By Susanna Klassen The organic sector has many roots, and has been strengthened by a diversity of movements and ideas. Though rarely acknowledged, the sector was given a significant boost in the late 1960’s when hundreds of thousands of Mexican farm workers mobilized millions of consumers in the United States to boycott the conventional grapes… Keep Reading
By Ava Reeve Drive down any rural road in this province and you’re sure to pass cattle on the range, a flock of sheep, or mobile pens for pastured poultry. Small-scale livestock production has a long tradition in BC, and has been reinvigorated in recent years with practices such as rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture… 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 Stacey Santos The Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC) is now officially Organic BC! In early July, we launched our new website and brand, and along with it, new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and inclusivity. But before we get to that, let’s talk about the journey and why we decided to undertake such a… 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
Originally started in Iwaki, Japan, Umi Nami Farm moved to Metchosin on southern Vancouver Island in 1996. The farm has been certified organic for more than 20 years. Umi Nami Farm specializes in year-round production of Japanese vegetables and some Asian and Western produce. They use both unheated greenhouses (high tunnels) and outdoor fields to… Keep Reading
