THE MYSTERY FARM REVEALED

The Mystery Of The Farm Property under development at the corner of Peterson and Evergreen Road is solved. The answer is Campbell River’s first organic blueberry farm! Former financial advisor, Michelle White, was more at home in a well organized office until intermittent visions of a career as a farmer finally took precedent over life at a keyboard. She realized she had to respond to the calling of her heart. “ I observed the great shift that is taking place in our society,” explained Michelle. “People are becoming more aware of food production and its’ quality. They are awakening to the demand for organic food, raised locally. I saw clearly that being involved in food production was the answer to my search for a meaningful direction.” Michelle and her husband, Steve Ross, were fortunate in that they already owned the acerage on Peterson. A soil analysis showed quality earth with a high acidic content suitable for crops such as blueberries. They checked the property laws with staff at city hall and found that Bylaw 3205 was surprisingly flexible and allowed for nursery or large crops in specific residential areas.

The couple could have chosen to develop multi residential housing or patio homes on the three and a half acres but chose farming instead. The blueberry site takes up an acre and Michelle is mulling over the possibilities for specialty crops on the remaining land. She told me that vast numbers of people have been stopping by when she is working outside and ask what is going on. She knows that in many cases the sight of their small farm activity is inspiring many other passerby’s to reevaluate their own properties and the possibilities of planting small commercial or personal crops in the Quinsam Heights area. Watch that corner for new developments.

As An Ever Increasing Number of cities and rural areas have adopted poultry bylaws and the latest to take the leap is Saanich Municipality. They join Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria and New Westminster, and many smaller towns around B.C. in welcoming hens into residential areas. Generally the bylaws limit the number of cluckers to four and the backyard enclosure must be roofed and cannot exceed eight or nine square meters in area. Other than the production of warm, fresh eggs every morning the other great benefits of chickens are the deposits of manure rich in nutrients and the efficient way those cluckers hoover up all the garden pests without your needing to use pesticides. In terms of a poultry bylaw Campbell River is so far behind the movement in food self sufficiency… l would suggest that our city is a “little chicken” when it comes to change.

TIMBERLINE'S EDIBLE COURTYARD

The Edible Courtyard, a creative garden plan by a dynamic former student at Timber Secondary School, is now underway in the school’s spacious interior court. Kira DeSorcy, who recently graduated from Camosun College’s Agricultural Division, is heading a group of past and present students, including Louis Patterson. They are in the process of building the garden to include raised planting beds, First Nations edible plants, dwarf fruit trees, berry and culinary herbs border, garden shed and classroom shelter. The project has so far received funds from NIC and Renewable Resources Co. and Core Systems which manufacture green alternatives to wheelchair accessible pathways. Students are also planning an Environmental Stewardship Day at Timberline Secondary School which will involve workshops, presentations and a marketplace. In particular the market is open to display for companies that offer eco-friendly products and information to their customers. The event will be held on Apr. 21^st at Timberline and for those interested in participating in the market please email kira.desorcy@hotmail.com .

If Your Fingers Are Itching to begin the planting season early here’s a suggestion for a satisfying crop that can be direct-seeded into your pots and garden strips. Salad greens are the answer. Try arugula, corn salad, raddicchio, lettuces, oriental greens, peas, spinach and swiss chard. These suggestions were taken from a West Coast Seeds planting chart and within weeks you will find yourself picking fresh, crunchy leaves for wonderful evening salads. Using these seeds last season my deck pots were bursting with greens by mid May.

Basil Is My Favourite herb which I use generously for flavouring tomato dishes and sprinkling on salads. Start seeds indoors and wait until mid June to move the generally finicky plants outside. They thrive when placed under the sheltering leaves of your tomato plants. Pick a hot spot on the deck, preferably against a wall and those deliciously pungent smelling plants will continue to produce faithfully, all summer long.

The First Community Garden to be constructed on municipal land is due to open officially on May 15. Meanwhile the founder, Chelsey Holley and her happy band of 14 excited gardeners are charting out the plot lines at the Laughing Willow Community Gardens. It’s located at the corner of Simms Road and Lawson Grove. The plots will measure 4 by 20 feet and are well suited to the square foot gardening concept which focuses on intensive small space growing areas. As well there are raised beds planned for wheelchair accessibility. Actual construction of the site will begin in early April and an open house is planned for 15 May. Funding for startup has come from Greenways Land Trust, the Lions Club, Rotary Club and several small businesses. Sundance Café has set up an ongoing fundraiser by donating the cost of a paper cup for each customer who brings in their own coffee mug. The nearby Presbyterian Church is donating indoor meeting space and Chelsey says this is only part of an amazing community effort to establish the much welcomed garden. There are still spaces available for both wheel chair access and ground level sites. Chelsey will welcome your interest at 926-0279.