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September 2023
Vol. 109 Issue 9

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1 week ago

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays. ... See MoreSee Less

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays.
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Patti 😊

2 weeks ago

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2 weeks ago

The top five issues the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity identified in a recent survey were the cost of food, inflation, the cost of energy, keeping healthy food affordable and the Canadian economy. “We are seeing that environmental concerns are not in the top 10,” says Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle Association’s public and stakeholder engagement program. “If you are concerned about being able to afford to feed your family, the environment becomes less important.” ... See MoreSee Less

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Ranchers get the backstory on public perception

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VERNON – Ranchers might be concerned about how the public sees their industry, but a producer-funded team at the Canadian Cattle Association has their back. Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle...
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2 weeks ago

BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. ... See MoreSee Less

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Lake Country packing house sold

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BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million.
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Who bought it ffs ?

Ted Nedjelski Karen Turner

One of my first jobs was apple grading in a packing plant in Vernon

Vivian, is this where you worked?

I’d hear the company that owns the big Cannabis company that owns the green houses all around this packing plant was buying up everything around to expand. Wonder if it’s them that got it.

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2 weeks ago

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Association's preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/ ... See MoreSee Less

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Associations preparation  for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/
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Saanichton Farm named a Century Farm

[Saanichton Farm photo]

October 20, 2021 byKate Ayers

Bryce and Jill Rashleigh of Saanichton Farm, located on the Saanich Peninsula, will receive the province’s Century Farm Award on Saturday.

The Rashleigh family’s farming roots were planted in 1912 when John Stanley Rashleigh immigrated to Canada from England. In 1913, he purchased 16 acres in the Coombs-Hilliers area. However, John returned to England during World War I to serve with the Red Cross as a conscientious objector.

Following the war, in April 1919, John married Elizabeth Edwards and the newly wedded Rashleighs set sail for Canada on September 3.

“Grandpa showed Grandma their 16 acres that was mainly bush in Coombs-Hilliers,” says Bryce, the couple’s grandson.

While she was not super-enthusiastic about its potential, Bryce says the couple set to work. It paid off; in 1928 they were able to buy a 160-acre farm in nearby Qualicum Beach.

“It was a bigger farm and they had dairy cattle. There was a bigger milk market in Qualicum Beach with their milk delivery route,” says Bryce.

Eight years later, the couple bought the original Saanichton Farm, which sat on 95 acres. It was home to three generations of the family from 1936 to 2006, including John, his son Peter and then Bryce. But transitioning the farm to a new generation at current land values was tough.

“At that time, I couldn’t afford to buy the family out,” says Bryce.

The property instead sold to the Thomson family, which he says now own about six farms in the area.

But the proceeds allowed Bryce and his wife Jill to buy the current Saanichton Farm on Stellys Cross Road, about a mile from the original farm. They now manage about 1,000 acres on 90 properties. The family grow hard red spring wheat, malting barley and haylage. They also raise turkeys, broilers and layers for community members. Bryce and Jill’s three children, the fourth generation, lead full-time careers off the farm, but they still help out whenever they can.

While the farm has a rich history, the last year has seen new developments.

In addition to opening a mill producing stoneground flour as well as a farmgate store, the Rashleighs led a community effort to ship hay from Vancouver Island to drought-ravaged farms in the Interior. So far, his team has delivered 25 loads of feed and they are set to increase the total to 40 loads by the end of the year. The group also managed to round up $61,000 in donations to cover freight costs.

The Rashleigh family will celebrate a history of farming accomplishments this weekend at an on-farm event, along with community members and government representatives.

 

 

 

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