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

TLC is encouraging Victoria residents, local restaurants, pubs, recreational centres, and schools to participate in the campaign because every penny counts when it comes to saving local greenspace.  Mark your calendars, and contribute to the Bottles for Greenspace campaign today!

Drop-off location: Elk Lake Regional Park parking lot on Brookleigh Road in Saanich

Time: 9 to 2 p.m.

January 9 & 10, 2010, weekend after New Years long weekend
March 27 & 28, 2010, weekend after St. Patrick’s day – “Spring Cleaning”
May 29 & 30, 2010, weekend after Victoria day long weekend

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Come out for your chance to win a weekend away at TLC’s South Winchelsea Island, one of three weekends at the Sooke Potholes Campground or a Clipper Canoe, generously donated by Ocean River Sports.

Proceeds from the 50/50 ticket sales and the Chuck-A-Puck contest will go towards saving special places like Madrona Farm. TLC will also be debuting “Green Bands for Green Lands”, a reflective, multi-purpose arm/leg band for purchase to protect yourself while protecting B.C.’s lands.

Get your tickets today! Advanced tickets are only $18 and $3 from every ticket sold before March 11 goes to TLC. Tickets can be purchased online at Select Your Tickets or by calling the box office at 250-220-7777.

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.

The Eagles Estate Heritage Garden in Autumn

TLC will be hosting a series of educational workshops this winter and spring at the Eagles Estate Heritage Garden in Burnaby – just a short drive away from Vancouver.  The workshops focus on sustainable gardening and some of the topics covered will be basic pruning and tree care, vegetable gardening, invasive species control, mason bees, and backyard bumblebee conservation.  Registration is now open for the following workshops.  Register early to avoid disappointment.

Mason Bee Workshop

Learn how to have happy healthy mason bees in your garden with Brian Campbell. Brian has a certificate in Permaculture Design, is a Certified Bee Master, and is very active in food security and conservation issues. In this introduction to the Blue Orchard Mason Bee you will learn about their life cycle and how to attract and get them to stay in your garden. There will be a hands-on opportunity to wash cocoons and identify some common diseases and pests of these gentle beneficial insects.

Summer Vegetable Gardening

Get growing this spring with a lively ‘tips and tricks’ workshop led by Sharon Hanna – instructor for Gaia College’s “Growing Food in the City” program, creator of school gardens and writer for GardenWise and Gardening Life.  Learn about the best varieties to grow in our region, the best seeds to buy, and when, where, and how to plant them.  Explore the use of organic matter vs. fertilizers and do some hands-on planting.  Please come with lots of questions!

Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening

Do you know that you can grow food all year in coastal BC?  Join Sharon Hanna – instructor for Gaia College’s “Growing Food in the City” program, creator of school gardens, and writer for GardenWise and Gardening Life to learn more about extending the growing season.  Winter veggies need to be started as early as June through to early July.  Find out what you can grow throughout fall and winter and explore the use of cloches and coldframes.

Backyard Bumblebee Conservation

Urban spaces tend to be highly fractured ecologically, join Brian Campbell to learn how to make your neighbourhood more bee-friendly. Brian has a certificate in Permaculture Design, is a Certified Bee Master, and is very active in food security and conservation issues.  Bumblebee biology and life cycles will be covered and you will learn some simple techniques to encourage and support these beautiful and important creatures.  Help make bee corridors through our city environment so bees can continue helping us grow lots of food!

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 of Harrison Trail by M.E.Sanseverino

The Capital Regional District (CRD), The Land Conservancy (TLC) and Western Forest Products (WFP) have reached an agreement in principle for the CRD to acquire 2350 hectares of lands in the Jordan River, Sooke Potholes and Weeks Lake areas for recreation, conservation and watershed protection. The agreement, which includes over 3.5 km of shoreline from Jordan River to Sandcut Beach, will require the assistance of partners to help fund the acquisition.

