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Ravenwood Acres

September 16, 2014 By

Shelley, Brent & Chase Work produce heritage poultry, pork, and waterfowl on their farm based in Vanderhoof, BC.

“Ravenwood Acres is a small scale hobby farm, located in Vanderhoof. We are dedicated to raising quality heritage poultry for Canadian climates! We offer a variety of dual-purpose breeds that are cold hardy, prolific winter layers, and have good utility.  We specialize in Chantecler – the only breed created in Canada for our climate – as well as others such as Russian Orloff, Ameraucana, Faverolles, and Brahma to name a few.  We have some fun breeds too, including a selection of bantams – Cochins, Wyandottes, and the fabulous Silkie – that are perfect for introducing children to poultry!  We love providing projects for 4-H kids!  We also run a flock of Welsh Harlequin and Muscovy ducks, for both eggs and utility, as well as beautiful Sebastopol Geese who earn their keep as lawn ornaments! We offer chicken/duck eggs for hatching and consumption, chicks, ducklings and occasionally young/old stock for sale to breeders, farmers, and backyard enthusiasts across the country.  For those who don’t have the facility to hatch their own fowl, we recently began offering custom incubation services as well.  We breed heritage Tamworth pigs and produce weaners for sale in spring and fall. We hope to add some goat products in the near future.”

ravenwood acres

Products:

Chicken/Duck eggs for hatching and consumption, Chicks/Ducklings by custom order, Custom incubating, Weaner pigs and pork, Goat products coming soon!

Availability:

Direct sale/farm gate. Heritage fowl hatching eggs/chicks in spring. Weaner pigs available spring and fall. Excess fowl stock available in fall.

Contact:

(250) 567-4818 

[email protected]

www.ravenwoodacres.com

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Filed Under: Profile

Request for Presenters

July 23, 2014 By

Beyond the Market is an economic development strategy, administered by Community Futures Fraser Fort George, which supports the local food and agriculture sectors across the BC Highway 16 region. We provide promotion, coaching, training and extension services to local farm businesses.

Beyond the Market is currently seeking qualified individuals to lead training and development workshops for the agricultural sector in the BC Highway 16 community. Topics of interest include:

  • Livestock care and handling
  • Livestock genetics and breeding
  • Grazing and pasture management
  • Forage production
  • Horticultural production
  • Season extension
  • Value-added production
  • New markets
  • Niche markets
  • Retail and wholesale distribution
  • Sales and customer services
  • Branding and marketing
  • Financial literacy
  • Business planning
  • Tools and technologies
  • Succession planning
  • Human resources
  • Women and youth in farming
  • Much more…pitch us your idea!

Beyond the Market seminars are organized in several BC Highway 16 communities at multiple times throughout the year, typically in November, January, February and March. Seminars are delivered to the communities of Dunster, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Smithers, Terrace and others within the service region. Workshop logistics are handled by Beyond the Market staff. Workshops that run 2-4 hours in length are sought for weekday evening sessions or conferences, and full day workshops are sought for weekend intensive training sessions.

If you are an expert in one or more of the fields listed above and can deliver an informative, engaging and detailed workshop to our farming clients, we would encourage you to submit a proposal to become a series speaker.

Submission should include:

  • Details about you and a listing of credentials
  • Examples of relevant past work
  • Workshop topics you could deliver and the length of time required for delivery
  • An indication of your schedule availability
  • Number of days you are willing to travel in a row
  • Expected remuneration

*Please note: Beyond the Market will cover travel costs to and from the service delivery area. An estimate of accommodation and meals allowances should be included in the expected remuneration.

Beyond the Market will receive submissions on an ongoing basis. The first of the 2014 workshop series is anticipated to run in November 2014. Preference will be given to speakers that demonstrate a knowledge base relevant to northern BC farmers. Experiential knowledge is critical. Preferred seminars will delve into deep detail, rather than deliver high-level overviews, and may require a full day or more to deliver. Seminars that include exercises, hands-on guidance, examples, personal experiences and take-away materials for participants are encouraged.

Further questions and submissions can be directed to:

Jillian Merrick
Coordinator, Beyond the Market
c/o Community Futures Fraser Fort George
1566 7th Ave, Prince George, BC, V2L 3P4
[email protected]
250-562-9622 ext. 115
www.beyondthemarket.ca
Filed Under: Announcements

Book Review: Grass-Fed Cattle – How to Produce and Market Natural Beef

July 2, 2014 By

Grass fed cattleBy Curt Gesch, June 2014

If you’re interested in looking at your beef operation afresh, look no further than this book. Julius Ruechel covers everything from the history of ungulate herding instincts to genetics, climate, forages, watering systems, pests, calving and more. In the marketing section he surveys land and equipment needs, raising stockers, finishing beef, financial planning, and making marketing plans.

