Home Grown 2015 by Sean Percy

home grown

Local food & agriculture in Powell River

local food map • edible events • sweet & meaty treats

2015 FREE

Let the light in!

NOT SAFE.

Call Mike Pirozek!

• Improve your garden and your outlook

Keep your shade trees without staying in the dark • Limbing • Topping

• Wind firming • Tree removal

Our full clean up service includes recycling the tree parts. Tree trimmings make great mulch or ground cover for your flower beds and pathways.

Specializing in ➥ Hedges ➥ Tree felling ➥ Topping ➥ Windfirming ➥ Limbing ➥ Fruit tree pruning ➥ Chipper available Commercial or Residential

Mike Pirozek Contracting 604 483-8473 (phone or text) 1-877-819-4190 mpirozek@yahoo.com Certified Faller and Certified Danger Tree Assessor

Fully Insured • Free Estimates

2 • Powell River, BC PROUD TO BE A LOCALLY-GROWN COMPANY

Made especially for you in Powell River, BC

Jams Blackberry Lemonades Blackberry Chocolate Sauce Find our products at Ecossentials and Mitchell Brothers in Powell River, and at Edible Island, Courtenay on Vancouver Island. We be jammin! All natural preserves • tel 604.414.9466 • fax 604.414.9477 www.MountainAshPreserves.com • sales@mountainashpreserves.com

thinking about

solar? think no further.

Being green never looked so good. Grid-tie, off-grid and RV: we are your one-stop solar solution.

HOME GROWN 2015 • 3

Five markets, one great goal By Isabelle Southcott, Home Grown Publisher

hange doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen. When I moved here in 1993, Powell River and Texada each offered one farmers market. I remember going to the Open Air Market for the first time and being thrilled with what I saw! ‘Fans’ lined up behind a rope and anxiously awaited the ringing of the bell at 10:30 am, to run towards the lone stall that sold fresh carrots. And before you could say “Bob’s your Uncle,” the fresh carrots would be sold out. When my children were young, we’d spend hours with grandma at the market. They loved the pony rides, the handmade toys, the cookies and dancing to the music in

front of the stage. I loved the fresh produce, the homemade jams, the starter plants, and basking in the sun drinking coffee while my children enjoyed some Home Grown fun. A report prepared for the BC Association of Farmers Markets found that market sales rose 147 per cent between 2006 and 2012. Local farmers markets are flourishing in Powell River, in BC, and all over North America because people want fresh, locally grown meats and produce. Today, there are five markets in our region! First up popped the Winter Market, then the Kelly Creek Market, and now, as of just last month, we also have the Midweek Market. It takes time for business to respond to consumer demand. But if the demand exists, well, cool stuff, like more markets and more local food, will grow right here in Powell River.

Maple syrup, jerky and eggs:

Ingredients for a thriving region By Dave Formosa, Mayor

elcome to the 6th edition of Home Grown Powell River! The City is proud to support this publication through its economic development program. New business opportunities are often a combination of something that exists elsewhere that has been customized for the market it serves. There are always opportunities in business, in relationships and in the personal choices we make in life. Sometimes we ignore them and sometimes we take advantage of them. Texada Island has had maple trees producing sap for years but it took someone to see beyond what is to what could be. Someone had to collect the sap, process it, bottle it and sell it. The result? Big Leaf Maple Syrup, truly a Home Grown Texada Island product. It is exciting when new Powell River products enter the market, as the efforts diversify and grow the economy. Another cool value-added local product is Berkshire Pork Jerky. The folks who produce the wildly-popular beer at

Townsite Brewing joined forces with Myrtle Point Heritage Farm. They are now using a product (mash) – that was previously being discarded – as feed for their pigs. Those pigs become pork jerky. That jerky is for sale exclusively at Townsite Brewing. On their own, these projects may seem small. But diversification is the key to any successful economy. The old saying, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” is just as true today as it used to be. Speaking of eggs, the City’s urban poultry bylaw is now two years old. Those who keep chickens are enjoying the benefits of having their own fresh eggs. As demand for Home Grown products continues to escalate, there’s been an increase in the number of local stores, including Townsite Grocery and Top of the Hill in Wildwood, that carry local eggs. Bushman’s farm supplies them, and the new convenience store in Sliammon and a few restaurants, with local eggs and produce. That, along with the growth in local aquaculture, all combine to create a healthy and diverse base for local food that can only move us towards greater food security in the future.

ON THE COVER ISSN 1718-8601

The owners of Texada’s Big Leaf Maple Syrup Photo by N. Kiland

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the City of Powell River for helping make this publication possible.

4 • Powell River, BC

Publisher & Managing Editor • Isabelle Southcott Associate Publisher & Sales Manager • Sean Percy Graphic Design & Production • Pieta Woolley Sales & Marketing • Suzi Wiebe

Southcott Communications 7053E Glacier St, Powell River BC V8A 5J7 isabelle@prliving.ca • tel 604 485 0003 No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. © 2015 Southcott Communications. We reserve the right to refuse any submission or advertisement.

Sweet & sappy Big Leaf Maple Syrup

exada Island is now home to Big Leaf Maple Syrup, a small business that takes its name from Texada’s Big Leaf Maple trees. This tree produces generous amounts of sap in the winter and early spring. “The secret is to hit the right time,” said Katrin GlennBittner, who operates a small farm in the High Road area of Texada. Along with businessmen and brothers Kelly and Bradley Hughes, the three operate Big Leaf Maple Syrup. Using eastern methods of rendering sap to syrup, they constructed a reduction plant using wood burning furnaces and large stainless steel kettles. Kelly constructed the furnaces by converting wood-burning home heaters into flat-topped furnaces to accept the kettles. “The actual process is really quite simple. Boil, boil, and boil, until the desired consistency and volume is reached. While simple, this part of the operation is very laborintensive and time consuming,” she said. “Fires must be stoked continuously to maintain the boil.” Brad, Katrin, and Kelly spend many hours collecting many, many litres of sap. Once the original volume of sap is reduced by 85 or 90 per cent, the final procedure takes place. “And herein lies the secret,” said Katrin. “To make a unique syrup, everything is critical, volume, temperature, consistency, color, and above all, flavor. Inattention to any of these could ruin a whole batch of syrup.” Once achieved, the final product is filtered, bottled, and labelled on Texada Island. The total initial production sold out quickly, with customers clamoring for more, said Katrin. It is hoped that the trees will cooperate and that Big Leaf Maple Syrup will be available for Christmas.

Find our berries at Safeway, Ecossentials, Mitchell Brothers, Quality Foods, the Farmer’s Market, Coast Fitness, and at the farm!

Open in early July. Thursday to Saturday 9 am - 5 pm.

HOME GROWN 2015 • 5

Powell River Farmers’ Institute at 100

Because there was no bull on Texada By Isabelle Southcott | isabelle@prliving.ca

t 87, Elmer Satermo’s memory is still razor sharp and he peels off dates like they happened yesterday. Especially when those memories are… funny. “In 1974, I became a trained technician for the Artificial Insemination Centre,” the long-time member of the Powell River Farmers’ Institute told Home Grown. “The first calf born in the district from this procedure was at Tex Verkerk’s in Paradise Valley in 1975.” Elmer pauses for a moment as he points to an old newspaper clipping. “Linda Verkerk called the Powell River News and asked them to come take pictures.” When the photograph appeared in the paper, the men with whom Elmer worked at the mill gave him a hard time. “Golly, did I ever get teased about that!” he said. “The men all said: ‘That little calf looks just like his dad!’” Innovative procedures such as artificial insemination (AI) created opportunities for local farmers in this isolated community. Not only was it less expensive to use AI, but it meant that the cows didn’t have to be stressed by transporting them to bulls, and it provided a wider choice of bulls.

