In its ninth year organized by Powell River Food Security Project (PRFSP), the Edible Garden Tour will showcase an assortment of urban backyard gardens in the morning and homesteads and farms in the afternoon, for a total of 10 properties.
All five of the urban gardens that are on the self-guided tour on Sunday, August 6, are in Townsite.
“A lot of people don't have a real sense or knowledge about the kitchen garden tradition in Townsite,” said PRFSP coordinator Vanessa Sparrow.
The backyard garden has been a mainstay of the historic neighbourhood from the early days of the Powell River Company. Now, a new generation of young families that are moving into Townsite are continuing the tradition for ideological, sustainable and financial reasons, and the improved health and quality of life in growing their own fresh food.
They are also curious and wanting to know everything they can about the homes they have bought, including what the gardens were like from as far back as the turn of the century to as recently as 50 years ago.
According to Sparrow, Townsite resident Brian McLaughlin has combed through archives and photos of some of the older gardens in Townsite for a display at Maria Ochenduszko’s garden, which he has tended since the 1950s. Ochenduszko received the Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2016 garden awards presented by the Townsite Heritage Society of Powell River.
Another award winner from last year on the tour again is Sonia Zagwyn and Steve Calvert’s most improved garden from 2016.
“I've noticed some pretty fantastic gardens around Townsite,” said Zagwyn. “Our community is conscious about food security and the pleasures of growing your own food and having your own garden.”
The afternoon of the tour is spent in the country, where people will see varying scales of farms and homesteads, such as Erin Innes and Simon Nattrass’ Hardpan Farm.
Their effort is in sustainable mixed farming practices, producing eggs, vegetables and meat for market and their own food.
“Growing food is complex, especially if you're wanting to produce as much of your needs on site as possible,” said Innes. “That sounds simple on the surface, but then it becomes complicated to keep that going.”
Innes said her and Nattrass made a conscious effort to cut back on fossil fuels and use farming practices that do not heavily impact the existing ecosystem.
She said starting a farm today is far different than when fuel and land was cheap and there was government support.
“People don't make it in farming if they do it in a big, expensive way,” said Innes. “If you do things as small and slow as possible, then you can actually make it as a farmer.”
The tour is scheduled so that the Townsite gardens are the first on the tour from 10 am-1 pm, then it’s off to the country north of town at 2-5 pm.
For more information on the Edible Garden Tour, including the guidebook, go to prfoodsecurity.org.
