Spring like weather has only recently touched the Similkameen Valley, with grass greening up last week and cottonwood trees just beginning to leaf out along the Similkameen River.
The migratory farmworkers camping season has already started, however, in spite of the fact that spring has only recently arrived.
Ten campers are currently staked out along the bank of the Similkameen east of the cement plant, in the vicinity of the former Farmworkers Campground site.
Ian, the only camper to be found on site on Wednesday, April 9, was relaxing in a camp chair reading a novel, enjoying the sunny Similkameen spring morning. He explained the other campers had left the site for the library earlier in the morning.
“I’ve lived in the area for five years,” he said, his last employers located just down the road at St. Laslo’s Vineyard.
“It was time to move on,” he said regarding his last place of employment. He said he pitched his tent around mid – March.
“We’ll be pruning soon, followed by planting, then thinning,” he said, regarding upcoming job prospects.
Ian, who is originally from Dryden, Ontario, went back east for a short period of time two years ago after experiencing back to back poor harvests.
“It’s the nature of the beast,” he said, explaining his philosophy of transient farm labour, “you want to put it off as long as possible, because once you start, there’s no stopping unless you get a weather day.
“Anyone who is in a rush to get going hasn’t done it before.”
Ian said the campground currently held several workers from Quebec, with others coming from Saskatchewan, Vancouver Island, and other places.
Tucked into a remote corner of the flood plain, a huddle of tents are set up amongst the newly leafed trees.
Several young ladies from Quebec could be found last week, surrounding a morning camp fire.
“We’re just here enjoying the outdoors,” said Julia, as she threw some kindling on the fire. The group do not have plans to remain in the area all summer.
“We have a good crew this year,” Ian said, “there have been no fights or arguments so far – the biggest discussion is over who’s campfire we’re going to sit around each night.”
At least one of the campers has been in the area since the beginning of March.
The advent of spring weather is a bonus for the campers at this time of year, as it makes the outdoor lifestyle a little more comfortable.
“It’s not for everyone,” Ian admits, adding that he finds the lifestyle enjoyable and stress free.
“I come from Northern Ontario,” he said simply when asked about camping out during some of the recent cold nights.
“I brought a five star sleeping bag with me.”
The nearest fresh water is at least a half kilometre away, at the RV dump near the sewage treatment plant. Ian made a trip to the faucet to refill a couple of 500 millilitre bottles of water Wednesday morning.
Passing by a couple of large boulders rolled into place at the entrance to the road leading to the former camping area, Ian gestures.
“Those won’t last long,” he predicted, “the bollard that was put in last year only lasted a few days.” The barriers were erected to try to prevent transients with vehicles from being able to access the site this year.
Did this sudden onset of spring weather mean a long hot summer was in the forecast? Ian refused to speculate.
“I’ve never been able to predict what summer will be like based on what is going on now.” He said living so close to nature, he found he could relate to certain elements of nature more easily than many.
