Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
1
WELCOME TO
FARMER2FARMER
The goal of Farmer 2 Farmer is to be a learning and networking event for farmers and
food producers in the region. Over 100 Farmers will come together today to share local
knowledge and expertise with the goal of strengthening the local agriculture sector.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Animal, Vegetable, Management”. The workshops have been organized into these three streams to help you navigate your day.
In addition we have highlighted a “new farmers track”, suggesting workshops for new
producers and young agrarians where the focus is for people who are just starting out
or who are new to the field.
Inside this program you will find a list of the workshops and locations, as well as descriptions and presenter profiles. There is also a map of the venue.
Last, please take the time to fill out the conference evaluation and help us to continue
improving Farmer 2 Farmer in years to come!
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
8:15 - 9:00
Registration, coffee, meet and greet
9:00 - 10:00
Welcome and Keynote Session
10:00 - 10:30
Coffee break
10:30 - 11:20
Session 1 Workshops
11:30 - 12:20
Session 2 Workshops
12:30 - 1:30
Lunch
1:40 - 2:30
Session 3 Workshops
2:30 - 2:50
Coffee break
3:00 - 4:00
Session 4 Workshops
4:00 - 4:30
Closing Plenary and Door Prizes
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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MAP & WORKSHOP ROOMS
Stage
Washroom
Washroom
Juniper Room
Stairs
Exhibitor Tables
Washroom
Washroom
Participant Seating
Exhibitor Tables
Main Hall
Washroom
Upstairs to
Poplar Room
&
Oak Room
Poplar Room
(upstairs)
Washroom
Refreshments
Registration
Foyer
Oak Room
(upstairs)
Front Entrance
EXHIBITORS
ARD-CORP/ Environmental Farm Plan
FARSHA
BC Ministry of Agriculture
Island Farmers Alliance
Billy Metcalfe
Island Organic Producers Association
Buckerfield's
Growing Young Farmers Society
Coexisting with Carnivores Alliance
Level Ground Trading
Cowichan Agricultural Society
Young Agrarians/ Linking Land & Farmers
Cowichan Green Community
Osborne Seed Co.
Direct Solutions
Vancity
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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Time
Main Hall
8:15
9:00
Registration:
Come early and enjoy coffee, tea, and treats!
9:00
10:00
Welcome & Keynote:
Welcome to Coast Salish Territory, Adam Olsen
Alice Finall, Mayor North Saanich & Ryan Windsor, Mayor Central Saanich
“Recipe for Starting and Running a Fruitful Farm”
10:00
Coffee Break & Trade Show
10:30
11:20
Oak Room
Juniper Room
Poplar Room
How To Grow Your Broiler
Business
Soil Fertility Management: How to make on
and off-farm resources
work for you
Harvesting the Numbers:
Farm bookkeeping
Evelyn Pereira
Terra Nossa Farm
11:30
12:20
Sasha Kubicek
Sea Bluff Farm
DeLisa Lewis
Green Fire Farm
Adventures in
Cheese-making
Moving the Needle on LoWhere did all the time go? cal Food Demand & Supply
Track time and effort for
Linda Geggie, CRFAIR
better profits
Bob Maxwell, Fieldstone Garlic
Abe Wahi
Robert Thompson, DFMA
Providence Farm
Robin Tunnicliffe, Sea Bluff Farm
Cory Spencer
The Happy Goat
Main Hall
Lunch
Prepared by the Island Chefs Collaborative
12:20
1:40
1:40
2:30
Oak Room
Juniper Room
Small Scale Pork
Production
Beyond Google:
Ask a local farmer
Brent Donaldson
Ewe View Farm
Poplar Room
The Nuts and Bolts of
Land Access
Bryce Rashleigh, Saanichton Farm
Jack Mar, Mar Farms
Keeley Nixon, LLAF
Bob Maxwell, Fieldstone Garlic Moss Dance, Young Agrarians
HeatherStretch,SaanichOrganics
Main Hall
Coffee Break & Trade Show
2:30
3:00
4:00
Working with Wildlife:
Dealing with deer, geese,
and carnivores
Coexisting with Carnivores
Regional Goose Strategy, CRD
Regional Deer Strategy, CRD
Beginner Small Engine
Maintenance
Heather Ramsay
Umi Nami Farm
On-farm Water
Management:
Irrigation planning
Ted van der Gulik
Partnership for Water
Sustainability BC
Main Hall
4:15
4:30
Animal
Stream
Closing Plenary & Draw Prizes
Vegetable
Stream
Management
Stream
Suggested track for
new farmers
KEYNOTE
TIPS FOR RUNNING A FRUITFUL FARM
Kick off your day with some inspiration! Hear tips and stories from a panel of local farmers (young and, well, more experienced) about key ingredients that have contributed to
success on their farms.
