Author: cfm

The Port Moody Farmers Market is happy to have Dr. Veronica Wahl, from the Institute of Urban Ecology (IUE)at Douglas College, leading a workshop on Mason Bees on March 22^nd (sign up at Eventbrite). Veronica is the UNIBUG project coordinator at the Institute of Urban Ecology at Douglas College. The overall goal of UNIBUG is to engage community volunteers in learning about the ecology of urban gardens, with a particular focus on beneficial garden insects.

Last year during the 3rd-annual UNIBUG (User Network for Insect Biology in the Urban Garden) forum, Douglas College launched its UNIBUG project on improving the understanding of wild pollinator populations in the region. The project initially began with monitoring bugs (such as beetles) that hunt pests and has grown to include monitoring pollinators, from hummingbirds to butterflies to the many types of bees. UNIBUG has grown to over 300 volunteers since its inception.

With various bee populations in danger of extinction, a major part of this workshop will be learning how to make small nests for bees or “bee houses” to safely lay and hatch eggs. Unlike honey bees, Mason bees are solitary creatures that don’t congregate in hives and are not used for commercial pollination. It’s important to make their homes as welcoming as possible and ensure  they are well maintained.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture the common Blue Orchard Mason Bee is well adapted to the northern ranges of blooming fruit trees found in B.C.’s southern Interior and coastal areas. The Orchard Mason Bee is dark metallic green/blue in color, ranging in size from the females that are approximately 14 mm in length to the smaller males that are 11-12 mm. Their hairiness enables them to carry pollen grains from flower to flower, causing pollination to take place.

West Coast Seeds offers advice on how to attract Mason Bees and other pollinators by planting a diversity of flowers including a different heights, types and blossoming times. They suggest planting a bed of wildflowers and “you will be rewarded by the presence of all kinds of pollinators throughout the growing months, from bumblebees to hummingbirds and butterflies.”

Lindsay Coulter is a Public Engagement Specialist at the David Suzuki Foundation. Lindsay blogs as the Queen of Green and has written several articles on the care of Mason Bees. Find out how to care for your Mason Bees and when the time and temperature is just right to release them in the spring.

If you get an opportunity, you should view Douglas College’s rooftop garden and green house from the Aboriginal Gathering Place at the New Westminster campus. This hive of activity is a living laboratory for students and volunteers who want to learn about sustainable agricultural practices that use biological control of insect pests.

Douglas College is hosting an event that explores the links between sustainable energy and the agricultural sector, at their New Westminster campus on March 27th and 31st. You can learn more about the Institute of Urban Ecology at their information display from noon until 4:30 on the 31^st and stick around for a panel discussion that afternoon.

VendorPkg2015

Throughout November we sourced recipes from vendors, shoppers and local businesses for a recipe e-book. Big thanks to Karen Curtis from Kics Lemonade, Ra Energy, GE Free Tri-Cities and Power of Food.

Check it out here:

Recipe Book

While there is very little farmland within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in Coquitlam, the city has a rich farming history. According to the Agricultural Land Use Inventory conducted in 2010/2011 Coquitlam has 792 hectares of land inside the ALR. Most of this land (476 ha.) is in a natural or semi-natural state and just 261 ha. are currently farmed. Berry production accounts for 222 hectares with most of the remaining land in forage crops. Another 764 hectare were surveyed outside the ALR. The survey indicated that there is 182 ha. within the ALR and another 32 ha, outside the ALR with potential for farming.[1]

Two of the largest farms in Coquitlam’s history are now part of the Metro Vancouver Regional District’s park system; Colony Farm and Minnekhada. In the early 1900’s both of these farms were recognized for the quality of their operations and for innovation. While there is some limited farming and a vibrant 2.8 hectare community garden space at Colony Farm, Minnekhada Farm has been inaccessible to the public and is need of extensive investment. Most of Coquitlam’s current farming capacity is south of Minnekhada Park and is bounded by Pitt River to the east, Cedar Road to the west, and Port Coquitlam to the south.

Colony Farm was established in the early 1900’s to supply food for the Provincial Hospital for the Insane in New Westminster. The province purchased 1,000 acres (405 ha.) and using mostly labour supplied by their patients, the land was cleared and diked.[2]  Overcrowding at the hospital necessitated the building of Essondale, what is now known as Riverview. Dubbed The Hospital for the Mind, it opened in 1913 on the slopes beside what is now Lougheed Hwy. Colony Farm became a therapeutic operation. “The new Colony Farm is to be the scene of the biggest adventure in mental therapeutics that has been heard since the days of the Apostles.”[3]

The farm became one the most productive in the region. They had the largest Holstein herd in B.C. and grew grains, pumpkins, turnips, celery, onions beets, lettuce and corn. They also had an on-site processing facility where they canned peas, beans, apricots and peaches. “By the 1920’s Colony Farm was recognized as one of the finest farming operations in Western Canada.”[4] A series of fires in the mid-1940’s destroyed several of the buildings. In 1965 the Riverside building at the farm became a maximum security facility and the farm closed in 1983. In 1995 it became a regional park and a controversial Forensic Psychiatric Hospital was built on the site and opened in 1997.