If you’re growing food, this is the place to go... • Plants & seeds • Organic fertilizers including bone and blood meal, worm castings and more • Fencing • Shovels and other tools • Free-range, farm-fresh local eggs • and much more... 6 • Powell River, BC

PET • FEED • GARDEN • FARM 4480 Manson Ave (corner of Duncan & Manson) 604 485 2244

POST-WAR BOOM: In 1919, four years after the Powell River Farmer’s Institute began, life was looking pretty good at the Cranberry Lake Ranch. photo by Rod LeMay courtesy of the Powell River Museum and Archives Society

SUMMER SOLSTICE FEAST What: A feast and PRFI 100th anniversary celebration When: June 20, 7 to 10 pm Where: Paradise Valley Exhibition Grounds Also: People will have a choice of which vendor to purchase their food from with prepaid coupons. There will be music and tables will be set up in long rows similar to a medieval feast. And: Volunteers are needed!

One hundred years ago this year, 32 Powell River farmers founded the Farmers’ Institute. The goal was to improve conditions of rural life, so that settlement here could be permanent and prosperous. Interestingly, for many years, a main activity of the society was to sell dynamite – to make arable land by clearing the rainforest’s giant tree stumps. Although the institute was established in 1915, activity died out by the 1930s. So, in 1970, Maureen Vlug and Linda Verkerk led a group of small farmers, and reactivated the institute. One top priority: improving insemination. At the time, there was one bull in Wildwood, one bull where the Myrtle Point Golf course is now, and one bull at Kelly Creek. There was no bull on Texada. “People had to load their cow onto a truck or trailer and take her to the bull,” said Elmer. “A lot of people didn’t own a trailer so they’d have to pay someone $20 for the transportation, and then they’d have to pay $20 for the bull’s services.” Artificial insemination cost $13.50 for one shot and it was far less hassle, said Elmer. According to Pulp, Paper and People: 75 years of Powell River by Karen Southern and Peggy Bird, Farmer’s Day

was also started in 1975. The idea was to have a fun day for families and to promote agriculture in the area. A few years later, a local grain business was established which meant the institute could provide its members with better feed and agricultural supplies at the best possible prices. In 1983, the Farmers’ Institute leased five acres from Tom Parsons and opened a store at the end of Claridge Road. That spring they started selling feed. “We were able to buy it in bulk, and could sell it $1 a bag cheaper to Farmers’ Institute members,” said Elmer. Volunteers ran the store til it closed in the 1990s. “I did Saturdays,” said Elmer. “It was so busy I didn’t even have time to stop for lunch,” he recalls. Today, Creekside Farm’s co-owner Alan Rebane is the president of the Powell River Farmers’ Institute. The institute spearheads Seedy Saturday, an annual seed swap, 4H, the Fall Fair, the seed bank project, and a useful, local website. Alan is excited about a new program that he expects to see implemented this fall – group buys of hay, feed and bedding. “Everyone talks about food security but they forget there are animals that need to be fed too.”

2015 PRFI BOARD President: Alan Rebane Vice President: Pat Hanson Treasurer: Ros Sherrard Secretary: Cindy Demeester Directors: Lisa Daniels, Kathy Hodgins, Judi Tyabji-Wilson, Dillon Clark

HOME GROWN 2015 • 7

100-mile dye-it

ran and Simon Cudworth raise Babydoll Southdown sheep at Periwinkle Farm south of town. They sell the lambs and shear the sheep for their wool. Once sheared, Fran washes, dyes, cards and spins the wool. She then knits hats or weaves scarves or ponchos on her loom. “I like to play with colour and use the hand-spun yarns in weaving because you get interesting colours and textures,” she said. Fran has a few different looms, ranging from a simple rigid heddle loom that Saffy the bunny is “helping” with (right) to an eight-shaft floor loom. “My favourite is the fourshaft Leclerc floor loom I bought second hand from a lady in Powell River. It was her Mum’s who had bought it in 1945 and she gave me all her Mum’s weaving samples and notes. I treasure them.”

8 • Powell River, BC

This year Fran is planting a “dye garden” for the first time. Fran said she’s starting with basic plants such as Safflower, which gives yellow and red dye, Dyer’s Chamomile, which gives a warm yellow, Weld, which produces bright yellows, Woad, which gives blue, and Pokeberry, which produces red. “I even managed to get a couple of indigo seeds to germinate!” Indigofera Tinctoria, is notoriously hard to grow but gives beautiful blues, she explained. “I’m expanding the range of plants to add Madder (reds), Henna (orange), Bayberry, (green), Wormwood, (another green that is used in Absinthe), Annatto, (red) and Bloodroot which gives reds and pinks, as well as black hollyhock and coreopsis. “I really hope we can grow our own seed and dye plants in Powell River to use on our local wool. A true one hundred mile garment would be wonderful.”

PEACEABLE KINGDOM: Perhaps the happiest place in Powell River, the Cudworth farm, south of town, is home to about a dozen very friendly Babydoll Southdown sheep. This year, Fran is planting a dye garden to keep it as local as possible, from her petlike sheep and rabbits to her finished hats, scarves and ponchos.

Electric Fencing Made Easy

Keep the deer and racoons out of your garden! Keep your livestock where they belong! From gardens to acreages, RONA has the electric fencing to fit. Want chickens? Not sure how to start? We can help with pre-fab coops and feed/water kits.

Choose to Shop Local

604 485-2791 Mon-Sat 8-5 Sun 10-4 rona.ca fb.com/prrona

HOME GROWN 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ 9

Goodbye, grass Hello, lasagna lawns By Isabelle Southcott isabelle@prliving.ca

hy do we spend so much time weeding and watering our lawns? I mean really, don’t we have better things to do with our lives, like grow vegetables or volunteer our time? Some of the earliest lawns were grasslands around medieval castles in France and Britain. Closely cut grass lawns first emerged in 17th century England at the homes of large, wealthy landowners. A lawn was a mark of wealth and status as only the rich could afford to hire people to scythe and weed the grass. When Carol Sigvaldason read a vintage book by “Mulch Queen”

The Boardwalk Restaurant • Lund Local casual food! All local seafood all summer!

85% of our menu is now grown and harvested here! “Why local? It's all about the flavour!” – Chef Roy Blackwell

Open daily 11:30 – 9:30 Courtesy wheelchair available

604 483-2201 10 • Powell River, BC

Ruth Stout, about the benefits of mulch gardening, she was intrigued. Instead of turning all the sod under and getting rid of it to create a weeded garden, Ruth Stout used papers and bales of straw and cardboard and layered it on top of the sod. She then layered it again with compost. This process forms a bed on top of

“It’s...cool not to have a big lawn.” – Carol Sigvaldason the sod, in which you can plant your vegetables, said Carol, adding that layering improves the soil quality. After thinking about this process, Carol decided to use it in another area of her yard and has created what she calls ‘Lasagna Lawns.’ There are people who have big lawns that don’t want to spend all their time cutting grass. Sometimes those who are aging want to stay in their homes but find it difficult to keep up with the yard work. They want to keep a patch of lawn – just not a large lawn, she said. This method allows you to create an area of trails and pathways covered in gravel and surrounded by flowering shrubs or a wooded area. Carol suggests getting rid of all your lawn, because she thinks lawn maintenance is just a waste of time. But she knows that some people love their lawns, so she sees this as a win-win. Lasagna lawns also reduce the amount of water needed as the layers stay moist. “It’s becoming very cool not to have a big lawn. People with large properties have a tough time keeping up with big lawns.”

From seeds to supper. If you’re growing it, we can help. Gardening and growing expertise Lawn maintenance expertise Composting expertise Seed starter kits Fertilizer Plants Seeds Trees

Microgreen trays and heat pads Lasagna gardening advice Garden decor Pest control Potting soil Bulbs Tools Pots

And there’s always more in store.

