Residents of the Parksville and Qualicum Beach region will be growing more local food in 2017 as the Coombs Farmers’ Institute and their partners begin their “Here We Grow” project.

The project is a result of the institute’s successful application to the B.C. government’s Grow Local Program.

The Coombs Farmers’ Institute has partnered with the Parksville Museum, the Arrowsmith Agricultural Association and the Town of Qualicum Beach, to secure high profile education centres in all three communities to teach people how to grow their own food. 

The “Here We Grow” project will engage locals in workshops that will teach how to grow food, food preparation and preservation techniques focusing on good nutrition, with some workshops targeting school teachers to encourage on going teaching of food literacy. Some other project components include the development of educational resources, engaging seniors as mentors, the formation of 4-H Here We Grow Garden Clubs, and the creation of mentor-led, house-call consultations for gardeners.

The Coombs Farmers’ Institute was incorporated 103 years ago and has, for over a century, fulfilled one of the most important mandates of the Farmers’ and Women’s Institute Act, that is, “to promote home economics, public health, child welfare, education and better schools.”

The “Here We Grow” initiative will help all participants to remember or learn the basics of self-sufficiency, using the tried and true methodology of the ‘back yard garden’.

The $250,000 Grow Local program is funding projects in 10 B.C. communities. The projects are designed to:

• involve residents in growing local fruit and vegetables;
• increase awareness and appreciation for supporting local food production; and
• strengthen local food supply security.

The 10 projects include the developing resources on how to grow local food, group education and awareness activities, such as workshops, mini-courses, and “how-to” demonstrations, and one-on-one consultation and advice. The application process was administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.

The BC Agrifoods and Seafood Strategic Growth Plan identifies the next steps in the B.C. government’s goal to grow the B.C. agrifoods industry to a $15-billion-dollar-a-year sector by 2020. Grow Local BC will assist in maintaining food supply security, a challenge identified in the strategic growth plan.

Quotes:

Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell –

“High quality speaks for itself and the island has a reputation for fresh and nutritious products. The Grow Local Program funding will help build on our reputation while supporting our local food security.”

Janet Thony, president, Coombs Farmers’ Institute –

“Farmers’ Institutes enjoy a respected history in our culture, as builders and supporters of rural and urban communities. We have heard an increasing demand from urbanites, young families, and folks previously not interested in the provenance of their food, for assistance in learning how to become more self-reliant. Coombs Farmers’ Institute and our partners can provide a collective wealth of energy and skills to accomplish this end.

Learn More:

http://coombsfarmersinstitute.weebly.com/

News release announcing Grow Local: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016AGRI0058-001860

Program background: http://iafbc.ca/funding-opportunities/grow-local/