Coordinator is advising that having GRMS radios at the neighbourhood POD level will be enough to relay messages to your local Community Coordinator. The emergency channel to talk to the EOC in Sooke (which will usually be located at the fire hall) is channel 21. For Juan de Fuca EA it’s channel 2. Remember that the range of these radios is usually limited to a couple of kilometres at best.

Your neighbourhood POD should establish its own internal channel, reserving the ICP/EOC channel for communication as needed.

About this time first responders will be attempting to get to their stations and EOC designated staff and the emergency coordinators will be attempting to get to their offices. This could take time. Once a disaster is declared through official channels other government services will move into play, including funding for disaster relief.

The EOC follows standardized response goals as follows: safety and health of responders; save lives; reduce suffering; protect public health; protect government infrastructure; protect property and environment; and reduce economic and social losses.

Note that the first priority is the safety and health of first responders. If the roads are closed or if power lines are obstructing a road they will not get to you until it is safe to do so. Good thing you had that neighbourhood block party and know who has medical expertise in your neighbourhood, or who has a chainsaw to help clear your road, or who has the RV with a cook stove.

As the need arises, reception centres and comfort stations will be opened. These centres will supply information and direction about food, water, shelter, and medical attention.

When disaster hits a community the only way to respond is as a community. If you have extra beds to put up strangers, or skills or equipment that would be valuable in the event of a disaster please contact the neighbourhood POD Leader so that they can supply the complete details of your POD to the local Community Coordinator and Electoral Area Emergency Coordinator. In this way we can establish what our resources 5

December 2010

Calendar of Events for Shirley

Do You Have A Great Family Soup Recipe?

by Marg Johnson

The Shirley Community Association’s Souper Sunday ‘All You Can Eat’ soup buffets are back by popular demand. We will be serving homemade soups and sandwiches the third Sunday of each month during the rainy season.

This year we’ve added a new twist – each month we will feature a different guest chef who will prepare his or her special soup recipe for us all to enjoy.

If you would like to come to the hall and be our featured chef of the month, please call Mary Dunn - 646-2554, Fiona McDannold 646-2730, or Marg Johnson - 646-2723 to make arrangements.

Here is the Souper Sunday Schedule: (Note: all souper events take place from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., or until the soup runs out.)

December 19*, January 16, February 20, March 20, April 17.

Shirley Rallies To Help Neighbours by Terri Alcock Bernie Cormier and his family need our help after Bernie’s diagnosis of a serious illness. The Shirley Volunteer Fire Department is spearheading a fundraising drive to assist the family with expenses. Neighbours pulled together to send Bernie, Sharon and their children home to Nova Scotia for a visit. At a recent craft fair a table of donated items, including artwork from participants at the craft fair, raised funds for the family, as did a musical fundraiser held on November 21st.

If you would like to help, donations may be dropped off at the CIBC, Sooke Branch, where an account has been set up in the Cormier family’s name; or please call 250-646-2528 for more information.

Unless otherwise indicated, events are held at the Shirley Community Hall

Shirley Fire Department Practices held Thursdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Chief Donovan Ray 250-646-2107 Shukokai Karate for all ages Mondays, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Alida – 250-642-4631 Hatha Yoga Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

To Register: sarahlouisericher@gmail,com Shirley Quilters and Crafters Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All welcome Nia Dance/Movement Thursdays, 6:45-8:00 p.m. movingmelody@gmail.com or 250-646-2995 Shirley Fire Protection Society AGM Sunday, December 12, 2010 2:00 p.m.

Christmas Lunch Sunday, December 19, 2010 Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Come to the Shirley Hall and enjoy good food and great company! *December’s Souper Sunday will be combined with the annual Christmas party and tree lighting.

Shirley Community Association Meeting Wednesday, January 12, 2011 7:30 p.m.

Soup and Sandwich Lunch Sunday, January 16, 2011 & Sunday, February 20, 2011 Noon to 2:00 p.m.

French Beach COOKING SCHOOL

John Horgan

"Wild" Cooking Classes

MLA Juan de Fuca

Your Rural Voice in the Legislature

Use berries, herbs, mushrooms, flowers, & greens, Make pastry, cheeses, sushi. Hands-on demos.

Winter Classes $40/class Join me in Shirley!

Check out class dates at: www.frenchbeachcookingschool.ca Marcie Gauntlett marcichka@xplornet.com (250)646-2772

800 Goldstream Ave, Victoria, V9B 2X7 250 391 2801 john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca www.johnhorgan.com JH-RurObs-0909.indd 1

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9/24/09 12:41:00 PM December 2010

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary to the Rescue Using night vision goggles, a spotlight and their keen sense of hearing, a crew from Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Station 37 - was able to quickly locate three people who had drifted out to sea in their powerless 12-foot dingy on October 10th.

by Charlotte Senay

The three were sitting in six inches of water and being tossed around in steep waves. The man had jumped into the water and attempted to pull the boat to shore, but the tide was too strong.