Who knows better than Mother Nature? Sign up for our newsletter to get tips and advice on pets and gardens, and be the first to know about sales and special events.

www.mother-nature.ca • fb.com/MotherNaturePowellRiver

We’re on Duncan Street 604.485.987811 HOME GROWN 2015 •

King of the Homestead By Isabelle Southcott isabelle@prliving.ca

f you’re plugged into Powell River events you’ll have noticed the name Kevin Wilson cropping up again and again and again. First it was with Transition Town Powell River, then Powell River Money Society and most recently, it’s been with Powell River Urban Homesteading School. Kevin landed on the Powell River scene in 2003. Born in England, he has a degree in chemical engineering. Kevin came to Canada in 1981 and lived in Vancouver where he built custom software until carpal tunnel syndrome forced him to stop. Kevin, his tomato plants and ex moved to Powell River in 2003. They rented a couple of acres in Black Point with the idea that he’d grow vegetables and sell them at the farmer’s market. “I’ve always been a gardener,” he told Powell River Living. “It seemed like a natural thing to change to.” His hopes to buy his own property were dashed when the 2004 real estate market skyrocketed and he couldn’t find a place with an acreage that he could afford. “So in 2005, we bought this house (in Mowat Bay),” he said. “I continued to grow vegetables for a while, grew and sold seedlings at the market and did LEGO birthday parties.” LEGO birthday parties? That’s right. Kevin used to be

“I wanted to bring people together who are interested in self-provisioning.” – Kevin Wilson 12 • Powell River, BC

FACE OF THE FUTURE: Kevin Wilson – chemical engineer, LEGO master builder, homesteader, teacher – is on the cutting edge of the domestic sustainability movement.

Flying Yellow Hous e

housecleaning and gardening

An all natural liquid fish fertilizer that is CFIA & USDA approved, and recommended for organic production. This product is locally produced at Lois Lake Fish Farm where the product is derived from Ocean Wise approved Steelhead.

Lasagna Lawns: A landscaping method of covering your grass with shrubs, paths and mulch, which lowers watering needs and there’s no more grass to cut.

Carol Sigvaldason $20/hour • 604-483-5199 csigvaldi@gmail.com

Available at Mother Nature, or directly from Lois Lake. Ask about delivery! Simply Fish is a great way to improve your soil structure while using an eco-friendly product. For more information contact us at

sales@simplyfish.ca

www.simplyfish.ca

How to grow sprouts Take one canning jar. Take out metal insert and insert cheesecloth on top. Screw on top ring or fasten with a rubber band. Add two tbsp. of alfalfa seeds. Add water and soak overnight. Drain off excess water. Rinse daily. Sprouts in three to four days.

known as Powell River’s LEGO man. Not only did he build amazing LEGO creations but he collected, bought and sold LEGO and did LEGO birthday parties. In the spring of 2009, Kevin started Transition Town Powell River. “Transition Town is about needing to do something about changing our lives to deal with climate change,” Kevin explains. “It looks at resource shortages and economic instabilities. If you try to do it on your own it feels like it is not enough but if we work together as a community we can work out how to do things to make a difference.” Through Transition Town, Kevin put on workshops, talks with various speakers, movies and discussions. They tackled topics like transportation by holding a Green Transportation Rodeo with electric bikes and cars. Powell River Dollars grew out of Transition Town. It was launched in 2012 as Powell River’s local currency that can only be spent in Powell River. “We’ve raised more than $40,000 for local non profits with Powell River dollars,” said Kevin. “It’s a buy-local program that encourages people to shop locally and keeps money in town.” Kevin is also a knitter. “I learned to knit as a teenager. My mom taught

me. I knitted when I was in engineering school,” he said. “Alfie (Bolster, his partner) wanted to learn to knit a few years ago so I took a course at Great Balls of Wool to learn the Continental style of knitting.” Kevin said he learned the English style originally. Since then, Kevin always has a pair of socks on the go. “I knit on the bus, while I’m waiting for the bus, in the doctor’s office – anytime I am sitting around waiting for something, I knit socks.” Kevin’s do-it-yourself attitude took him deep into the kitchen where he began honing his culinary skills. “There’s quite a movement on about cooking from scratch. You get better food much cheaper and it’s more fun.” Kevin and Alfie make their own bread. Recently, they began grinding their own flour. “We do quite a bit of food preservation such as canning and dehydrating, and store quite a bit of food over the winter.” In the garden, they grow all their own carrots, potatoes, squash and garlic, which they also store. They grow alfalfa and bean sprouts on the kitchen windowsill in a canning jar. After noticing that several different groups were putting on food-related workshops, Kevin decided it would be helpful to bring it all together under one umbrella. Transition Town took a bit of a hiatus and Kevin put his energies into Powell River Urban Homesteading School. “Besides putting on workshops, I wanted to bring people together who are interested in self-provisioning and self-reliance workshops, so they could connect. That is why I do weekends and full days workshops instead of just a couple of hours in one evening.” Workshops are taught by a variety of instructors and range from all-weekend bootcamps to sampler evenings that cover practicalities from fibre and fabrics, to kitchen topics, to gardening, to community organizing. Future plans include a homesteading skills campout this summer and food preservation and storing in the fall.

“I knitted when I was in engineering school... [Now] I knit on the bus, while I’m waiting for the bus...” – Kevin WIlson

HOME GROWN 2015 • 13

IF YOU GO OUT IN THE WOODS: How easy is it for you to source and prepare a good diet in Powell River? The folks at the Community Food Systems Assessment Project (CFSA) want to know! They’re hoping to make sourcing good nutrition easy and enjoyable.

Hunting for healthy food Fall Fair Meet your local Farmers & Producers A weekend of family fun, food, exhibits & live music

Plan now to enter your

produce, baking, art & more ( Junior Classes & Adult Classes) Visit agripr.com for entry details

Admission is $5/person (Free under 12)

September 19 & 20, 2015 noon – 5 pm

www.agripr.com

14 • Powell River, BC

By Vanessa Sparrow

ow many people in Powell River are not getting enough healthy food to eat? How much land is being used to grow food here? What would actually happen to our food supply if the ferries stopped running? These are just some of the questions that are part of an eight-month research project evaluating our regional food system: The Community Food Systems Assessment Project (CFSA). The project working group (Lyn Adamson, Russell Brewer, Courtney Dutchak, Liz Lane, Meghan Molnar, Colin Palmer, Tricia Sharpe, Karen Skadsheim, Vanessa Sparrow) will gather information in a variety of ways, including surveys, interviews, focus groups and community meetings, starting in May. They aim to deliver the report in December. Food systems are complicated things, but they’re easy to imagine when you think about how you eat.

WHAT IS THIS PROJECT? The Community Food Systems Assessment Project (CFSA) is an initiative of the Powell River Food Security Project, and is a collaboration with City Council, the Regional District and other partners. For more information, and to find out how you can participate in the CFSA, contact Vanessa Sparrow, Food Security Project Coordinator at fsp@prepsociety.org.

Your food might be grown in your own backyard, or on an industrial farm in California. You might boil whole beets on your stove, and eat them with crackers processed in a factory in China. You may shop at grocery stores, trade with neighbours, get free food donations from community agencies, buy fresh prawns off the dock or go fishing with your friends. And, you may think that the food that’s good for you and suits your tastes is affordable, or too expensive, is a joy to cook, or takes way too much

time and energy to prepare. Together, all the ways we grow, process, buy or acquire, and prepare food make up our collective food system. By putting together information on the components of the system, we can begin to see how each one affects the others. CFSA hopes to get an accurate sense of the barriers to eating well here, and what changes (more community gardens, new bus routes, making fresh, local food available at more neighbourhood outlets, etc.) have the potential to address these in a meaningful way. By talking to a wide range of people, we hope to present information to help ensure that all Powell Riverites enjoy the security of a safe, sustainable and accessible food system.

shop at the

POWELL RIVER

FARMERS’ MARKET

fresh local...

PRODUCE EGGS MEAT BREAD & PIE ARTISANS OPEN MIC STAGE TRAIN RIDES ON SUNDAYS open May to September

SATURDAYS 10:30 -12:30

SUNDAYS 12:30 - 2:30

powellriverfarmersmarket@gmail.com

604.414.5076 | 4365 McLeod Rd. Fron t

Learn about our special blends perfect for Powell River gardens. Find out more on our website, or come visit our garden centre.