Following is a list of the farmers who will be speaking in the keynote session. Feel free
to ask questions at the end, chat with them over a break, or find some of them in workshops later in the day.
• Bernadette Greene, Greene’s Farm
• Mike Nyberg, New Mountain Farm
• Jack Mar, Mar Farms
• Jessica White, Cedar Beef
• Fiona Hamersley Chambers, Metchosin Farm
• Hamish Crawford, The Roost
• Virginie Lavallée-Picard, Wind Whipped Farm
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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WORKSHOPS
ANIMAL STREAM
How to Grow Your Broiler Business
Oak Room
At Terra Nossa, a certified organic farm, Evelyn along with her husband Jesse have been
growing broilers for 10 years. Evelyn will share with you how they went from 100 - 2000
birds.
Evelyn Pereira, Terra Nossa Farm
[email protected]
Evelyn, along with her husband Jesse, owns Terra Nossa farm in Mill Bay where they
have raised poultry, pigs, and lambs, as well as producing berries and vegetables. Her
farm is certified through the Island Organic Producers Association.
Adventures in Cheese-making
Oak Room
In his workshop Cory will tell you about his path to farming and cheese-making, what
it’s like farming on leased land, how he successfully built and licensed a dairy processing
plant, and how many days off he has had since 2010.
Cory Spencer, The Happy Goat
[email protected]
After several years working in an unrelated industry, Cory was looking for a change and
farming was it. Apprenticeships, workshops and traveling allowed him to discover his
love of goats and the delicious cheese their milk produces. In 2010 Cory and his wife
welcomed their first 30 milking does to The Happy Goat and 2014 marked their first year
of cheese production.
Small Scale Pork Production
Oak Room
Interested in pork production? This workshop will cover a range of topics including
operation size, animal housing, feed, manure management, health, slaughtering, and
marketing.
Brent Donaldson, Ewe View Farm
[email protected]
Ewe View Farm is located on a peaceful 5 acre parcel in Metchosin, BC, which is owned
and operated by Brent Donaldson and his wife. They have supplied quality meats and
produce to locals for 25 years, first after acquiring two Suffolk Ewes to establish a breeding stock and later growing hogs and a large market garden.
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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ANIMAL STREAM
Working with Wildlife:
Dealing with deer, geese, and carnivores on your farm
Oak Room
Panel discussion about strategies for dealing with wildlife challenges on your farm.
Hear from local experts about strategies for deer and geese control and considerations
for coexisting with carnivores.
Bob Hansen, Coexisting with Carnivores Alliance
[email protected]
Bob Hansen’s career with National Parks spanned 38 years with 25 years based in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Since 1997 he served in the role as the park wildlife-human conflict specialist working on measures to prevent and reduce conflicts between
people, bears, wolves and cougar. In more recent years he also worked as the wildlife
deterrent specialist for the territory of Nunavut working primarily on reducing conflicts
between people and polar bears. Bob is currently working on a project with the Thornton Creek Enhancement Society on reducing risks associated with bear watching, another project with the schools in Ucluelet and Tofino to establish a wildlife monitoring
program. He also assists with the WildCoast Project as a park volunteer.
Peter Pauwels, Conservation Officer
[email protected]
Peter has been a South Island Conservation Officer since 1993. Born and raised in Metchosin, he grew up on a hobby farm raising sheep, chickens and various other critters.
Today he still lives in Metchosin and his areas of expertise as a Conservation Officer
include Firearms Instructor and First Nations liaison.