The woman had dislocated her shoulder pulling him back into the boat. “They were obviously very cold and suffering from mild hypothermia,” said Robert Roe (CCGA-P leader). “The lady was in a lot of pain and I think the guy had started to go into shock.

“The three were transported onto the rescue vessel, The Spirit of Sooke, and given first aid and then taken to hospital for further medical attention.

A man, woman and seven year-old child had been fishing off East Sooke Park when the engine failed and they started drifting with the ebb tide. The winds were about 15 knots and the temperature was a frigid 10 degrees that night. Only the child was wearing a life jacket. They had no oars, no cell phone and no radio. “They didn’t have any form of communication or board - which is very dangerous,” said George Holmes, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific (CCGA-P) coxswain on the mission. “They were right in he traffic lane for boats coming into Sooke Harbour; if they had been a bit further out, they wouldn’t have faced so many steep waves and would have been easier to spot.”

“The crew felt pretty good about how things turned out,” Holmes said. “I doubt these people would have survived a night adrift on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.”

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Pacific Region includes over 1,000 dedicated volunteers in 50 stations throughout the coastal waters of British Columbia. They often put themselves at risk to help save lives on our waters. They provide marine search and rescue coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

A hiker near Whiffen Spit heard cries for help and contacted the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria. The CCGA-P crew received the call at 9:00pm and located the three within 20 minutes. Holmes said that the crew used various detection methods to find them, including keeping in constant contact with the concerned citizen on shore who had a visual on the group.

“This was one of those incidents where you are using a lot of different skill sets simultaneously,” he said. “But it was really by stopping our boat and listening that we were able to hear their cries and locate them.”

The CCGA-P is involved in about a third of all search and rescue incidents that occur on the BC coast. Our heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of you in this incredible organization.

Please Help Us Save Lives Donate or Volunteer Today!

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific is a registered charity #106863137 RR. Call: 250.480.2798 or visit www.ccga-p.ca to donate now 7

Photo by Jason van der Valk

December 2010

Musical Event Raises Funds For Rural Observer

Doug Read Licensed Realtor 25 years experience~15 years *Selling* in *East Sooke* Put my local Knowledge & Experience to Work for You.

A few Sundays back the Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society hosted a concert in East Sooke, and we hope it is the start of something that will continue to grow. People from Shirley to Victoria gathered at the East Sooke fire hall for a fundraising show in support of the Rural Observer. But more than just a successful fundraiser, it was a wonderful gathering of community for a great night of music.

A great big thank you goes out to all the musicians who played that night. Lola Parks (right) got us off to a great start with her original tunes and hauntingly beautiful voice.

Doug Read Pemberton Holmes Real Estate 250-361-7939 or 250-642-2705 or toll free 1-866-536-7169 email: info@dougread.com web site: www.dougread.com

Local jazz and blues singer Maureen Washington stepped up at the last minute with her guitar player John MacArthur (a Victoria music legend). Together they wowed and lulled an appreciative crowd with a fantastic mix of originals and jazz standards.

And the East Sooke band, The Rhythm Miners, also stepped up to play at the last minute.

They closed the show with a great set of original tunes that were equal parts funky, fun, and rocking! Please give your support to all of these fine artists in the future.

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December 2010

East Sooke Community Calendar East Sooke Volunteer Fire Department Fire Practice Thursdays 7:00 p.m.

New Volunteers Welcome Chief Roger Beck 642-4411 East Sooke Fire Protection And Emergency Services Commission Third Mondays 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Public Welcome Chair Layton Engwer 642-4411 East Sooke Community Association e-mail: briarglen@islandnet.com East Sooke Rural Ratepayers Assn.

E-mail: bmcusack@islandnet.com Yoga Classes East Sooke Fire Hall training room Wednesdays & Fridays 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

For Info: 250 891-1788 Karate Classes For All Ages East Sooke Fire Hall training room 1397 Coppermine Rd. Tuesdays 7:00 pm Instructor: Armin Aielopp 642-3926 Coffee, Conversation & Book Exchange Saturdays 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Ragley Farm, 5717 East Sooke Road E-mail: ragley@telus.net

Continued from page 8 Aidan Knight was the original headliner, but was unable to play due to a number of circumstances. He has promised to return for a future concert, so we know we will be doing this at least one more time in the coming months. Lots of people have requested we do this again! Details and a date will be announced as soon as possible.

Big thanks must also go to all of those involved in organizing, preparing food, and otherwise helping out. Charlotte Senay co-ordinated all the volunteers and led the planning committee. Richard Pyke took care of all the technical needs of the evening, including providing his own gear. Kelly Nakatsuka from CBC Radio’s All Points West hosted the event and organized the musicians. Kay Lovett created one of her amazing art pieces for the event. It provided a gorgeous backdrop for the musicians, and is now the property of the Rural Observer for future events. Kathy Scott efficiently and tastefully ran the silent auction which made it a big success and a lot of fun. Valerie Braunschweig was also instrumental in this true community event. She took total charge of the food – which was homey and delicious. Valerie’s husband Dick and sister Anne were also big helpers throughout the day and evening.

