Category Archives: Initiative

Dec 02 NO comments
BAA Organization, BowFEAST, Event, Newsletter, boxprogram

Bowen ag in 2012!

The growing season for this year is behind us, and soon it will be time to start thinking about seeds and spring gardens. We wanted to update you on what the Bowen Ag Alliance (BAA) has been up to this year, and our exciting plans for 2012.

2012 events:
We’re just now planning a series of BAA events for the New Year. We will be back in touch soon with confirmed dates, but this is what we’re discussing… If you have any ideas, or interest in leading a workshop, please let us know!
Jan/Feb – for beginner’s: planning a simple veggie garden—how-to
January 12 – food safety workshop (community offering, see below)
January 14 – seed exchange & sale with BICS student garden kids
March 10 – BAA AGM—all welcome!
April – soil amendment workshop
June to October – BowFEAST monthly community farmers’ markets
mid-August – BowFEAST annual local eating celebration in the cove
Fall – canning workshop

community news:
-Food Safety Planning Workshop:
For food processors, an introductory food safety planning workshop. Learn some basic HACCP theory and, practical monitoring procedures, plus info on employee hygiene and practices. It’s also an opportunity to network and access info that will help enhance your bottom line in these changing economic times.

Jan. 12 (8:30 am to 4 pm, registration fee $20, includes lunch and coffee breaks). At BICS Multi-Purpose Room. Info: www.ssfpa.net/foodsafety
contact: Jane Kelly, 1-866-619-7372, fssi.outreach@ssfpa.net

-Seed bank video:
A fascinating video about the Millenium seed bank:
http://www.nextworldtv.com/page/5829.html

2011 BAA recap:
-BowFEAST farmers’ market:
BAA put on six BowFEAST community farmers’ markets this year from May to October in partnership with BICS, Bowen Community Recreation and the Municipality—five at BICS and one on the library lawn. We had a great turnout, lots of beautiful produce and an enthusiastic community response. Nearly all the growers at our mid-August farmers’ market/local eating celebration sold out. Thanks to First Credit Union for donating the spiffy new tent.

-Harvest box program:
BAA launched a seasonal harvest box pilot project with two Bowen growers, “BowFEAST in a Box.” The program delivered a weekly box of fresh, locally grown produce to 10 customers from May to October. Despite the less-than-ideal spring growing conditions, the program proved a bit hit, and we enjoyed strawberries, plums, asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes and greens galore. Stay tuned for info on the 2012 harvest box program.

-Cheesemaking workshop:
With partner Artisan Eats/Tuscany, BAA presented two fall cheesemaking workshops with artisan cheesemaker and farmer David Asher of Mayne Island. These two popular sessions attracted 16 participants at each and proved lots of fun. So much so, that BAA plans to host another in the New Year.

-BICS school garden:
Despite the rain, BICS students in grades K-6 braved the weather to take part in the annual school garden seed harvest this past fall—including a load of plump potatoes. The harvest marked the end of the “Grow to the Market” program, and the start of our “Farm to School” program. Part of the Farm to School program means that the 12 lbs of potatoes we harvested will be included in the ingredients for the Friday Lunch program as we work towards the goal of having 15% of our school meals include local ingredients. (from Sarah Haxby at BICS)

-Bees on Bowen:
Bowen’s beekeeping group continues to flourish with a dozen active beekeepers throughout the island and a growing number of newcomers planning on getting started this spring and summer. “BOB” greatly benefited from the mentorship of Bruce Dobinson — a long time beekeeper from the North Shore — culminating in a successful queen breeding project this summer. Having rebuilt from the unfortunate loss of bees across the island (and much of coastal BC) in 2009/10, Bowen’s bees are looking healthy and ready for what we hope will be a productive pollinating and honey-producing season in 2012.