AMOEIL

Garde composn Blend is t-base our all most commo d soil and purpos produc nly the e since t on the used soil 199 Lower consist 3. Ga Ma rde Amend s of com n Blend inland post 3/8” er) scre ene (Soil screen Blend and d through a to me was design sand. Ga rde gardenet the req ed around n uire s, and ments the BC is Lan of orn • Ric ament dscape h in al (an Standa organi rds d foo • Fre c ma d) e dra tter ining and Garde nutrie nts composn Blend con fertility t which tains our moistu , superio contribute high qua r types re percol soil stru s signific lity Soil Am ctu ant atio of end ly to n. Ga re and vegeta outdoo sustain er por rde r bles ed soil and plants, flown Blend osity to for low ers, treeis ready improve traffic to lawn s and shr use on all areas. ubs, *D

ID YO

NDE

Soil Am soil am ender is a composendment compos produc t based Using ting faci lity in ed at our composhigh- and Richmo lownd. manuf ting pha tem actures ses, Har peratu re vest a pro duct • Rich that in org is nutrien anic matte ts • r and Weed free Soil Am physica ender sup providi l proper ports plan ties, t gro imp can alsong a sou rce of roving wth by enh water-h airflow create ancing larg energy old and moistu e pore spa to benefic ing cap soil acit ial re per ces One colation in native soil organisy, and Cubic soil, ms. It . Yard Covers improv ing Cubic Yards 1,000fto Cover t2

U KN

Harvest ’s Gar and den Soil Blen Ame been d, Turf nder univ prod Blen ersi of orna ucts d men ty tested have nurs tal (lan for a ery) variety applicat dsca ions pe, turf, .

OW*

App lied at this Dep (inch th

TE STE D

es)

3”

Cove

App lied at this Dep (inch th

424 Pow 0 Padget ell Riv t er, BC Road, V8A 0T2

Need

c yard

.75 1.5

1”

2”

3”

4”

Will

(cubi

½”

162 108

You

es)

¼”

324

2” 4”

(squa

1,296 648

½” 1”

M ANC

604 tandrc -485-2234 ontra cting.c a

re feet)

¼”

TESTED PERFOR MANCE

PER

424 Pow 0 Padget ell Riv t er, BC Road, V8A 0T2

Need better soil?

Fron t

GAR BLEDNEN D

604 tandrc -485-2234 ontra cting.c a

TURF BLEN D

Turf Ble soil ble nd is our moder nd for hig compos t-base Blend ate-traffic h to d lawns. (Soil consists Tur of Am through ender) compos f a 3/8 screened t Turf ” Ble the BC nd was screen and des sand. meet Landscape igned aro and the require Standa und is rds ments to of mo re hea • Ric vily use h in organi d tur • Fre f are c ma e dra as, tter ining and nutrie Turf Ble nts installa nd provid existing tions, and es a sta can alsoble base ready- lawns for and roto-tillto-use am turf sur be used new sod or end faces. for top ing or dressin seed Tur incorp ed soil. It g of oration does f Blend is not a . require

*DID

YOU

Do you to inse know the scre lawn/turt a scre wdr iver rf surf wdriver your test into ace. soil your ? Try If it is not stuc goe k, it could compact s in smo and ed. If othl use soil y, som ame e core it gets ndin g. aera tion

424 Pow 0 Padget ell Riv t er, BC Road, V8A 0T2

KNOW

604 tandrc -485-2234 ontra cting.c a

T&R has all the construction aggregates, excavators and equipment you need for industrial, commercial or residential projects.

Residential

We deliver or you pick up. Open Mon-Fri 7-5, Sat & Sun 9-5

Soil Amender ulk Buy in b Garden Blend Soil e! v and sa Turf Blend Soil Mushroom Manure uckload By the tr pail! Fish Mulch or by the Aged Mulch Cedar & Fir Mulch Decorative Rock

Commercial

Come to our Grand O pening o n Mother’ s Day! (or 7 days a week on Padg ett Road )

Dump trucks Excavators Rock crusher Slinger truck Sand & gravel Navijack Rip Rap Crush

tandrcontracting.ca • 604-485-2234 • after hours call Shaun at 604-414-5455 or Dan at 604-483-6978 • 4240 Padgett Rd

HOME GROWN 2015 • 15

Road

let ver In Malaspina

 Dinner Where Rock is food growing in Powell River? Slow Farm Linda Bruhn & Tom Read Texada Island 604 483-1471 texadasf@gmail.com Lettuce, salad greens and more. Sugar Tree Farm (20) Samantha Sherman and Lawrence Berge 9536 Highway 101 604 414-9531 sugartreefarmpr@gmail.com Heritage breeds of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Cross bred meat rabbits, pedigree English Angoras and goats for milk and packing. Farm gate sales of eggs, seasonal produce, plants and meat when available. Sunshine Coast Aquaponics (22) 604-487-1441 info@sunshinecoastaquaponics.com Fish and plants together in a constructed, recirculating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish waste to plant nutrients. Selling lettuce, kale, Chinese cabbage, Komatsuma, Mizuma and more. Also a B&B. Woodlot Mushrooms John Whitehead Texada Island 604 483-1680 whiteheadwoodlot@gmail.com Shiitake mushrooms, fresh and dried available at the Texada Farmers’ Market or try them at the Ravenous Raven. Welcome Harvest Farm Dave, Branka & Jillian Murphy Texada Island 604 486-7137 welcomeharvestfarm.com Organic vegetables and blueberries Organic hog (organic pork cuts, sausages, ham and bacon) Breeder of registered Morgan horses. Manufactures all natural and 16 •fertilizers. PowellAlso River, BC farm stays. organic welcomes



e Powell Lak

Okeo

Lund

Andtbaka Farm (1) Pat Hanson 2440 Lund Hwy 604 483-9890 Farmer’s Gate has poultry (chicks, point of lay chickens), naturally raised chicken, beef, pork, vegetables (in season year round). Bushmans Farm (2) 8556A Plummer Creek Road 604 483-3700 Organically grown fresh produce and free-run eggs. Hothouse tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, broccoli and much more. Coast Berry Farm (25) 604 487-9788 10084 Nassichuk Road coastberrycompany.com Growing strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and vegetables. Stop by the country store for coffee and baked goods, too.



Wildwood 101

  

Windfall Farm (5) Lisa & Mike Daniels 604 483-3061 windfallfarm@shaw.ca www.windfallfarm.ca Certified organic: garlic, poultry & eggs. Range reared: pork, beef & lamb. West Coast Fish Culture & Simply Fish Lois Lake 604 483-6955 westcoastfishculture.ca Organically raised and fed, Lois Lake Steelhead make the menu on high-end national chain restauWe rants. Luckily you can enjoy them at local restaurants: Savoury Bight, Tree Frog Bistro, Base Camp and Laughing Oyster. You can also buy Lois Lake Steelhead at the Chopping Block. Also producing “Simply Fish” fertilizer. Wildwood U-Pick and Apiary (7) Doug Brown 6487 King Avenue 604 414 0387 dougbrown2008@live.com Honey, berries and shallots. Grief Point Woodhead Farm Brad & Dawn Hughes Texada Island 604 486-7529 One of the oldest farms on Texada. Basil, parsley, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, winter squa spinach, kale, beets, peas, potatoes, onions, lettuce, beans and carrots. Wolfson Creek Farm (24) Patches & Tera Demeester 10445 Kelly Creek Road 604-487-1747 wolfsoncreekfarm@hotmail.ca fb.com/wolfson.farm Meat available at the farm or at Lang Bay Plaza. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, duck, rabbit, eggs and seasonal vegetables.