They and a few others converted the meeting room into a concert hall....and it was great to see people pitching in after to clean up. What a community! Thanks go out also to Trent Arterbury and Bev Swatzky for the use of their stage and a special thank you to East Sooke Fire Chief, Roger Beck, for the use of the hall.

Thanks as well to all of those who contributed food: Josie Hill, Valerie Braunschweig, Terri Alcock, Lisa Jacobi, Janet Caplan, June Roots, and Pat Warlow – truly fabulous, and much appreciated!

The following were Silent Auction contributors and we want to thank them as well. When we have community - minded businesses and thoughtful people, our community grows! Double ‘D’ Nursery, Victoria Tea Festival, Chiropractic for Life, Inge Ranzinger, Victoria’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, Carman Varcoe, Growlies Pet Foods, Sea Blooms Florist, Tony’s Hair Design, Shoppers Drug Mart, Garden Works, Lana and NJ, South Shore Gallery, SHE Salon, Axel Joosting and Maureen Washington.

(Note: for more information about the musicians, visit their websites; www.lolaparks. com, and www.maureenwashington.com)

Photos by Noella LeDrew

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December 2010

It’s Special To Be Local!

by Vivi Curutchet

Winter is returning, and the tourist season is slowing down. Most of us rural-oriented people like the quietness that descends on us - shorter days, more time to be inside near the fireplace and time for us. We enjoy being ‘locals’ and being at home, but are also at home in the broader community.

It is also a time when many of our businesses offer ‘special deals’ for locals, and make us locals, feel so special!

The Rural Observer went looking for special ‘locals’ offers and put together a page of coupons with good possibilities. In this issue advertisers feature reduced prices on: dinners, massage therapies, gifts, antiques and spas. What an opportunity and another reason to enjoy winter! We hope to have more coupons offered in our next issue in March.

See you soon! We may run into each other, coupons in hand, enjoying a restaurant or salon! Take advantage of the coupons, support our advertisers and support the Rural Observer.

If you have a local business and would like to participate in the ‘coupons for locals’ campaign, please contact Vivi at advertise@ruralobserver.com

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December 2010

al

ci Local Spe

Lotus and Sage

An additional 5% off all activewear and enter to win our December prize draw!

S N O P U O C

2614 Sooke Rd (located inside Borton's Spas & Pools)

CLIP & SAVE!

“25% disc off everything except gold & silver” Offer valid until Dec 31, 2010 2050 Otter Point Rd, Sooke, BC 250 642-6161 11

December 2010

William Simmons Memorial Park: From Vision to Reality

by Sid Jorna, Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society & Sharon Sterling, Sooke Saddle Club

The JDFEA Parks and Recreation Commission is set to open William Simmons Memorial Park this fall after a long term community effort. Led by then Regional Director Eric Lund, the CRD purchased land for the park at Poirier Lake from Timber West. It was added to by the generous bequest of land from Erik Sellers-St Clare. The acquisition was rounded out by a purchase of part of the gazetted Denman Road. Following completion of the JDFEA Community Parks Strategic Plan and in conjunction with public hearings, the JDFEA Parks and Recreation Commission developed a site plan to be implemented in phases. The physical development of the site has moved forward under the leadership of Regional Director Mike Hicks. It started with a massive community effort to remove garbage from the park. Wally Vowles brought in heavy equipment to help community volunteers remove tons of garbage and structures that were on the site. The natural attributes of the park have been groomed and much improved.

the 1930s. The project will also include ‘horse crossing’ signs for Otter Point Road to allow safe access to the trails in The Woods subdivision and beyond.

William Simmons Memorial Park is the focal point for the emerging public trail system in Otter Point. Advocated by the Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society, the suggested trail Community groups came forward with help. The Juan de Fuca system is embraced by the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Parks Community Trails Society donated funds and material for an and Recreation Commission to the extent that it fits with their information kiosk and signage at the trail head and parking Strategic Parks and Trails Plan, is sensitive to First Nations lot. The Sooke Saddle Club is supporting the development negotiations and does not encroach on private property. Much of equestrian facilities as identified in the strategic plan for of the trail system will be horse friendly. From William Simmons the park. They have received a 2010 Equine Canada/Horse Park, equestrians, hikers and cyclists will be able to proceed Council BC Recreation and Industry grant of $2000. This grant south by way of a trail provided by the Sooke Business Park combined with their own donation and volunteer labour and to access Crown land trails on Sacred Mountain (Broom Hill). material provided by Grassroots Developers for the Sooke Business Park Construction and Saddle Club and The Woods subdivision have been members are developing a riders’ generous and enthusiastic in supporting rest area. the JdF EA Parks and Recreation plans.

