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Archived Issues

BC Organic Grower back issues can be a treasure trove of information for organic growers and producers—so we keep them stashed here for you in case you want to refer back to them!

Current Issue

  • Organic Stories: Sweet Haven Farm, Secwepemcúl’ecw
  • The Value Of On-Farm Demonstration Research In BC’s Organic Sector
  • Unlocking the Potential of Pastured Poultry
  • A Return to the Biodynamic Farm Story
  • Breaking the Silence Around Stress and Burnout in BC Agriculture

thisisorganicbc

As part of a larger movement working towards a healthy world, we co-create a more sustainable, diverse and resilient food system.
#thisisorganicbc
If you walked away feeling inspired after the 2025 If you walked away feeling inspired after the 2025 BC Organic Conference, you weren’t alone! The message was clear: Organic agriculture in BC is ready to scale. But inspiration alone won’t get us there. With 27 days left to reach our $100,000 goal, this is the moment to turn momentum into measurable impact. Whether a particular session resonated with you or you felt the strength of our community, now is the time to step forward. Join or donate today: organicbc.org/grow-the-future Let’s build what’s next together, starting now. #thisisorganicbc #growthefuture #organicbc #organicagriculture #organic
Organic BC President Chris Bodnar was in Ottawa th Organic BC President Chris Bodnar was in Ottawa this week for the Canadian Federation of Agriculture AGM. Speaking on a farm panel, he brought a strong organic perspective to the national stage, ensuring the voice of organic producers was part of the broader agriculture conversation. An organic mixed-vegetable farmer and an agriculture professor, Chris spoke about the climate and weather pressures BC farmers are navigating and the critical role producer organizations play in helping farmers prepare, adapt, and build resilience. He emphasized the growth potential for organic in British Columbia, which, despite its small agricultural land base, produces a wide variety of crops. And with consumer demand for organic products on the rise (most of which is still met through imports), organic standards can help local producers unlock new markets. Chris also highlighted the need for a national organic strategy, greater retailer participation in sharing risk and supporting farmers through certification and transition, and independent trials for organic inputs. Ensuring strong organic leadership at national forums like this is essential as we shape the future of organic in BC and Canada! #thisisorganicbc #organicbc #canadaorganic
Organic BC Podcast — Yukon edition! In this speci Organic BC Podcast — Yukon edition! In this special episode, we’re digging into what cover cropping looks like north of the 60th parallel—where long summer days and short growing seasons mean the usual advice from farther south doesn’t always apply. With insights from an Alaska-based soil scientist and a Yukon-based veggie grower, we’ll cover how northern climate and growing conditions shape which cover crop benefits to focus on, which species tend to work best, and the real challenges of getting a cover crop established in the North. 🎧 Listen now at organicbc.org/podcast, or check out the link in our bio. This podcast was funded by the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund. Funding for the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund. #BCAg #IAFDelivers #AgClimateSolutions @cdn_agriculture
🌿 Organic BC’s strength comes from the people who 🌿 Organic BC’s strength comes from the people who stand behind it. Our new voluntary membership model is about more than funding — it’s about building a strong, united voice for organic farmers and businesses across BC. And you don’t need to farm to be part of this movement! Individual memberships help us: 🌱 Advocate for stronger organic policies 🛒 Grow markets and demand for local, organically grown food 🚜 Support farmers and organic businesses to thrive When you become a member, you’re helping power our push toward $100,000 by March 31. Together, membership is how we grow. → Become a member: organicbc.org/membership → Grow the Future: organicbc.org/grow-the-future #growthefuture #thisisorganicbc #organic #bcorganic #bcagri #sustainableag
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We were thrilled to welcome so many incredible keynote speakers to the 2025 BC Organic Conference, including Paul Holmbeck, who joined us virtually from Denmark. Paul has over two decades of executive leadership at Organic Denmark, is a member of the World Board at IFOAM - Organics International and has a long history of political strategy, advocacy and market initiatives ranging from grassroots to global.
2025 BC Organic Conference Keynote - Paul Holmbeck
