TLC’s campaign to save Madrona Farm for future food security is inspiring support from everywhere. From elementary school students and their families to business investors, the donations keep coming in. Having received another 60-day extension from the current landowners, TLC now only has $224,000 left to raise by the new May 15, 2010 deadline. Success is just around the corner thanks to continued support of all levels from the community.

In the last two months, TLC has received tremendous public support for Madrona reducing the amount left to raise from $730,000 to $224,000. “Everyday there’s another nice surprise,” says TLC Executive Director Bill Turner. “This morning it was notice of a stock transfer totalling $12,000 and the crucial support in gifts of $100 to $1,000 continues to bring us closer and closer to our goal. “All we need now is a little more time to pull the final pieces together. I’m confident given this high level of support; that we will protect Madrona as a local community resource for generations to come.”

Helping to plant the seeds of success for Madrona Farm have been students like Jamison from St. Michael’s University Junior School. Ten-year-old Jamison, who first encouraged the school’s Environmental and Service Clubs to get on board with TLC’s campaign, cited the recent earthquake in Haiti: “What if that happened here?” says Jamison. With Vancouver Island growers producing about only 10% of the food Islanders consume, that means the other 90% has to be shipped. In the event of a large scale natural disaster, that 90% could be drastically reduced. Jamison’s comment acknowledges the fact that citizens need to take a proactive approach to food security. With this concern in mind he asked his mom, Wendy, about getting his school involved. Together, the students have collected over $600 for Madrona. This is one of many examples throughout TLC’s fundraising campaign of people taking the issue of food security into their own hands and stepping up to help.

Located 10 minutes from downtown Victoria on rich soils at the foot of Mount Douglas Park, Madrona Farm provides food to over 3,500 homes in the Greater Victoria area. The 27-acre farm produces a diversity of 105 crops, 12 months a year. Hundreds of customers visit the farm stand each week, local chefs rely on the farm for fresh vegetables, and food banks and shelters receive donations from Madrona. The race is on to secure Madrona Farm as an innovative model for sustainable agriculture. Once protected, David and Nathalie Chambers will be provided with the first long-term lease to continue farming while providing education and training for apprentices.

Please donate today at www.conservancy.bc.ca, www.madronafarm.com or 1-877-485-2422.

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Contact: Alison Spriggs, The Land Conservancy, aspriggs@conservancy.bc.ca, 250-882-3313
Nathalie Chambers, Madrona Farm, madrama@telus.net, 250-477-3093

Madrona Farm

We already knew that Madrona Farm was something special. And so did you! In the first annual Exceptional EATS! Awards put on by EAT Magazine, Madrona won the silver medal for Farm Market that  inspires Vancouver Island citizens to eat local, seasonal foods. The very comprehensive contest also gives awards for several other categories ranging from most influential deli to best dish under $10. Winners were determined by an online survey filled out by the public. Thanks for telling anyone who isn’t in the loop that Madrona Farm is one of Vancouver Island’s best farm markets and one of B.C.’s special agricultural sites. If you would like to contribute to the campaign to save Madrona Farm, donate now. Our March 15 deadline continues to loom ever closer.

Go to one of your special places in B.C. and tell us via photo or video why you think it’s important for TLC to save natural areas, heritage sites, and agricultural lands throughout the province.

There will also be a special prize category, Million Reasons Challenge, for individuals who document themselves and their different reasons at as many different TLC properties and events as possible. Event opportunities for the Million Reasons Challenge can be found in the TLC Summer Event Guide and on our website under our properties landing page.

For more information and how to submit, check out the Million Reasons Contest page.  Select photos and videos will appear on TLC’s website. Participants will also have the chance to be included as one of the vibrant faces within TLC’s Million Reasons Membership Marketing Campaign.

So tell us, what’s your reason?

Photo by Jim Linton

We purchased Quail’s Run Farm, on Island Way Road, Oliver, in August 2005. We knew we had a special gem, however, we never anticipated the magnitude of the “SPECIAL”.

The land backs up against the Okanagan River and encompasses two landlocked oxbows. Over the past years we have watched hatches of Mallards and Wood Ducks mature. It has become a rest stop for several visitors on their annual migrations. Tiger Salamanders, Spadefoots, Spotted Frogs and Painted Turtles make their home here. Owls, herons, hawks and eagles frequent the trees and oxbows and of course the bird feeders provide many hours of interesting viewing. The visit from the Sandhill Cranes topped the list. These majestic birds are normally viewed from 2000 feet after finally matching their unique shrill call with a small wedge of specks in the sky.