With such cooperation in future, the trail The riders’ rest area is located may proceed along the gazetted Wieland Lots of cute new conifers on the edge of a small meadow Road leading to Kemp Lake Road and separate from the other areas.

CLOSED DEC 24 - FEB 1 Crown land trails at King Creek. To the This rest area will include a picnic Merry Christmas and north a trail provided by The Woods table, hitch rail, mounting block, thanks to everyone for residential development provides access and manure bin. It is reached making this such a to the power line. When William Simmons wonderful year. by a short ride through forest on Memorial Park opens this fall, we will see All the best in 2011! the Panama Rail Trail, named the first stages of this recreational vision Open Mon to Sat 8:30 – 5:00pm • Closed Sunday for the Panama Rail Company, transformed into reality.

3459 Luxton Road, Langford • Tel: 250-474-6005 • numafarms@shaw.ca which operated in the area until

NUMA FARMS NURSERY Living Christmas Trees

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December 2010

Enormous, Unusual And Threatened

by Zoe Blunt, Forest Action Network

Photo by Pete Rockwell

While mapping the grove, Forest Action Network volunteers found white rock formations poking out of the creek banks, mute evidence that the grove may sit on top of ecologicallysensitive karst -- limestone formations that can include caves and underground water channels. South Island Forest District policy states that these features should be protected.

In the past year, Avatar Grove has become a big deal for environmentalists, tourists and even the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce. However, logging may reduce it to a stump field.

Avatar Grove lies just inside the western boundary of the Capital Regional District, about 7 kilometers northwest of Port Renfrew on the Gordon River Mainline. As Crown land, it is part of Tree Farm Licence 46. The grove is in the traditional territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation.

Visit www.WildCoast.ca for a map and more information.

Hotline: 250-813-3569 Email: forestaction@gmail.com Web: forestaction.wikidot.com

When TJ Watt first stumbled into this grove of huge, weird trees near the Gordon River during a scouting expedition in December 2009, he was amazed at the strange beauty of the unmapped old-growth forest. But when he and Ancient Forest Alliance founder, Ken Wu, returned to the grove in February 2010, the trees were marked and flagged for logging. That’s when the two went public, launching a public relations blitz to put the forest on the map. Ken Wu named the place “Avatar Grove” after the Hollywood movie.

A fifteen minute drive from Port Renfrew, silver cedar spires overhead mark ten hectares of twisted, mossy giants on a damp hillside above the Gordon River. Not just huge trees, but bizarrely burled and misshapen ones. The burls, likely caused by a fungus that causes a bark-covered bulge, are the size of small cars. The Knottiest Tree in Canada lives here.

Hundreds of people visited Port Renfrew and the Avatar Grove this summer, leading to calls from the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce to protect the area. “There’s been a substantial increase in tourist traffic,” said Chamber Director Tim Cash.

According to a Ministry of Forests spokesperson, one quarter of the grove is in an Old Growth Management Area, but this designation falls short of full protection, and three-quarters of the grove is open for logging. Teal-Jones Group, which owns the logging rights, has not yet applied for permits to cut the grove.

To protect the soil and tree roots, volunteers have flagged routes from the road to the big trees, the Baird Creek waterfall viewpoint, and the Gordon River beach. Fixed ropes are installed to access the steepest sections.

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December 2010

YOU LOST ME AT CRYPTOMERIA

little green leaves, about so high?” They looked at each other with unamused bewilderment. It reminded me of the time my sister Colleen and her husband Barry ordered a special pizza.

Payday still a week away, change had been ferreted out of every possible hiding place for a Friday night treat. They ordered something they had never heard of; the anchovy special. When the steamy box of feel good arrived, they knew it had gone way wrong. Barry called the pizza joint to complain that his pizza smelled fishy. The knowledge that anchovy is nasty fish would have been useful.

I recall this as I am looking at a shrub in my garden that is living large and offending its neighbours. I asked for Enkianthus, a sweet little thing, but what I have here is suspect. It’s three times as high and wide as the one that inspired the purchase. I don’t need proof that its mother jumped the fence. The problem is I didn‘t ask what kind of Enkianthus. It’s not only bad form but expensive to place an elbows out, brutish oaf, like Gunnera, for instance, beside a fragile, shy violet at the dinner table. The little one will starve every time.

The tag that comes with a plant (all that Latin jazz) tells us the plant’s genus and key characteristics. I am told there are as many varieties of cotoneaster (pronounced ‘cot toni aster’ and not ‘cotton easter’) as there are lovely young girls at university. Without the parents there for comparison you have no way of knowing which ones will be tall (fastigated) and lithe (elegantis’simus) or short (hu’milis) and dull (tris’tis) when finished growing. Just use common names you say. Okay, but then you don’t know if you’ve invited Tom the baker or Tom the biker to your party. The results could be quite interesting but not predictable. Who knows how Tom the baker behaves off leash.

That is why we do it. For clarity’s sake, not for snobbery. I know when the Mister asks me to pick up an oil filter, that I need to know 1993 Dodge, Cummins diesel, 6 litre, straight 6. Now that will get me traction at the order desk!