Our latest video brings us to Woodgrove Farm in Chilliwack! With support from BC Living Lab, they’re exploring inter-row cover cropping in their hazelnut orchards, deliberately planting and maintaining cover crops between tree rows to improve the health of the soil, the trees, and even the farmers. Join us for a look at their trials, with a special focus on incorporating legumes and measuring their impact on nitrogen levels, soil carbon sequestration, and overall soil health. This video was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
Inter-Row Cover Cropping with Legumes - Woodgrove Hazelnut Farm
Take a trip to Nicomen Farm in the Fraser Valley, a 350-acre operation that produces grass-fed milk, silage and hay, and replacement cows for other dairies. Dive into the farm’s partnership with BC Living Lab and how they’re incorporating legumes within their grazing and cropping systems to help with nitrogen balancing, soil health, higher yields, and so much more. This video was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
Integrating Legumes Into Dairy Forage Systems - Nicomen Farm
Visit Blue Sky Ranch in the Nicola Valley, where farmer Julia Smith is working hard to keep a healthy pasture in the face of climate change by following the principles of rotational grazing. Learn more about these practices and how she’s building up the land to be more resilient! Produced in collaboration with the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association. This video was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
Rotational Grazing as a Tool in Climate Change Adaptation - Blue Sky Ranch
On March 3rd, 2025, we held an engaging online session featuring tractor-mounted, camera-guided weeding equipment! This session was a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights, share experiences, and get answers to all your questions about these weeding systems. - Reps from leading manufacturers (Carre, Einbock, Raven Industries and Lemken/Steketee) presented key specs and capabilities - Three farmers shared their firsthand knowledge of how these systems have performed in different farming environments, plus valuable tips for optimizing their use - Plus an interactive Q&A where attendees where reps and farmers really dug into the challenges and advantages of this technology
Recording: Camera-Guided, Tractor-Mounted Weeding Equipment
Watch our recently completed video series, showcasing new and diverse cover cropping practices, each followed by a Q&A session with cover cropping experts. Featured farmers and researchers include: Jed Franklin of SR Farms, Karnail Sidhu Singh of Kalala Estate Winery, Dr. Kirsten Hannam of the Summerland Research and Development Centre, Alex Schwichtenberg of Holberg Farm, and Jolene Noble of Jackknife Creek Land & Cattle Co. Click the timestamps below to jump ahead to each regional Q&A! Timestamps 00:00 Start 28:35 Peace Region Q&A 57:40 Okanagan Q&A 1:26:28 Lower Mainland Q&A This episode was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
Innovative Cover Cropping Series Screening - Q&A with Featured Farmers and Researchers
Visit Holberg Farm, a dairy farm located in Agassiz, BC, where they are trialing the practice of “relay” cropping with Italian ryegrass within their corn silage feed crops, for improving soil health while providing a nutritious on-farm feed for the cattle. Then, research biologist Derek Hunt of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provides some history on the practice and talks us through the ins and outs of why it is such a beneficial practice. This episode was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
Innovative Cover Cropping in BC - Lower Mainland
Join us at the Summerland Research and Development Centre, where Dr. Kirsten Hannam shares the trials in progress in fruit tree ground cover management, using woolly thyme as a permanent ground cover and an alternative to common bare strip or bark mulch under-tree management. Then, visit Kalala Organic Estate Winery’s innovative inter-alleyway chickpea cover crop trial, which serves a dual purpose as both cover crop and cash crop. Finally, Dr Miranda Hart weighs in on the trial and the measurements being taken with the BC Living Labs project. This episode was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
Innovative Cover Cropping in BC - South Okanagan
In this episode, we dive into the Peace region of British Columbia, examining various cover cropping methods employed by operations in both the grain and cattle sectors. Beginning at the North Peace Applied Research Association, we investigate trials involving intercropping legumes with cereal cash crops. Next, we head to Sanctuary Ranch Farms to uncover their carefully chosen cover cropping practices in a grain setting, refined over years of experimentation. Finally, we explore Jackknife Creek Land & Cattle's innovative multi-species swath grazing cover cropping techniques and the positive impact they’re having on herd and soil health. This episode was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund delivered by Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
Innovative Cover Cropping in BC - Peace Region
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