Minnekhada Farm was privately held and its owners included a couple of Lieutenant Governors. In its early years it was noted for its technical innovation and in 1912, was one of the first to use a Caterpillar tractor. The farm was purchased that year by Minnesota lumberman Harry Leroy Jenkins. Jenkins acquired additional land, increasing its size to 1,600 acres (647 ha.), and formed The Minnekhada Dairy and Stock Farm Company. “This name ‘Minnekhada’ is derived from the Sioux Indian language and means ‘rattling water’ (‘Mini’ means ‘water’ and ‘kahda’ signifies ‘to rattle’).”[5] Like Colony Farm, a wide variety of crops were grown and a large assortment of livestock were raised.

During the time that Eric Hamber owned the farm it was converted to equestrian use for his race horses and a polo club relocated there.[6] Minnekhada lodge, one the current park’s buildings that is available to the public, was constructed in 1934 and became a place for entertaining dignitaries. It has been restored to its former beauty and is available for bookings through Metro Vancouver Parks.

At the present time Minnekhada Farm site is closed to the public and there are three residences that are currently rented. Metro Vancouver Parks also has a barn that has been converted to a work shop for staff use. The Farm encompasses 46 hectares (115 acres) of the 211 hectare (642 acre) park site, but there are no plans to reintroduce agriculture there.

If you’d like to learn more about Minnekhada Farm you can read the full report here. If you are interested in farming history in our region, you should visit the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley. This volunteer operated museum is open through Thanksgiving weekend before closing for the winter.

[1] http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/gis/lui_reports/MetroVanRegional2010_11_ALUIReport.pdf

[2] http://www.bcmhsus.ca/history

[3] BC Mental Health and Addiction Services (2009), Riverview Hospital: A legacy of cure and compassion

[4] BC Mental Health and Addiction Services (2009), Riverview Hospital: A legacy of cure and compassion

[5] http://www.minnekhada.ca/documents/Minnekhada%20history.pdf 

[6] http://www.minnekhada.ca/documents/Minnekhada%20history.pdf

This week’s topic is Growing New Farmers. This coincides with our Kid’s Day at the Market this Sunday. Children will be hosting their own booths and selling items they have made, baked, or grown. This experience may sow the seeds for some of the next generation of farmers and other entrepreneurs. There is a renewed interest in farming as a profession and as a lifestyle with individuals questioning the sustainability of this world of mass consumption and incredible waste.

The pathways for new farmers are many, and opportunities to learn the necessary skills are abundant. There are so many organizations and learning institutions that are involved in agriculture, some will likely be omitted here.

One of the early groups that was intent on passing along important farming skills and building community-minded youth was the 4-H. “Clubs were originally known as Boys and Girls clubs until they were renamed 4-H clubs in 1952 to more clearly represent the four H’s – head, heart, hands and health.”[1] British Columbia 4-H is celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2014, and currently has 142 clubs, with 2,240 members, and 638 leaders.

A new group that has emerged is the Young Agrarians. “Young Agrarians are the movers and shakers of a new agrarian movement: young agriculturalists, farmers, urban farmers, market and community gardeners, community groups and academics, organizations and the public who want to ecologically rebuild, promote and inspire the agriculture of our country.”[2] They are at the forefront of moving agriculture into more sustainable practices, and engaging people in the reshaping of our food system.

There are several other organizations that offer courses in urban agriculture, container gardening, and food preservation. These groups are building skills for those that don’t have the time or money to pursue an education in the field. There are several post-secondary institutions that have a variety of sustainable agriculture programs.

UBC Farm offers an eight month Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture. “The UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture curriculum is organized as a part-time, eight-month program balanced through the season with 70% seasonal field production and direct marketing activities and 30% classroom, farm field trips, faculty and guest speakers, student seminars and workshops.”[3] The course is offered at The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, a 24 hectare research centre at the UBC Farm.

Kwantlen University also offers a sustainable agriculture course at their Richmond Farm School. The farm school offers a ten-month program where students learn about the full spectrum of the local food system. “The purpose of the Farm School is to prepare people from all walks of life to engage in human scale, urban-focused agriculture enterprises including production, processing, adding value, distribution, marketing and sales.”[4]  The exciting part of this program is that it includes an opportunity for graduates to lease city-owned incubator farms in Richmond where shared resources make entry into the profession more affordable.

These are just a few of the many opportunities for people who are thinking of getting into farming. With the prohibitive cost of land, we need to find new ways of putting idle land in our region into production.

[1] http://www.bc4h.bc.ca/aboutus/history

[2] http://youngagrarians.org/about/

[3] http://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/community/practicum-in-sustainable-agriculture/

[4] http://www.kpu.ca/science/agriculture/rfs/overview

When you talk to shoppers about the reasons they choose to purchase their food from farmer’s markets the reasons are numerous. There is the freshness of the product, the relationship they have with the vendor, and the trust they have in the quality of the product. There is also the good feeling a person gets when they know are supporting a small business, particularly a family owned and operated business.

