I recently attended the ninth annual Powell River Edible Garden Tour, and was impressed with both the dedicated hard working young people who have chosen to be farmers, and some longtime gardeners who are dedicated to food security and food growing.
Regional district representatives and volunteers were on hand to “talk trash” and educate the public about handling waste products and predator control. We saw freezers turned into bear-proof composters, dog waste composters and electric fence energizers, and insulated posts and slinky gates to keep bears out of gardens and livestock areas. One gardener was using his metal roof for drying produce, using metal screens and insect-proof metal plates.
There were some great archival photos of the area in the early days of immigrant settlement, and stories of early food growing. Before refrigerated trucks bringing food from the Lower Mainland, the area was mostly self-sufficient food wise. I am impressed with the local dedication to progressive ideas and practices.
After a hot dry morning touring townsite gardens, and a personal foray to the beach to walk dogs and pick blackberries, I arrived at a beautiful oasis called Southview Community Garden. This is a garden on private land that has been opened to others wishing to grow food in a natural setting.
Water comes from an old irrigation pond on a creek. The creek dries up in the summer, but so far the pond has remained a reliable source of water for irrigation.
There was a lovely lunch for a donation, music playing, sheep in the nearby field, another small pond with the largest gunnera plant I have ever seen growing on the side, and a bounty of food being produced in the garden.
The final garden, and grand finale of the tour, was a 40-year-old garden deep in the forest near Lund. The rocks found on the land have been used for building extensive terraces that house many fruit trees, kiwi and grape vines, raspberry and blueberry bushes, a stunning collection of succulents, abundant veggie and herb gardens, and a greenhouse with tomatoes set up on a drip irrigation system.
After the tour, I had a refreshing swim in the ocean at high tide at Divers Rock Park. My peek into the garden life of another community was a great way to check out the local area and meet others with a similar passion for gardening and food security.
Heather Schamehorn is a certified residential landscape designer, educator, sustainability advocate and acupressure therapist. Contact via perennialpleasures.ca.