If you’re not fluent in Latin and don’t know your procumbens (prostrate) from your reptans (creeping), ask a staffer to explain the label. Otherwise the name Thymus pseudolanuginous just might scare you away from good old Woolly Thyme.

And the young man who endeavours to be a lawyer? No doubt he will be at our dinner table a few years from now, interjecting Latin wherever he can. He may think he’s getting one up on me.

Others may think him pretentious. I will know he is exercising the mechanics of his trade and ask “translation please”? and “would you like more apple pie?”

by Bonnie Coulter

My sister’s grandson has been pulled up by his roots from Vanderhoof, Zone 3, and deposited at the University of Victoria, Zone 8. As transplanting can be an uncertain business, she brought him by to get acquainted with us. He just may need a life line or 2, but at 18 he’s certain that’s not going to happen.

We set off on a quick, pre-dinner garden tour, a ritual that guests are seldom spared. The young man followed us briefly.

Suddenly he spun on his heels and made haste back to the porch clutch of beer-handed men. “Did I say something wrong”, I called after him. His unequivocal reply was, “You lost me at Cryptomeria”.

Fair enough for a future lawyer who thinks he has no need for Latin. Not everyone cares about the proper name of a plant and certainly a lack of knowledge here will not affect your enjoyment of a garden full of handsome green (virdis), pink (roseum) and blue (cyan) plant matter. I, for one, know better than to bore the Mister with names of plants, Latin or otherwise. When in the garden he insists I just point and direct, “dig, hole, deep, wide”.

But I don’t feel right speaking to him like the dog - “come, sit, down, stay”. What if I called my kids first and second? Surly second would develop a deep loathing of the one always first.

Bad enough I used the alphabet; Ang first, Boyer second.

I was at the plant nursery recently and overheard a lady ask a staffer, “Do you have one of those pink flowering bushes with fat

14

December 2010

Sun River Nature Trail

Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Commission

by Rosemary Jorna

The Commission meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5pm, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Office, #2 – 6868 West Coast Road

The Sun River Nature Trail is a great place to see the Sooke River in all seasons.

Here in the lower reaches it is on a flood plain. This section of the river offers a contrast to the upper part of the Sooke River where it cuts its way through the rock at the Sooke Potholes Regional Park.

Public Welcome to Attend For more information, visit www.crd.bc.ca/jdf/parks.

For meeting confirmation or enquiries, please call 250.642.1500.

Turn down Phillips Road past the Sooke Region Museum and cross the DeMamiel Creek Bridge. Proceed up the hill to a small parking lot on your right just before the turn into Sun River.

Proceed up the side walk with the river to your right for about a hundred meters to the well signed trail. There are over 40 shallow steps down to the river level ending in a grove of big leaf maple from here the gravel trail is wide and level with good footing for the next kilometer.

The trail follows the river upstream through salmonberry and blackberry. If the tide and river are low you have many opportunities to go out onto the cobbled river bed. At the end of the first kilometer, the river bends and forms a large pool below a spectacular gravel cliff, the trail enters a grove of large evergreens. If you have small children with you this is a great spot to stop, have a snack. Exploring the river in October and November you will see the salmon run. Sometimes a seal surprises you this far up, following the run. At any time of the year you may see great blue heron, kingfishers and otters. In the spring colts foot and toothwort are flowering by the trail, in the summer you could stop for a paddle or a swim, blackberries abound in the fall. Some years, when rains have been heavy, parts of the trail maybe closed due to flooding. When the waters subside it is a great place to check out the power of the Sooke River. Just how much land did it flood this year?

From the grove you can return the way you came. The more adventurous may continue through the grove, the trail is now single track and becomes rougher as it heads up a slope.

The damage done by Dec 2006 storms is evident but many beautiful large trees are still standing. Recent clearing has come uncomfortably close to the nature park boundary.

The trail comes out in an open field. At this point the trail is hard to follow as it goes back into the woods and continues uphill to Phillips Rd. You can leave the trail and cross the field coming out on Phillips Road in sight of the Sun River Community Gardens.

Turn left back to your car. The distance is the same whether you retrace your steps from the grove of big trees along the trail, walk on the cobbled river bed back or take the single track trail up the hill and through the woods to Phillips Road - 2.2 kilometers to your car and back .

Juan de Fuca Community Trail Society hikes/walks on the first Saturday of every month. For information call 250 642 2767, email sid2767@shaw.ca www.jdfcommunitytrail.ca

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December 2010

WHAT’S YOUR PERSONAL HERO’S JOURNEY THIS SEASON? Birthing real connection and joy in the midst of winter darkness. by Sarah Nakatsuka

Here we are heading into the darkest of days. Natural life is mostly dormant, and our gardens have been put to bed. Seeds nestle in the ground, until spring light and heat beckon them to sprout. It is a time for inner reflection and slowing down enough to touch the beauty at the heart of the season. And yet for so many of us, this is not an easy task.

