Robson Valley
Agricultural Agricultur al Producers Guide
A2 • Wednesday, September 29, 2010 • Robson Valley Agricultural Producers Guide
Where local farmers meet: the McBride Farmer’s Institute by Russ Purvis The McBride Farmer’s Institute was formed in 1915. Although the bylaws of the Act as amended in 1983 for a schedule 1 Constitution may not be completely exercised today, I suspect if there was a vote all the members would still be in favor of these “objects of the institute”: “(a) to improve conditions of rural life so that settlement may be permanent and prosperous; (b) to promote the theory and practice of agriculture; (c) to arrange on behalf of its members for the purchase, distribution or sale of commodities, supplies or products; (d) to act generally on behalf of its members in all matters incidental to agricultural pursuits and rural development; (e) to promote home economics, public health, child welfare, education and better schools.” In the Robson Valley today, a wide range of crops, agricultural commodities and livestock are produced for sale, including: milk, beef, lamb, bison, yak, horses, chickens, eggs, vegetables, raspberries, wool, alpaca fibre, oats, wheat, and barley. Undoubtedly there are more. Of course there are many rules now in place that govern who to, and what you can sell that didn’t exist in 1915. One of the most obvious changes is the restriction of the sale of milk, as it can only be done through the related Commodity Board. If you have questions, check with your local farmer. In addition, there are a wide variety of fruits and other crops that are grown or produced in the Valley on a smaller scale for personal use such as: sunflowers, apples, table grapes, quinoa, amaranth, honey, cherries, and a wide variety of berries. For more information: monthly meetings are 8:30pm, on the first Monday of the month (summers excluded) at the Farmer’s Institute Hall in McBride, corner of 1st Avenue and Queen Street.
The Robson Valley
Agricultural Producers Guide Agriculture is one of the economic pillars of the Robson Valley. A diverse mixture of produce farms/gardens, livestock and hay production, dairies, and grains provide examples of the range of agricultural activities within the Valley. Provincial marketing groups, coops, and local farmer’s markets all play a part in moving locally produced food, as well as agricultural products & services to consumers.
Photo by Jennifer Quam
1012 Commercial Drive, Valemount Tel: 250-566-4425 • Fax: 250-566-4528 ads@thevalleysentinel.com
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The Robson Valley’s
Featured Producers Black Wood Gardens - Gary and Ann Schwartz Telephone: 250-569-3319 Type of goods/services offered for sale: Garden Centre: nursery stock & perennials; garlic & produce in season; Farrier; Pet Boarding & Grooming; Animal Health Technician Season of availability: Garden Centre & Produce: May - September; Services: All Year
Crescent Moon Ranch - Charles Mamo Address: General Delivery, Crescent Spur Telephone: 250-553-6860 Type of goods/services offered for sale: Horse Hay, square & rounds Season of availability: Summer/Fall
Dr. Tom Vogel Address: 6213 Brown Road, Dunster Telephone: 250-968-4477 Type of goods/services offered for sale: Veterinarian Season of availability: All year
Sian James Photography www.sianjames.ca • tel: 778.996.7780
Qualified commercial photographer specializing in: Tourism - Animal Portraits - Agriculture
Dreams Reach Farms / Conway Carriage - Adam, Joy and Brad Conway Address: 3265 Mount Road, McBride Telephone: 250-569-8880 Email/website: drfarms@mcbridebc.com Type of goods/services offered for sale: Dexter Beef Cattle; Canadian Horses; Stud Service Cattle / Horses Season of availability: All year
BULK FUEL DELIVERIES SANDS BULK SALES LTD. 845 CEDARSIDE RD., VALEMOUNT, BC (250) 566-4818 • www.sandsbulk.ca
A4 • Wednesday, September 29, 2010 • Robson Valley Agricultural Producers Guide
The Robson Valley’s
Featured Producers Jesse & Elizabeth Trask Address: 3057 Eddy Road, McBride Telephone: 250-569-8831 Type of goods/services offered for sale: Hay, Horse boarding Season of availability: All year
Joy Way Farms Address: 5173 Mountainview Road, McBride Telephone: 250-569-3103 *Please no Sunday calls Type of goods/services offered for sale: Natural government inspected grass fed Beef; Hay; Straw Season of availability: All year
Kakwa Ecovillage Cooperative Telephone: 250-553-6882 Email/website: info@kakwaecovillage.com or www.kakwaecovillage.com Type of goods/services offered for sale: Alpaca socks, clothing, bedding Season of availability: All year
Legrand Farm - Harold and Jackie Edwards Address: Box 579 McBride, BC V0J 2E0 Telephone: 250 569 7100 or 250 569 7101 Email/website: h_ _edwards@hotmail.com, jackie.c.edwards@gmail.com Type of goods/services offered for sale: Grass fed lamb $5.50/lb dressed wt. Sold by whole or half lamb. Price includes cut and wrap. Preorder for Sept/
Eat Healthy, Eat Local!
