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In this issue:
2011 Buy Local! Buy Fresh!
Cowichan Food Maps are Here
This year yet another 10,000 copies of the 2011 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Cowichan food map have been published and will be distributed throughout our region, reaching both residents and tourists alike. The 2011 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Cowichan Food Map is a valuable resource for consumers looking to source locally grown products from the Cowichan Valley as well as a direct marketing tool for farms in the Cowichan Region. The map showcases our region's abundance of local farms and other food producers and helps create a stronger connection between consumers and producers helping to promote a vibrant local food culture. From Cedar all the way down to Shawnigan Lake, the 2011 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Cowichan Food Map lists 72 producers selling everything from Dungeness crab and sunchokes, to value-added products like ancient-method balsamic vinegar and pickled beets. The map also directs people to interesting agri-tourism events, and unique value-added food products not found anywhere else. Come pick up your copy today and start grocery shopping the local way!
Farm To School  (Chives at the Warmland Gardens)
Farm to School is nearly done for the summer but not without one more delicious salad bar! Last week, as part of Quamichan Middle School's Aboriginal Heritage Day Celebrations, CGC served up fresh greens from Providence Farm to the delight of the staff, students and guests in attendance. The program will wrap up with one more visit to the Warmland Greenhouse and gardens to do some weeding and planting with students from the school.
Wild Food Walks - They're Back!
 Did you know that adding local wild edibles to our diets can feed us much-needed vitamins, minerals and enzymes? Wild edibles, which can include berries, mushrooms, greens and flowers, are free for the taking and often pack more nutritional punch than their store bought counterparts.
Cowichan Green Community has organized its second annual Wild Foods walking series focusing on the Cowichan Valley’s bounty of wild edibles and their ecosystems. Join local wild foods experts, including Chef Bill Jones and The Land Conservancy’s Jay Rastogi, as they share their knowledge of foraging, medicinal plant use, traditional plant uses, wild food preparation and more along six different walking trails throughout the Valley. See our schedule below:
Walk #1 - Thursday, June 30th, McAdam Park - Roger Foucher
Walk #2 - Friday, July 8th, Eves Park - Genevieve Singleton
Walk #3 - Saturday, July 16th, Wildwood, Jay Rastogi
Walk #4 - Wednesday, July 20th, Deerholme Farm - Bill Jones
Walk #5 - Friday, July 29th, Stoltz Pools - Genevieve Singleton
Walk #6 - Wednesday, August 10th, Mayo Creek Gardens - Ingeborg Woodsworth
All walks depart at 9:30 a.m. and run two to three hours depending on the number of people and the level of interest. The cost is $17 per walk; $15 for CGC members. Sign up for three or more walks and receive a 10% discount. Some walks have limited space so sign up now! To register, please call Heather at 250.748.8506.
Ceres Edible Landscapes:
Pruning Special ends Soon!
Receive a 15% discount on all your pruning needs including shrub thinning and shaping and cane pruning. This special offer ends June 21st so book your consult now with Ceres Edible Landscaping. Please contact Kristi or Kevin at 250.748.8506.
Cold Frames and Reclaimed Windows Available!
CGC is pleased to announce that we still have one well-constructed cold frame left for purchase! ($95.00 + HST) If you would rather build your own, we are still offering salvaged windows, perfect for cold frame or greenhouse construction. These wood framed windows were removed from the Vancouver City Hall as part of their building retrofit, and have been donated to CGC to be used for fundraising and food growing purposes. Windows are being stored in Sahtlam. To have a look, or pick up some up, please contact: john [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org">john [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org. Suggested donation: $5 for small quantities. Bulk options also available.
Kinsmen Community Gardens
Wish List: Perennials, Herbs & Raspberry Canes
We have a Wish List for perennials, herbs and raspberry canes for the round community bed in the Mandala Garden. Our vision is to create a beautiful centerpiece made up of flowers and herbs for the community to enjoy. These two elements in the garden will also help attract more pollinators and truly give back to the community at large. Please contact amanda [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org">amanda [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org, phone 250.748.8506 or drop off any contributions to 181 Station St.
A little extra:
The next "Meeting of the Minds" for Kinsmen Gardeners is July 11, 2011 from 5:30pm-6:30pm. For those of you who couldn't make it last week, you can also email Amanda with any comments, or questions by amanda [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org">clicking here.
Sustainable Living Centre:
Plant Macronutrient: Phosphorous
Last week we covered Nitrogen, this week we will cover Phosphorous (P) which is one of three primary nutrients that plants need to thrive. These major nutrients are usually lacking from the soil at first because plants use large amounts for their growth and survival.
- Like nitrogen, phosphorus (P) is an essential part of the photosynthesis process.
- Phosphorous effects rapid growth.
- Encourages blooming and root growth.
- Phosphorus often comes from fertilizer, bone meal, and super-phosphate.
- Phosphorus is involved in the formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc.
