Cowichan Agricultural Society

Alderlea Farm

CAS — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:00:12 +0000

Alderlea Farm is a Biodynamic certified organic mixed farm producing vegetables in a CSA for up to 200 households. We also operate a farm cafe open for lunch Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 11am-4pm serving our vegetables and meats in salads, soups and pizzas.

John and Katy Ehrlich
Alderlea Farm
Address: 3390 Glenora Rd, Duncan, BC
Telephone: 250-715-0799
Website: alderleafarm.com
Email: johnkaty@shaw.ca

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Cowichan Green Community

CAS — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:00:06 +0000

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is an environmental non-profit organization that has been serving the Cowichan Valley since 2001. Our mandate is to promote environmental sustainability with a current focus on increasing food security for our community.

We operate a variety of food-related initiatives such as: community gardens, FruitSave (which gleans fruit that would otherwise go to waste and provides it to local emergency food providers), Grow-a-Row (which encourages backyard gardeners to donate fresh produce to others in need), and, as well, we have worked with community partners to produce the Cowichan Food Action Plan and the Cowichan Food Charter. These policy documents are being used to advocate on behalf of farmers at the local government levels to increase awareness of local food production and identify gaps and barriers.

We are currently working on our second annual Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Cowichan local food guide, which lists over 70 local farms. As well, we run several events during the year, such as Earth Day, Environmental Seminars and Workshops, and the annual Sustainable Harvest Festival.

We also operate a Sustainable Living Centre that offers products produced locally, with sustainable practices, and are environmentally friendly.

Visits and sales:
Monday to Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm

Contact information:
Telephone: 250-748-8506
Email: info@cowichangreencommunity.org
Address: 181 Station Street, Duncan, B.C. V9L 1M8
Website: www.cowichangreencommunity.org

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Crawford’s Farm

CAS — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 05:03:07 +0000

We have 18 acres of land with a creek that runs through it. The soil is poor, but with organic manure we have built it up over the past 16 years. We raise meat chickens year-round and turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas, which we sell at the farm gate.

Farm visits and sales:
We request that you call ahead for orders.

Contact information:
Names: Bob & Ann Crawford
Telephone: 250-748-1028
Email: ba.crawford@shaw.ca
Address: 5700 Menzies Road, Duncan, B.C.

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Fairburn Water Buffalo Farm

CAS — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 05:18:13 +0000

Fairburn Farm is home to a third generation family-operated working farm and guest house, owned and operated by Anthea, Darrel, and Richard Archer and Maryann Hartmann (nee Archer).

The water buffalo dairy was the first of its kind in Canada and sits on 130 acres in the beautiful Cowichan Valley.

The guest house will be reopening under family management in April 2011 with a focus on agri-tourism and rediscovering the connection to the valley.

Farm visits and sales:
No farm gate sales at this time.

Contact information:
The Archer family – Darrel, Anthea, Maryann and Richard
Telephone: 250-746-4621
Email: daarcher@telus.net
Address: 3330 Jackson Road, Duncan, B.C. V9L 6N7
Website: www.fairburnwaterbuffalo.com

Fairburn Farmstay and Guesthouse (for accommodation, special events, and farm tour inquiries)
Telephone: 250-746-4637
Address: 3310 Jackson Road, Duncan, B.C. V9L 6N7
Email: info@fairburnfarm.bc.ca
Website: www.fairburnwaterbuffalo.com

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Gaia College

CAS — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:24:53 +0000

We provide comprehensive education in organic land care, primarily in partnership with other institutions. Please check our website for the complete offering. The following would be of particular interest to an audience interested in food production:
~ Organic Master Gardener Course (offered at O.U.R. Ecovillage in Shawnigan Lake)
~ Growing Food in the City (or in smallish spaces) (offered at Providence Farm in Duncan)
~ 3-Day Intensive Organic Soil Management (offered at Royal Roads University in Victoria)

Availability:
Due to our intense teaching/travelling schedule, we are best reached by e-mail.

