A lot has changed over the decade Haliburton Community Organic Farm has operated six gardens on seven acres of Saanich land in Cordova Bay.
B次元官网网址淚n 2002 there were no farmers and now itB次元官网网址檚 the other way around,B次元官网网址� said Elmarie Roberts, one of Haliburton FarmB次元官网网址檚 nine farmers celebrating the anniversary with a Christmas Market this weekend. B次元官网网址淭here are so many farmers and no land. It was exactly the opposite 10 years ago.B次元官网网址�
Roberts was among a core group of people, who in 2002, opposed an application to remove the 4.1 hecatres of then Capital Regional District-owned land from the agricultural land reserve and formed a non-profit society to manage the community farm B次元官网网址� one of just 14 in the country.
Mayor Frank Leonard calls the story of Haliburton farm one of SaanichB次元官网网址檚 happy endings.
B次元官网网址淲e were troubled by CRD water districtB次元官网网址檚 wanting to dispose of the property and it wasnB次元官网网址檛 on an area we thought was appropriate for development,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople who were going to buy the property would have had development in mind.B次元官网网址�
An educator from South Africa, Roberts had no prior experience farming when four years after the formation of the society she began growing her peas and lavender.
B次元官网网址淚 just changed (my lifestyle) completely because there werenB次元官网网址檛 enough farmers. One of the conditions B次元官网网址� growing food B次元官网网址� wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been met,B次元官网网址� Roberts said.
Fast forward to 2012 when produce from the farm can now be found in a year-round box program, a popular farm stand and at the Moss Street and downtown public markets.
The remainder of the Haliburton Community Organic Farm SocietyB次元官网网址檚 mandate B次元官网网址� to build community, support farmers, provide education and steward the land B次元官网网址� are exemplified on a tour of the property.
Enter the farm gates and immediately step onto the Littlest Acre Organics plot, where Ana Ayala passes rows of flourishing chard to check in on one of her favourite chickens, Goldie.
Further along, a greenhouse yields leeks, lettuce and green onions. Spinach and kale continue to grow, while raspberry bushes and anjou pear trees stand ready for next year.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a wide variety of farmers here and we all help each other,B次元官网网址� said Roberts, who now runs the societyB次元官网网址檚 demonstration garden. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what makes it so special.B次元官网网址�
RobertsB次元官网网址� former plot has gone through a transformation since 2006, built up with raised beds by Barefoot OrganicsB次元官网网址� Derek Powell and Goldenrose Paquette. Powell and Paquette have focused much of their efforts on producing seeds, to be sold in the new year at Seedy Saturdays, an annual seed-selling event.
Despite the volunteer-run societyB次元官网网址檚 reliance on grant funding, Roberts stressed that organic farming is financially viable. B次元官网网址淭he income on the land is growing and growing,B次元官网网址� she said.
Despite its growth, Haliburton Community Organic Farm, like any non-profit society, is facing challenges, namely raising the profile of organic farming, and having the space to farm, Roberts said. Plans are now in the works to ease some of the farmB次元官网网址檚 refrigeration needs by building a large walk-in cooler adjacent to the house, used for washing produce, holding meetings and hosting educational workshops on site.
The successful relationship between the society and the district of Saanich B次元官网网址� which purchased the land from the CRD for $400,000 B次元官网网址� is one Leonard would like to see elsewhere in the municipality, perhaps via a similar management model on Panama Flats, he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a win-win for us,B次元官网网址� Leonard said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 quite proud of the community group, how they stepped up and made it work.B次元官网网址�
The farm is host to apprentice farmers, students from Claremont secondary and this year, representatives from Royal Roads University and Gaia College, who will teach the upcoming course, Growing Food. It is also the site of a biodiversity project, which sees a group of volunteers continue to restore the propertyB次元官网网址檚 wetlands.
The Christmas Market, complete with produce, herbs, teas, baking, chocolates and gifts, runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 and 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at 741 Haliburton Rd.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