It’s not uncommon for a familiar tendency to kick in, tempting us to override the seasonal call towards the light. Before we know it, rather than sugar plums, what dances in our heads are thoughts of endless shopping lists, cold temperatures, airplane flights, or family gatherings filled with mixed emotions. Add to that the ideal of joy this time of year is supposed to bring us, and voila! - We have a recipe for feeling overwhelmed, agitated, isolated, depressed, or sick.

What would it be like if, in the midst of uncertainty and challenging terrain, you could experience real peace? Real connection. Real joy. Before you read on, take a slow, gentle, deep inhalation, filling your body with this idea. Good. Now exhale just as slowly. Nice.

Let’s begin by looking to the ancient wisdom of the poet Rumi, and a phenomenon he called the “Open Secret”. He said we spend so much of our time trying to hide the same secret from one another—not some evil sordid secret, but rather the belief of our flawed humanness. We expend enormous energy trying to conceal our fears and loneliness, or that inner voice telling us everyone else has it more together than we do, that we miss out on the opportunity to connect authentically - which is what we ultimately long for. And what time more than now, the dark days of winter, is that longing more present? The irony is that in an attempt to keep this secret under wraps, we assume we are the only ones who have it. The truth is we’re all in the same boat. We are more alike and connected than we tend to think.

Contemporary research adds depth to this idea with inspiring insights. University of Houston’s researcher Dr. Brené Brown lectured recently about her findings on what it takes to live a “whole-hearted” existence. She found that people who experience ongoing fulfillment see their vulnerability as a good thing. She asserts that while vulnerability is indeed at the core of unpleasant emotions like fear, shame, and anxiety, “vulnerability is also the birthplace of joy, of love, of belonging, of creativity…of faith.” She encourages us to lean

into vulnerability, to connect to others, to unleash its gifts, and to practise gratitude in the middle of it all.

Spiritual and mythological parables offer beautiful examples of awakening to depth in the midst of darkness at this time of the year, and often remind me of what Joseph Campbell called “The Hero’s Journey”. We can look to Rohatsu – the commemoration of the Buddha experiencing enlightenment on December 8th. Alone and hungry under the Bodhi tree, after a difficult struggle, he awakened to the joy that became the basis for his teachings; or Mary and Joseph who, after being turned away from the inn, birthed the baby Jesus in a manger; the Maccabees who reclaimed the desecrated temple and lit the miraculous light of Hanukkah; or the Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations story of Raven bringing light to the world.

Stories like this live inside each of us. A friend of mine lost both her grandmother and her father within 5 days of one another at the holiday season six years ago. She recently told me, “I am not the same person now; each Christmas feels like a re-creation. What has ended? And what will begin with each end to a cycle of seasons and the beginning of a new one. We mourn the old. And with each year they return in memory. We take our memories and create new worlds for ourselves.” In the midst of her vulnerability and grief, she is awakening to the richness of her own hero’s journey.

Shining a light on our raw spots and staying there long enough to experience what is possible on the other side, well it’s not always easy. But I believe we cannot afford to risk the alternative, which leaves us feeling stuck, isolated and disconnected. In my counselling practice and in life, I am consistently moved by people’s courage to get real about those tender places. The beauty is this: it sparks the very sense of connection we long for and gives birth to the inevitable beauty that follows authenticity.

If anxiety, alienation, grief or despair are finding their way into your heart this season, remember this: you are not alone. You can connect with a whole lineage of poets and mystics who have wrestled with the human condition throughout history. You can turn to modern research, to our ancestors, and stories. Together we can remind each other that our work is to gently, softly and slowly breathe in the knowledge that within the darkest time of the year, we are being called toward courage, honesty, connection…and towards the light.

Sarah Nakatsuka is a Psychotherapist (EAST SOOKE COUNSELLING), Interfaith Officiant, seed-saver, & founder of THIS VIBRANT LIFE centre for sacred living on Vancouver Island. For more information, please visit www.thisvibrantlife.ca

THIS VIBRA N T L IF E Connect. Grow. Thrive.

East Sooke Counselling

FREE PHONE CONSULTATION

Vibrant Ceremonies Vibrant Seeds

250-642-4074 Sarah Nakatsuka BA, RPC Registered Professional Counsellor Interfaith Officiant

16

www.thisvibrantlife.ca December 2010

Kids’ Fun

Communing with Cows...continued from page 3

by Tricia Pincombe of Sooke Montessori School In the end I had to make the decision based more on the hope that my first impression of the owners, Gerry and Anita as being trustworthy and kind was correct. So I asked them questions about themselves and their farm and here and there threw in a cow query. After a while of getting to know you talk I just asked which one they would recommend. They said that though Daria produced less than Renee she would most likely have a longer productive life as her conformation was better and she came from one of their best lines. Vivi whipped out her camera and asked if I wanted a photo of Daria to help me remember what questions I might have later.

