Agriculture

The North Saanich Flavour Trail Harvest Lunch returns this weekend after being cancelled in 2020. Here, attendees gather at the gala dinner at Deep Cove Winery in 2019. (Photo courtesy Kelly Schaecher/Mark Taylor)

North Saanich lunch celebrates flavours of the region

Kildara Farm on Chalet Road playing host Sunday to North Saanich Flavour Trail Harvest Lunch

 

Quadra Sound, who headlined Sunday’s musical component of the Saanich Fair, was among an all-locals musical line-up as the Saanich Fair returned after being virtual in 2020. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Fair)

2021 Saanich Fair makes history with return to Saanich Fairgrounds

Tsartlip First Nation open and close scaled-back fair; crowd enthusiastic despite smaller numbers

 

The Sandowner Centre for Regenerative Agriculture is running nature walks on its property every Saturday this month. (Photo courtesy of the Sandown Centre)

Sandown Centre in North Saanich hosting nature-connecting walks this month

Experts are leading the Saturday strolls to give their perspective on the property’s lands

 

The blueberry bushes are lush at Cox Lake Blueberry Farm in Port Alberni right now, as farmer Mark Murray will attest. The farm on Franklin River Road is still open for u-pick and ready-picked blueberry sales. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Blueberry farm flourishes in the Alberni Valley

Original owners return to Cox Lake farm for retirement

The blueberry bushes are lush at Cox Lake Blueberry Farm in Port Alberni right now, as farmer Mark Murray will attest. The farm on Franklin River Road is still open for u-pick and ready-picked blueberry sales. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Cherries at Pravin Dhaliwal’s family farm in Oliver, B.C., are seen cooked on their trees, when the temperature hit a record 41.5 C in a June 2021 handout photo. Dhaliwal is trying to maintain his passion as a third-generation farmer while dealing with the reality of climate change and says farmers need more support from provincial and federal governments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Pravin Dhaliwal

Farmers say heat wave, drought show vulnerable agricultural sector needs support

Farmers across Canada look to provincial and the federal governments for help

Cherries at Pravin Dhaliwal’s family farm in Oliver, B.C., are seen cooked on their trees, when the temperature hit a record 41.5 C in a June 2021 handout photo. Dhaliwal is trying to maintain his passion as a third-generation farmer while dealing with the reality of climate change and says farmers need more support from provincial and federal governments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Pravin Dhaliwal
On Aug. 3, Pender Island residents Chris Hall and Stef Lowey will have officially completed a year of only eating what they can grow, harvest, catch or raise themselves. (Courtesy of Chris Hall and Stef Lowey)

From salt to stevia: Pender Island couple nears year of producing everything they eat

Chris Hall and Stef Lowey haven’t bought a food product since Aug. 3, 2020

On Aug. 3, Pender Island residents Chris Hall and Stef Lowey will have officially completed a year of only eating what they can grow, harvest, catch or raise themselves. (Courtesy of Chris Hall and Stef Lowey)
A sign hangs at an entrance to the Stanko Ranch, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, near Steamboat Springs, Colo. Members of the third, fourth and fifth generations of the Stanko family currently work on the ranch, which includes about 90 head of cattle, but Jim Stanko says due to drought conditions this year, if he can’t harvest enough hay to feed his cattle, he may need to sell off some of his herd. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

As drought cuts hay crop, U.S. cattle ranchers face culling herds

Choices increasingly centered around how herds can sustain drought conditions

A sign hangs at an entrance to the Stanko Ranch, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, near Steamboat Springs, Colo. Members of the third, fourth and fifth generations of the Stanko family currently work on the ranch, which includes about 90 head of cattle, but Jim Stanko says due to drought conditions this year, if he can’t harvest enough hay to feed his cattle, he may need to sell off some of his herd. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)
Premier John Horgan and Agriculture Minister Lana Popham unveil the Century Farm and Ranch Award at Woodside Farm in Sooke on Monday. (Contributed - Sooke Region Museum)

Sooke’s Woodside Farm honoured for 100 years of agriculture in B.C.

