Matthew Davidson was born and raised in Lillooet. Growing up, his parents always grew a garden and processed much of the food they grew. They also gave food–like veggies, milk and eggs–to low-income families when they could. This was the foundation that gave Matthew an appreciation for plants and taught him the importance of food security from a young age. At 23, he bought a piece of property and started a garden of his own. However, health problems kept him from working for many years and his moral was low. One day, it dawned on him that he needed to preserve food and work towards food sustainability. He went to the Old Airport Gardens and bought cucumbers–it’s what they had that day–to make some pickles. The next year he planted potatoes. And so he started on the path that took him, in 2013, to take a 10 month Horticulture Program offered by the Ucwalmicw Centre Society and Thompson Rivers University. Not long after, Matthew founded the T’it’q’et’s Food Sovereignty Project and Amlec Organic. He believes that growing nutritious food is the best kind of insurance and is working hard to make sure that the T’it’q’et community is well taken care of.  

Ravenwood Wildcraft & Healing arts is a business based in the Bridge River Valley that creates local, wildcrafted soaps, body butters, bath salts, massage candles & much more using sustainable, seasonal harvested plants. Recently, Jennifer, who runs the business, created lavender oil rollers using lavender that was grown at the Old Airport Gardens. According to Jennifer, lavender is known for helping to calm, relax and balance emotions, as well as for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The oil can be rolled on temples, pulse points, sore muscles, wounds, sunburns or just for Lavender Love. Old Airport Gardens is also planning on producing lavender essential oils with all the lavender they’ve been growing. They hope to put Lillooet on the map as a lavender destination. They currently have bundles available for sale. Stop by and get yours!  

Candace Campbell and Bonnie Tedford sell their produce at the Lillooet Farmer’s Market every week. This week, they had something special on their tables: some delicious strawberries grown by their niece, Talya Wood. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones with an appetite for something fresh, sweet and Lillooet Grown — by 10am, only two pints remained. The lesson: if you want some fresh strawberries to go with those late sunsets, you’ll have to hit the Farmers Market early!

Brett Bojarski and Christoph Miles have had a busy spring. On June 5^th, the Rainshadow Growers were joined by a small group of helpers and, together, transplanted a large portion of the 2,500 tomato plants, 1,000 melons and 1,000 hot peppers that they are growing this year. The two farmers were proud to say that all the varieties that were planted that day (12 tomato, 7 hot pepper and 6 melon), were open-pollinated heritage varieties. Most of the tomatoes were grown from seeds that they harvested themselves last fall. This year, they will once again harvest tomato seeds and will even attempt to harvest melon seeds, a challenging undertaking due to melons’ tendency to cross-pollinate. To avoid this, they plan on growing a plot specifically for this purpose. Christoph and Brett are currently farming on 4 different properties. They lease half an acre in East Lillooet where they grow sweet corn, as well as an acre on Roshard Road. They are also caretaking an orchard on Roshard Road and growing at the Texas Creek Ranch. The duo sells their produce every week at the Whistler’s Farmers Market, as well as to many restaurants in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Soon, they—df   will also be selling to The Kitchen at Fort Berens. What’s next for the Rainshadow Growers? Christoph Miles says they have been thinking of setting up a Farm Stand on Roshard Road. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that they do!

Residents of the northern St’átimc territory and the greater Lillooet region will be growing more local food in 2017 as the Lillooet Agriculture and Food Society (LAFS) begins its “Growing Healthy Communities” project.  The project is a result of the Society’s successful application to the B.C. government’s Grow Local Program for $25,000. The “Growing Healthy Communities” project will deliver tailored events, workshops and seminars in the District of Lillooet, Area B of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and each of the northern St’át’imc communities, on growing and harvesting activities both in and out of season. Participants will learn about soil preparation; seed selections; crop care; harvesting, processing and storing produce; crop diversification; natural pest management solutions and winter crops. 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 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.

In late January, the LAFS Board approved the Lillooet and Region Agritourism Strategy, a road map for existing local agritourism businesses as well as prospective agritourism businesses.  The Strategy comprised an extensive consultation, including online surveying and interviews, as well as research on both the agriculture and tourism sectors.  The Strategy can be found here: final-lillooet-and-region-agri-tourism-strategy

There are a few spots left for the workshop, which takes place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on December 1st at the  P’egp’íg7lha Community Centre in T’it’q’et.  This LAFS workshop is being co-promoted with the Young Agrarians and is supported by the BC Ministry of Agriculture’s Agri-Food Business Development Program and Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. See below for more information.

Don’t forget to register for the Invasive Species Management Workshop on November 16, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Lillooet Fire Zone Boardroom (658 Industrial Place).  This is a great workshop for farmers, ranchers and gardeners. Registration is free but you must reserve your spot as space is limited. 

LAFS is currently working on an Agritourism Strategy as part of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B, District of Lillooet and St’át’imc  Agricultural Plan. The objective of the Strategy is to identify the key priorities and actions required to promote existing agritourism businesses, support prospective agritourism businesses and raise the visibility of Lillooet, the Northern St’at’imc territories and Electoral Area B (defined as “local”  and “community” for the purpose of this survey) as an agritourism destination.  Our research includes this six question survey. For the purpose of this survey, “agritourism” is defined as: Visitor experiences that include an agriculture or agrifood component as the primary experiential activity or consumer good.  This includes but is not limited to farm and ranch visitation and accommodation; local food-based hospitality and retail sales; agriculture and agrifood-based artisanal products; educational and cultural activities; and festivals and events. If you own a local agritourism business, work for an agritourism business, wish to start an agritourism business or you provide support services to agritourism businesses, we want to hear from you.  Click here to take the survey.

The T’it’q’et Economic Development Authority is searching for the right candidate to fill an important position. Soon we will be opening a food processing facility/distribution hub in Lillooet. We need a person who can assure the effective functioning of the facility to provide an efficient and safe working environment for staff and volunteers and their activities.

Tasks:

• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards and industry codes.
• Obtain quotes and tenders from area farmers, producers, vendors and suppliers.
• Negotiate contracts to optimize delivery and cost saving.
• Ensure delivery schedules, quantity and quality criteria are met.
• Verify payment and invoicing match contract pricing.
• Plan and monitor appropriate facility management staffing levels.
• Ensure efficient utilization of facility staff and volunteers.
• Develop and implement a facility management program including preventative maintenance, cleaning regimen and product life-cycle requirements.

 Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in Business Management, or related qualifications such as B.Sci.(Agr.) or similar business studies.
• Working knowledge of financial principles and practices.
• Working knowledge of human resource management principles and practices.
• Experience working with First Nations communities is an asset.

 Skills, Interests and Qualities.

• The ability to manage a varied and complex workload
• The ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of people
• Good spoken and written communication skills
• Knowledge of food security issues is preferable.

Deadline for application: August 24, 2016 at 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

Mail your resume and cover letter to:

T’it’q’et Economic Develoment Authority   PO Box 1427  Lillooet BC   V0K 1V0  or

fax to (250) 256-4544 or email to deaneabilly@gmail.com

Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.