BAA board news:
BAA wishes to thank outgoing Board of Directors member Bruce Howlett for his enthusiasm, service and excellent berry jam! We’ll miss you, Bruce. Thanks again! If anyone is interested in joining the BAA board, please contact us. We could especially use an individual with excellent financial, bookkeeping and accounting skills.

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Sep 29 NO comments
Initiative, Resource

It’s fall time: Save seeds from your garden! By Cathy Buchanan

This year after 20 years of only saving kale seeds, I am branching out. I chose open pollinated seeds, not hybrids, to grow for seed… It is my understanding that hybrids sometimes produce sterile seeds and do not come true. So I started with open pollinated seeds that are known to be quite self-pollinating: peas, beans, lettuce and tomatoes. (By the way, it is best to save seeds from several plants to help maintain biodiversity.)

Peas: I planted five little seeds that I was given — an ancient snow pea strain originally from Japan about 100 years ago. These seeds have been cultivated in the Fraser valley since their arrival in Canada. Peas generally self-pollinate before they open their flowers, so cross-pollination is unlikely. To play it safe, I planted these seeds 30 feet away from my “Jim’s Oregon Giant” snow peas. I simply waited for the plant to go brown and die back, then harvested the pods when they rattled in their pods.

Beans: Saving beans is much the same: leave the pods on the plant as long as possible; until they are dry or at least until they start to change colour. You can finish drying them in the house. Once dry, shell the pods and air dry seeds for few days.

Lettuce: Lettuce rarely cross-pollinates. But still do save seeds from a few plants to maintain bio diversity. Lettuce produces little white tufts that look like thistles; the seeds mature at different times, so harvesting regularly is a good idea. Allow the seed tufts to dry in the house until brittle, them rub them off.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes rarely cross-pollinate, especially the varieties that have the female-style (enclosed in the flower). It’s best to leave a 3- to 5-metre distance between varieties. Tomato seed-saving is fun: the little scientist comes out in you! I leave the tomato to ripen, then scoop out the center of the tomato and discard. Put the tomato in a container and add some water to cover the goo. This concoction ferments a makes a mold on the top. Empty the mold-covered liquid into a sieve to clean the seeds, then rinse. Dry seeds on a paper towel until storing them.

Kale: Saving kale seeds is simple as well, though you have to let the plant over winter as the seed is produced the second year. The kale puts out seeds on a long stalk; wait until the sprig is brown, put in a paper bag, hang to dry in the house and then shake the bag to remove the seeds.

Flowers: Countless flowers in the garden go to seed as well: cosmos, calendula, and malva. Gather these on a dry day; finish drying in house.

I store my seeds in a paper envelope, then place the envelope in a plastic bag. If I have desiccant package from vitamins, I add one to each bag. I find seeds keep well in the fridge or in a cool place. For a more information, check out the Seeds of Diversity (http://www.seeds.ca/en.php) website.

Enjoy saving your seeds, and see you at the “Seedy Saturday” here on Bowen in 2012. Happy gardening! —Cathy Buchanan

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May 11 NO comments
Biochar

An Introduction to Biochar

Hi Folks. Here is a video with broad introduction to biochar.

So far, John Hoover on Bowen, has made a batch of biochar from hemlock clippings in the spring of 2010. He has also started a comparison trial between vegetable plots with and without biochar added to the soil. Hopefully, more details will be available soon.

-- Alan Whitehead

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May 10 NO comments
Community Gardens

Ruddy Garden has six plots for rent

This just in from the Ruddy Potato: they will be renting 4′x8′ garden plots for the season (May to October). Please contact Kim Howden.

Poster- Garden Rental Plot

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Apr 16 NO comments
BowFEAST, Event, Initiative, boxprogram

New! BowFEAST farmers’ market goes monthly starting May 7, harvest box program launches featuring Bowen-grown produce.

“Can’t we do this more often? Pleeeeease!” That was the constant refrain at last year’s mid-August BowFEAST local eating celebration and farmer’s market. Well, this year, the answer is… yes!