The book could easily have been bound as two volumes, not because 350+ pages is too long, but because there is too much to digest (pun intended) with one reading, even an extended reading.

The fundamental principle of this fine book are these: Let cattle express their instinctual behaviours as ruminants and herd animals and you will produce healthy animals with minimal machine costs. Healthy animals give you options in marketing your beef as high-quality, healthy and tasty meat through a number of markets.

Right from the beginning Ruechel identifies his approach as one that is attuned to natural cycles. He looks to the great herds—bison, caribou, etc.—for insight into how to encourage cattle to use their instincts to thrive, as opposed to an agricultural system that fits the animals into its mold.

The implications will be challenging, frustrating, maybe even maddening, for some ranchers. Early summer grazing, says Ruechel, is the way to go: calves are born on grass, not snow or mud; scours is virtually eliminated; and predators have lots of easier prey—rabbits, voles, birds, for example. Herding behaviour, suggests Ruechel, means a sort of competitive grazing that creams the grasses, disturbs the soil as hooves bring organic and mineral matter together while hoof may also open the sod to let air and moisture enter easily.   You find out very soon that Ruechel is not talking here about herds held in yards, major efforts and cash used to store food that is brought to cattle, or feedlots that use grain to put on the final pounds and fat. He is talking about grazing—what cattle do naturally.

Fencing, water supplies, and attention to grass are the emphases Ruechel puts first. He suggests that machinery needs should start with a quad, and that herding may make even one tractor unnecessary. At this point, a reader may begin to add amazement to earlier frustrations as Ruechel continues. Cattle, says Ruechel, are naturally “programmed” to have times of higher and lower quality foods, but they make growth spurts that helps them regain body condition. In winter, a cow may have a lower metabolic rate but, come spring, her metabolism ramps up and she is able “to quickly make up for food shortages and even catch up to those that didn’t experience such a shortage.”

As far as hay and silage goes, Ruechel recommends a goal of year-round grazing, including grazing-through-the-snow if at all possible, which means that it is often much more economical to buy feed when winter pastures aren’t sufficient. Having this feed placed in the field where you want it may even eliminate the need for a tractor/loader.   Ruechel doesn’t say as much as I would like about the types of snow and depth. His own ranch is operated according to his principles in Yukon, but heavy, wet or heavily crusted snows may be an impediment to winter grazing to a significant degree.

I also wonder about the “purity” of his grass-fed philosophy. He suggests that even a little grain negates the health benefits (for the cow as well as for human consumption) of a grass-fed diet. Cattle grazing mature grass, however, certainly harvest seeds which is nothing more than the “grain” of the grass. I could not find a satisfactory explanation in this book about why a handful of grain now and then would defeat the purpose of the system.

The closing third of the book is extremely practical. It gives charts and models and explanations of how to do the ration planning of your operation, various marketing strategies, and so on. Because Beyond the Market and other sponsors have provided excellent workshops on these topics in the last few years, I will give a blanket endorsement to Ruechel’s ideas with going into detail.

An absolutely fascinating part of this marketing section is a series of case studies in marketing. Here are the matched pairs of cities showing how marketing might be tailored to needs of various sized and located markets:

  • Helena, Montana/Grande Prairie, Alberta.
  • Seattle, Washington/Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • Lewistown, Montana/Kindersley, Saskatchewan.

Ruechel shows how the nature of the various communities will provide successful marketing solutions. For example, in oil exploration areas, companies may be interested in providing lots of red meat for their employees in camps. In small prairie towns, the prevalence of deep freezers (because many people already use them for wild game) may direct sales to offering sides of beef rather than individual cuts.

Grain-Fed Cattle ends with a glossary which helps to make the book’s knowledge acceptable to novices as well as those with lots of experience. I would recommend that ranchers check out the book at a local library and consider buying a copy as a home-encyclopedia of a holistic way of raising land and cattle that arises out of respect for animal and land, while providing an acceptable income and way of life for the farmer or rancher.

—

Curt Gesch is a writer, farmer, and musician. He and his wife, Betsey, own 153 acres in Quick, B.C. and publish an e-newletter called Just Farmers(Contact [email protected] for information).

