Metchosin Farm (Metchosin)
The farm stand is chock FULL of organically-grown heirloom tomato starts, fruit bushes and vegetable plants. All hardened off, and with the weather forecast to be fairly cool for the long weekend, this is the perfect time to transplant! Looking for locally-grown organic seeds with a generous amount in each package? Metchosin Farm seed packages now retail at Aubergine Specialty Foods in Fernwood, Gardenworks Blenkinsop, Cannor Royal Oak and Red Barn Latoria Walk. Limited supplies. http://www.metchosinfarm.ca/

Saanich Organics (Central, Saanich and now Metchosin!)
Do we have farm news? Do we ever! Saanich Organics has expanded to Metchosin this year, because Robin has moved to Sea Bluff. To celebrate spring and the opening of her farm stand, we welcome one and all to “Weed Dating” June 8 at Sea Bluff. https://www.facebook.com/events/129042967292735/
Also, Saanich Organics farmer Rachel of Three Oaks is selling plant starts, especially featuring her great tomato plants at her farm stand at 7900 West Saanich Road. And if that’s not all, Saanich Organics is able to expand this spring and welcome new box customers because we have renovated a new packing space on our farm giving us a larger area to work and a bigger cooler so we can feed more families!

Michell Bros. Farm (Saanichton)
Red leaf, green leaf and romaine lettuce from michells as well as plenty of rhubarb! Plus our frozen strawberries are on sale to compliment the rhubarb! $6 for a 2 lb bag!

Nanoose Edibles Organic Farm (Nanoose Bay)
Today is Food Revolution Day (May 17). We are asking our customers and facebook friends to cook something from a local farmer and send a message to facebook naming the product and including the recipe….

Haliburton Community Organic Farm (Saanich)
Saturday, May 18 – the farm is holding a giant plant sale today. There will be Certified Organic seedlings and plants, seeds and fresh produce that is available for sale from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Our new nursery business, Shooting Starts Nursery, will have their organically grown seedlings and plants available as will our other farmers who raise seedlings. Also another new business to the farm, Saanich Native Plants, will be there as well. Check out their new site on the front lawn of the farm along with their wonderful selection of organically raised native plants.

There’s also a special work party today (Saturday, May 18), in addition to our regular Saturday monthly work parties. This will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a break for lunch. Tasks to undertake – cutting of blackberries in the buffer zones, general clean up, and help to all the farmers, who are extremely busy at this time of the year. Please come prepared with work gear, hats, gloves, water, sunscreen, and lunch to share.

Our regular weekly work parties have moved from our previous day of Wednesday to Mondays and the time is changed to 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is to accommodate the students we have volunteering for work experience and practicum learning. Please feel free to drop in at that time if you can, you will discover there is an awful lot to learn about growing food on our Island.

FOOD BOX PROGRAM: If you are interested in our Food Box Program, whereby you receive a delicious box of fresh, organic food every week, please contact the farm at 250-658-0758 or email to info@haliburtonfarm.org to sign up. Further information is available on our web site at www.haliburtonfarm.org.

BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED: Haliburton Farm is always looking for new people who are willing to spend a few hours a month and serve on our Board of Directors. If you are interested in organic produce, local sustainable food production and saving the environment among many other services we try to provide, please check out our web site and consider applying for a Board position. We need all types of people – those with computer skills, financial skills, marketing skills, and grant application skills – just to name a few areas we could use help in. Please contact the Farm at either the above phone or email address.

Spring Release party – Muse Winery. Saturday, May 4, 12noon-4pm. 11195 Chalet Road, North Saanich.
The Girls of Summer… those wonderful whites will be ready for your taste buds on May 4th!  This party launches the 2012 lineup of Bacchus, Ortega, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Fume Blanc & Gewurztraminer.  It was a great summer last year with an excellent harvest which has resulted in an awesome release!  We can’t wait for you to taste these beauties!  The Party pairs our new wines with those fabulous Bistro Bites, all the culinary choices designed to accent the flavours of the wine.  At a $1 taste or bite, this is the deal of the year.  Drop by, no reservations required.  Wine Club Members – this is gratis for you!

Sea Cider Celebrates May Day @ Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse. Sunday, May 5, 11am-4pm. 2487 Mt. St. Michael Road, Central Saanich
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse celebrates spring with a traditional May Day event on Sunday, May 5th. Open to the public, May Day will feature the Quicksbottom Morris and Island Thyme Morris dancers, and a complimentary glass of cider, including a non-alcoholic option. Bring the whole family to this wonderful celebration—including tours with owner Kristen Jordan, delectable nibbles from catering partners Truffles Catering and Food For Thought Catering, live music by The Sweet Lowdown, and a festive thank you to the sun for the season ahead.

Ravenhill Herb Farm – 1st Market this Sunday! May 5th, 10am – 2pm.
Ravenhill is open for the season! We will be open every Sunday from 10am – 4pm through til the end of August. For 2013, our culinary and medicinal herb plant selection will be more diverse than ever… arnica, chinese licorice, anise basil, mammoth dill, dong quai, chaste tree, ginger mint, marshmallow….and of course all your old favorites too. Stop by Sundays to purchase our organically grown herb starts and open pollinated herb seeds direct from the farm. Come sample our amazing herbal honeys and artisan herbal teas. And of course, enjoy tea in the garden and take in the beautiful views!