Photo by Sylvan Mably

The lands in question are being sold by Western Forest Products and lie within CRD boundaries. “The WFP lands are a subject of great interest to the Board and the agreement in principle generated significant discussion and support at the March 3 Special Board meeting.” said Geoff Young, CRD Board Chair. “I would like to acknowledge the hard work that JDF Electoral Area Director Mike Hicks has played in moving this process forward. Acquisition of these lands will help to further the CRD’s strategic priorities, protect our water supply in the Leech Watershed, conserve sensitive ecosystems and support recreation.”

“We recognize the public interest in these particular parcels, and we’re pleased to be making headway with the CRD towards keeping them available for public enjoyment” said Steve Frasher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Forest Products. “Our goal has been to make this a win-win for ourselves and for the CRD. We’re happy to see this taking shape.”

One of the CRD’s major land acquisition partners on this project is The Land Conservancy, which has stepped up with a strong commitment to raise the necessary funds to make this acquisition happen. “With this purchase we are going to add one of the last remaining pieces to the Sea to Sea Greenbelt,” said TLC Executive Director, Bill Turner. “To match the CRD Parks levy, TLC will reach out to its members and others in the community who understand how important it is to help make this purchase a reality.” 

“The lands in both the Jordan River and Sooke Potholes areas have high recreation and conservation values,” said Regional Parks Chair Christopher Causton. “We are very interested in keeping them in public hands so that everyone both today and in the future can enjoy them.”

To make a donation to this acquisition, please visit TLC website. View the maps of the Jordan River parcel group and CRD Agreement in Principle Lands.

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For further information, please contact:

Gary Ley, Western Forest Products                      Bill Turner, Executive Director
Tel: 604.685.5485                                                       The Land Conservancy of BC
Cell: 604.787.5467                                                     Tel: 250.589.8024
Email: glpa@telus.net                                                 Email: bturner@conservancy.bc.ca 

Sheila Taylor, Manager, Community Relations
Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3308
Cell: 250.216.4427
Email: staylor@crd.bc.ca

Photo by A. Skinner

Join TLC, the Town of Oliver, the Forbes Family Farm, and the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance on Tuesday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to restore, clean-up, and celebrate the Forbes Wetland Trail.

The trail connecting 87^th and 85^th streets to the Okanagan River channel is used daily by community members who bike, walk, or bird-watch along the river channel.  In addition, the trail skirts along an important wetland which is home to many birds, turtles, frogs, and animals.

“From 10 a.m. to noon, we hope Oliver residents will join us for a Spring garbage clean up along the trail and dyke, as well as help us mulch the native plants that were planted in fall,” says Paula Rodriguez de la Vega, stewardship ecologist with TLC’s South Okanagan – Similkameen Stewardship Program. “Last year, 25 residents along with several Town of Oliver staff and Councilors came out to support this project.  It’s great to see remnant wetlands being cared for as they will benefit everybody.”

“It is exciting to be part of a project which enables us to walk through the Forbes Wetland Trail, taking a moment to reflect on the natural beauty which abounds in this area, maybe to sit and listen to birds calling or get lost in the tranquility of the moment,” says Mayor Patrick Hampson.

“Frogs and turtles need your help! Loss of habitat has severely impacted these populations of the South Okanagan-Similkameen. Volunteer monitors are needed to assist in the recovery of these amazing creatures,” says Jacquie Likins from the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance.  “Join us from 1 to 3 p.m. to learn about turtle and frog lifecycles, how to tell frogs apart by their calls, how to monitor their populations, and how to help conserve their habitats.”

Wetlands offer essential habitat for as many as 600 species of wildlife in Canada.  Wetlands provide environmental and societal value by moderating the effects of droughts, floods, climate change, and erosion. Wetlands filter our water and help provide clean, secure water sources. Wetlands provide beautiful recreational and educational areas for all ages!

For all participants, please wear sturdy foot wear, dress for the weather, and bring work gloves.

For more information on the Forbes Wetland Trial Enhancement Project and TLC please view the Backgrounder.

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