‘Take it easy’ this weekend at Nanoose Edibles
LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
A free Brant Festival event this Sunday will see people touring a local organic farm, visiting the animals, birdwatching, and seeing the different crops that are already being picked.
“It’s meant for people to take it easy and see a farm,” said Barbara Ebell, one of the owners of Nanoose Edibles in Nanoose Bay. “It’s 25 years old now, a certified organic farm, so its kind of interesting how a farm of that nature operates in the community,” she said.
The event is called Family Day on the Farm, and Nanoose Edibles has been holding the event for the Brant Festival for the past five years.
People can go on a guided tour of the 23 acre farm, or take a map and walk at their leisure. Kids will love the potting shed where they can transplant a lettuce or flowers, people can check out the poultry flock of heritage birds, take in the fields of fruits and vegetables and see the newly reconstructed store. Ebell said there is a good road system around the farm so people can easily walk around it even in bad weather.
Nanoose Edibles makes its income from three fairly even markets: selling to locals at the farm store, selling to local restaurants and stores, and for the past 20 years, shipping their produce to Ucluelet and Tofino. The farm is currently looking for more local outlets to sells its produce.
The event takes place March 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on Nanoose Edibles visit their Facebook Page.
Other upcoming Brant Festival events include an open house at the Deep Bay Marine Field Station March 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here people can experience the touch tanks and large aquaria which is teeming with local marine creatures. Activities will include artists demonstrations, a First Nations interpretive walk, self-guided tours, displays, face painting, an oyster bar, refreshments, snacks and door prizes. This event is also free.
For more information on the Brant Festival go to www.brantfestival.bc.ca.