Kim St. Claire, Manager, Visitor Services and Community Development, CRD-Parks
[email protected]
Kim joined CRD, Regional Parks in May 2014 and is the manager of community development and partnership projects, the naturalist and volunteer programs, signs and creative services, and media relations. As the CRD representative on the Regional Canada
Goose Management Strategy Working Group, she helps to coordinate education campaigns and management strategies to address issues related to resident non-migratory
Canada geese.
Jeff Weightman, Planner CRD
[email protected]
Jeff is a Planner in the Regional Planning Division for the Capital Regional District
(CRD). He manages the CRD Regional Deer Management Strategy. Jeff has worked
in municipal land use and strategic planning for8 years at the CRD.
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February 19, 2015
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VEGETABLE STREAM
Soil Fertility Management:
How to make on and off-farm resources work for you
Juniper Room
Why should you have your soil tested? Where to get the test done and how to interpret
the results? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this workshop,
presented by soil expert and agro-ecologist, DeLisa Lewis.
DeLisa Lewis, Green Fire Farm
[email protected]
DeLisa Lewis co-owns and operates Green Fire Farm in the Cowichan Valley. Now re-entering farming after a seven-year “break” to complete her PhD in soils and agroecology, DeLisa has more than fourteen years experience managing certified organic mixed
vegetable production systems. She was lead instructor for the UBC Farm Practicum in
Sustainable Agriculture from 2011-2014, and her teaching, research, and consulting
continue with focus areas in soil nutrient management, farm planning, and new farmer
training.
Where did all the time go?
Track time and effort for better profits
Juniper Room
Determining which crops earn you the profit for the least effort expended is the difference between lucrative farms that can reinvest every year and farms struggling to get
by. The presentation will cover some of the approaches for data collection and processing to find out where your profits lie. Possibilities of the use of apps to simplify the data
collection process will also be covered.
Abe Wahi, Providence Farm
[email protected]
In his eighth season as a small scale organic farmer, Abe applies a philosophy of developing and integrating financial sustainability, intergenerational ecological sustainability and succession planning at the farms he has managed. Over 5 years managing
operations Abe has also trained 18 aspiring farmers (full season interns/apprentices)
Abe began training in 2008 at Whole Circle Farm, a fully diversified 200 acre biodynamic
farm located in SW Ontario, getting a broad-based, hands-on education. In 2010, Abe
began managing Whole Circle’s struggling market garden operation. By 2013, through
improvements in quality, quantity and consistency and focusing on direct to customer sales, Abe doubled the market’s income, turned a healthy and sustainable profit, all
while reducing land under production from 10 to 6 acres.
Abe joined the registered charity Providence Farm, in Duncan, in 2014 and has been
tasked with developing a profitable social enterprise comprising of market gardens,
grains and animals.
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February 19, 2015
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VEGETABLE STREAM
Beyond Google: Ask a local farmer!
Juniper Room
Got questions? Join this session to ask experienced farmers about local solutions. Panel
members include experienced vegetable growers, a grain producer, and soils expert.
Find out answers specific to our region, answers you can’t find on Google!
Robin Tunnicliffe, Sea Bluff Farm & Saanich Organics
[email protected]
Robin has been a certified organic farmer on the Saanich Peninsula for over 13 years
and is a co-owner of the farm marketing collective, Saanich Organics. For the past two
years she has managed Sea Bluff Farm in Metchosin, where she farms five acres of mixed
vegetables as well as producing seed.
Bryce Rashleigh, Saanichton Farm
[email protected]
Located just down the road from Saanich Fairgrounds, Saanichton Farm is a four generations farm where the Rashleigh family have worked to produce corn, dairy cattle, hay,
and grains on the Island. Our family has been farming in Saanichton since 1936, and
on Vancouver Island since 1912. Today Bryce and Jill Rashleigh, along with our family,
produce grains including Red Lentils, Hard Red Spring Wheat, and Malting Barley. In
addition to grain production, Saanichton Farm is one of the leading producers of hay
for animal feed on the south Island. We also enjoy raising seasonal turkeys, and chickens
for both meat and eggs.