Farmers’ market
Starting May 7, we at the Bowen Agricultural Alliance Society (BAA) are expanding our popular BowFEAST farmers’ market from once-a-year to monthly. From May to October 2011**, we’ll host the market on the first Saturday of every month, 10 am to 1 pm, at the Bowen Island Community School (BICS). It’ll be on the blacktop undercover area near the playground. Tables for vendors are $5; for kids, free. Set-up is at 9 am.

Everyone from bonafide farmers to backyard gardeners are welcome to set up a table and sell plants ‘n produce. (Anyone selling preserves, eggs, meats or baked goods, please contact me beforehand, thanks.) Also new this year: BowFEAST SLOW-food-style cooking classes highlighting local ingredients. BAA is seeking charitable donations to help support both projects.

**Note: In August, the market will move to the library lawn for our usual BowFEAST celebration, Aug. 20.

Here are the farmers’ market dates:
May 7 market #1 @ BICS

June 4 market #2 @ BICS

July 2 market #3 @ BICS

**Aug 20 BowFEAST celebration (market # 4) at Bowen Island Library lawn

Sept. 3 market #5 @ BICS

Oct. 8 market #6 @ BICS

Harvest box program
Yep, we’re busy this season. We’ve also launched (May 2) our “BowFEAST in a Box” weekly harvest box program, a BAA pilot project. The 10 season subscriptions sold out in just one day in March!

Supplying the veggies and fruit are two island growers: Clemencia Braraten of Primrose Farm and the Ruddy Garden/Kim Howden. The program will supply a weekly box of Bowen-grown produce to subscribers from May to October, plus deliver an e-newsletter with tips, recipes, farmer profiles and notes from the field. Pick-up is every Monday night from 5 to 7 pm, beginning May 2, at the crossroads (old gas station) and workshop of Stacy Beamer’s Bowen Island Metalworks. We will be selling “extras” for cash from time to time—so feel free to stop in!

In its first year, the harvest box program will serve 10 customers who purchased a season’s subscription for $845. The program is based on the CSA (community shared agriculture) model in which consumers commit to buying a season’s produce in advance and share the risk with their farmers.

The growers wanted to start small to make sure that they could supply a bountiful box every week filled with an inviting mix of just-been-harvested fruit and vegetables. We’ve lined up three back-up growers to keep the supply constant. And we hope that next year we can grow the program to accommodate everyone who wants to join.

BowFEAST is a project of BAA, in partnership with BICS and the Bowen Island Municipality. BAA is a registered non-profit society and grassroots community organization working to increase the viability of small-scale agriculture, promote local eating, and advance food security on Bowen. For more info, see www.bowenagalliance.ca.
For info on the BowFEAST farmers’ market or BowFEAST in a Box, please contact project manager Elle Glave at elle.glave@bowenagalliance.ca.—Elle Glave

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Apr 04 NO comments
boxprogram

April 4 Newsletter – BowFEAST in a Box

Welcome to
BowFEAST in a Box!

On a recent chilly Saturday, Kim Howden and I warmed up near the wood stove in Clemencia Braraten’s kitchen to talk veg. We gathered at the table next to a small grove of Goji Berry bushes recuperating from a rat attack. Clemencia plied us with steaming hot Sanka while she patty-caked together some homemade tortillas, flattened in a Mexican empuje (looks like a Medieval torture device). These, she served slathered with her own salsa. What a treat! It seems—after months of discussion—unlikely that I only discovered at this gathering that we won’t have too much produce in May, but that was the case.

Yep, May will be sparse; I suppose that’s what it means to eat seasonally.
 
What to expect in May? 

You can count on salad greens, lettuces, Asian greens, spinach, rhurbarb, herbs and, everyone’s favourite, kale. That said, I’ll be calling around to secure other goodies from my Bowen back-up growers—namely, asparagus! And there is nothing tastier than sweet, tender, grassy, young asparagus. (Did you know it grows so quickly that you can actually almost see it coming up?) We will do our utmost to deliver $25 worth of produce in your weekly box; failing that, I will refund any shortcomings at the end of the month. In June, things will be ramping up, should be in full swing by mid-June and hit spectacular in July.

