Heartland Quality Foods (HQF), based out of Kamloops B.C., is the product of over two years of hard work by a dedicated group of farmers community activists. This summer, I was met with 3 of the farm families who sell product through HQF as well as Marla and Andrea who have played a key role in the day-to-day affairs, promotion and organization for the group.
The issues faced by this nascent cooperative are striking similar to those faced by the Harvest Moon Society Local Food Initiative (HMSLFI) in Manitoba and others across the country. HQF, in one regard, is a step ahead of Harvest Moon in that they have retail and cold storage space in Kamloops. Where HMSLFI have been developing ideas and working on a business plan for almost two years, HQF took a different approach by starting to sell products much earlier in the life of their cooperative and adjusting to challenges along the way. It will be interesting to watch these two initiatives grow and compare the two approaches over time. (more…)
Three farm families are at the forefront of a community supported agriculture (CSA) movement in the Kootenay region of B.C. dubbed as the “Local Grain Revolution” by Jon Steinman of the syndicated radio program – Deconstructing Dinner. Matt Lowe (right) was one of the key drivers in the development of this grain CSA. After participating in an eat local challenge, Matt recognized one staple food – bread – was missing from his local foodshed. A meeting was called and the idea to form a CSA was formed. The CSA decided to produce local spelt, oats and wheat and the CSA immediately received overwhelming support from eaters, bakers, millers and farmers. The demand for locally produced grains was obvious and three farm families stepped up to put the seeds in the ground. Our journey through interior B.C. brought us from farm to fork – that is from the homes of each of the farmers involved to the urban centre (Nelson) where the grain will ultimately be eaten. (more…)
Diamond Willow Range is made up of seven Organic Ranching Families who have been collectively marketing their beef products in Canada for over ten years. We visited these ranchers at what seems like a pivotal moment in the history of the group. Click here to view photos. Demand for organic beef is growing and so is Diamond Willow. Rapid growth can be a challenge for any organization and it was fascinating to hear the confidence and innovative spirit of the ranchers that we met with.
We arrived at Bev and Keith Everts ranch late on Sunday night. Bev had offered us a piece of grass to pitch a tent on beside their bunk house and we gratefully took her up on the offer. The Everts had an eventful weekend and Bev was tired so opted to hit the hay shortly after we arrived but not before making us feel welcome and comfortable by showing us to our camping site. Keith and his “out-laws”, Chris and Gord, came down and sat around the campfire until just after the sun went down. We talked, played guitar and enjoyed a beautiful summer evening. That night, we rolled our sleeping bags out and let the twinkle of the stars and crackling of the fire put us to sleep. In the morning, we were up at dawn and took a 2 hour hike up the ridge on the Everts’ homestead. It was incredibly beautiful and we captured some fabulous photos and footage (see pictures below). That morning, we ate breakfast (thanks Bev and Keith), had some coffee and conducted an interview. Keith took us out to check the cattle and we took off just before lunch.
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We drove up through the Kootenays and spent the night at a camp-sight in Banff – not before stopping at some hot springs to catch our breath. After spending the afternoon in Edmonton, we headed about two hours East of Edmonton to Viking, AB to visit Vern Hafso and his family. We spent the evening talking over supper which was comprised of a sampling of moose steaks that we were gifted by our friend Misty in Edmonton and a couple of “chef’s surprise” pizza that the Hafsos had picked up in Viking. We discussed where the Hafso family farm came from and where it was headed. Both Vern and his wife are trained as healthiatrists and this knowledge infuses their farming practices and particularly their plans for the future. Largely based on the “brix” method which measures glucose in fruits and vegetables and involves adjusting production methods to maximize these levels which ultimately enhances their taste, quality and health. We talked for hours about Brix levels, soil nutrients, soft-rock phosphate and even the linkages between farming, faith and soils. Chris, an arbors who was along for the ride, was excited to hear Vern describe a method of planting trees that significantly expedited the initial growth period of a tree (almost doubled the growth). (more…)
We are currently on the road to Pincher Creek Alberta to visit the ranches of Diamond Willow Ranches. I have posted some photos here. The first leg of our journey across Western Canada was spent in the area surrounding Regina and Moose Jaw – Saskatchewan. We visited six farmers and community leaders over the course of three days. On Friday morning we landed in at the Letwinka farm in the Qu’Appelle valley. Haley, Rick their young daughter Sunny run a market garden and sell mostly through the Regina Farmer’s Market. The young family has been farming for about 5 years and have effectively transitioned from a successful urban livelihood to an rural one. The Letwinkas formerly owned a restaurant called Heliotrope Organic Vegetarian Restaurant – this experience informs their current growing and marketing practices. Becoming farmers was a lifestyle choice for, allowing them to re-connect in an important way with nature and with food. (more…)