 

Blubber Bay

TEXADA ISLAND

Van Anda

Cranberry Farm (10) Carol Battaglio 778-835-2027 carol.battaglio@gmail.com 6650 Cranberry Street Cashmere and alpaca fibre, plus free range eggs, fruits and vegetables, hops for Townsite Brewing. Creekside Farm (12) Alan and Kathy Rebane 7812 Valley Road 604-485-7737 Offering free range eggs, broilers, Berkshire pork, beef and some produce. Emmonds Beach Farm (3) 604 483 9766 Basil, parsley, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, winter squash, spinach, kale, beets, peas, potatoes, onions, lettuce, beans and carrots. Inland Lake Eternal Seed Garden Centre (23) Gary & Ellen de Provincial Casmaker 2309 Zilinsky Rd (atPark Hwy 101) (604) 487-1304 www.eternalseed.ca Greenhouse nursery offers annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and ornamental garden products in addition to plant starts from locally grown heirloom seed. Fiddlers Farm (9) Kevin Wilson 604 483-9052 kevin.wilson100@shaw.ca fiddlersfarm.com Haslam Lake Vegetable and herb seedlings grown to order. Get exactly what you want grown without artificial fertilizers or pesticides.

estview

    

Glade Farm (4) Wendy Devlin 6834 Smarge Avenue 604 483-9268 wenmex@shaw.ca Interested in raising fresh eggs, meat, milk, vegetable, fruits, seeds and herbs? Wendy offers gardening, animal husbandry, food classes for individuals and groups. Hammil Hill Farm (14) 3674 Padgett Road 604-485-7784 Organic free-range eggs, flowers, seasonal vegetables, berries and asian pears. Squash and pumpkins in the fall. Hatch-a-Bird Farm (6) Helena & Peter Bird 6603 McMahon Avenue Organic vegetables, eggs and limited meat products Honeysuckle Farm Rondi and Dave Opko Texada Island 604 486-7686 Beef, lamb, eggs, chicken, goats, hay Little Wing Farm 604 414-0383 littlewingoyster.blogspot.com littlewingfarm@telus.net Heritage breed chickens, eggs, greens, honey. Many Hats Farm (26) Zoe MacBean and Valerie McKeen At top end of Donkersley Road as of June 1 604 414-9427 zepicurious@gmail.com Eggs (chicken, duck and quail), seedlings, heirloom tomatoes, culinary herbs, gourmet veggies, flowers, heritage poultry, handspun wool, baked goods and all breed sheepherding lessons. Mayana Adar Family Farm (13) The de Villiers family Paradise Valley 604 489-0046 ingriddevilliers@shaw.ca Organic fed, free range, soy free eggs, lactofermented dairy products, organic-fed, freerange, soy-free chickens and lamb. Morrison Farms (8) 6619 Sutherland Avenue 604 483-8939 Productive farm on a single acre in Wildwood. A focus on biodynamic farming. Don and Audrey sell at the farmer’s market all year long. Wide variety of produce, specializing in garlic, tomatoes, and carrots. Berries and seasonal fruit.

ash,

 101

      Black Point

Donkersley Palm Beach Beach Park

Mr Kristensen’s Farmgate (18) 9269 Kristensen Road 604 487-9187 Monday - Saturday 10-noon and 1:30-5 June thru November. Pumpkins, potatoes, peas, beans, beets, carrots, onions, broccoli, squash, corn, blueberries and more. Myrtle Point Heritage Farm (17) 8679 Gaudet Road 604-487-0501 myrtlepointfarm@gmail.com Focusing on free-range, heritage livestock, from Berkshire pork, old-fashioned smoked ham, sausage and bacon, to chickens, turkeys, chicks and eggs. As well as handmade organic goat milk soap, creams, balms and raw honey. NIMH Farm (21) Roly & Cindy Demeester Corner of Donkersley Rd. & Hwy 101 South 604 487-0445 Farm gate sales for organic eggs year round and organic produce in season. Limited orders for chicken, rabbit, duck and goat. One Tree Farm (15) Wilma and Matt Duggan 3527 Padgett Road 604-485-3956 wilmaandmatt@shaw.ca Facebook Wilma Duggan Organic fed free range eggs, pastured organic fed broiler chickens, grass fed chevon (goat meat), blueberries, long English cucumbers. Periwinkle Farm (19) Fran & Simon Cudworth 604 628-7846 periwinklefarm@gmail.com www.lifeatperiwinkle.blogspot.com Baby doll sheep (lambs for sale and wool), fresh milled organic flours and mixes, multigrain pasta, wholesome, farm fresh taste. Pacific Ambition Seafoods (16) Doug and Christine Mavin 3128 Padgett Road 604 485-3522 pacificambition.com Local Commercial Fisherman, Doug Mavin serves up freshly caught halibut, lingcod, snapper, sockeye, crab & prawns. Watch your fish come aboard at pacificambition.com Roger and Kathy Hodgins (11) 7819 Valley Road 604 485-7025 holidayfarm@shaw.ca fb.com/HodginsFarm Horse and cattle hay, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, peppers and pumpkins. Routes to Roots Edibles Julia Adam and Rob Hughes 604 483-1143 www.rtredibles.ca info@rtredibles.ca Local produce, seedlings, nursery, gardening services, including garden sitting and maintenance. Serendipity Rabbitry 6505 King Ave 604 483-9902 jaxhuddleston@me.com 101 serendipityrabbitry.blogspot.ca New Zealand Rabbits and California/New Zealand crosses. Rabbit manure by the bag. Live HOME GROWN 2015 • 17meat. animals for pets or breeding and rabbit

e k a

kale Whale of a

A neighbourhood transformation tale By Linda Wegner

In Townsite’s earliest days, the production of food in backyard gardens was not only common, it was encouraged, especially during the years of World War Two. A small farm was situated on the grounds of the current tennis courts, and owner, Guisseppe Errico, farmed the land, built a home and sold produce to the citizens of Powell River. When many residents moved to the newer Westview area of the city, the houses and the land upon which they sat were neglected or ill-maintained. Manicured landscaping was replaced with overgrown blackberry bushes and, by the turn of the twenty-first century, some lots and homes seemed, well, beyond redemption. In fact, a decade or two ago a stroll down the streets of Townsite was just a tad short of depressing. But all that’s changing as a growing number of people who are tired of the frantic pace of city living are choosing to live and raise their children here. Adults who grew up and left Powell River as young people are returning,

18 • Powell River, BC

bringing their families with them. Attracted by the affordability of Townsite homes, longtime and newly-arrived citizens now view the purchase and restoration of houses and property as both attractive and attainable. Above all, for many, an increasing emphasis on local food production within the community makes Townsite an ideal place to live. Matt and Ashley Hull are just one of many families moving from the theory of agriculture to the dirt-underthe-fingernails reality of feeding their family with as much locally-grown and raised food as possible. When asked to describe the process involved in their shift from grass to garden, Ashley told Home Grown: “It started when someone gave me a book called Square Foot Gardening and I was really inspired by [the concept of] putting as many food items into a square foot garden as possible. “And then my children started attending James Thomson Elementary school where they have this beautiful garden with raised beds.

Good thing the kids like their greens: Ashley and Matt Hull’s lush Townsite garden (left) was inspired by books and movies about the local food movement. Ashley, pictured here with her daughter Sariah, won a 2014 Townsite Home & Garden Award. “Finally it was the result of watching too many Netflix movies [describing] where our food comes from. That was the final kicker and motivator….” Using their 2014 income tax refund to fund the project, they dug and moved, repurposed and planted until, today, their entire yard is devoted to providing nutrient-laden produce for the family table. A circular garden hosts a tepee-like structure to accommodate scarlet runner beans, a front-yard rectangular garden features blueberry bushes and strawberry plants. In the back and sides of the lot, stunning arrangements of raised beds overflow with leeks, kale, lettuce, carrots,

radishes, berries and a host of other edibles. The white stones once covering a nondescript driveway now define walkways between the beds. In grocery expenses, the garden has already proven itself. “We didn’t need to purchase a lot of produce last winter. Spaghetti squash was incredibly successful and stores well; we have that weekly. I still have gallons of winter kale and we sauté that regularly.” Like the Hull family, there are numbers of Townsite residents working to bring the mini-community back to its original glory. Guiseppe and a host of others would be so proud!

Supporting the Future of Farming in Coastal British Columbia Nicholas Simons Your MLA Serving Powell River – Sunshine Coast

Opposition Spokesperson for Coastal Economic Development & Small Business Pier 17, Davis Bay 604 ~741~0792

4675 Marine Ave., Powell River 604 ~485 ~1249

nicholas.simons.mla@leg.bc.ca

created by catfish creative

HOME GROWN 2015 • 19

project: NS-15075 HomeGrown Ad client: Nicholas Simons MLS (MH) status: Final

From beer to jerky

Why pigs have a love-hate thing going on with Townsite Brewing

By Isabelle Southcott|isabelle@prliving.ca

he free-range Berkshire pigs that live at Myrtle Point Heritage Farm have a special relationship with Townsite Brewing. The spent grain from making beer at the brewery is collected by Ezra and Gosia Carroll (above), owners of Myrtle Point Heritage Farm. The grain is then mixed with hog grower and fed to the pigs. Hops from the brewery are also spread on their pastures “It is super good fertilizer,” said Gosia. “You can definitely tell where it has been spread because it’s much greener.” It all started four years ago when Townsite Brewing first opened, said Ezra. “We got their first batch of grain.” Michelle Zutz, Townsite Brewing’s Director of Sales, says it’s a great partnership. “The grain is thrown away by most breweries.”