Pick-up Location

We’ve planned box pick-up for Monday evenings from 5-7pm beginning May 2. The pick-up is at the crossroads, at the old gas station, which is now serving as artist Stacy Beamer’s workshop. If you can’t pick-up your box for any reason, please arrange for a friend or neighbour to get it.

Vacation?
We will donate any unclaimed boxes to the United Church food bank. This is also an option when you are on vacation. Please check your e-mail each Monday for any last-minute box pick-up announcements. On a holiday Monday, we will move pick-up to the Tuesday.

Extras. We’ve invited Bowen producers to sell “extras” at our box pick-up locations when they have it. I will e-mail you all a note with something like: “This week’s extra is a box of juicy raspberries. Bring $5 cash if you want ‘em.” Daphne Fargher of Foxglove Farm has offered us a featured jam or chutney of the month—May is strawberry-rhubarb. Do we want to include this in our box once a month? Please weigh in!

This week’s harvest box:

Here’s where we’ll tell you what to expect in your box…
i.e.,
a pint of strawberries
a bunch of basil
a pound of potatoes
etc.

What’s in season now?

Here’s where we’ll help you eat seasonally—food tastes better, of course, when it’s fresh and at its peak. What’s in season in April in BC? Apples, asparagus, chives, pears, rhubarb, rosemary, sage, spinach. Courtesy of the BC Farmer’s Market Association (www.bcfarmersmarket.org).

Recipe

Arugula—A True Salad Savior
Arugula is a member of the mustard (brassica) family. It has a mild nutty taste with a little hint of spiciness to it. Add some leaves to your normal salad for some contrast. Or… use just the arugula leaves with some walnuts, fresh Parmesan cheese, olive oil and black pepper. A real Italian treat! From my harvest box inspiration, Farmer Monte in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Nov 02 NO comments
boxprogram

Introducing the BowFEAST in a Box program

BowFEAST in a box—call it the 10-mile-diet
*buy direct from a co-op of Bowen Island farmers & growers!
*get a weekly box of produce for 26 weeks during the growing season!
*support the local economy!
*eat fresh, seasonally and healthfully!

harvest box pic

What is a CSA, anyway?
Community Shared Agriculture (also Community Supported Agriculture), or CSA, is essentially a co-op that delivers fresh, locally-grown produce and ag products direct from growers to consumers. It supports local agriculture and small family farms by connecting farmers with consumers.

How does it work?
Sign up and join the co-op. You buy a “share” in January—thereby sharing the risk of locusts or aphids or drought with the farmer—typically around $500. Then from May through October, you receive a weekly box of just-been-harvested, sustainably-grown, pesticide-free produce each week—for 26 weeks during the growing season.

What do I get?
The box will have a variety of fruit, veggies and greens, perhaps eggs, plus a recipe-of-the-week and newsletter with reports from the field about what your farmers are up to.

Who’s growing the food?
Five Bowen Island farmers and growers who are forming a co-op CSA.

What if I can’t eat all that produce?
The box will typically supply a family of four for its produce needs for the week. If you can’t eat that much, just split a share with a friend.

Will I just get a big ol’ box of kale?
No. We will work hard to ensure your box has a tasty array of goodies each week.

How do I sign up?
If you’re interested, just e-mail us for more details at elle.glave@BowenAgAlliance.ca.

When can I get started?
BowFEAST in a box is slated to launch in January 2011.

Here’s what Wikipedia says about CSAs:
Community-supported agriculture (in Canada Community Shared Agriculture) (CSA) is a socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. A CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farming operation where the growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production. CSAs usually consist of a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of vegetables and fruit, in a vegetable box scheme, and sometimes includes dairy products and meat.