Sian James Photography Oct. Individual cuts usually available year round at a price appropriate to the cut; Organically (not certified) grown vegetables May-Aug/Sept. Season of availability: See listing
Mark & Irene Froese Address: 955 Sansom, McBride Telephone: 250-569-2561 Type of goods/services offered for sale: Bison, Wheat, Oats, Barley, Straw Season of availability: All year
M STOR R A F E E TH FEED
TACK
GIFT
Weekly Feed & Store Specials Start Friday, September 30th
Shirley BOND, MLA
Prince George–Valemount
Office: 1350 5th Avenue Prince George, BC Toll Free: 1.866.612.7333 Phone: 250.612.4181 Shirley.Bond.MLA@leg.bc.ca www.shirleybondmla.bc.ca
Store Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Saturday 10:30 am - 5:30 pm
250-569-0425 • 1032 2nd Avenue, McBride
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The Robson Valley’s
Featured Producers Pete Amyoony Address: 7675 Read Rd, Dunster, BC, V0J 1J0 Telephone: 250-968-4334 Email/website: peteam@telus.net Type of goods/services offered for sale: Bedding plants in Spring only, mixed vegetables, potatoes, garlic. Season of availability: From May until October
Robson Valley Growers - Dallas Bullock, Coordinator Address: P.O. Box 925 Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0 Telephone: 250 566-1450, Email/website: info@robsonvalleygrowers.ca, www.robsonvalleygrowers.ca Type of goods/services offered for sale: vegetables, bedding plants, grain, meat and eggs Season of availability: Check with Coordinator
Robson Valley Sheep Company/Theres & Hani Gasser
Address: P.O. Box 801, 4110 Eddy Rd., McBride, BC, V0J 2E0 Telephone: 250-569-0333 Email/website: www.sheephappens.ca Type of goods/services offered for sale: beef, lamb, Border Collies and livestock guardian dogs. Season of availability: All year Sian James Photography
PETROLEUM Bulk Petroleum 13 Cardlock Locations: Fort St. James To Quesnel, Terrace To Valemount, Fuel Tanks Sales & Rentals Bulk Fuel Deliveries: Houston: 1-800-848-6347, Vanderhoof Toll Free: 1-888-545-2667, Prince George: 1-866-309-2667, Quesnel: 250-992-7274 Head Office - Vanderhoof & District Toll Free: 1-877-567-4414. WE EXPEDITE & DELIVER
A6 • Wednesday, September 29, 2010 • Robson Valley Agricultural Producers Guide
Services Include:
Dangerous Tree Removal, Tree Falling, Climbing, Topping, Storm Damage. Structural Pruning, Deadwooding, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs Mountain Pine Beetle Assessment, Firewood, Brush Chipping, Wood Mulch. WCB Certified Tree Faller ISA Certified Arborist Certified Danger Tree Assessor Fully Insured
Brendan Taylor bp_taylor@hotmail.com 250-566-4557 • 250-566-1119 Servicing the Robson Valley
McBride Trading Co Ltd & Cafe Junction Vitamin Supplements & Minerals Bulk Spices From All Over The World Homeopath Herbs Dips Gourmet Candies/Popcorn
Indian Cuisine mixes, all natural Homeopath Remedies and Teas Giftware Organic supplies for baking And More!
Under new ownership, come and meet Lori & Allan 250-569-2559 • Opening September 30th
Roger Beck Address: Tete Jaune Cache, BC Telephone: 250-566-9794 Email/website: autumnmelodie@gmail.com Type of goods/services offered for sale: Organic Vegetables: In season vegetables available when supplies permit. Some vegetables available during winter from the root cellar. Sauerkraut and Sauerkraut Plus available all year round. Season of availability: All year
Simpson’s Farm / Loretta Simpson Address: Box 584 Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0 Telephone: 250-968--4453 Email/website: loretta@valemount.com Type of goods/services offered for sale: Beef Cattle, Vegetables — organically grown garlic, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash Season of availability: Fall
The Dun Creek Cottage Co. - Shane and Lorrie Bressette Telephone: 250-968-4491 Type of goods/services offered for sale: U-Pick Vegetable Garden. Our intention is to offer fresh home grown veggies to those who are in need. We ask only for a donation of the goods that you take and if one is short on finances, then please pick some weeds to help out with the work. Vegetables are available AugustSeptember, until we can make an area for winter storage. Farm fresh free range eggs (ungraded) will be available all year, as well for a donation. Season of availability: All year
The Source Tree Service - Brendan Taylor Telephone : 250-566-4557 or 250-566-1119 Email/website: bp_taylor@hotmail.com Type of goods/services offered for sale: Dangerous Tree Removal, Tree Falling, Climbing, Topping, Storm Damage. Structural Pruning, Deadwooding, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Mountain Pine Beetle Assessment, Firewood, Brush Chipping, Wood Mulch. Servicing the Robson Valley. WCB Certified Tree Faller, ISA Certified Arborist, Certified Danger Tree Assessor, Fully Insured Season of availability: All Year
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Cultivation of Wild Blueberries by Russ Purvis
Photo by Russ Purvis
Northern Vineyards by Russ Purvis Farming by its nature has many uncertainties. Warmth, moisture, insect and wildlife pests and severity of winter all can impact a crop in any given year. Given the complexities, starting a new crop in an area without any history requires patience and the willingness to experiment. Kelly Mortensen sees himself at the beginning of a new 3-5 year cycle. He has 100 new hybrid rootstocks growing off of Mountainview Road, just outside of McBride. He knows table grapes will grow in the Valley. Wine grapes are slightly more “finicky” according to Kelly. A few years back he started out with five varieties. There’s been a bit of a learning curve, with winter die-off being just one of the challenges. Now he feels he’s got two varieties that should thrive. Of course they have to mature, wine needs to be made and the process of getting licensed is still ahead. What has he learned? Agriculture Canada won’t let him import German or Californian rootstock because of the disease potential. That means he has to use North American varieties. Until two years ago he claimed the distinction of the world’s most northern vineyard. Now, there is a German vineyard at the same latitude as Prince George. Boutique wineries with small production and a quality product can be financially rewarding. But, it’s not an overnight process. We may be in a 3b climatic zone now, but if climate change continues to give us milder seasons we may become 4a, making it easier to grow wine grapes. He acknowledges it’s going to take some marketing savvy to meet his goal of a successful boutique winery. Kelly believes in the value of persistence. I look forward to visiting his tasting room in 2015.