Part 2
INFUSED OILS & SALVES
10am – 2pm | Sunday April 28 2013

Learn the art of herbal medicine making! $120 (for 2 day workshop).
Instructor: Jessy Delleman
During this workshop you will learn how to make high-quality herbal teas, tinctures, infused oils & salves using effective and repeatable methods. Students will experience hands on techniques in medicine making and plant harvesting. Fees included all herbs, oils, bottles, jars, and other medicine making supplies.
Learn the basics of:
• Ethical wild-crafting
• Herb harvesting, drying, and storage
• Infusion vs decoction
• Choosing your menstruum: alcohol, vinegar, glycerin
• Fresh plant tinctures
• Dry plant tinctures: percolation vs maceration
• Vinegar tinctures
• Glycerin tinctures
• Choosing carrier oils
• Choosing herbs: emollients, astringents, vulneraries
• Natural preservatives
• Massage Oils
• Intermediate extraction
• Oil infusion methods 1, 2 & 3
• Herbal salve making
• Materia medica for all herbs used in workshop

Participate hands on in:
• Fresh herb harvesting
• Herb preparation
• Herbal medicine making: infused oil methods, intermediate extraction, herbal salves, fresh plant tinctures, dry plant maceration & percolation

At the end of the workshop you will take home one of each of the medicines made in class:
• 100 ml fresh plant tincture
• 100 ml dry plant maceration
• 100 ml dry plant percolation
• 100 ml infused oil
• 100 ml massage oil
• 100 ml herbal salve

Ravenhill Herb Farm
1330 Mt Newton Cross Rd
Saanichton, BC

The opportunity to experience the freshest and most inspired innovations of our local culinary scene returns to The Crystal Gardens for Culinaire; Victoria’s Premier Food tasting Experience. Muse Winery is pleased to be a part of the fourth-annual Culinaire featuring the most diverse selection of unique restaurants and purveyors of fine foods and beverages Lower Vancouver Island has to offer. A growing list of presenters from Victoria and the Cowichan Valley will serve guests their ingenious creations and signature dishes; a wide variety of delicious cuisine, new restaurants, and rarely-experienced specialty dishes await.

“We are so proud to offer guests such an amazing group of local restaurants and beverage makers to choose from,” says Event Organizer Scott Gurney, “the food scene in Victoria and the Cowichan Valley is thriving. We are so fortunate to have these experts of their craft displaying their talents at Culinaire for all to enjoy—it’s a real treat.”

Guests will sample delicacies from more than 60 exhibitors and will interact with chefs and restaurateurs to receive first hand information about their food ideals, menu concepts, business, and location. Admission to Culinaire includes 10 generous tastings from presenters; additional tastings will be available at a cost of $1 per item. Tickets for Culinaire sell out each year—don’t miss your opportunity to experience Victoria’s Premier Food Tasting Event! Culinaire is proud to support the Camosun College Culinary Arts Program. Partial proceeds from the event go towards providing scholarship awards to students aspiring to be tomorrow’s best chef.

Visit culinairevictoria.com for full event details and an up-to-date list of participating chefs, restaurants, and suppliers.

Tickets are $37 and are available at The Bard & Banker Scottish Pub (1022 Government St), Phillips Brewing Company (2010 Government St), The Penny Farthing Pub (2228 Oak Bay Ave), or online via Ticket Rocket (www.ticketrocket.org)

Event Manager: Scott Gurney  (250) 516-9797 | scott@culinairevictoria.com

Contact
Alison Philp or Linda Holford
Cowichan Wineries Coop
www.wines.cowichan.net
alison@damali.ca or linda@rockycreekwinery.ca

Seedy Saturday at Haliburton Farm. Haliburton Farms will hold its 1st Seedy Saturday on Saturday, January 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be certified organic seed vendors present with their seeds for sale, a seed swap table, a children’s seed table, fresh produce, preserves and refreshments for sale, and a special Guest Speaker Dan Jason from Salt Spring Seeds at 12:00 noon. Please come out to the first Seedy Saturday of the year on Vancouver Island, support the Farm and obtain your certified organic seeds for next year’s crop.www.haliburtonfarm.org

Saanich Peninsula – Christmas Trees
some of these farms also have greens and holly

> Bella’s Bees, Berries and Farm Fresh Produce – U-cut
> Marsh Farm – U-cut
> Michell Bros. Farm  – pre-cut
> Saanichton Christmas Tree Farm – u-cut and pre-cut
> Woodstock Evergreens – pre-cut

Holly only
> Blue Haze Farm – Metchosin
> Stillmeadow Farm – Metchosin
> Firbank Farm – Saanich Pensinula
> Rosemeade Farms – Saanich Peninsula

Cowichan Valley – Christmas Trees
> Providence Farm – trees
> Abby Lane Farm – holly only

Ladysmith – Christmas Trees
> Yellow Point Cranberries – trees

Nanoose Bay – holly only
> Nanoose Edibles Organic Farm – holly only

Qualicum – Christmas Trees
> Pineridge Farm Market – trees

“Delighted to tell you that our kiwifruit are ready for sale. We have packaged them for self-service, but if you require larger quantities phone us at 250-656-7808 and w