Farmer Connect

Mid Island Farmer's Institute

Local agriculture leaders coming together over two days to talk shop! Topics include seed saving, orchards, crop planning, poultry and more!

1245 Fenwick Rd

Join us at Merville Hall to discuss small farm topics. This conference is for anyone farm curious! Drinks, lively discussion, and good times will be found! Only one ticket needed for both days. Please note early bird tickets are $10 plus fees through Eventbrite, and $15 at the door on the day.Saturday starts with Seed Saving with Good Earth Farms, Everything Fruit and Cidery with Kate at Denman Heritage Orchards, and Value Added Products with Lori Ball. In a second room there will be a discussion on Floriculture with Rachel at River and Sea Flowers and a double session meat discussion panel with Julie Smith!Sunday we will have Whitaker Farm joining us for a talk on Veggies and Crop Planning! Clever Crow farm will be here to discuss Tools for Small Farms and Everything Bees with Home Grown Bee. Small Scale Poultry and Beef Production with Mary Jane Douglas Ridgewood will be in a second room, followed by BC Cooperative Association. Aase Studio's talk on Ranching will round out the program.

Agenda

Main Hall: Meat Panel at 1pm and Floriculture at 3pm \ Second Room: Seed Saving at 1pm, Fruit/Cidery at 2pm, and Value Added Products at 3pm

Satuday Schedule

Main Hall: Crop Planning at 1pm, Tools and uses at 2pm, Bees! at 3pm \ Second Room: Poultry and Small Scale Beef Production at 1pm, BC Cooperative Association at 2 pm, Ranching and Value Added Products at 3pm

Sunday Schedule

Schedule

Saturday In Main Hall https://www.riverandseaflowers.com

Turning Cosmos into Cash: Profitability in Cut Flowers

Saturday In Second Room https://www.goodearthfarms.ca

Integrating Seed Saving into Your Farm 

Saturday In Main Hall https://blueskyranch.ca Julia is the Executive Director and Project Manager of the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association. She is a founding member and served as president for the first 4 years before moving into her current role. She is past vice-president of the National Farmers Union where she still serves on the livestock committee. She started off as an urban vegetable farmer but things quickly got out of control after she took a Permaculture Design Course while attending UBC. Before she knew it, she and her partner were raising hogs in South Burnaby and had a butcher shop in Vancouver. They moved to the Nicola Valley in order to expand their farming operation where they now live off-grid raising critically endangered Red Wattle hogs and beef cattle. Regional food security has never seemed so important after recent climate change related wildfires, flooding, debris flows and the pandemic. In her spare time she is continuing her education and is active on the

Meat Panel Double Session

Saturday In Second Room https://www.denmanapple.ca Denman Island Heritage Apples is a small fruit tree nursery that specializes in propagating traditional apple trees on 5 acres on Canada's West Coast. Our knowledge base and services include year round orchard care, orchard design, and juice pressing. Kate's background in resource conservation, permaculture, and community development work is reflected in all aspects of the business, and she is passionate about sharing that knowledge to help preserve heritage apples and their unique culture.

Diverse Tree Crops for the Mid-Island

Saturday In Second Room Ever since I was a little girl I have been involved in gardening and cooking. I was raised by my grandparents in East Vancouver. Both grandparents were immigrants from Europe, with limited money and resources as jobs were scarce after the war ,they farmed the land and raised their children and grandchildren. We never lacked for food. I learned to cook very early, we never used a recipe it was just ,see what you have and make do. Over the years I have worked in restaurants; as a short order cook and as a baker for an independent chain. After university I worked as a social worker and in Special Education with various school districts. Married with four children and two grandchildren, one puppy and a kitten, and in the process of reviving our chicken coop. I believe in using what you grow, shopping local, and supporting local. I own a local business that makes preserves. Jams Jellies and More. I am the current president of the CV Home Based Business Association,

Value Added Products with Lori Ball

Sunday in Main Hall https://www.whitakerfarmyqq.com Crop Planning is a very individual activity in which all growers participate, whether formally or not. A convert to spreadsheets; Mariette Sluyter from Whitaker Farm will explore the value of crop plans, different styles and approaches, and what it can offer your veggie business. She will share an example of her 2023 crop plan and other resources and examples to inspire you and your crop planning possibilities.

Soiling Myself: A Crop Planning Overview

Sunday in Main Hall https://clevercrowfarm.com Farmer Brian McCormick, of Clever Crow Farm, will be joining us to talk about how using small farm tools and equipment can help your garden or farm become easier and more successful. You’ll hear his story of how he got started in farming vegetables, why he likes the BCS walk behind tractors and its’ different attachments, how to build simple garden carts, caterpillar tunnels, wheel hoes, how the paper pot transplanter has saved him so much time and his back, and other uses for a cement mixer. Farmer Brian grows many varieties of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and willow, on 5 acres, in Black Creek. He and his wife Lia operate a very busy Farm Store from which they sell herb and spice blends, salad greens, veggies, and value added soups, sauces, kimichi, and baked goods. They also sell to small grocery stores, retail stores, and online.

Tool Time and Small Farm Hacks

Sunday in Main Hall https://www.homegrownbee.ca Raising farm animals can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it does require knowledge and skill. We will explore the requirements for farm animal care and discuss what has worked for our beef cattle and egg operations.

Bringing in the Bees: Incorporating Bees into Your Farm

Sunday in Second Room https://www.facebook.com/RidgewoodFarmsMerville Raising farm animals can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it does require knowledge and skill. We will explore the requirements for farm animal care and discuss what has worked for our beef cattle and egg operations.

The Art of Livestock Production: Our Experience with Beef and Egg Production

Sunday in Second Room https://bcca.coop As organizations that are collectively-owned and controlled, co-operatives provide opportunities for groups to come together and achieve that which would be impossible alone. Sharing examples from the agriculture sector, Madelyn Read and Joy Emmanuel explain what the co-operative model is and how it can be applied to support businesses and non-profits alike.

Agriculture Co-operatives 101

Sunday in Second Room https://www.aasefarm.ca

Cluster Flock - Bringing Value from the Field to Fiber

Join us as the doors open at 12:30 for a meet 'n greet! Tea, coffee, and snacks made by local small businesses will be available. Fifteen dollars at the door on the day, or $10 plus fees in advance. Looking forward to an amazing conference!

Welcome!

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Farmer Connect

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