North Saanich farms and gardens were busy over the weekend during the annual Flavour Trail.
The two-day North Saanich event is under the umbrella of the Saanich Peninsula Flavour Trails — managed by the Capital Regional Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CRFAIR). It features local farms, food and agricultural experiences in many different venues.
On Sunday, the PNR travelled to three of the Flavour Trail venues — Epicure Selections, the Wild Edge Garden Farm and the White House Stables.
At Epicure Selections, a crowd gathered to watch a sheep herding demonstration by Julie Carter, Helen Christianson and dogs Tess and Bobbie. They showed how well-trained animals are able to respond to their masters and get wayward sheep into a waiting pen. Sheep herding has been a popular event at the North Saanich Flavour Trails and people stayed long afterwards to ask questions about the dogs, the training and to drink wine samples at the farm.
The next stop was Heather Goulet’s Wild Edge Garden Farm on Norris Road. She has been growing vegetables and more for 35 years. Among all of the plants are many of Goulet’s concrete art creations.
The Wild Edge is a place where neighbouring artists like Judy McLaren can gather to show off their work and take part in local workshops.
The weekend also saw Solara Goldwynn deliver workshops on permaculture — or edible landscaping — for many visitors.
The final stop was at the White House Stables, where farm workers offered the public tours of a working farm, complete with pigs, turkeys, chickens, a friendly donkey and thoroughbred horses.
The White House Stables was a popular spot along the Flavour Trail, where families could see for themselves how local food and animals are grown and raised.
To learn more about the Flavour Trails movement, visit www.FlavourTrails.com.