Jack Mar, Mar Farms
[email protected]
Jack Mar has been farming on the Saanich Peninsula for over 50 years. He grows strawberries, raspberries, tayberries and marionberries, as well as a full line of mixed vegetables sold at the farm gate and pumpkins for Thrifty Foods.
Bob Maxwell, P. Ag Retired, Fieldstone Garlic
[email protected]
Bob and His wife Janice have a farm on Oldfield road, and have been farming here for
26 years. They have grown strawberries, green beans, garlic for 14 years and now raspberries and cherries. Bob had a career with the BC Ministry of Environment as a soil
surveyor and mapped and interpreted soils for agriculture, forestry, wildlife and urban
development. Bob did soil consulting for the past 12 years. During those times he was a
professional agrologist. He has served on the Central Saanich advisory commission and
the Peninsula Agricultural Commission; and the Peninsula Country Market.
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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VEGETABLE STREAM
Small Engine Maintenance for Beginners
Juniper Room
What happens when your rototiller breaks down? For most farmers, the non-functioning of machinery used for tilling, mowing or other farm tasks means a loss of both time
and money. This workshop teaches preventative maintenance steps you need to do
now to help your machinery do its part in the busy season to come. Each step will be
fully demonstrated, and all explanations geared to beginners.
Heather Ramsay, Umi Nami Farm
[email protected]
Heather Ramsay has been a member of Umi Nami Farm in Metchosin since 2010. The
farm practices year-round vegetable production in unheated greenhouses and outdoor
fields, specializing in Japanese vegetable crops. Previously, Heather studied Agroecology at UBC. Since 2012, she is primarily responsible for machine use and maintenance
at Umi Nami Farm, where a variety of large and small machinery is used to augment
physical labor.
MANAGEMENT STREAM
Harvesting the Numbers
Poplar Room
Back by popular demand from 2014- check out the updated version of this workshop!
This workshop will give an overview of bookkeeping for farming, whether just starting
out or already in business. It will include topics such as: budgeting, cash flow, and reporting (GST, tax, and payroll); payroll examples for regular employees & apprentices,
updated info on labor laws around volunteers and farm employees, capital purchases vs
repair and maintenance, ; and systems, templates, procedures, and routines. It will also
address questions such as Excel or accounting software? Annual, quarterly or monthly
record keeping? Cash vs accrual accounting? GST registration?
Sasha Kubicek, Sea Bluff Farm
[email protected]
After 15 years of corporate accounting experience, Sasha is now channeling his accounting knowledge into bookkeeping for farming. He is currently a Co-Manager at
Sea Bluff Farm Ltd. where he does all the bookkeeping, budgeting, financial planning,
and financial reporting to the Board.
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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MANAGEMENT STREAM
Moving the Needle on Local Food Supply and Demand
Poplar Room
Local food is a growing trend, yet currently we still consume less than 10% that is produced on Vancouver Island. That is a huge percent of the food market that is not being
filled by local foods. Come to learn about efforts, past and present, to increase the
demand for local produce. Talk to producers to consider the best use of our efforts to
increase demand and supply of local foods.
Linda Geggie, Coordinator CRFAIR
[email protected]
As Coordinator of CRFAIR, Linda works on behalf of 30 food and farm organizations to
facilitate education, information sharing and collaborative work in the region. CRFAIR
has led food policy and planning with municipal governments, and the Capital Regional
District, including the creation of a Regional Food Charter and the first steps towards
creating a Regional Food Strategy. Linda also sits as a member of the Peninsula Agriculture Commission and works with the University of Victoria’s Institute for Studies and
Innovation in Community University Engagement.
Robert Thompson, Direct Farm Marketing Association
[email protected]
Robert (Bob) Thompson has worked in support of local agriculture on the Saanich Peninsula and beyond for nearly 20 years, including service with the Island Farmers’ Alliance,
BC AgriTourism Alliance, and BC Association of Farmers’ Markets. He has worked with
the Southern Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association since 1999 as editor of the annual Farm Fresh guide and manager of the association website and social
media. He is the manager of the Peninsula Country Market, coordinator of the Saanich
Peninsula Flavour Trails project, and organizer of the Saanich Peninsula Harvest Feast.
