After a group of Highlands residents got together for a seed swap they ended up forming a community group about producing local food.

The Highlands B次元官网网址渓ocal food groupB次元官网网址� meets monthly and has about 25 members who actively attend meetings. The group has been meeting regularly since April.

B次元官网网址淲e talk about how to grow food, who has the best parsnips, and seed swapping,B次元官网网址� said Ann Baird, a group member.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about building a community,B次元官网网址� added Gord Baird, AnnB次元官网网址檚 husband. B次元官网网址淭hen the community can grow more food.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou want the kids to think (growing food is magic) but you donB次元官网网址檛 want adults to think itB次元官网网址檚 magic when it just appears on the shelves,B次元官网网址� said Warren Lee, a member of the group.

Each month the group meets at a memberB次元官网网址檚 garden. After a tour, they enjoy a potluck and conversation.

B次元官网网址淭he main gist behind the group is you get to learn from and share stories,B次元官网网址� Lee said.

Ann and Gord focus on growing 100 per cent of the vegetables their family consumes. TheyB次元官网网址檝e also been learning how to create soil out of composting weeds and unwanted plants such as Scotch broom.

B次元官网网址淲e keep cutting broom and weeds and make a big pile, then we cover it with goat manure and plant squash,B次元官网网址� Ann said.

After the gardening season, the pile becomes soil and is then used throughout the garden.

The local food group is made up of members with varying knowledge on gardening and food production.

B次元官网网址淭he group is about helping people get started with whatever skills they have,B次元官网网址� Ann said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just everybody helping everyone else.B次元官网网址�

Lee, a climate scientist, has just started getting into gardening with his family.

B次元官网网址淲e are working on building a garden,B次元官网网址� Lee said. His family has also started raising rabbits, but just as pets for now.

B次元官网网址淭his group is building a sense of community and the ability to share knowledge,B次元官网网址� Lee said. He said itB次元官网网址檚 nice to have a personal contact for information instead of just looking in books.

The group helps Ann when she B次元官网网址渉as five million zucchinis and no cucumbers.B次元官网网址�

Through the group the Bairds and Lee have learned about other Highlanders who are raising their own beef and others who are growing their own wheat.

B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be farm land to grow food,B次元官网网址� Ann said.

Even though the Bairds have a full garden, a green house, fruit and nut tress and chickens, Gord said the group is teaching them that, B次元官网网址渨e donB次元官网网址檛 know much.B次元官网网址�

For more information on the Highlands Local Food Group or to join email ann@eco-sense.ca.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com