By Anna Helmer Well, I am thrilled to discover that the likely theme for this edition of BC Organic Grower magazine is: Composting Chaos. The suggestion that chaos may be composted is encouraging and practical…and it is always a treat to find something compostable that is in such good supply. Further thrills at the possibility… Keep Reading
A Retrospective By Marjorie Harris [Editor’s note: This article contains important discussions on the history of supply chains in BC. Colonization and the disruption of Indigenous ways of life is a part of that history. This article includes references to colonization and genocide. Readers wanting to learn more about Indigenous food sovereignty may find helpful… Keep Reading
The Untapped Potential for Agriculture By Chris Bodnar At the end of a recent visit to my colleague Lydia Ryall’s farm in Delta, we agreed that having the opportunity to visit each other’s farms and talk shop is an incredibly valuable practice. But in reality, it’s tricky to fit into a busy schedule. It was… Keep Reading
It is definitely a topsy-turvy world right now—so much is out of balance as we can see in the wildfires around us, as well as flooding and more fires around the world. We’re feeling for Mother Earth and recognize the shifts that humans (particularly the extractivist, endless-growth mindsets) need to make to start to repair… Keep Reading
By Abra Brynne Farmers fulfill a complex set of roles. You grow and raise food that nourishes others—some of whom you may meet and some you will not. You are also entrepreneurs with a vested and real interest in seeing your business survive and, better yet, thrive. When you add organics into this mix, it… Keep Reading
Dear Autumn Anna, I am writing to you from the depths of a “do the best you can” sort of summer season, where the word “pleasant” is never used to describe the weather and the most relaxed you felt was at the 15-minute waiting period after the Moderna. I, a very wilted version of yourself,… Keep Reading
By Natalie Forstbauer The emptiness of the Earth’s desertified soils is palpable. The insidious poisoning of our water is profound. The toxic air filling our lungs is suffocating. The mass extinction of life is alarming. The dis-ease in human bodies is dominating. We wonder, “What can we do? What can I do?” To change the… Keep Reading
Learning and Sharing at Kloverdalen Farm Moss Dance Kloverdalen Farm is a beautiful patch of great farmland in the Comox Valley producing mixed organic veggies. It is owned and operated by Kira Kotilla and Ingemar Dalen, along with their two adorable kids, Eilif and Olin. I met Kira Kotilla in the Comox Valley. My five-acre… Keep Reading
Niklaus Forstbauer When I was asked what it means to be on the Organic BC (Certified Organic Associations of BC) board and executive, and the importance of engagement and being an advocate and ambassador for organics in the agriculture sector I immediately took a step back to think. It brought me way back in time.… Keep Reading
How the Hettlers Embody Organic Principles (and Are Good at Growing Farmers) Michelle Tsutsumi Finding my way to Pilgrims’ Produce in the fall of 2009, when I wanted to learn how to garden, ended up changing my life. It sounds dramatic; however, witnessing and experiencing the ways in which Robert and Kathryn engage with the… Keep Reading