Community-supported agriculture began in the early 1960s in Germany, Switzerland and Japan as a response to concerns about food safety and the urbanization of agricultural land. In the 1960s, groups of consumers and farmers in Europe formed cooperative partnerships to fund farming and pay the full costs of ecologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. In Europe many of the CSA style farms were inspired by the economic ideas of Rudolf Steiner and experiments with community agriculture took place on farms using biodynamic agriculture.

CSAs generally focus on the production of high quality foods for a local community, often using organic or biodynamic farming methods, and a shared risk membership-marketing structure. This kind of farming operates with a much greater degree of involvement of consumers and other stakeholders than usual—resulting in a stronger consumer-producer relationship. The core design includes developing a cohesive consumer group that is willing to fund a whole season’s budget in order to get quality foods. The system has many variations on how the farm budget is supported by the consumers and how the producers then deliver the foods. CSA theory purports that the more a farm embraces whole-farm, whole-budget support, the more it can focus on quality and reduce the risk of food waste or financial loss.

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Jul 29 NO comments
Beekeeping, BowFEAST, Event, Initiative

BowFEAST & BAA invite you to “Bee Offensive”

Bumblebee enjoying phacelia flowers

Bumblebee enjoying phacelia flowers

“How are the bees?”

It’s an innocent, simple question I’m often asked while out and about, presumably about the handful of hives we take care of. If they’re lucky, they’ll get a quick “Doing fine, thanks,” or, “A little wet for their liking.” Less fortunate well-wishers will endure a 15-minute explanation of bee pathology and challenges bees on Bowen and around the world now face. As part of a co-promotion of the August 14 BowFEAST event, the Bowen Ag Alliance is putting one fix to honeybee woes literally in the hands of the human population.

Many Bowen Islanders will know that we suffered a complete wipe-out of honeybee colonies over the 2009/10 winter season. While we can’t rule out beekeeper inexperience as a contributing factor, our losses echo the recent cataclysmic die out experienced in other parts of the province and episodically around the world.

Given that bees are widely credited for pollinating a third of the food on our plates, reasonable follow up questions are “What’s happening to the bees?” and “What can we do to help them?”

Parasitic mites (which in turn carry viruses that weaken bee colonies) have become a relatively new but endemic problem worldwide. Add man-made pitfalls like pesticides, climate change and monoculture farming – imagine trying to get all your daily nutrient requirements from just one food source day in and out – and on a macro, international level we have a situation that makes simply being a bee a tougher proposition than it was 25 or 50 years ago.

Here on Bowen, yes we must contend with mites, but barring an unwelcome visit from a transient bear, chief worries for Bowen beekeepers include erratic weather and the relatively limited diversity of significant nectar sources. A green oasis Bowen may be, but the nectar and pollen rich flowers that help grow and sustain healthy hives are in shorter supply than you may realize. Without a more sizable agriculture base and with limits on gardening imposed by the abundant deer population, the major “nectar flow” on Bowen comes from blackberry blossom. When blackberry vines blossom during a drought period (as they did in 2009), the result is reduced nectar availability and ultimately weaker bee populations.

Enter the “Bee Offensive”, a multi-phase initiative aimed at increasing the diversity and volume of bee-friendly nectar sources on the island. To kick off the initiative, BAA and BowFEAST will be offering free packages of a flower seed mix that will make bees buzz with anticipation. The idea is simple: sow the seeds in a sunny spot that is currently lacking in the wildflower department. (While many of the seeds should overwinter in our mild marine conditions, you can also wait until early spring to sprinkle the flowers-in-waiting. Or hedge your bets and do a little of both). If you’re really keen, consider harvesting the seed from next years crop (if only our financial investments had the same astronomical rate of returns). It’s a small step but one that even non-gardeners can participate in.

Look for the BowFEAST / BAA bee forage packages at a Bowen retail outlet over the next couple weeks. Get them while supplies last!

Related:

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