Anna Helmer
Organic Solutions for a Complex World
Nov 25 – 27, 2025 | Harrison Hot Springs, BC
The writing of this wrap-up article has been hindered by strong feelings of unease. I am more than a little concerned about my ability to deliver a clear, objective, and concise synopsis of the weekend. In fact, I doubt I can. I was the co-MC, along with the incomparable Jordan Marr, and that role left little room for attending sessions. It also caused all sorts of distracting anxiety on account of all the public speaking. However, I write when asked, as a general rule, so here ‘tis.
The first thing that happened for me when I arrived was that I got lost. I wandered around the hotel hallways until I saw some smiling and working Organic BC people who turned me in the right direction. I think they worked a lot all weekend. I certainly never saw any of them wandering aimlessly as I was currently doing.
Anyhoo. I found my room and found the hot springs. These were great huge, shallow pools of hot water, very tastefully and attractively and, I would say, alluringly sculpted and landscaped. Not at all what I expected. I didn’t get in right away because I got to join the Organic BC gang for dinner. Priorities, people.
In the morning, I invited myself along to the off-program strategic planning meeting, convened by Organic BC to chart their way forward. I surveyed the room and realized this was a carefully curated meeting of organic industry captains and I really had no business being there. I resolved to concentrate and contribute if I could, but mostly to try to blend into the wallpaper.
What I learned there left me in no doubt that the BC organic scene is in a period of change. In fact, the industry is in a tough place—the BC Certified Organic Program is in transition and previously reliable funding from governments is drying up, to name but two major issues. The way forward is hard, and we are having to re-think things that even last year seemed bedrock, but there’s a lot of love in the room, know what I mean?
Of course, we’ll need more than love to overcome these challenges, and I guess that’s where Organic BC comes into the picture. Now we have a group that can represent all of us—no matter who our certifier is, no matter what or how much we are producing. All of us who want organics in BC to strengthen and thrive can join Organic BC. Love, membership fees, and amazing conferences: the future is bright.
Then it was time for Jordan and me to get ready for our own session: a live recorded interview. Me interviewing Jordan. I was obsessed with not doing too much of the talking and so spent most of the time feeling slightly out of control. At last it ended, and with some regret I left the room before the presentation on organic beekeeping began. We retired to Jordan’s room with our new Organic BC pottery thank-you mugs. We put wine in them and planned the evening’s MC’ing.
Highlights from that night must be headed by the blessing and land acknowledgement. Given in a ringing, meaningful, and deeply powerful baritone, Keegan Charlie made the glasses on the tables tremble.
This was also our first encounter with the food. The program said “appies,” but we were greeted by lashings of platters comprising a delectable feast. It was only the first of several amazing meals we enjoyed.
That evening’s keynote from Brent Preston and Gillian Flies of the New Farm Centre surely reminded the appreciative crowd of the effectiveness of setting clear goals. That, and what an absolute delight it is to sit in the audience when a well-organized, tight presentation is afoot. Like the food, the first keynote set the standard high, and all that followed kept it there.
Case in point: morning brought Jacob Beaton’s keynote, and it was frankly a thrill to listen to a fellow farmer deliver such a profound and entertaining speech. One of the hardest things to do as an MC however, is to jump up to the mic after such a presentation and meet the moment. Jordan delivered the masterclass on that skill.
This was tradeshow day, and I for one, could not wait to get in there and see things and talk to people. I wasn’t alone. Reports from the vendors were positive, and it is to be hoped that they talked with oodles of potential customers, and perhaps even made the registration fee back.
A full day of sessions ranging from record keeping to cover crops, student papers to solidarity, and nutrient management to robotic weeders filled heads with inspiration, thoughtful considerations, and extensive to-do lists. Timely coffee breaks, a fortifying lunch, and some scheduled free time led us to the awards banquet.
Jim Grieshaber-Otto of Cedar Isle Farm won the Brad Reid Award. Anyone who went on the tour of his farm the next day would recognize the work of an inspiring and passionate producer. Tanya Belanger of A Bread Affair was awarded the new Innovation Award recognizing the extraordinary work she has done to build Vancouver’s most recognizable organic bakery. And of course, I won the organic champion award. Molly Thurston introduced me. It was amazing.
What was even more amazing was that I located the second microphone when I returned to the stage for MC duties. It was off to the races then, and Jordan and I reached peak MC.
The conference rolled into Thursday, which began with Paul Holmbeck’s virtual keynote. I wasn’t sure how that would go, but it was brilliant. Paul tells the story of how Denmark managed to become the world leader in organic sales.
A full day of excellent sessions followed before the conference regrettably ended. Thursday also featured a farm tour of nearby Cedar Isle, definitely one of the most intriguing-looking farms I’ve ever been to.
It was a five hour drive home, and I shared it with a fellow farmer who had attended every session it was possible to attend. It was such a perfect finish. I can’t wait for the next conference. Learn, laugh, love…and join Organic BC.
Thank you to the Organic BC team for making it happen.
Featured image: Jacob Beaton of Tea Creek, one of the event’s keynote speakers. Credit: Organic BC.
