Farmers across the Island may be trying new things this week.
About 75 farmers took the time from their land to meet with their peers for the Farmer2Farmer forum at Saanich Fairgrounds last week.
“We ended up having 90 people there,” said Paula Hesje, of CR-FAIR, who got the funding to organize the event. The balance was made up of folks in associated fields, municipal government, health and other food and agriculture organizations.
“It was a very well attended event,” Hesje said. “I think a lot of the farmers felt that the information and topics were relevant but I think they also found value in the breaks … to meet and connect face-to-face.”
“We accomplished what we set out to do, which is get the farmers together,” agreed Barbara Brennan.
Brennan, of Bailiwick Farm on McTavish Road, is one of the people who came up with the idea for the forum. The sessions on pollination, pest management, marketing, government role and infrastructure were important she agreed, but the key was to provide the opportunity to “compare notes.”
“It’s good for the farmers because it gives them a little boost, even if they pick up one idea,” Brennan said.
They plan to publish the notes from each of the sessions, and circulate them to the registrants.
“That way we’ll stay in touch,” Brennan said. While this one is just finished, hopes are high to host another forum.
Brennan, who just finished a three-year term as chair of the Agricultural Planning Commission in North Saanich, said the gathering achieved one of the key goals outlined in the newly adopted agricultural plan for that district.
“There were three main recommendations on the agricultural plan and one was to get farmers together like this,” she said.
With CR-FAIR and the District of North Saanich helping, they drew farmers from across the Island and Gulf Islands.
“It was much bigger than if I had tried to plan something on my own just for North Saanich, and instead of just North Saanich it got farmers from across the island involved,” Brennan said. “When you get people together sharing ideas you give them a boost. We gave farmers a boost.”