Family farming is associated with family values, hard work and a spirit of entrepreneurship. While much of North American farming is associated with big business and large corporations, BC’s farmers are predominately small-scale, family owned businesses. For most farmers it is more than a profession, it is a way of life. And that way of life is under constant threat.

There is often a gap between the perception of the economics of farming and the reality faced by those families. Nearly half of BC farms rely on off-farm income and the average age of farmers is over 55 years old. Succession planning, how to pass along the family farm when there are several children involved, and how to ensure that new farmers are able to access land are a few of the challenges that we are now facing.

Public opinion polls by Ipsos Reid have consistently shown a high level of support for farmers in BC. Nearly all British Columbians (96%) say they trust farmers to act in the best interests of consumers.[1] The vast majority of responses also indicate a willingness to pay more for fresh food, more for food that has less chemicals, and more for food that is grown locally. Despite the positive perceptions, the polls also indicate that fewer of 4 of 10 believe that BC farms are getting their fair share of the money, or doing alright financially. Finally, less than 1% of BC residents shop at farmer’s markets.

From a sustainability perspective, it’s important that consumers support those families that take on the risk of planting crops or raising livestock each year. With global climate change and extreme weather events occurring more frequently, we may not be able to rely on outside sources for our food. With changes to the ALR and its governance on the horizon, consumers need to let our politicians know that they value not only the land, but the farmers that work that land.

Wendy Holm is an agrologist and former Vancity board member who has written extensively about BC farming and our ALR. Among other farm-focused publications, Wendy was a regular contributor to Country Life in BC for several years and she continues to write a blog. Her opinion piece in today’s Vancouver Sun, If we want to eat, we need to support our farmers, provides a call to action for the upcoming meeting of BC’s elected municipal officials in Whistler.

If you are reading this you’re probably already doing your part by shopping at a farmer’s market. Spread the word to friends, neighbours and relatives about the benefit of supporting our family farmers. And celebrate Farmers Appreciation Week this coming week and throughout the year.

[1] http://www.iafbc.ca/publications_and_resources/documents/PublicOpinionPoll_Results.pdf

Guest Blog – Christine Crosby

Christine is a long-time volunteer and former board member of the Coquitlam Farmers Market. Christine provided information about healthy eating in her guest blog four weeks ago. Here she writes about incorporating healthy food into school and work lunches as September approaches.

As we start to move into the fall season we make the change from picnic lunches to brown bag lunches. Some people go with the traditional “sandwich, fruit/veggie, cookie” kind of lunch but there are lots of “outside the box” ideas out there, and lots of cuisines to draw inspiration from.  

First, as this is the peak season for local fruits and vegetables, I would suggest looking at market to find things you love and can preserve for the off-season so that you can put together lunches quickly. I love roasted peppers so I will barbeque a large batch of peppers now and freeze them. Then they’re ready for quick meals (dips, warm salads, sandwiches).  

Consider freezing (tomatoes, fruits, peppers), canning (chutneys for dipping or sandwiches, sauces, jams), and drying (fruits, tomatoes, peppers) so that meals in the colder season will have little bits of summer included. 

A wise investment for lunch-time is a wide-mouth thermos. With this simple tool you can easily have a warm lunch which is comforting in the cooler weather. Soups are quite easy to make and are wonderful for lunches. Or make lots of a dinner and have the leftovers the next day for lunch (don’t they often taste better the next day?!). Or, for example, transform last night’s dinner of mixed roasted veggies into a warm wrap for lunch. Simply warm the veggies, pack them in the thermos and bring a tortilla, condiments and a protein (meat, cheese, beans) and assemble your wrap at lunchtime.  

Bean dips can be a wonderful snack or lunch. The traditional one, of course, is hummus made with chickpeas. I find that hummus, some raw veggies and some crackers or bread make a great lunch. To switch it up a bit you can make a Mexican black bean dip or a curried lentil dip. You can serve bean dips at room temperature or warm with whatever you have in the fridge or kitchen.  

Try a new raw veggie with your dip. I was surprised when someone told me that squash (especially butternut) is nice raw when thinly sliced. I love carrots as the traditional dipper but it’s nice to switch it up with other veggies too: roll up some kale or cut some beets into matchsticks.  

I love to bake as I can make things much healthier and cheaper than buying them (and my house smells really good when things are baking). Try to bake a large pan of bars or a batch of muffins, once per week. If you build up a repertoire of a few recipes that can be tweaked you can have endless variations. For example a date square can be made with blueberries or apples, or add in raisins. You can make a blond brownie and add new things every week: raisins, dried fruit, nuts, etc. Or add squash or carrots to muffins. If you make a batch a week you can have them all week, then try a new variation next week. 

Don’t forget that the Internet is your friend. You can find a recipe for anything online, just type in the ingredient you want to use and lots of ideas pop right up! You don’t have to have a boring sandwich every day. Mix it up and have fun at lunchtime, wherever you are!