Not just jerky Myrtle Point Heritage Farm also has heritage chickens (hatching eggs, chicks, point of lay hens, and eggs for sale), turkeys (meat birds) and sells turkey sausage and smoked sliced turkey breast. As well, they have goats which are sold for their meat (chevon). Gosia also makes Simply Organic goat milk soap which she sells along with chapstick, healing creams, and honey made from their own raw honey.

20 • Powell River, BC

professional results

Providing just-in-time inventory supports local businesses in our water-locked community.

cutting-edge solutions

get a handle on our you need, when you need it. Getting you what latest innovations. TEST DRIVE Professionals know the comfort, control and convenience of Husqvarna products and now you can too. During our Spring Test Drive you’ll have a chance to test our latest innovations and see how we can make property maintenance an event instead of a chore.

BEER HOG: A partnership between Townsite Brewing, the Chopping Block and Myrtle Point Heritage Farm is working out well for local foodies. Beer, jerky, pretzels, charity and sustainability? Yes, please! Only eight per cent of the potential food value (energy) in the grain is used by the brewery. The grain (mostly malted barley and some malted wheat) is eaten by the pigs after the sugar juice (wort) is removed. Once the hogs are slaughter size, they are butchered on the farm and then taken to Chopping Block where Russ Simmons turns some meat into delicious pepper pork jerky. Production on the pork jerky began just before Christmas last year. “They were looking for something they could have for sale on the counter at the brewery,” said Ezra. The hogs are bred, raised and slaughtered on the farm. The jerky is sold exclusively at Townsite Brewing. “It is so good,” says Chloe Smith, manager of Townsite Brewing. “We can’t keep it in stock.” Customers like the fact that they are buying something local to go with their beer. On Fridays, the brewery also sells locally made pretzels by Zoe MacBean of Many Hats Farm. Michelle talks about the relationship the brewery has with Myrtle Point Heritage Farm when they do brewery tours. “People just love that story,” she said. “It’s a perfect pairing.” And every year, the Carrolls donate one of their Berkshire pigs to Townsite Brewing as a thank you. Townsite Brewing then donates the pig to a charity so it can use the proceeds from the pig roast as way to raise money. “It’s the whole full circle idea,” says Michelle.

For more information visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT DELIVERY

310-CITY (2489)

CONNeCT wITH US ONlINe

Next day, damage-free delivery. FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT Performance Guaranteed. WWW.CITYTRANSFER.COM VANCOUVER

TEST | POWELL RIVER DRIVE

SUNSHINE COAST

professional results cutting-edge solutions

get a handle on our latest innovations. Professionals know the comfort, control and convenience of Husqvarna products and now you can too. During our Spring Test Drive you’ll have a chance to test our latest innovations and see how we can make property maintenance an event instead of a chore. For more information visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca

TEST DRIVE

CONNeCT wITH US ONlINe

Thunder Bay Saw Shop Ltd tel 604 485-5041 fax 604 485-5094TEST 7125 Duncan St DRIVE FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT

HOME GROWN 2015 • 21

Which would you rather do?

Best practices in aquaculture:

Powell River schools the world

a) Garden

by Pieta Woolley | pieta@prliving.ca

b) Feed chickens

c) Eat dinner d) Process accounts payable If you chose a, b, or c, you should call Aaron.

(604) 485-3758 aaron@bankingonit.com

Aaron Reid, CPB, Proprietor (Proud to be locally grown!)

We handle the details – so you can handle your business.

GOT DIRT? Improve your garden and yard, with a little help from Adams Concrete!

Topsoil Bark Mulch Garden Blend Salt & Pepper Limestone Ready-Mix Concrete Pumping

Conveniently located in town.

ere on the Sunshine Coast, it’s easy to lump all aquaculture together and say, “that’s bad.” Coastal BC is, after all, the childhood home of Taras Grescoe, the Montreal-based journalist who wrote the award-winning gross-out food fish overview Bottomfeeder: How to eat ethically in a world of vanishing seafood (2008). If you want to have nightmares about prawns, read his book. Biologist and anti-farmed salmon activist Alexandra Morton lives at Echo Bay, north of Powell River. The documentary she made with filmmaker Tw yla Roscovitch, Salmon Confidential, has screened in town and can be seen online at salmonconfidential.ca. In addition, the expansion of fish farms off Vancouver Island has been controversial, to say the least. But aquaculture – human cultivation of fish and other marine life – has another side. These lower-impact practices have been quietly expanding here on the upper Sunshine Coast over the past few years. Best practices in aquaculture are worth paying attention to. Not only does aquatic farming employ more than 60 million people in Asia and Africa

(and

STOMACH TURNING: As the aquaculture industry has mushroomed worldwide, BC has made significant contributions to investigating and exposing its uglier side. Like farming on land, however, best practices leave a lighter footprint. about 2,000 in BC), but some argue it has become a key source of protein for the planet’s swiftly expanding population. In 2013, farmed fish overtook beef in number of pounds produced worldwide. Along with the activities profiled here, Powell River is home to several other long-time shellfish operations, and an emerging fish industry. On the next three pages, meet a few of Powell River’s aquaculture innovators.

THERE ARE ABOUT 460 SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH COASTAL BC. Map courtesy of Vancouver Island University.

INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

OPEN Monday to Saturday 7095 Duncan St • 604 485-6888

22 • Powell River, BC

Eat LocaL ShoP LocaL EnjoY LocaL BE LocaL

professional results

cutting-edge solutions

WELCOME BACK: The indigenous Loonie-sized Olympia Oyster once covered BC shores. Now, it’s considered a species at risk. Chef Michael Thurbur is reintroducing them as a passion project.

Recovery on the half shell B

ack before 1900, the Ostrea Lurida, or Olympia Oyster, was such a valued product, some people called the harvest “BC’s other gold rush.” The tiny shellfish are about the size of a Loonie, and feature delicate wavy shells. Harvesters would pack them on ice, and they’d get shipped to San Francisco, where they’d then travel by train to the fashionable restaurants of New York and Boston. These are not the large oysters you find at local beaches. Those are the Japanese Pacific Oyster, which were introduced in 1901, as the Olympia population floundered. But Vancouver Island chef Michael Thurbur would like to change all that. He is re-introducing the Olympia to beaches around Vancouver Island, and soon, they’ll be re-introduced in Powell River. “I know they’re not going to become extinct now; I’ve done enough planting,” said Michael, noting that he’s meeting with the BC fisheries minister later this month, to discuss the ban on farming Olympias (as they’re a protected species). “We have the opportunity to change aquaculture practices and become eco-positive.” A tip: don’t try to eat Japanese oysters if you’re looking for a hit of potency. The virility-oyster connection is with Olympias, due to their high levels of hormones. He recommends them as oysters Rockefeller.

You live here. But do you LIVE here? Support local businesses. Get out and get a handle on our latest innovations. enjoy all that Powell River hasDRIVE to offer! TEST Professionals know the comfort, control and convenience of Husqvarna products and now you can too. During our Spring Test Drive you’ll have a chance to test our latest innovations and see how we can make property maintenance an event instead of a chore.

Live local.

For more information visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca

CONNeCT wITH US ONlINe

FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT

TEST DRIVE

touGh job easy on you EST. ValuE

$45.96

Get peace of mind and more during our trimmer & brushcutter promotion. Purchase a qualifying 2-stroke trimmer or brushcutter and receive a total of 4 years combined limited warranty with 3 cans of Pre-Mixed Fuel and a Husqvarna Special Edition Camo Cap. For more information visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca Valid from February 15 – June 30, 2015.