Farm established in 1851 by Scottish pioneer John Muir

Premier John Horgan and Agriculture Minister Lana Popham unveil the Century Farm and Ranch Award at Woodside Farm in Sooke on Monday. (Contributed - Sooke Region Museum)
Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor says the municipality will review new regulations that promise to increase housing flexibility in the Agricultural Land Reserve. (Black Press Media Files/Submitted)

Central Saanich to review relaxed housing rules for ALR

Mayor Ryan Windsor says municipality has been working on ways to improve housing for farm workers

Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor says the municipality will review new regulations that promise to increase housing flexibility in the Agricultural Land Reserve. (Black Press Media Files/Submitted)
The 152nd Saanich Fair will officially take place on Labour Day weekend while adhering to provincial health orders. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich Fair getting set for return on Labour Day Weekend

Fair cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, organizers anticipating further loosening of health orders

The 152nd Saanich Fair will officially take place on Labour Day weekend while adhering to provincial health orders. (Black Press Media file photo)
Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. farms, industry risk losing water rights as licence deadline nears

Non-domestic groundwater claims must be filed by March 2022

Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. (B.C. government photo)
Chef Trevor Randle leads a June 21 online cooking featuring recipes – beef zesty lettuce wraps, blueberry strudel and blueberry spritzer. (Courtesy We Heart Local BC)

Free online cooking course explores B.C. blueberries and beef

Chef Trevor Randle calls them the province’s most flavourful foods

Chef Trevor Randle leads a June 21 online cooking featuring recipes – beef zesty lettuce wraps, blueberry strudel and blueberry spritzer. (Courtesy We Heart Local BC)
In 2020 Greater Victoria 4-H winners in the junior division included Sava Bell from the Metchosin club. (Courtesy Agriculture in the classroom)

Field to Fork Challenge encourages B.C. youth to prepare healthy, local foods

Six Greater Victoria youth won cash prizes in 2020 for submitted recipes, cooking videos

In 2020 Greater Victoria 4-H winners in the junior division included Sava Bell from the Metchosin club. (Courtesy Agriculture in the classroom)
Blueberry harvest in the Fraser Valley relies mainly on older Indo-Canadian workers provided through labour brokers. (Maple Ridge News)

B.C. ‘moving very cautiously’ on minimum wage for farm workers

Most workers support piece-rate pay for picking, survey says

Blueberry harvest in the Fraser Valley relies mainly on older Indo-Canadian workers provided through labour brokers. (Maple Ridge News)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham takes questions in the B.C. legislature in 2017. (Hansard TV)

UPDATE: B.C. will fund another year of fresh fruit, vegetables, milk in schools

John Horgan government working on school meal program

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham takes questions in the B.C. legislature in 2017. (Hansard TV)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham promotes the government’s BuyBC food program in 2019. (B.C. government)

Money running out for fresh fruit, vegetables, milk in B.C. schools

‘Looking at ways to support this type of program,’ minister says

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham promotes the government’s BuyBC food program in 2019. (B.C. government)
Airport manager Mark Fortune points at the site of a future local food production facility by Dion Olin and Louise Rodgers of The Coastal Hive. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Upgrades coming to Long Beach Airport near Tofino and Ucluelet

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District approves agriculture project

Airport manager Mark Fortune points at the site of a future local food production facility by Dion Olin and Louise Rodgers of The Coastal Hive. (Nora O’Malley photo)
In honour of Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month, a national organization has received federal money to expand its programming. (U.S Department of Agriculture/Flickr)

Agriculture education in Canadian schools gets $1.6M boost from the feds

It’s imperative students know where their food comes from: Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau

In honour of Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month, a national organization has received federal money to expand its programming. (U.S Department of Agriculture/Flickr)
Personal protective equipment is seen in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

$16.9 million invested to improve worker safety, strengthen B.C.’s food supply chain

Money to be used for social distancing, personal protective equipment, cleaning, and air circulation

Personal protective equipment is seen in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The B.C. government is providing up to $2 million to expand its Food Hub Network to Vancouver Island. Photo by Bruce Honda

Province invests $2M in three Vancouver Island food hubs

Hub network provides shared-use processing facilities to small agri-businesses

The B.C. government is providing up to $2 million to expand its Food Hub Network to Vancouver Island. Photo by Bruce Honda