Filed Under: Book Review

Whistler Road Cheese Company

June 26, 2014 By

Patrick & Lorie Farrell produce artisan cheese on their farm based out of Smithers, BC.

Products:

Cheese

Availability:

Bulkley Valley Farmers’ Market beginning September 2014

Contact:

https://www.facebook.com/whistlerroadcheesecompany

 

Filed Under: Profile

New Mobile Farm Bookstore Launched

June 17, 2014 By

IMG_0779In April 2014, Beyond the Market began its newest inititaive: the Farm Knowledge Network. For the next two years, we will strive to deliver important knowledge, resources and tools to farm operators across the BC Highway 16 to help them learn, develop and grow.

As part of this new initiative, we’ve created a brand new tool: the Mobile Farm Bookstore. This traveling bookstore features over 150 titles on all all aspects of farming. Titles on fencing, barns and irrigation systems will help farmers plan for new construction and capital investment. Titles on livestock of all kinds will help farmers keep healthier and more production animals on the farm. Titles on specialty products like christmas trees, medical herbs, and hemp will give farmers insight into new emerging markets.  Titles on marketing, business and operations planning and will help farmers plan for profits. There are even titles for the non-farmer, including cookbooks and more.

In addition to the titles available for purchase, the Mobile Farm Bookstore will also offer copies of free publications and the opportunity to chat with with our expert coordinator about your farm business needs.

The Mobile Farm Bookstore will be traveling this summer to communities across the BC Highway 16 corridor. Our tenative schedule is below and will be updated when additional appearances are added.

  • District C Farmers’ Institute Social, May 31, 2014
  • McBride Pioneer Days. June 7, 2014
  • BC Northern Exhibition, Aug 7-11, 2014
  • Skeena Valley Fall Fair, Sept 5-6, 2014
  • Lakes District Fall Fair, Sept 12-13, 2014
  • Vanderhoof Farmers’ Market: July 10, 2014
  • Fort St. James Farmers’ Market: July 11, 2014
  • Bulkley Valley Farmers’ Market: July 12, 2014
  • Hazelton Farmers’ Market: July 13, 2014

When the mobile farm bookstore is not on the road, it can be accessed at the Community Futures Fraser-Fort George office in Prince George during normal office hours. Thanks to the new Square Mobile Payment system, bookstore items can be purchased using cash, cheque or credit. To help put information in the hands of those who need it, titles are offered at a steep discount from their suggested list price.

If you have any questions about this Mobile Farm Bookstore or any of our other progras, please contact us at any time. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Filed Under: Announcements

Black Spruce Ranch

March 3, 2014 By

Liz and her family raise a variety of livestock on their farm in Vanderhoof, BC.

We are a small family run farm that began as a sheep farm, and now we have incorporated other animals into our services to become a one-stop meat supplier. We offer custom packages so that you don’t have to buy an entire side. Our animals are raised naturally and are happy critters.

Products:

Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Turkey

Availability:

Direct Sale, late spring and fall

Contact:

(250) 567-4787

Box 565, Vanderhoof, BC, V0J 3A0

[email protected]

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bernie kiss

Black Spruce Ranch

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Groundbreakers Collective seeking producers

February 12, 2014 By

Dear Northern Grower,

We would like to invite growers from regional districts Bulkley-Nechako and Kitimat-Stikine to become a member of Groundbreakers Collective.

Groundbreakers is both a charitable organization and a social enterprise cooperative. On the charitable side of things, the group provides educational programs and hands-on workshops on food preservation as a means to make the most of local food all year round. The social enterprise (cooperative) coordinates a Harvest Box Program, helping connect food producers and consumers, with the aim of creating a sustainable local food network and resilient economy.

Our Harvest Box Program runs from September to May each year. We supply over 80 families with 100% local produce and value added items. We use a CSA (community supported agriculture) model such that customers pre-order and pre-pay for their box, as well as help on local farms. As a CSA there is a shared risk and mutual support between customers, producers, and Groundbreakers. A CSA directly links supply and demand for efficient farming as well. To help with this, our Harvest Box coordinator contracts producers in the spring to grow specific amounts of specific product.

At this time we are accepting producer intake forms from anyone interested in becoming a producer for the 2014/2015 season.

More information about what it is to be a Groundbreakers producer can be found on our website at www.groundbreakerscollective.ca under the “What’s New” tab or by emailing our Coordinator Dawn at [email protected] or Board Member Mark at [email protected].

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to find out more information on how you may become involved.

Sincerely,
Groundbreakers Collective.

