The 10-Mile Diet

People who attended Wildsight Creston’s February 10 meeting, the 10-Mile Diet, know that Creston has something unique and coveted in BC—the family farm. The demand for locally produced food has increased nation-wide since Wildsight hosted its Food Forum one year ago. The movement promises to be a win/win/ win situation. Growers win because they can earn enough income to keep farming. Consumers win with healthy, good-tasting food. The environment wins with less fuel required to move food from field to fork.

Since the last meeting, Wayne and Denise Harris have built the Kootenay Alpine Cheese Fromagerie and are pleased with consumer response. Their video displayed the cheese-making process and Wayne is eager for the grass to grow in order to begin their second year.

Randy Meyer, hay producer and beef grower spoke about the challenges of beef production including the prohibitive costs of shipping cattle to Alberta. With a newly constructed beef-processing facility at Tarzwell Farms, valley producers can provide a government inspected product for local consumers. The next challenge is to provide locally raised government inspected poultry. A certified mobile poultry processing unit from Cranbrook is available to valley farmers if a suitable "docking station" can be established. Various layers of government regulations need to be met before approval is given. Farmers must adapt to changing markets, consumers, regulations, and a volatile economy, but Randy is refreshingly hopeful that Kootenay-grown poultry will soon be available for valley residents. For more information, call Randy at 428-7013.

This year, Sharla Truscott expanded “Straight From Earth Organic Food Deliveries” to “Straight From Earth Food Store and Café” on Canyon Street. Jenny Truscott also offers a milling service for the local grains.

Caroline and Gord Martin of Cherrybrook Farms on Erickson Road are pleased with their Cherry CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). In the spring, buyers purchase shares in a tree and arrive at harvest time for the cherries. Caroline and Gord have also built a 6000 sq. ft. greenhouse where they plan to produce hydroponically grown lettuce in addition to vegetables and herbs. Watch for trains.

In one year, the Food Action Coalition has accomplished a great deal due to co-ordinator Gail Southall and an active membership. Its mandate is to liaison between groups to increase the growing capacity of the valley for the local market. The F.A.C. addressed Diabetes Prevention through the Interior Health Authority with workshops and recipes and served as an invaluable communication tool for the Creston Grain C.S.A. See the Farm Fresh Guide, a guide to local growers and foods at: www.crestonfarmfresh.ca  The next FAC meeting is March 2 at 4:00 pm at the library.

Thanks to Christine Munkerud, Anita Sawyer and Karen Powis, for reviving the greenhouses at the College of the Rockies. The greenhouses host several programs, such as the “SEEDS” program for grade 6 and 7 children, “Soil for Seniors,” a family gardening program, and a spring seeding program for gardeners. A Winter Harvest project researches vegetable-growing in cold frames and the unheated greenhouse. Produce from the Community Greenhouse is donated to TAPS and the Gleaners.

March 14 is “Seedy Saturday,”a non-hybrid seed trading event, including a workshop at 1:00 pm, and seed swap at 2:00 pm. For more information contact: kpowis at wynndel dot ca.

The Creston Rotary Club has managed a very successful Saturday Farmer’s Market for two years. It is now someone else’s turn. The club’s plan is to have the Farmer’s Market become its own entity and seek out funding possibilities. If you or your organization are interested in planning for the market’s future, or if you can help out on Saturdays throughout the summer, call Geri Lee 428-0655.

Guest speaker, Jon Steinman, an accomplished local food advocate from Nelson, has attained national interest through his series of radio programs called “Deconstructing Dinner.” Creston’s CIDO radio (97.7 FM) broadcasts Jon’s programs Mondays 12:00-1:00 pm, and Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 pm. Steinman enthused about the success of the Creston Grain CSA and its future plans to include more consumers, more grains, and more farmers. To purchase shares in the Creston Grain CSA, contact Brenda Bruns 428-5559.

Growers at the meeting thanked the local consumers for their support, and consumers thanked the farmers for the food that they produced. By this time next year…who knows?

Photo by Abra Brynne.