- Helps with the transformation of solar energy into chemical energy into usable food for plants (proper plant maturation; allowing plants to withstand stress).
- Phosphorus must be mixed with water for plants to be able to absorb it from the soil.
A plant with a phosphorus deficiency will exhibit stunted growth, lack of fruit or flowers, will look sickly or wilting, and leaves may be greener, or have a purple cast to them due to the photosynthetic process being affected. Mixing a phosphorus rich fertilizer with soil when planting will help the plant establish a stable root system and have a strong first growing season. Organic phosphorus is commonly found in animal manure, plant residue and rich hummus.
Click here for more info on Reindeers Natural Plant Foods.
Community Events:
EVES PROVINCIAL PARK BOARD of DIRECTORS invites you to: A Celebration of 100 YEARS of BC Parks at Eves Provincial Park - 8107 Little Mountain Road, Westholme on Saturday, June 25, 9:30-3:00
9:30am - 10:00am: Invasive Plants presentation by Melissa Noel of Coastal Invasive Plants Committee
10:00am - 12:00 Noon: CLEAR THE PARK OF INVASIVES work bee
12 Noon - 1:00pm: Free lunch for work bee participants, catered by Cowichan Green Community using local foods
1:00pm - 3:00pm: Nature walks by Cowichan Valley Docents, Geology talk by Bill Murray, Children’s Crafts. Everyone is welcome for all or part of day, work bee participants MUST sign up for free lunch before June 15. Contact Genevieve: twinflower [at] telus [dot] net / 250-746-8052 or Carol: 250-748-0580
Warmland Dental and Dahlstrom Dental in the Cowichan Valley are stepping up to help raise funds to save Sansum Point, June 25, 2011. For one day only they will be offering professional custom sportsguards at a greatly reduced fee and all proceeds will go to help purchase Sansum Point! This service normally costs up to $250 but for one day only you can get your custom sportsguard for only $50. This event includes a fundraiser BBQ and will take place at 921 Canada Ave. from 10:00am to 3:00pm on June 25, 2011. Come out and show your support for Sansum Point while protecting your smile. For more info about the campaign to save Sansum Point, visit <http://cowichanlandtrust.ca/news/campaign-launched-save-sansum-point-cowichan-valley>.
Creating community connections and support around the end of life journey. Join O.U.R. EcoVillage Thursday June 23rd and Saturday June 25th for Symposium and Celebrative Gathering. 10:00 am - 10:00 pm. The day will include a panel sharing on ‘options around dying’, a workshop on making cedar bark roses for your ancestors, and a green burial ceremony to honour past family/friends/ ancestors (please bring a biodegradable offering). Evening Concert: Music On Wings 7:30 pm - Home Grown Music for the Soul: Cari Burdett, Sara Marreiros, Massimo Pintus, Chris Bertin, Yasmeen Olba, Annette Lampson, Pashta MaryMoon, Bedside Singers, Threshold Choirs. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Contact O.U.R. Ecovillage at (250) 743-3067.
Maple Groove Farm now has a steady supply of free-range, GMO-free eggs available from organically raised Rhode Island x chickens. We recently added 16 new birds to our flock, and are regularly collecting enough eggs to feed our family and yours. At just $4/dozen these are significantly less expensive than similar, non-GMO free eggs from the supermarket. Contact Maple Groove Farm @ 250-597-3050.
Hope Farm has two tubing benders for loaning out to local growers wanting to make covered growing areas. We have one 4' low tunnel bender and one high tunnel bender. Please contact Michael Burdge at mike [at] hopefarm [dot] ca or 250.510.2111.
Permaculture Certificates from the leading minds on sustainability (e.g. seed saving, organic farming, permaculture design, greywater systems, food forestry, regenerative financial systems, food production, natural building, mushroom and mycelium production, business models and ecovillage design) + the highest hands-on to theory ratio of any residential permaculture course on the Canadian west coast + three weeks with the glorious backdrop of Salt Spring Island off the coast of British Columbia? Visit: http://www.permaculturebc.com/permaculture-design-certificate-british-columbia-salt-spring-island for more info!
ISES 2011: The Evolving Energy Ecosystem will be hosted by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada June 9-11, 2011. This year's program will feature Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Winner as well as a host of CEOs, leading academic intellectuals and government leaders. The International Student Energy Summit is a global, multi-disciplinary forum for students to discuss their role in the transition to a sustainable energy future.Register at www.studentenergy.org/registration.
FoxGlove Farm Presents 2011 Workshops, Retreats & Events: Make your own homestead cheese, build a wood-fire oven, photograph the great outdoors, learn how to graft and prune trees or discover the art of fermentation + many other workshops. Visit http://www.foxglovefarmbc.ca for more info! Contact: programs [at] foxglovefarmsbc [dot] ca or phone: 250.931.5336.
The Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op and Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society hosting 2011 Collective Biofuels Conference: August 5th-7th. This is the first time the CBC will be held outside the USA as the conference moves from its last location in Washington DC to Duncan BC! Featuring key note speaker: Lyle Estill, a founder of Piedmont Biofuels and author of Biodiesel Power and Small is Possible - Life in a Local Economy. His third book, Industrial Evolution; Community Solutions for a Low Carbon Economy, is coming out in May. His talk is "Biodiesel's New Leaf" - success stories and carnage on the road to community scale fuel production. Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-operative, #2 - 55 Station St., Duncan, BC. V9L 1M2, Tel: 250-748-2694 www.smellbetter.org
Saturday Farmer - Organic Agriculture Internship
Learn about organic food production with Saanich Organics at Northbrook Farm. Join us for four Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. The mornings will be dedicated to a workshop on a different topic each week. In the afternoon, Saturday Farmers will put their learning into practice and develop hands-on skills while working in the field. No previous experience is necessary and there is no cost, just a passion for gardening and hard work.
Summer Session: August 6, 13, 20, 27
Check out www.saturdayfarmer.com for more details or email Jill: dalton [dot] jill [at] gmail [dot] com
Casual Farm Help Available. Weeding, planting, general farm labour. Contact CGC for more information. 250.748.8506.
Garden Spaces/ Greenhouses & Rental Suites:
Garden Space Available, Bee Haven Farm, 4820 Wilson Rd. 5m x 20 m rototilled garden space available for use this season. Contact Steve at 250-710-3531 or Gail 250-710-3532 for more info.
Sunny Rental Suite Available in Mill Bay: 2 bedroom basement suite, private entrance, ocean view from kitchen, all appliances included, newly renovated bathroom, wood burning fireplace, cable TV, large storage shed, private yard beside suite with shared garden in back/front yard. 2min walk to ocean, 1 min walk to Creek. Beautiful Suite! $825/month. Please call 250-743-2231 for viewings. Leave a message if no answer.
Job Opportunities: (Note: Please reply directly to the job posting)
Nutritional Health Consultant Position upcoming at the Community Farm Store. Must be trained, certified, experienced and available full time. To join the farm store team you must also bring us a dynamic personality, a passion for organic food and a commitment to holistic living. If this is you (or someone you know) please call Nicolette at 250-597-1414.
Food Teller Positions upcoming at the Community Farm Store. We are looking for a FT (30+ hrs/week) organic food enthusiast to join our farm store team. Cashier and health food store experience helpful. Passion for holistic living, organic food and community building are mandatory. Happy, healthy, energetic team players need only apply. Must be available for weekend shifts. Call Nicolette @ 250-597-1414.
O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE requires a person to fill the "Social Marketing/Media Assistant" position. 35 hours per week. Must be:
* 30 years of age or under
* 16 week position
* are a returning student and will be returning to school in the fall
* have a background and demonstrated skill in marketing
* have a range of skills in graphic design
* can assist with website layout
* has demonstrated experience in blogging and social media.
There is an option to stay onsite residentially at O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE and to become fully immersed in O.U.R. learning community. Please enquire asap to brandy [at] ourecovillage [dot] org
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Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
5:00pm-7:30pm
@
Duncan United Church
Guest Speaker:
Spring Gillard
Come out to our 2011 AGM and be entertained by our guest speaker, Spring Gillard, who will be discussing: Feeding Ourselves. How Do We Fare?
Spring is the author of, "Diary of a Compost Hotline Operator",and she is also a communications consultant and food systems enthusiast. Through her company, Garden Heart Productions, she plans events, organizes green tours, gives workshops and courses, and helps promote a variety of groups working on sustainability and food security issues. She is an associate and instructor at Simon Fraser University and is an active member of the Westside Food Security Collaborative.
This is also the time to renew your yearly memberships and to vote for next year's board members.
Refreshments and light snacks will be served. Doors open at 4:30pm and this event will finish up around 7:30pm. The Duncan United Church is located at 246 Ingram Street.
For more info click here.
Yearly Memberships:
Members are the driving force behind everything we do here at Cowichan Green Community. Your support will: create a stronger voice for change in our community; help fund locally-focused programs that make our home a more sustainable place to eat, live, work and play; provide opportunities for community members like yourself to get involved.
Memberships also include: 10% off everything in the Sustainable Living Centre; access to our great selection of books in our Lending Library; discounts on CGC workshops and events; and the opportunity to vote at our AGM.
Register at 181 Station Street or online by clicking here.
Green Volunteer Appreciation: 
In no particular order, here is a list of the amazing people we would like to acknowledge with a special thanks for their support. Please note that if we missed your name, you are still amazing!
Top Shelf Feeds for the donation of Red Clover Seed; Andrew and David our amazing and dedicated volunteers for their help delivering maps; Monroe at School District 79, Susan Smith; Craig Evans and the Growing Opportunities team; the Beverly Corners Marquis!
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