Filed Under: Announcements

Farmer Correspondence: Succession Planning Workshop

January 29, 2014 By

One of the goals of New Farm Development Initiative is connect new farmers in the region with training opportunities and knowledgeable mentors. As part of this goal, we offer support to farm correspondents who wish to attend and travel to agriculture industry events. These correspondents assist us in linking to information and contacts available in our region and beyond and provide valuable insight into the value of attending such events.

About Sharon

Sharon Kerr is a former 4-H Extension Worker.  For the past 47 years she has ranched in the Bulkley Valley with her husband, Harold. They are still actively ranching with their son Dallas and his wife, Laine. As retirement looms the Succession Planning workshop was a very timely event to assist them in planning for the future.

Learning About Succession Planning

Succession Planning workshops in Burns Lake and Smithers were facilitated by BC Ministry of Agriculture Agri Food Business Development Specialist, Clint Ellison, along with consultant Howard Joynt.  John Stevenson, Skeena Region Agrologist was on hand providing local input. During the morning session Joynt and Ellison, guided participants through part one of the two part succession planning process by having the group develop a model farm/family and work through possible solutions to the transfer of the ownership.

Howard Joint, P.Ag. reviewing farm financial

Howard Joint, P.Ag. reviewing farm financials

Rules and laws affecting transfers were discussed as the group worked through the four step process.

  1. Collecting data: financial information, personal information, and other documents such as wills, agreements and leases.
  2. Review of critical issues: ownership, control, security, on farm living and equal vs equitable treatment of children.
  3. Setting goals: is it feasible to transfer the farm and secure the needs of parents and children?
  4. Succession planning tools: rollovers, Capital Gains, Capital Gains Reserves, Capital Gains Deductions and other tax issues, business arrangements, life interests, security, methods of owning property and will planning.

Discussions with an accountant and/or lawyer during part one was noted as possibly being helpful.

John Bakker, CGA, from Vandergaag and Bakker in Smithers

John Bakker, CGA, from Vandergaag & Bakker Certified General Accountants

The afternoon session covering part two of the succession planning process looked at the role accountants, financial advisors, lawyers and insurance agents might play in completing a succession plan. Accountant, John Bakker of Vandergaag and Bakker and Donald Giddings and Sonali Sharma of Giddings and Company law office discussed some options for dealing with the transfer of farms and farm assets.

It was emphasized that documents relating to the purchase of property and income tax records make it much easier and less costly for accountants and lawyers to assist with succession planning and the inter-generational transfer of land and assets. Bakker worked through an example of the transfer of milk quota.

Giddings noted there are several options in transferring assets. Under the Wills Variation Act, Giddings says spouses and children cannot be cut out of a will.  If children are to be treated differently then an explanation of the distribution of assets with good reasons may help if adult children challenge a will.  Trusts are an option to protect property and for those over 65 Alter Ego Trusts can be utilized to avoid challenges to a will.

Sonali Sharma, artcling student with Giddings & Company Law Office

Sonali Sharma, articling student with Giddings & Company Law Office

Sonali Sharma, articling student with Giddings briefed the group on the new Family Law Act that replaces the Family Relations Act.  Under the new legislation a spouse is not automatically entitled to property held by the other spouse prior to the marriage.  Property accumulated following a marriage is deemed to be family property.     The death of a spouse and the re-marriage of the remaining partner can create issues but there are ways of coping with such situations.

In summing up the succession planning process it was emphasized that one of the biggest challenges is in covering off debt service while looking after the needs of parents and children. There is no right or wrong way and no “one size fits all” approach.   It was noted that some bank products exist that could be helpful.

Succession planning can be an emotional process and a fairly complex project.  It is among the specialized business planning services that are available to eligible farmers with 85% of costs up to $3,000 paid for through the BC Farm Business Advisory Services. E-mail: [email protected] or going to the Advisory Services Tab at: www.smartfarmbc.ca

Filed Under: New Farmers in the Field

New Farm Correspondence: Prince George Vegetable Trials

January 9, 2014 By

One of the goals of New Farm Development Initiative is connect new farmers in the region with training opportunities and knowledgeable mentors. As part of this goal, we offer support to new farm correspondents who wish to attend and travel to agriculture industry events. These correspondents assist us in linking to information and contacts available in our region and beyond and provide valuable insight into the value of attending such events.

Dave Rempel is a Master Gardener who has lived in Prince George for thirty years. He grew up in the Fraser Valley’s Sumas Prairie, tending the family garden and working for raspberry farms . When he relocated to Prince George, he bought a small two-acre piece of property towards Tabor Lake. He had always envisioned building a garden on this property, but quickly learned that cold temperatures, clay soils, and buried refuse would made succesful gardening a challenge.