Robin Tunnicliffe, Sea Bluff Farm & Saanich Organics
[email protected]
Robin has been a certified organic farmer on the Saanich Peninsula for over 13 years
and is a co-owner of the farm marketing collective, Saanich Organics. For the past two
years she has managed Sea Bluff Farm in Metchosin, where she farms five acres of mixed
vegetables as well as producing seed.
Bob Maxwell, P. Ag Retired, Fieldstone Garlic
[email protected]
Bob and His wife Janice have a farm on Oldfield road, and have been farming here for
26 years. They have grown strawberries, green beans, garlic for 14 years and now raspberries and cherries. Bob had a career with the BC Ministry of Environment as a soil
surveyor and mapped and interpreted soils for agriculture, forestry, wildlife and urban
development. Bob did soil consulting for the past 12 years. During those times he was a
professional agrologist. He has served on the Central Saanich advisory commission and
the Peninsula Agricultural Commission; and the Peninsula Country Market.
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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MANAGEMENT STREAM
The Nuts and Bolts of Land Access
Poplar Room
Introduction to resources available to new farmers and those looking to lease land and
for landowners who are looking for someone take over their farm. Followed by a “meet
& greet”/ networking opportunity.
Moss Dance
[email protected]
Moss grows organic veggies at Ripple Farm in the Comox Valley and is a founding
member of the new Merville Organics Growers’ Co-op. She is also the Vancouver Island
Coordinator for the Young Agrarians, a grassroots Canada-wide network that aims to
celebrate, connect, and recruit young farmers.
Keeley Nixon, Linking Land and Farmers
[email protected]
Keeley has been involved in farming and food activism on Vancouver Island for over a
decade. She is a farmer and seed grower at ALM Organic Farm in Sooke, director with
Sooke Food CHI and is passionate around land access, working with LLAF since 2010.
On-farm Water Management: Irrigation planning
Poplar Room
How much water do I need and when do I need to apply it? Join this session presented
by the provincial expert on irrigation management and scheduling, including different
kinds of irrigation systems, both sprinkler and drip.
Ted van der Gulik
[email protected]
Ted received his post-secondary education at the University of British Columbia graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Bio-Resource Engineering in 1977. He joined
the Ministry of Agriculture in 1979 and has served the agriculture industry of the province for 35 years. Ted has spent his entire career with the Ministry of Agriculture specializing in irrigation, water management and water resources planning and retired from
AGRI in 2014.
During his time with the Ministry Ted has built an international reputation for his
leading edge work in agricultural water management. This was demonstrated by his
selection as the Irrigation Association’s 2000 Crawford Reid Memorial Award recipient
recognizing his work in promoting proper irrigation techniques. Ted was awarded the
Premiers Legacy award in 2014 for the many initiatives and models that he spearheaded while with the province.
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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NOTES
Farmer 2 Farmer
February 19, 2015
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THANK YOU!
The Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CRFAIR) would like to thank representatives of the local
food and farm organizations whose collaboration makes this
event possible:
• Robert (Bob) Thompson, Direct Farm Marketing Association
• Bob Maxwell, Peninsula Agriculture Commission
• Robin Tunnicliffe, Island Organic Producers Association
• Linda Geggie, Peninsula Agriculture Commission and CRFAIR
• Niki Strutynski, Island Organic Producers Association
Many thanks to all the presenters for generously giving your time
and sharing your knowledge.
Thanks to all the volunteers for helping this day run smoothly.
Thanks also to all of you, the participants; we hope that you have
a wonderful day. Please let us know how we can make our event
better in the coming years.
Thank you to the following businesses and organizations for your generous support
and contributions, making Farmer2Farmer possible this year.
Sponsors:
Vancity
Growing Forward 2
District of North Saanich
Peninsula Agricultural Commission
Buckerfield’s
Cowichan Agriculture Society
In-kind Donations:
Island Chefs’ Collaborative
Level Ground Trading
The Local General Store
Saanich Organics
Square Root Farm
Saanichton Farm
Madrona Farm
Portofino Bakery
Islands West
Royal Colwood Golf Club
The Whole Beast
Peninsula Ag
Member Municipalities
PeninsulaAgriculturalCommission
S
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