Agriculture Archives

Tomorrow’s Harvest

Tomorrow’s Harvest is the inspiring story of six BC farmers and their mission to nurture their communities in the face of impossible land prices. Click on the image below to access the video.

Future Food: Getting Beyond the Energy Blindness of Techno-Utopianism

(The following is adapted from The Future is Rural: Food System Adaptations to the Great Simplification, by Jason Bradford. How’s this for a party-stopper: Contrary to the forecasts of most demographers, urbanization will reverse course as globalization unwinds during the 21st century. The eventual decline in fossil hydrocarbon flows, and the inability of renewables…

Agri-Tourism Succeeds in the Central Okanagan!

The Challenge For the past 30 years, the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) has faced challenges common to many agricultural communities, including higher production and land costs. Farmers were forced to supplement farm income with off-farm employment. By 2011, however, the area experienced an increase in ecotourists, particularly those seeking life-enriching vacations that involve culture, nature, the outdoors and…

Successful BC Farmers’ Market Farmers

In partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems, the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets has developed a resource guide to highlight successful farmers’ market farmers, and communicate their best business and operations management practices. The objectives of the resource guide are to strengthen the marketing skills of farmers selling at farmers’ markets. identify…

Canada, BC Support Agriculture in Indigenous Communities

The provincial and federal governments have announced a new program to assist Indigneous communities in BC interested in expanding their agricultural businesses and supporting local food security. Under this new initiative, professional and qualified business consultants with experience in building agriculture ventures are able to provide site-specific guidance on the types of crops or…

Small Stores a Big Idea?

This article by the New York Times‘ Kim Severson showcases some intriguing ways innovative entrepreneurs are ensuring folks in small towns and urban neighbourhoods have access to healthy food. The Freshest Ideas Are in Small Grocery Stores As big supermarkets struggle, a new crop of local groceries are innovating to serve niche audiences and advance…

Saving Rural Communities

Saving rural communities — what are the obstacles and the opportunities facing rural towns and regions today? In this thought-provoking video produced by NET and Harvest Public Media, Brian Depew, Executive Director, Center for Rural Affairs, Maxine Moul, former Nebraska director for Rural Development, US Department of Agriculture, and Caleb Pollard, Ord, Nebraska entrepreneur, discuss…

Webinar — BC Farming’s Future!

BC farming’s future is the subject of an upcoming BC Rural Centre webinar, Tuesday, February 27, at 11AM Pacific, featuring Heather Pritchard of the Foodlands Cooperative of BC. Join us to listen, learn, and pose questions to this outstanding presenter. Participation is simple. All you need is a decent computer or smartphone. Be sure to…

Farmers Have a Future — Lindsey Shute

Farmers have a future. At least according to Lindsey Lusher Shute, Executive Director and co-founder of the National Young Farmers’ Coalition, (NYFC) a membership-based organization dedicated to the success of the next generation of sustainable farmers in the United States. NYFC’s supporter network includes thousands of farmers and consumers from all fifty states, who…

BC’s FoodLands Cooperative Launches

FarmFolk CityFolk’s Foodlands Trust Project has been approved by the BC government. We are officially the Foodlands Cooperative of BC. Its founding members — FarmFolk CityFolk Society, Vancity Community Foundation, Fraser Common Farm Cooperative, and the BC Farmer’s Market Association — will be joined by other advisory members to form the first board of…