Observing the thriving businesses of others and adapting to fit local conditions can be a successful farming strategy. John McGuireª of Valemount’s Greenstar Forest Solutionsª believes the wild blueberry cultivation and marketing by growers in Nova Scotia might be duplicated as both a crop and management strategy for local pine forests. Nova Scotia’s provincial production, according to web sources, is over forty million pounds. The wild blueberry is the number one fruit crop in acreage export sales, and value to Nova Scotia, where they are exported to the U.S., Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom as well as others. Blueberries require a highly acidic soil. They seem to be a natural companion plant to existing pine forests, because of the acidic soil pines create. As McGuire points out there are pine flats in and around Valemount. Fire Smart practices for a managed forest dictate periodic thinning and brushing. This is just the kind of behavior that stimulates blueberry growth. They have an extensive root system, which allows them to regenerate quickly, as well as “smother out up to 17 different varieties of invasive species” he said. He expects to have seed stock ready in about a year, with a plan to irrigate a test area. Some farms in Nova Scotia are known to harvest 4,400 lbs per acre with a mechanical rake harvest system. If all goes according to plan he could be harvesting 100,000 lbs/season in 5 years. Sounds like another sustainable business in the making.
Photos by Joshua Estabrooks
A8 • Wednesday, September 29, 2010 • Robson Valley Agricultural Producers Guide
The Robson Valley’s Featured Producers
Sian James Photography
Twin Meadows Organics Address: McBride, BC Telephone: 250-569-7810 Email/website: info@twinmeadowsorganics.com, www.twinmeadowsorganics.com, www.organicgarlicbc.com Certified Organic by PACS # 16-362 Type of goods/services offered for sale: Committed to Heirloom Seeds & Sustainable Small Family Farming. All Produce is Certified Organic. Seed Garlic (40 Varieties), Gourmet Garlic for Eating, Garlic Bulbils for Propagation, Heritage Grains; Red Fife Wheat, Hull less Barley, Hull less Oats, Hard Red and Hard White Wheat, Fall Rye, Rare Grains for Propagation - Blue Tinje Ethiopian Wheat, Himalayan Hull less Barley, Tibetan Hull less Barley, Sangatsuga Hull less Barley, Purple Hull less Barley, Organic Straw, Potatoes (Fingerling - Banana, Ruby and Golden - Yukon Gold, Cariboo, Reds), Carrots, Parsnips, Petrowski Turnips, Rutabagas, Kale (Black Tuscano, Red Ursa, Red Russian, White Russian), Collard (Georgian Southern, Vates, Morris Heading, Champion). We encourage you to choose organic heirloom produce, to share in preserving these heirloom varieties for their added nutrition, vitamins and minerals, enhanced flavour, bio-diversity and the food security
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we each have by saving our own seeds and growing them organically, without GMO seed, chemical sprays, chemical fertilizers or other pollutants which threaten our food safety, quality and environment Season of availability: Call/email
Ursus Herb Farm - Kim Thorn Address : Box 824, Valemount, B.C., V0E 2Z0 Telephone: 250-566-8466 Email/website: ursuslog@telus.net Type of goods/services offered for sale: Medicinal herbs, tinctures, oils, & teas Season of availability: Year round availability at Infinity (Valemount), Whistlestop Gallery (McBride), General Store (Dunster) and Nutter’s (Jasper).
The Woolaway Address: 6076 Dunster Station Road, Dunster Telephone: 250-968-4347 Type of goods/services offered for sale: Lamb, Custom wrought iron work Season of availability: All year
Canadian Cancer Society 300-500 Victoria St. Prince George BC, V2L 2J9 Telephone: 250.564.0885 ext 113 Toll Free: 1.800.811.5666 Ext 113 Fax: 250.563.0385 www.cancer.ca