CONNECT wITH uS ONlINE

Thunder Bay Saw Shop Ltd FIND YOuR HuSQVaRNa aT

HOME GROWN 2015 • 23

Sowing Seeds at Okeover

ou can catch newbie Westview resident Brenden Frehlich enjoying Powell River Kings games with his kids, camping with his wife, or feeding millions of tiny oysters phytoplankton in a Quonset hut in Okeover Inlet. That’s where he works, growing oyster seed, for Ahptun, a new partnership between Tla’amin First Nation Economic Development Corporation and Ocean Protein Canada. He’s worked for aquaculture operations all over the coast, but he’s very enthusiastic about Okeover’s potential to do oysters right.

A TINY FOOTPRINT: Oysters have been cultivated in Okeover Inlet for decades, or even millennia. These seeds are grown indoors and transplanted into the ocean. “I want all the people in the community to see how positive this can be,” said Brenden, mentioning that the plan is Pacific oysters and eventually, geoducks. “The region has been plagued with lack of seed supply, and Okeover has a history of shellfish aquaculture. People already see it as

OUT ON A LIMB POWELL RIVER FORESTRY INC. MIDWEEK Ask us about mulch and why tree pruning and the chips produced are great for your garden! Tree Care Services Danger Tree Risk Assessor Fully insured & ISA Certified Limbing, Pruning & Removal Windfirming Chipper & Clean-up Services Wood Chip & Mulch Sales Free Estimates Serving Powell River for 20 years

Zhenya Lewis p: (604) 487-0796

24 • Powell River, BC

a part of the economy.” Ahptun plans to employ about 12 people when it’s running at full capacity. The oysters, which start in a hatchery and get moved to the ocean, take about two years to mature. Currently, he’s got 1.5 million seeds in 100 bags of shell.

Simple, great food.

MARKET showcasing

LOCAL FARMERS & FAVOURITE EATS

certified organic: Garlic • Eggs • Poultry

every

range reared: Beef • Pork • Lamb

WEDNESDAY 4:30pm-6:30pm at the

COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE

Lisa & Mike Daniels

Call us at 604 483-3061 in Wildwood or email windfallfarm@shaw.ca or visit www.windfallfarm.ca

4752 JOYCE AVE. FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Certified Organic PACS #16-290

Low-impact on Lois Lake professional results cutting-edge solutions

TEST DRIVE

CONNeCT wITH US ONlINe

rder fish when you’re at Earl’s, Cactus Club or Joey’s, STEELHEAD SUPPER: West Coast Fishculture site manager TEST and it’s likely that you’re eating steelhead raised Brian Mooring delivers feed pellets to rainbow trout on Lois Lake. DRIVE right here in Powell River. Currently, West Coast The operation employs about 50 men and women. photo by Sean Percy Fishculture operation manager Bill Vandevert has 2.4 million steelhead, from fry to full-grown, at the operation on Lois Lake – about a 30 minute drive into the woods from the Lang Bay Store. It’s the largest freshwater operation of its kind in BC. Even Costco carries these fish. “You look out there and you don’t see them; it’s not like cattle where you can look out and see what you’ve got,” said Bill, gazing out over the lake. Indeed, apart from a few floating pens, the view is entirely water, mountains and sky. Out on the rafts, the steelhead (also known as rainbow trout – or tall grass just salmon) are visible. Hundreds of the silver bodies swim just below the surface. “When you look in the pen you go, wow. That’s a lot of fish.” West Coast Fishculture produces about half the fish they’re less work licensed to – 1,400 tonnes out of a possible 3,000. Slowly, the company is dialing up the numbers. But they’re committed to doing it sustainably, with as low an impact as possible. They’ve spent millions on massive new floating tanks to get on board with our replace some of their net pens, which allows them to use the latest innovations. TEST DRIVE Professionals know the comfort, control natural variations in lake temperature to control the water and convenience of Husqvarna products temperature for the fish. Bill pointed out that the new tanks and now you can too. During our Spring Test Drive you’ll have a chance to test will allow them to set up a waste removal system to capture our latest innovations and see how we can make property maintenance fish waste to turn into manure. Staff can also bubble oxygen an event instead of a chore. through the water to help the fish stay healthy. For more information visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca Bill showed off the artificial wetland, which naturally CONNeCT wITH US ONlINe cleans water from the young fish tanks on land, with help FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT Thunder Bay Saw Shop Ltd from filters. Energy to heat the hatchery water comes from tel 604 485-5041 fax 604 485-5094TEST 7125 Duncan St a new fish oil-burning generator. FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT

DRIVE

HOME GROWN 2015 • 25

Buy feed locally

Did you know?

Our home-grown, full service pet shop now sells quality feed from Hi-Pro:

• Natural Harvest NON-GMO • Country Junction Organic • StepRight for horses • ProForm grain • and more at

Call for dog grooming and local delivery. 604-485-2342 • 104-7105 Duncan St www.sunshinecoastpets.com

hothouse tomatoes • cucumbers cherry tomatoes • bell peppers hot peppers • lettuce • squash broccoli • beans • zucchini kohlarobi • kale • carrots onions cauliflower • cabbage spinach swiss chard • pickling cucumbers sugar snap peas ...and much more!

Bushmans Farm Organically-grown Fresh Produce and Free-Run Eggs Get Bushmans eggs at Lund General Store, Sliammon Convenience, Top Of The Hill Grocery in Wildwood or the 24-Hour Store in Townsite.

8556A Plummer Creek Road 604-483-3700

26 • Powell River, BC

Growing together, father and son

A sense of purpose By Jonathan van Wiltenburg | jonathan@edenhort.ca

et me just say first I love my job in many ways. But one of the best, unforeseen perks about living on the property where I work is that I have been around my kids as they have been growing up. Most of my work is solo, so I have lots of time to think, and recently I have had time to reflect about how gardening has affected my life. I have seen how gardening has brought value to my life and how it continues to provide in areas of life that I never really

expected. One of the most important is how it has affected my relationships with people. Gardening is the perfect pursuit to make a connection. I see it with my neighbours, friends, or complete strangers, and especially my kids. My son Silas, now three, has been tagging along with me at work since he was a baby. Initially, I would carry him around in a carrier sometimes weeding or pruning, and now he is raring to go out on his own.

It is tough to get him to come in for dinner because he is too busy “working.” He just loves it out there, and he is turning into a great little gardener. The other night, I asked him what his favorite thing to do in the garden was, and his answer was: “Hmmm, well, I like planting poppy seeds, deadheading, digging, and raking.” Not bad for a little pip-squeak! I don’t want to give the im-

“‘Pop, thanks for letting me work with you today, I had a really good time.’ It was so loving, I think I may have almost cried.” – Jonathan and Silas van Wiltenburg pression that it was all “rosy” (pun intended) having him with me. It took unfailing patience and definitely constant supervision. But this past month all my patience paid off. He is actually at the point where he has started to pull some of his own weight in the garden. He may only be 35 pounds but it is still something. I was busy potting up some of my seedlings, and Silas asked to help. I filled up a big bucket of water, gave

him a kiddie- sized watering can and told him to water all the newly planted pots. He finished more quickly than I anticipated and came over saying: “I’m all done pop, next job please.” I inspected his work. It was surprisingly passable. So I had to think of something else for him to do. I gave him a small container of Welcome Harvest organic fertilizer and a tablespoon scoop. I told him to add one scoop to every pot. There were a lot of pots, and it took a lot of concentration, but in the end he did it and was so happy with himself. The best part happened when I was putting him to bed. He was all snuggled in, just beginning to wind down when he leaned over and said: “Pop, thanks for letting me work with you today, I had a really good time.” It was so loving I think I may have almost cried. After contemplating this for a while, I have come to a conclusion. Gardening gives Silas, or rather all of us, a sense of purpose. We want to be valued and feel we have contributed to something in a positive way. It keeps us active in both mind and body, and I am willing to bet it is human nature to share the things we enjoy most with the people we enjoy most. I know I have egged on Silas’ green thumb on a bit, but I do think he has a genuine love for the garden and being outside. And I can’t think of anything better than gardening to keep our relationship flourishing together.

with

professional results cutting-edge solutions

get a handle on our latest innovations.

