-Story by Hans Tammemagi
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Hamish Crawford B次元官网网址� lean, fit and exuding energy B次元官网网址� is waiting at the entrance to the bustling . HeB次元官网网址檚 dressed in jeans and working farm clothes, and his face is framed by a white moustache and large sideburns. But what really stands out is an irrepressible smile and a twinkle in his eye. He is clearly a man who enjoys life and, as I am to learn, heB次元官网网址檚 also a remarkable person.
Early Years
As we start a tour of his 10-acre farm, he explains how in 1965 he emigrated to Canada from Scotland at age 21. He worked for the National Grain Company, first in Winnipeg and then in Calgary.
One year, when he and his family holidayed in and the , he became smitten by its rural softness, which reminded him of the fishing village in which heB次元官网网址檇 grown up. In 1989, he purchased B次元官网网址� sight unseen from a newspaper ad B次元官网网址� a 10-acre farm south of the airport.
With a love and knowledge of farming B次元官网网址� he has a diploma in agriculture B次元官网网址� Hamish decided to grow wheat, an unusual crop on Vancouver Island. His goal was to start a bakery. The venture proved successful: the wheat grew, a bakery followed and it flourished.
The bakery grew into todayB次元官网网址檚 Roost Vineyard Bistro and Farm Bakery, which is immensely popular, serving a wide variety of fresh-baked goods such as breads, muffins, pies and croissants as well as meals. Hamish believes itB次元官网网址檚 the only bakery in British Columbia that grows and mills its own wheat.
Cars!
Asked about his hobbies, Hamish says, B次元官网网址淐ars! Come, IB次元官网网址檒l show you.B次元官网网址�
We enter a large, barn-like building and B次元官网网址� surprise! B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 like an automobile museum with 16 shining vintage cars, including a striking black and white 1949 MG touring car with a supercharger, and a 1928 Model A Ford Huckster complete with rumble seat.
B次元官网网址淚 love mechanics and have been working on cars since I was 12. I always have one on the go,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚t takes me about a year to refurbish a car. At the moment IB次元官网网址檓 working on a 1926 Austin 7 Chummy.B次元官网网址�
We climb to an extended balcony and look down on the rows of gleaming cars. The balcony has a bar bearing several bottles and a sign, B次元官网网址淗amishB次元官网网址檚 Happy Spot.B次元官网网址� Even here, however, Hamish doesnB次元官网网址檛 rest, for strewn about the floor are parts of an airplane he is assembling to hang from the ceiling above his cars.
Wine and Dungeon
B次元官网网址淎fter visiting California I decided we should grow grapes and make wine,B次元官网网址� says Hamish.
He planted two acres of Siegerrebe grapes and now makes white wine, ginger wine and blackberry wine. The winemaker, of course, is Hamish himself.
He leads me into a long, narrow tasting room in the basement of the barn. A full suit of medieval armour stands near the entrance.
B次元官网网址淭hat was a birthday gift after I broke my hip. My friends felt I should be fully immobilized,B次元官网网址� jokes Hamish.
He leads me past an elegant table with two candelabras into a dusky back room with foreboding concrete walls.
B次元官网网址淭his is the dungeon,B次元官网网址� he says, pointing to a skeleton and ominous, full-size rack B次元官网网址渃omfortB次元官网网址� chair and iron maiden, which look in perfect working condition.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still developing the dungeon and tasting room,B次元官网网址� he explains.
During a trip to Napa Valley, he visited a winery with an Italian castle where the owner said the dungeon was the most popular part of the property.
| Hamish Crawford shows off a lock for his new medieval themed wine tasting room. Don Denton photography |
Daughter Sarah
HamishB次元官网网址檚 daughter, Sarah Bohl, joins us as we stroll to another building B次元官网网址� HamishB次元官网网址檚 workshop.
The interior is crammed with two cars partly disassembled, airplane wings and parts, wine containers, tools scattered everywhere and hundreds of jars, bottles and cans.
B次元官网网址淭his is where Dad spends most of his time,B次元官网网址� says Sarah.
When I ask Sarah how it is to work so closely with her father, she gives him a hug and responds. B次元官网网址淚 love my Dad, heB次元官网网址檚 my idol. Everybody looks up to him. HeB次元官网网址檚 terrific to work with and heB次元官网网址檚 very patient.B次元官网网址�
She describes how when she was young, living in Calgary, her dad built her a recumbent bike. He also built several other bicycles, so their home became a popular spot for youngsters. Several of the bikes now hang in the rafters.
The three of us walk past a field of grazing sheep to HamishB次元官网网址檚 home, an attractive two-storey Early American Farmhouse built in 1990. Sam, a black lab, greets us and accompanies us through the comfortable home, which is full of nautical and antique car memorabilia.
A Rubber-Chicken Cannon?
Back at the Roost, Hamish points to a large, horizontal propane tank with a pipe protruding upward from one end.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a rubber-chicken cannon I made,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲hen school groups come, the kids love it. The chicken flies more than 100 yards.B次元官网网址�
Asked about his next project, a twinkle comes into his eye. B次元官网网址淎 distillery. I think IB次元官网网址檒l start a distillery.B次元官网网址�
We meet Dallas Bohl, HamishB次元官网网址檚 son-in-law.
B次元官网网址淪ince 2008, Sarah and I have run the bakery and winery business,B次元官网网址� says Dallas, B次元官网网址渁nd Hamish supplies the ideas and the energy.B次元官网网址�
Hamish counters, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just the hired farmhand.B次元官网网址�
Not true. Hamish is one of those gifted people, who not only brims with ideas, but also has the drive and talent to put them into action. And he wears a smile the whole time.
