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Think Locally, Act Locally
by Sinclair Philip
The resurgence of support for local food and farms in
Langford, Metchosin, East Sooke and areas neighbouring Sooke
is promising. It parallels the fourfold growth of organic
farms in British Columbia, a province where people consume
more organic produce than anywhere else in Canada. In fact,
Vancouver Islanders consume the highest level in the country.
British Columbians are flocking to their farmers’ markets in
record numbers, and both the provincial and federal
governments have invested in agro-tourism, which they consider
a driving force in today’s travel economy.
Over the past ten years, it has been extremely discouraging
for many of us trying to maintain support for sustainable,
quality food production in our area. In Sooke, for instance,
we have witnessed the largest removal of agricultural lands
from the Agricultural Land Reserve on a percentage basis
anywhere in the province. It is making our land speculators
and developers rich today with no thought for our children’s
future. The Municipality of Sooke’s community planning has
focussed entirely on poorly planned residential growth, and
our farmland is being decimated. This type of unsustainable
development has done irreparable damage to farming and tourism
in the Sooke area. Tourists to our area ask to see beaches,
farms and parks, not sub-standard subdivisions and strip
malls. Great pressure is being brought to bear everywhere west
of Victoria to remove agricultural farmland from the
Agricultural Land Reserve. We are at a turning point and run
the risk of losing our rural heritage. The largest
ecologically-oriented food group on
Vancouver Island,
Slow Food, deplores such destructive and short sighted
practices and would like to help us to leave a legacy of
sustainable agriculture for future generations.
Slow Food is the largest food movement in the world. It
strives to promote the enjoyment of local, seasonal and high
quality local foods. It emphasizes the consumption of
ethically produced and, where possible, organic foods. Slow
Food promotes the beneficial effects of the deliberate
consumption of nutritious, locally grown food. On Vancouver
Island, Slow Food works to provide first-hand contacts between
farmers and producers and tries to match products with
restaurants and markets. Its members seek out ingredients
from farmers committed to foods traditionally grown on land to
which they feel strongly connected. Slow Food across the world
also places great value in the feeling of community generated
by food festivals and fairs.
Mary Alice of
ALM Farm delivers fresh produce to Jenny
at Sooke Harbour House
Organized around these values, Slow Food members and those who
support sustainable agriculture in our area can only be
encouraged by some recent developments in the “West
Shore” and the outlying communities around Sooke. These areas
appear to be trying to integrate food security into a variety
of different regional projects to help maintain some of their
rural heritage or sustainable new projects. |
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An edible
landscape surrounds Sooke Harbour House.
They are increasing their support of public markets, the
Luxton and Sooke Fall Fairs, and endeavour to help supply
Island chefs looking for local produce with the most
delicious, ethically produced ingredients available. Planners
behind these projects recognise that healthy communities
require healthy food with high nutritional values, not produce
picked unripe, low in nutritional value and shipped to the
Island from the four corners of the earth. Farmers,
environmentalists and consumers need our help.
What can we all do to help with this process? Well, we can
attend the Sooke and Luxton Fall Fairs. We can actively
support attempts to prevent further viable land from being
removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve. Whenever possible,
we can buy from local farmers, foragers and ranchers. Local
supermarkets only rarely feature any local foods so we should
all encourage them to sell regional foods on their shelves -
begin by asking them where you can find Metchosin lamb or ALM
Farm organic produce, for example. Preserve locally produced
food for the winter months. Subscribe to community supported
agriculture; many farmers are prepared to make regular
deliveries of their best produce to your doorstep. Visit and
buy from the Sooke Public Market, the Metchosin Market and
other public markets in our region. Host a barbeque or a
potluck featuring only local foods. Patronise restaurants that
feature local foods. Attend First Nations’ events and learn
more about our culinary heritage. Forage carefully for non
threatened wild fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. Join your
local farmers’ institute. Become a sponsor for your local Fall
Fair. Join the Slow Food Convivium of Vancouver Island and the
Gulf Islands to learn more about our local food systems and
how to recognize the best foods of our area. There are many
things you can do.
The food you are buying locally is at the peak of its flavour
and much higher in vitamins and minerals than most foods in
your supermarket because it is not designed for transport. Our
farm communities need more support than ever before. There is
still time to make a positive change, but we can and must act
now.
Sinclair Philip, of the Sooke Harbour House, is a Leader in
Slow Food Canada.
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