Professionals knowExperience the comfort, control Taste the and convenience of Husqvarna products

TEST DRIVE

and nowa you can too. During ourfresh Springlocal ingredients while viewing the Enjoy delicious meal of Test Drive you’ll have a chance to test magnificent scenery wildlife of our protected waters. Sightseeing our latest innovations andand see how we can make property maintenance lunch and dinner cruises to the Copeland Islands, Desolation Sound, an event instead of a chore. and Mitlenatch For more information Island. visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca

CONNeCT wITH US ONlINe

Special occasion, custom day cruises and extended charters also available. FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT

TEST DRIVE

tall gRass less woRk Residential zero-turn spring savings promotion.

SaVe up to

$400

Cutting-edge design, proven performance and new innovative features are combined with great savings this spring. For a limited time, purchase a qualifying Husqvarna Z200 Series residential zero-turn mower and receive up to $400 in instant savings. For more information visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca

Valid from February 15 – June 30, 2015.

CoNNeCt wItH uS oNlINe

Thunder Bay Saw Shop Ltd FIND YouR HuSQVaRNa at

HOME GROWN 2015 • 27

Edible Lund Shellfish Festival

May 23 & 24th Come enjoy fresh- cooked seafood, listen to local musicians, take tours, watch free cooking demonstrations, buy live shellfish, shop at the craft booths, enter contests, and sample special menu items at the restaurants. www.lundbc. ca/Shellfish_Festival

Summer Solstice Feast

June 20 Paradise Exhibition Grounds A feast of vendors, plus celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Powell River Farmers’ Institute. Music and entertainment. prfarmers.ca.

5687 Manson ave • 604.483.4011 open Daily 9 aM – 6 pM, Fri until 9 pM

locally owned since 1946

Mitchell Brothers’ Good Neighbour Loyalty programs helps support the community that has supported us throught years.

local produce in season

We know people love local products... so do we. We offer local produce and products when in season and available to us.

Butcher shop

We are proud to offer a full-service Butcher Shop, all cutting is done right in the store. Chose from a great selection of Dressed to Grill items, marinated steaks and kabobs, sausages made in store.

in-store Bakery & Deli

Party Platters, salads made fresh in store plus much, much more.

28 • Powell River, BC

Guidebooks and other information will be available on the EGT Facebook page: facebook.com/ PowellRiverEdibleGardenTour.

Blackberry Festival

August 15-21 Marine Avenue One week of events leading up to a major street festival. Live music, blackberry-themed dishes and neighbour-meeting. marineavepowellriver.com

Beer on the Pier

August 14 & 15 Westview Wharf Come to the Wharf at Westview to enjoy live music, beer, barbecue and the Pier!

Fall Fair and Horse Show

Powell River Sea Fair

July 24-26 Willingdon Beach Enter tainment, vendors, fireworks and midway, plus a parade, fishing derby and treasure hunt. www.powellriverseafair.ca

September 19 & 20 Exhibition Grounds, Paradise Valley Country fair with farm animal demons trations, live music, crafts, food, and fun in a beautiful outdoor setting. www.agripr.com

Edible Garden Tour

Salmon Festival

August 9 Powell River’s 7th Annual Edible Garden Tour. Features five foodgrowing gardens in and around town, and five south of town.

TBA Various workshops during the week At the Club Bon Accueil. Enjoy activities for the whole family:

Events

professional

Top Ten Reasons results To Wear A Pollen Sweater

1. No pop bottles were hurt making Pollen Sweaters. 2. You’ll be helping sheep stay cool in summer. 3. The pure wool stays warm, even when wet. 4. Non-itchy, and soft enough to wear next to sensitive skin. 5. Machine washable and dryer safe at moderate temperature. 6. We put the label on the inside where it belongs. 7. Designed to layer smoothly under or over other garments. 8. No offshore sweatshops. Ours is here at home. get 9. a handle our If it everon wears out compost it. latest Makes you 50 to 90% more handsome. may vary) 10. innovations. TEST (results DRIVE Professionals know the comfort, control Gluten free! 11. and convenience of Husqvarna products

cutting-edge solutions

and now you can too. During our Spring Test Drive you’ll have a chance to test our latest innovations and see how we can make property maintenance an event instead of a chore.

Pollen Sweaters Inc. For more information visit your local Husqvarna dealer or husqvarna.ca

604-483-4401 pollensweaters.com carla @pollensweaters.com

Open in Lund above Nancy’s Bakery CONNeCT wITH US ONlINe 10-4 Wed-Sun until the end of May FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA 9-5 dailyATfrom June-September

Made in Lund, BC, Canada since 1986

TEST

pumpkin carving, treasure hunt, traditional salmon barbecue, and the giant Tee Pee set-up. Enter contests, and sample traditional food. Supper and live music in the evening.

Pacific Salmon Foundation

October 24 Dwight Hall Eleventh annual gala dinner and auction. A catered dinner includes salmon, of course, and an incredible seafood appetizer bar. Fundraiser for salmon restoration.

Come in for innovative products and superior customer service.

Dealer Name

Thunder Bay Saw Shop Ltd tel 604 485-5041 fax 604 485-5094 7125 Duncan St

Dealer Location

HOME GROWN 2015 • 29

000.000.0000

Lettuce meat you at Open Air Farmers’ Market

The 28th season of this market runs from the end of April through September at the Exhibition Grounds in Paradise Valley. Market hours are Saturdays 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and Sundays 12:30 to 2:30 pm. With a vendor in every stall, this market offers even more this year with a wide variety of local fruits

30 • Powell River, BC

and veggies, meat, eggs, bedding plants, cut-flowers, food, country baking, candy, honey, teas, kombucha, soaps, wood crafts and ceramics. The Bouncy Castle will be there on both days and on Sundays, the miniature train will run.

Midweek Market

New this year, Powell River’s midweek market runs from 4:30 to 6:30 pm every Wednesday at the Commu-

nity Resource Centre, 4752 Joyce Avenue, from April to September. Expect to find fresh, local produce, berries, baking, eggs, meats, flowers, hot eats to go, local craft and more.

Lund Co-op

This north-of-town market runs Friday afternoons from 2 to 5 pm and Sundays from 12 to 2 pm on the water taxi lawn beginning in early June (maybe earlier if the weather holds).

New farmers and market gardeners have joined the group so there will be more varieties of fruit, veggies and local meat from Class D farms this year. As well as produce, eggs and honey are available.

Texada Island Farmers’ Market

At the ball field in Gillies Bay, the cream of the crop is available Sundays from noon until 1:30 pm

back to basics

your local market

the market from May 31 until Thanksgiving. Between four and eight vendors usually sell Texada-grown produce. Another dozen or more vendors sell baking, crafts, preserves, jewellery and clothes. Lunch is available.

Kelly Creek Garden Market

Now in its third season, Kelly Creek Market is located at the Kelly Creek Community School.

The market opens Friday, May 1 and runs until September, every Friday night from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. There’s an open mic and local musicians are invited to share their talent. Fresh locally-grown produce, fruit, berries, starter plants, eggs, bread, crafts, and a table with fun things for kids to do. Meals for vegans, gluten free, omnivores and vegetarians.

We offer fresh, organic and seasonal local produce, organic dairy, local meats, groceries and the biggest ecocafé | gourmet deli selection of sustainable clothing • toys bulk foods, pet food • local foods & gifts housewares • cleaners herbs and spices on the Sunshine 6812 Alberni Street Coast. 604 • 485 • 7000 Delivering beautiful food right to your door since 2002. Free delivery, 100% satisfaction guaranteed, full selection of organic produce and groceries, including as much local produce as is seasonally available. Try your first bin at 20% OFF! Your Local Online Grocery Store

www.sunshineorganics.ca powellriver@sunshineorganics.ca

HOME GROWN 2015 • 31

Full Scope Falling Tree Services Ltd. 604.414.9864 WWW.FULLSCOPEFALLING.COM Hazard removal

Services ✼ Hazardous Tree Assessment ✼ Partial/Complete Tree Removal ✼ Pruning, Wind-firming ✼ View Reclamation ✼ Full Clean-up/Chipping ✼ On-site Milling ✼ Residential & Commercial Falling

View reclamation