March Newsletter at Nanoose Edibles Farm

View this email in your browser NANOOSE EDIBLES FARM - March Newsletter SEEDY SATURDAY:   Liz, Kiyomi, Lorne and I attended Nanaimo Seedy Saturday.     Kiyomi and Liz did a great job setting up and manning our booth , while Lorne and I  had a good wander about,  met up with old friends,  and attended the speakers’  presentations.   Nice to see people out and about at the end of a  long and ugly winter. We enjoyed the speakers:    Dirk Becker at his informative and amusing best, and Connie Kuramoto speaking on  the dangers of GE food.  What did not get discussed is what we personally can do about it.   If all of us dedicated ourselves to growing and purchasing certified organic food we would be on the right track.   Certified organic food production is carefully monitored by good record keeping and third party inspections of all inputs from seed to the customer’s container.  As well, if we are not prepared to consume GMO food, we need to encourage our farmers to become  certified organic and move forward on making this a GMO free Region.  FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Discussing the Impacts of GE Crops' at 7:00pm on March 14 at Beban Park Social Centre (Rooms 7 and 8) https://www.facebook.com/gefreenanaimo    TIGH-NA-MARA: Thanks to Chef Eric and crew for inviting us to display and provide samples of our ‘greens’ for the Wine Makers Gala last Friday.  It was a grand event!!   VOLUNTEERS: Customers and farm friends who wish to learn how to grow their own gardens or just want to be involved growing produce are welcome to join our crew and work along with them.   It’s best to sign up so we can find out from you what your interests are and try to match you with the correct crew member.   APPRENTICES:  Because food production in this region a very low (less than three percent of the food purchased on the Island ) we encourage people who wish to learn how to farm to join the SOIL Apprenticeship Program at Nanoose Edibles Farm.  Sign up for a season of organic farming.  All aspects of farm production and marketing will be experienced by the candidate.   This offer is limited to people from the region, either on a full-time or part-time basis.  Learn about growing food the healthy way and reduce the invasion of GE food into the region. neorg@telus.net   ORGANIC GARDENING WORKSHOP:  A few years back I offered a series of gardening workshops   called FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY FROM YOUR HOME GARDEN.   We’ll call this one FOOD SECURITY FROM YOUR GARDEN.  I’m suggesting that it be held on Saturday, April 12th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but it could be held on a weekday if that suited everyone better.    Handout material will be provided and if you have a gardening workbook please bring it along.  Cost:  $45 per person.   EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY Nanoose Edibles Farm April 12th from 9 am to 1 pm.  Gardeners’ Workshop: FOOD SECURITY FROM YOUR GARDEN. March 15/16 - Beekeeper Workshop - Brenda Jager - at Bowen  please contact bzbees@telus.net 250-875-4164 for more information March 22 & 23- Vancouver Island Young Agrarians farmer mixer PineRidge hosts four events each season: May 17, 2014 Plant and Garden Sale - Saturday, June 28, 2014 Local Artisan Event - Saturday, July 19, 2014 Meet Your Local Producer Event - Saturday, August 2, 2014 Local Artisan Event (#2) - Saturday,  http://www.pineridgefarm.ca/ July 19 & 20 –Nanoose Bay Art in the Garden  http://nanoosebayartinthegarden.com/     If you have  - plastic bags, Nanoose Edibles eggs cartons that are in good shape, large plant containers, or  any glass jars with lids we will gladly accept them to be reused. Facebook Website YouTube Email Lisa watering her transplants   CERTIFIED ORGANIC TRANSPLANTS:  Great supply of organic transplants  - vegetables, herbs, some flowers and strawberry plants.   Strawberries are in pots, sold separately.  Please bring a flat if you have one available.  The transplant varieties will be replaced monthly with appropriate transplants for the month. Seasoil is currently available at 1/3 yard lots $25 and 1 yard lot at $75. We will load.  When weather is drier we sell Seasoil available by the bag at $7   POULTRY: Our chicks have arrived and have happily braved the weather.   Barbara was on the front page of Oceanside Star with a lot to say! Check out her interview with Brian Wilford about - Farmers just 'hanging on'. Farmers just 'hanging on' COMING UP AT THE FARM:                 Farm Stand Hours:                Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm Transplants, Eggs, Greens, and other fruits and vegetables. Natural Gift Seafoods;  Natural Pastures Cheese; Grains and Flours from Vancouver Island Grain and Milling: Local Honey  and Coffee from Coyote Coffee Company. ****Due to the rising costs of farming we will be raising our greens price on April 15 from $5 a bag to $6 a bag of salad/nutritional greens.*****   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you know of a local restaurant  that you would love to see local food being served?   Please email us the restaurant names. Neorg@telus.net For daily updates, farm promotions and events please visit our facebook page and “Like Us” athttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Nanoose-Edibles-Organic-Farm-BC-Certified-Organic/196503243712007 Also check out Youtube videos www.youtube.com/user/nanooseediblesfarm Nanoose Edibles Farm 1960A Stewart Road, Nanoose Bay, B.C., V9P 9E7