The land is a functioning farm. There are six acres of hay and three acres of sweet corn. It takes a lot of energy and sweat to keep the weeds down and bring the plants along to maturity. In the fall the land is worked and seeded with field peas or fall rye providing green manure for the next seasons crops. Our first corn crop was harvested in 2006.

It was the fall of 2008 that a flock of Sandhills (26 birds), landed during their southern migration, to glean the corn kernels worked into the soil. It was wonderful to watch these huge birds at close range appreciating the spoils of our labours. We thoroughly enjoyed them.

Photo by Jim Linton

The corn was seeded the following spring. By early June it was doing well, we looked forward to a good harvest. One morning a large shadow floated by and came to rest in the newly germinated corn field. At first I didn’t realize what was taking place. By the time I walked out into the field the visitor, the “Majestic Sandhill”, was walking down the row of corn, picking the new corn plants out and eating the kernels. I persuaded it to finally move on, but not before a row and a half of corn had been eaten. Oh well, that’s not so bad as it was nice to see the big guy again. However, the “majesty” was wearing thin.

This fall we again had our visitors. Several flocks stayed an average of three days before moving on. Interesting to watch, but not as thrilling as the prior fall.

One of the birds (probably the singleton from the previous spring) decided the digs were pretty sweet so it stayed behind when the rest of the flock left. After the first week we became concerned and emailed Lisa Scott and Dick Cannings to see if this was normal behaviour. Mr. Cannings replied that periodically a weak bird will stay behind to rest up and regain it’s strength before continuing on the flight. It would leave when it was ready. He suggested that we feed it to help it along. The suggested food was CORN.

“I DON’T THINK SO!”

The bird remained for another week, we had a very cold spell and I weakened, purchased field corn and put the feeder out. A week later it continued south.

I can hardly wait for this spring to see if that bird returns to raid the cornfield again.

Sandhill Crane Facts:

• Amongst the largest of North American birds (stand over 1m (4ft) tall, wingspan about 2m (7 ft))
• A crane fossil approximately ten million years old was found in Nebraska and is structurally identical to the modern Sandhill Crane, making it the oldest known bird species still surviving.
• Thousands migrate thru B.C. each spring and fall travelling between their wintering ground in Southern USA and their Arctic nesting sites. Few of them stay and breed in the Okanagan.
• Stopover sites during migration include swampy fields, edges of wetlands, dry rangelands, grain fields and estuarine meadows.
• In B.C., there is a need to protect key habitats used by nesting Sandhill Cranes. It is also important to care for staging or stopover habitats used by migrating cranes. A special thanks to Jim and Pat and the many other landowners whose fields fall victims to these hungry giants of flight.

For more information on TLC’s SOS Stewardship Program visit our website or contact us:
201-262 Main Street
Penticton, BC V2A 5B2
Phone: 250-492-0173

Apples growing at Frank & Libby Ruljancich’s land, Bright Ridge Farm

TLC is pleased to watch Growing Through The Seasons blossom into a successful annual event.  Bright Ridge Farm is the Kootenay Region’s first Conservation Partner.

After holding successful courses in 2008 and 2009, Frank and Libby Ruljancich are offering the course again this year.  Come learn from their 34 years of experience as they plant, grow, harvest and store food from their sustainable, organic garden and orchard.  (Located NW of Castlegar near Lower Arrow Lake.)

This unique course will span the entire growing season with monthly classes specifically tailored to the time of year. 

Participants will learn the art and science of growing organic vegetables, and  fruits.  This will include soil preparation, variety selection, planting, pruning and training, pest and disease control, harvesting, preserving, and storing food, seed saving and more.  

The course will begin on Sunday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and then be on the third Sunday of each month thereafter, through October.  Enrollment is limited, so please register early to ensure a place.  The cost for the seven sessions is $280.

For further information and to register, please call 250-304-2718.

9:00     Tom Lowery: the benefits of retaining and restoring native habitat for Integrated Pest Management

9:30     Joe Lariviere: Environmental Farm Plan program: financial incentives for riparian protection and buffer strip restoration.

10:15   Coffee break

10:25   Paula Rodriguez de la Vega: The Land Conservancy Conservation Partners program; habitat restoration on agricultural land.

11:00   Orion Kendrick: what does habitat restoration involve? Costs and methods, experimenting with plants for vineyard row cover crops.

11:30   Success and challenges in habitat restoration (group discussion)

12 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30   Lucy Reiss, Environment Canada: How does wildlife legislation affect agricultural land?

1:00     Margaret Holm, OSCA: Management for beneficial birds in vineyards. Resources for dealing with bears.

1:30     Mike Sarell: vineyard management for amphibians & reptiles

2:00     Group discussion on wildlife management successes and challenges