Contact information:
Michael & Heide Hermary
Telephone: 250-709-2229
Email: info@gaiacollege.ca
Address: 2485 Koksilah Road, Cowichan Station (Duncan), B.C. V9L 6M7
Website: www.gaiacollege.ca

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Hardie Honey

CAS — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:27:07 +0000

We (Blaine, Jan, and Duaine Hardie) are a family farm operating as a hobby farm since 1980 and as a commercial apairy since 1996. We try to run 300 colonies to produce 24000 lbs. of honey a year. Duaine is a 4th generation beekeeper. We sell Vancouver Island Wildflower Honey from the farm gate as well as at some local stores. Beeswax & comb honey in season.

Farm visits and sales:
We have no set hours of operation but sell at the farm gate daily: just phone ahead.

Contact information:
Blaine, Jan, and Duaine Hardie
Telephone: 250-746-4389 or 250-748-8471
Email: honey@shaw.ca
Address: 4035 Robson Road, Duncan, B.C. V9L 6G7

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Home Farm

CAS — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:29:50 +0000

My husband, Gary Cline, and I bought a derelict old farm in Cowichan Station and slowly brought it into production. I breed registered Shetland sheep for their fabulous earth tone colours and legendary spinning fibre. I process all their fibre on the farm and sell to handspinners and crafters. We also sell cross-bred lamb in the fall and pure Shetland in the summer for meat. Breeding stock is often available. We sell eggs from pastured hens who live in an egg mobile and vegetables and fruit when in excess. My aim is to produce most of my own food and have achieved around 98%. Still can’t quite make an equivalent to Heinz ketchup, though!

Farm visits and sales:
We’re always up for a visit. Call first.

Contact information:
Kathy Millar
Telephone: 250-748-0487
Email: homefarm@telus.net
Address: 2881 Mountain Road, Duncan, B.C.

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Makaria Farm

CAS — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:41:30 +0000

Photo by Paul Fletcher.

Brock and Heather began Makaria Farm from 10 acres of raw pasture in June of 2007. Makaria Farm now offers a wide range of organically-grown vegetables and strawberries through a Vegetable Share (CSA) Program, their farm gate, the Community Farm Store (Garage building) and local farmer’s markets.

Makaria Farm launched a Food Security Club in 2012, and is the host farm of the Island Grains project.

Farm visits and sales:
Limited quantities of strawberries (June through September) and produce (June through December) are available 11am-6pm at the farm gate. For a guided tour or to chat, please call to arrange a visit during slower hours or in the off-season: click here for details.

Contact information:
Brock McLeod & Heather Walker
Telephone: 250-597-3276
Email: makariafarm@gmail.com
Address: 4715 Bench Road, Duncan, B.C. V9L 6L7
Website: www.makariafarm.com

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Maple Grove Farm

CAS — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:04:12 +0000

Maple Grove Farm produces beef, eggs and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, with customer favourites being the beef, corn and late season raspberries.

Farm visits and sales:
A self-serve market stand is open during daylight hours through summer and fall. Orders for beef are taken in late summer/early fall. Visitors are welcome at any time.

Contact information:
Name: Maureen McInnis
Telephone: 250-748-8878
Email: momcinnis@shaw.ca
Address: 3298 Gibbins Road, Duncan, B.C. V9L 1G8

Learn more about other CAS members: click here.

Mountain Shadow Farm

CAS — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:56:11 +0000

We (Josh Crawford and Jody Starter) have 2 kids: son 9, daughter 2. We run a family care home for persons with disabilities, and provide respite care for other community-based clients.

We are a commercial grower for Farmhouse Poultry to the amount of 11,000 kg of chicken every 8 weeks. We also supply several CAS members with started chicks, as well as layers.

We sell our chickens live or processed, as well as special orders, sausages, pepperoni, parts, etc…

Farm Tours and Hours of Operation:
Hours of operation are whenever we are home!

Contact Info:
Address: 4388 Webdon Rd Duncan BC V9L 6J5
Telephone: 250-701-0088
Email: joshcraw@telus.net
Website: coming soon!