In 2008, Dave completed his Master Gardener certificate at UNBC. As a teacher by trade, he has contributed many volunteer hours to expanding the love of fresh food in the Prince George community through workshops and lectures for the home vegetable gardener. His Master Gardener training inspired him to collect data on his own gardening trials. On January 8, 2014 he shared his love of garden vegetables to a crow of 30 avid gardeners at UNBC who were eager to learn of his successes growing food. The event was hosted by the David Douglas Botantical Garden Society as part of their Weed-Free Lecture Series.

Dave began his lecture by warning the audience that his experiments and vegetable trials are not scientific in nature. He had done his best to standardize major variables in his tests, but nature, not the labratory, stills runs his garden. As such, the vegetable trials he ran from 2009 on should provide a platform for discussion more than definitive results.

The primary goal for Dave in documenting his garden results was to measure success in the following areas:

  1. good vigour – healthy and disease free
  2. early-maturing – important for a cold climate
  3. longevity – plants don’t bolt to quickly
  4. yield – how much of teh good stuff do you get?

Dave also expressed a preference for open-pollianted varieties of seed

Here are Dave’s results

Broad Beans

Dave only tested Witkiem Harvest and Windsor for one year. In that year, the Windsor plants grew much larger but the Witkiem had a better yield. Dave commented that he wouldn’t likely test that broad beans again as they take up to much space in the garden for the amount of vegetable they yield.

Bush Beans

Dave planted several varieties of bush beans but teh results were very mixed. Others in the audience had their own suggestions for bush beans varieties. In the end, the bush bean varieties that received positive recognition were Tema, Provider, Delinel, Strike and Igloo.

Pole Beans

Dave planted Nekar Konigin pole beans and Aintree Scarlett Runners

Beets

Dave expressed a personal interest in yellow beets, which never seem to perform as the red beets, but he can’t help but love the beautiful colour they exhibit in canning, and yellow beets that don’t bleed. Dave planted several but most recommends Touchstone Gold and to some extent, Golden Detroit

Brussel Sprouts

Dave’s brussel sprout experiemnets had mixed results. in 2010 hybrid varieties Jade Cross, Bubbles and Oliver excelled compared to open pollinated varieties Catskill and Long Island, which were too slow to mature, but in 2011 the Jade Cross and Catskill both did well

Kohlrabi

Dave recommneds Giant Purple, Giant White and the Superschmeltz varieties. Vienna White and Vienna Purple typically went woody very quickly. Kongo was early-maturing.

Leeks

Jolant consistently performed as a summertime leek and Hannibals were good storage leeks

Spinach

All varieties of spinach seem to bolt quickly in our region due to day lengths, but seeding spinach in August can yeiled a good fall harvest

Swiss Chard

Fordhook Giant produced the largest leaves,while Silverado produced the smallest. Bright Lights performed the best in poor soil and light conditions

 

Filed Under: New Farmers in the Field, Uncategorized

Farm marketing seminars coming to a town near you.

December 10, 2013 By

Beyond the Market has teamed up with Splash Media and the Growing Forward 2 program to deliver a series of workshops that address the most requested learning topic of all: small farm marketing. This workshop has been developed exclusively for us and the farms we serve, and we are rolling it out to eight different communities in the New Year. Best of all, attendance is free of charge! Register now to reserve your seat.

About the Presenters

It’s about making a splash. Splash Media Group Inc. is an advertising and marketing firm based in Prince George but serves businesses throughout northern British Columbia and communities throughout BC and beyond. Splash works closely with clients using creative design ideas and strategic thinking to create effective brand communications.

Mike Doran- Agency Director

A founding partner and the Agency Director of Splash Media Group Inc, Mike leads most client initiatives. With over 17 years of experience, Mike’s passion is making businesses like yours succeed through strong creative and strategic execution.

Jennifer Attree- Director of Business Development

With more than 15 years of marketing, communications and PR experience, Jennifer treats marketing as a puzzle to be put together based on what a client needs and what is driving the market.  A creative and energetic personality, she is committed to finding the best solutions and strategies for clients.

Matt SamyciaWood- Creative Director

From London, England and now living in Prince George, Matt has been branding companies for over 17 years.   He has worked with a variety of clients from local to international businesses and his specialty includes brand strategy, communication design, leadership skills and entrepreneurial thinking.

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Filed Under: Announcements
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