Sowing Change - What Works in Agriculture
At the start of 2021, I was approached by the lovely Olivia of Salmon Nation about sharing our farming journey and search for community in BC. During this time I learned more about Salmon Nation as a region - Northern California to the North Slope of Alaska - and Salmon Nation as a network which “exists to accelerate a vibrant and growing movement towards healthier, localized, more regenerative economies and communities.” The Salmon Nation Network also organized a few events, including the Festival of What Works and it was wonderful to see how many intelligent, creative and inspiring individuals truly cared about the protection and future of this bioregion.
Though it may at first seem salmon and flowers don’t quite belong in the same story line, it’s important to remember that all of our actions have energy that is redistributed. When it comes to flowers, how they are grown, harvested, transported and designed directly impacts the planet. It is our duty as farmers to give back to the land that provides so much for us and our community. We do this by ensuring that we make decisions that enrich the local biodiversity and prioritize a long term benefit mindset.
Several Comox Valley and Vancouver Island Farmers were filmed for documentary projects showcasing our approach to farming and caring for the land. Our story was filmed by the talented Olivia Nowak and is found below:
(at 3:10 I mention all flowers are imported in regards to off season sales (Ex. Valentine’s Day), but I misspoke and should clarify that though the majority of flowers are imported during the offseason, there are some BC vendors and greenhouses growing flowers).
A few other documentaries on local Comox Valley Farmers are found below. Once the documentary videos were released, the participating farmers were part of a panel discussion hosted by both Salmon Nation and Young Agrarians.