She is the deliberative type when it comes to buying. I said that she could take pictures if she liked but she might just as well wait until the cow arrived at our farm because I didn’t have any more questions and was ready to pay up. This is an example of how Vivi and I have realized that though our enterprises are linked under Hallway Farm we each maintain our autonomy. Ducks and flowers Vivi’s way, cows and herbs my way. Mutual respect and admiration for all.

Button Star Decorations What You Need: Buttons Popsicle sticks White glue String or ribbon

Smelling Bottles

Refine your olfactory sense using the smells of the holiday season.

Vivi’s mother, Poupee, spoke with the cows in Spanish and cheered us on and finally the deed was done. A few weeks later Daria was delivered by the farmer we bought her from.

Nell instantly (after the customary head butting contest which she actually won) approved and seemed relieved to finally have a friend that looked more like her. There was only one thing left to do. The only thing we didn’t like about Daria was her name. So we tried out a few and finally settled on Ginger.

She’s spicy, a little sweet and she likes to dance.

What You Need: 6 small jars with lids all visually the same.

3 different “scents” Make 3 pairs of scents by using extracts or spices. Peppermint, cloves, cinnamon, orange or what you have on hand. Use cotton balls with the scents inside the jars so they all look similar and make each pair exactly the same. Have your child smell each jar and match the ones together that smell the same. Add more pairs to make the task harder if necessary.

Let it Snow Wishing for snow? If the weather refuses to cooperate, take charge and make your own!

Your child will create a thick and fluffy “snow” paint, allowing him or her to design threedimensional snowscapes.

What You Need: White glue Shaving cream Paper Paintbrush Mix equal parts of glue and shaving cream together and paint!

17

December 2010

87”)

From the desk of John Horgan, MLA Juan de Fuca One week after spending a quarter of a million of your tax dollars on a televised bribe - an announcement of a $600 million tax cut without any context or economic justification - Gordon Campbell has announced he will be stepping down as Premier. We have now been saddled with a lame duck Premier until the BC Liberals decide on someone new to sit at the helm.

The immediate result will be further confusion within government and increased uncertainty for the economy.

It is also unlikely this tactic will dispel the anger and frustration the public feels over a government which, time and again, has ignored the public interest and refused to be accountable for poor decisions. A new leader drawn from a group who continue to miss this point will only bring us more of the same. One thing is certain; the political landscape is changing. Let us hope the passing of the old guard will lead to renewal and progress for all British Columbians.

In the midst of this chaos, I’ve been working on some local issues that I wanted to update you on. Many of you will have seen James Cameron’s movie, Avatar. It’s set in the distant world of Pandora, where industrialization threatens both the indigenous people and the planet’s environment.

Some of you may have heard that we have our own ‘Avatar Grove’ on southern Vancouver Island.

Located just 15 minutes from Port Renfrew, it’s a magnificent place populated with old-growth red cedars including ‘Canada’s Gnarliest Tree,’ a giant tree with a 12 foot wide, contorted burl.

I recently took a trip to Port Renfrew to see the trees for myself. Ken Wu and TJ Watt of the Ancient Forest Alliance gave myself, Mike Hicks, the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director, and Jon Cash of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce a tour of Avatar Grove and a nearby clear-cut littered with giant stumps. The contrast was striking.

I believe there is more value in old-growth forests standing up than there is lying on the ground. They sustain species at risk, assist in our attempt to fight climate change and encourage opportunities for education and eco-tourism. Rather than logging this area, providing a few months of short-term employment, I would rather we develop a plan to get more value from our old-growth forests.

Forest-dependent communities, First Nations and local government need to know the province’s land base can still provide jobs. But what is missing is the provincial government’s plan to make it happen.

Long-term, stable jobs can be created on the land base. Let’s focus on better managing our second growth forests, developing value added industry by providing log owners opportunities for sales here on Vancouver Island.

Much of our productive lands on Vancouver Island have already been logged so it’s obvious that the future of forestry is in sustainable second-growth harvesting. Sawmills need to be re-tooled to deal with second-growth timber. Updating the mills will keep workers in the forest and support our local economies.

Our second growth forests can and should provide local employment not just in the woods but through re-manufacturing wood locally. Our region was built on forestry, and I believe we can be sustained by local value-added manufacturing.

Eco-tourism is crucial to this plan. Encouraging travelers from across the globe to visit our region, eat in local restaurants, shop at local stores – the economic benefits are obvious. And we get to share with the world what we already know – that the beauty and majesty of Vancouver Island is unmatched and that we will do all we can to preserve it. I’d encourage you to visit Avatar Grove. To take it all in before, sadly, it may be too late. To find out more, visit ancientforestalliance.org.

From big trees to honeybees . . . this spring the government relaxed rules restricting the import of bees, used equipment and honeycomb onto Vancouver Island. This decision opens up local hives to exposure to deadly pests and antibiotic-resistant diseases found on the mainland that have not yet infested our Island hives. After a winter of bee losses at nearly 90%, local beekeepers are rightfully worried that lifting these restrictions will put our bees at even greater risk.

