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Kootenay Farmer newsletter is an initiative of the Kootenay & Boundary Farm Advisors to communicate with farmers and ranchers, and to grow and support the agriculture sector.
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Farmers & Ranchers Connect from Rock Creek to Revelstoke
Nothing beats learning from your neighbours! This summer producers gathered at KBFA events in Creston, Cranbrook, Revelstoke and Rock Creek to discuss topics such as ecosystem enhancements, range revitalization, market gardening and sustainable ranching. Networking and connection in the agricultural community is crucial to the sector's growth and advancements. After two years of virtual living, producers are keen to get into the fields and connect!
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Farm tour for farmers at First Light and Terra Firma Farm in Revelstoke. In two years, First Light has built the infrastructure and markets to succeed as a market garden in the Monashee Mountain environment. This cold spring didn't give them a break!
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In This Issue
Headlines: Seed Cleaning Tour | Funding for Emergency Prepardness | Food & Buyers Festival | Fossen Ranch | DAS Expansion
Events: Low Tillage Market Gardening | Riparian Management | Seed Saving
Kudos to our Farmers: 3 Crows Farm | Wetland Restoration at Ravine Creek
Local Dirt: Creston Farmland for Sale
Ministry of Agriculture: Stewarding Agricultural Watercourses Outreach
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FarmFolk CityFolk Seed Cleaning Tour is Back!
Save the date for FarmFolk CityFolk's annual Mobile Seed Cleaning Tour this fall. The mobile seed cleaner will visit Winlaw, Creston, Argenta, Nelson, and Grand Forks from September 26 - 30. These workshops discuss how to thresh, screen, and winnow! This is a great opportunity to clean seeds, facilitate seed saving collaborations, and ask questions about seed saving.
Stay tuned for more information on FarmFolk City Folk's social media pages.
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Save the Date: Basin Food & Buyers Festival in Invermere
The Basin Food & Buyers Festival is coming to Invermere October 4-5, 2022! This event cultivates opportunities for producers, processors and food buyers to grow their business, network, collaborate and the celebrate local food. Event details and register here.
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Local Ranch wins 2022 Ranch Sustainability Award
Fossen Family Ranch of Rock Creek received the 2022 Ranch Sustainability Award presented by the BC Cattlemen's Association. "Our goal and passion is to improve our soil, our grassland, and our watershed as much as possible, so that when our kids take it over they can take that where they need to go." says Erika Fossen.
Watch the award video here.
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New Weather Station Network for Creston
A new weather station network and Decision Aid System (DAS) technology is launching in the Creston Valley to improve access to reliable weather data. The enhanced weather network will give farmers and local governments a critical tool in adapting to the changes in climate that the region is already undergoing.
Learn more about the project here.
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Wildsight Workshops: On-Farm Learning & Growing School
Kimberley: Saturdays, August 13 - September 10
Hands-on classes offering local growing knowledge about greenhouse vegetables, berries and soil fertility management. Hosted at Applequill Market Garden Farm in Kimberley, BC.
Learn more and register here
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KBFA Field Day: Low Till Market Gardening
Winlaw: Thursday, September 15
Part II: Ravine Creek organic vegetable farm in the Slocan Valley has been practicing low tillage farming to manage weeds, build soil and retain moisture. Part I was held in the spring to discuss bed preparation, philosophy and management. Part II will see the results!
See photos from Part 1 on May 18.
Learn more and register here
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Workshops: Seed Saving
Winlaw: September 26
Creston: September 27
Argenta: September 28
Nelson: September 29
Grand Forks: September 30
Learn about seed saving, how to run a vegetable seed business and best practices for efficient seed cleaning. The large mobile seed cleaner will tour the region providing demonstrations and more!
Details coming soon
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Other Great Events & Resouces
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Get Ready for the Basin Food & Buyers Expo!
Webinars: Beyond the Farmers' Market - Getting your Product to Market
Online: August 23, 25, 30 and September 1
Join the Basin Business Advisors for a four-part webinar series to get your product to commercial markets. Topics include licensing, labelling, buyer relationships and vendor agreements. Registration details here
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Farm Event: The Big Buzz Farm Tour
Winlaw: August 28
Celebrate Elk Root Conservation Farm's pollinator and market gardens and learn about all their innovative pollinator projects for bees. Learn more
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Annual Fall Gathering: Kootenay Conservation Program
Creston: September 23-24
Discuss and tour conservation projects in the Kootenays, share knowledge & information, and network. More details here
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3 Crows Farm - Cranbrook Market Garden
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KBFA Profile
3 Crows Farm is nestled in the town of Cranbrook, British Columbia. Urban farms come with their own set of challenges, but there’s plenty of opportunities as well. Partnerships between 3 Crows Farm and restaurants came about around 8 years ago: “Several local restaurants really appreciate the quality and availability of local produce, and the local effort,” says Christian.
Read the full profile here.
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Find 3 Crows Farm at the Cranbrook Farmers Market on Saturday, the Fernie Farmers Market on Sunday, and restaurants throughout Cranbrook and Kimberley.
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Wetland Restoration & Farmland Partnerships
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The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) and Ravine Creek Farm are gearing up for a wetland restoration project in 2023. This spring, on-farm workshops supported the planning process of the project. Crooked Horn Farm has also completed restoration projects with BCWF which is a great example of conservation groups and farms working together!
Read the BCWF Event Blog here
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Partnerships between farms and conservation groups can provide resources to farmers to enhance ecosystems and habitat.
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Huge Tract of Creston Farmland Seeks Buyers
4,300 of fertile Creston Farmland is on the market and seeking a buyer who will keep it in agricultural production. Read the Country life in BC article.
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KBFA Recording:
Small-Scale Meat Producers - Rules & Regs
Nova Woodbury from BC Meats answers questions from farmers, including discussion on new Farmgate/Farmgate Plus license and inspection requirements.
Watch recording here
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KBFA Recording:
Market Gardening for Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Market gardeners share how they successfully operated Wise Earth Farm and managed soil fertility on a 2-acre urban regenerative farm in Kelowna.
Watch Part 1 & Part 2 recordings here
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Past KBFA Field Day:
Farming & Ranching in the Creston Valley
Producers and organizations discussed grazing management and strategies for cows, fish, and frogs to co-exist on agricultural land.
Photos & resources here
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Past KBFA Field Day:
Range Revitalization in the East Kootenay
Participants viewed the results of a pasture rejuvenation project to restore rangeland for livestock grazing at the Peckham’s Range Unit.
Photos & resources here
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Stewarding Agricultural Watercourses Outreach to Farmers & Ranchers
BC Farmers are experiencing challenges with navigating legislation related to watercourse stewardship and are feeling the weight of regulatory oversight from various government agencies. As such, information is being collected to better understand how farmers are managing riparian areas and watercourses on agricultural land, understand where the struggles or roadblocks are. The first engagement piece was a survey to farmers in June 2022; stay tuned for further opportunities for feedback. If you have comments please contact Andrea Shaw at 250-331-9933 or Andrea.E.Shaw@gov.bc.ca.
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Thank you to our sponsors:
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