Stinking Fish Studio Tour

November 26-28 • 10-5

Honeybees contribute significantly to the well being of our planet. It is estimated that over 30% of our food comes from products originated from plants pollinated by bees. Evidence of the collapse of honeybee populations and the impacts on other wildlife, ecosystems and the world economy are striking fear into farmers and governments around the globe.

On September 22nd I was proud to join my colleagues and local beekeepers at a rally at the Legislature aimed at protesting these changes.

Leadership by beekeepers such as Bob Liptrot, from Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery, is bringing to light the plight of our local bees.

I encourage you to write to the Minister of Agriculture, Steve Thomson, and let him know you oppose the lift on these bans and want our Island bees protected once again. You can reach him at: PO BOX 9043, STN PROV GOVT, Victoria BC, V8W 9E2 or via e-mail at al.minister@gov.bc.ca

Free self-guided tour of artist studios Look for tour signs throughout Metchosin & East Sooke!

Maps on our webs

250-474-2676 www.stinking fish studio tour.com 18

December 2010

Alice McLean Pottery p.10 250-642-3522

Vivi Curutchet

All Sooke Arts & Crafts Christmas Fair p.17

Advertising Sales Ph: (250) 642-1714 Email: advertise@ruralobserver.com

Arnet Fencing p.10 250-391-0801 Board Walk Designs p.10 250-391-0000 Custom Digging p.15 250-413-7685 Deb’s Barbershop p.9 250-391-7566 Doug Read - Pemberton Holmes Realty p.8 250-642-2705 Dr. Keith Martin, MP p.19 250-474-6505 East Sooke Counselling p.16 250-642-4074 East Sooke Fire Protection Commission p.10 250-642-4411 Felix Irwin - Chartered Accountant p.6 250-642-5277 Force of Nature Landscaping p.4 250-686-6920 Fotoprint p.2 250-382-8218 French Beach Cooking School p.6 250-646-2772 From the Garden... at French Beach p.11 250-646-2177 Holistic Healing Salon p.14 250-891-4705 Hugh Gregory Fine Painting p.9 250-480-8295 James Craven & Associates p.15 250-744-9455 JdF Emergency Program p.5 250-642-2266 JdF Ground Search and Rescue p.5 250-642-1085 JdF Parks & Recreation Commission p.15 250-642-1500 John Horgan - Juan de Fuca MLA p.6 250-391-2801 Juan de Fuca Veterinary Clinic p.4 250-478-0422 Le Sooke Spa p.16 250-642-7995 Livivi Hair p.11 778-425-1900 Lotus & Sage pp. 2,11

250-590-1224

Markus’ Wharfside Restaurant p.2 250-642-3596 Mosaic West Consulting Services p. 8 250-642-0399 Noella LeDrew, Graphic & Web Design p.19 250-889-4100

Numa Farms p.12 250-474-6005 Ocean Body Works p.2 250-507-9511 Ocean Wilderness Inn p.11 250-646-2116 Otter Point Electric p.12 250-588-4324 Pacific Rim Dental Centre p.3 250-478-4114 Pure Elements Hair Design pp.11,15 250-642-6452 Rural Observer - Advertising p.19 250-642-1714 Sacred Path Healing p.11 250-889-8717 Sage Garden Services p.8 250-217-8797 Sarah Richer Hatha Yoga p.8 Sheringham Point Lighthouse Pres. Soc. p.20 250-646-2528 Sooke Harbour House pp.11.13 250-642-3421 Stinking Fish Studio Tour p.18 250-474-2676 Tale of the Whale pp.11,14 250-642-6161 The Canadian Coast Guard Auxilliary p.7 250-480-2798 The Stick in the Mud Cafe p.12 250-642-5635 Victoria Alarm Service p.10 250-721-0266 Vivi’s Flowers & Ducks p.11 250-642-1714 Walk, Sit & Stay - Dog Walking p.8 250-642-0458 Westside InstaPrint p.4 250-478-5533 Worklink p.14 250-642-3685 Wren House Garden & Shop p.9 250-642-0874

Dr. Keith Martin Member of Parliament

Your Voice in Ottawa 666 Granderson Road, Victoria, BC V9B 2R8 (250) 474-6505; Fax: (250) 474-5322; martik1@parl.gc.ca

Dr. Keith Martin, MP 19

www.KeithMartin.org

December 2010

Dedicated to Preserving and Protecting since 2003

WINTER FUNDRAISING DRIVE For every dollar donated between now and December 15, a generous supporter of the Society will match the contribution. Please help us preserve this important part of West Coast heritage. DONATE NOW for the matching campaign.

Go to our website: www.sheringhamlighthouse.org and click on “DONATE NOW”.

WWW.SHERINGHAMLIGHTHOUSE.ORG 20

December 2010