Kim Kimberlin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A mother’s to-do list never ends. (Photo by Kim Kimberlin, 2022 - Williams Lake Tribune)

COLUMN: Do you feel like you’re failing at motherhood? Me too

I did not sign up to wear this many hats, nor carry this many bags

A mother’s to-do list never ends. (Photo by Kim Kimberlin, 2022 - Williams Lake Tribune)
More individuals are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Employers should anticipate an increase of autistic individuals in the workplace and find ways to accommodate them. (Photo by Ivan Samkov via Pexels)

B.C. doctor urges support for new wave of neurodivergent employees in workforce

In 1970, it was believed 1-in-10,000 people had autism; today, 1-in-29 B.C. children have autism

More individuals are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Employers should anticipate an increase of autistic individuals in the workplace and find ways to accommodate them. (Photo by Ivan Samkov via Pexels)
Danikka Murphy stands in her classroom at École Nesika Elementary where she teaches Secwepemctsín to students. Nov. 2023. (Kim Kimberlin photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. TikTok teacher says learning her traditional language saved her life

Williams Lake’s Danikka Murphy uses social media to teach Secwepemctsín language

Danikka Murphy stands in her classroom at École Nesika Elementary where she teaches Secwepemctsín to students. Nov. 2023. (Kim Kimberlin photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Always with a smile on his face, Miles St. Amand has been working at the gas station, now called Best Buy Propane, for 32 years. (Kim Kimberlin photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Service with a smile: 32 years of pumping propane on the Cariboo Highway

Miles St. Amand, from Best Buy Propane, is just about one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet

Always with a smile on his face, Miles St. Amand has been working at the gas station, now called Best Buy Propane, for 32 years. (Kim Kimberlin photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Judy Snell has been farming for around 25 years, currently on Thistle Dew Farm in Cowichan Valley, where she raises market sheep with the help of her border collies. She also holds sheepdog competitions. (Sarah Simpson photo)

Born to herd

Border collies are all business when it comes to herding sheep

Judy Snell has been farming for around 25 years, currently on Thistle Dew Farm in Cowichan Valley, where she raises market sheep with the help of her border collies. She also holds sheepdog competitions. (Sarah Simpson photo)
Bob Davison has been farming since his teen years. Now in his 90s, he still works on the farm. His favourite apple is the Aurora. (Photo by Leah Campbell)

The secret to growing the beloved Honeycrisp apple

From 34-acres to 120, Davison Orchards Country Village going strong

Bob Davison has been farming since his teen years. Now in his 90s, he still works on the farm. His favourite apple is the Aurora. (Photo by Leah Campbell)
Denise Marchessault lives in Victoria B.C., and teaches online cooking classes. She’s also the author of two cookbooks. (Photo by Deb Garlick)

Your guide to hosting a simple but memorable dinner party

Denise Marchessault, author of The Artful Pie Project, teaches online cooking classes

Denise Marchessault lives in Victoria B.C., and teaches online cooking classes. She’s also the author of two cookbooks. (Photo by Deb Garlick)
Sarah Sache owns West River Farm in Rosedale, B.C., with her husband, Gene Sache, and brother-in-law, Grant Sache. She is also vice chair of the board at BC Dairy. (Photo by West River Farm)

A Rosedale dairy farm fights inflation with efficiency

Sarah Sache, the BC Dairy board vice chair, says farms should have a positive impact on the country

Sarah Sache owns West River Farm in Rosedale, B.C., with her husband, Gene Sache, and brother-in-law, Grant Sache. She is also vice chair of the board at BC Dairy. (Photo by West River Farm)
Jonathan Knight pulls out two loaves of bread from his hand-built wood fired oven, after harvesting his wheat fields and grinding the wheat on his also hand-built stone ground mill. He runs his farm, WoodGrain Farm, with his partner, Jolene Swain, up in Kispiox Valley, where together they produce vegetables, seeds, flour, lamb and garlic salts. (Photo by WodGrain Farm)

A Red Seal-trained baker heads north to start an organic farm

Jonathan Knight and Jolene Swain run WoodGrain Farm, producing vegetables, lamb and flour

Jonathan Knight pulls out two loaves of bread from his hand-built wood fired oven, after harvesting his wheat fields and grinding the wheat on his also hand-built stone ground mill. He runs his farm, WoodGrain Farm, with his partner, Jolene Swain, up in Kispiox Valley, where together they produce vegetables, seeds, flour, lamb and garlic salts. (Photo by WodGrain Farm)
A Damascus steel kitchen knife by Seth Burton, who lives on Salt Spring Island. (Photo by Seth Burton)

Salt Spring Island Blacksmith forges one-of-a-kind Damascus steel kitchen knives

Layering metals, heating and hammering create wavy patterns in steel

A Damascus steel kitchen knife by Seth Burton, who lives on Salt Spring Island. (Photo by Seth Burton)
Little Qualicum Cheeseworks in Parksville, B.C., has Canada’s first milk tap. (Photo by Katie Friess)

Milk on tap dispenser from Vancouver Island believed to be Canada’s first

‘Creamy goodness’: pasteurized, whole milk, farm to your reusable bottle

Little Qualicum Cheeseworks in Parksville, B.C., has Canada’s first milk tap. (Photo by Katie Friess)
Becky Young converted a 23-foot 1999 international Thomas school bus with her husband, Gary Eichenauer. Young is the executive director of Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). (Photo by Gary Eichenauer)

WWOOF connects travellers with organic farmers in exchange for room, board

Travel the world one organic farm at a time

Becky Young converted a 23-foot 1999 international Thomas school bus with her husband, Gary Eichenauer. Young is the executive director of Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). (Photo by Gary Eichenauer)
Silvia and Franz Laffer (middle), with their family Selina, Everly and Kyle Staples (L) and Aletta, Minette, Florian and Sebastian Laffer (R). The Laffer’s own Sunshine Ranch in Horsefly, B.C. Their children and grandchildren live nearby. (Kim Kimberlin Photo/Black Press)

From a butcher shop to a wedding venue, Sunshine Ranch in Horsefly diversifies

Silvia and Franz Laffer moved to Horsefly in 1993

Silvia and Franz Laffer (middle), with their family Selina, Everly and Kyle Staples (L) and Aletta, Minette, Florian and Sebastian Laffer (R). The Laffer’s own Sunshine Ranch in Horsefly, B.C. Their children and grandchildren live nearby. (Kim Kimberlin Photo/Black Press)
French Canadian sommelier Marie-Eve Arseneault started Smithereens Mushrooms with her husband, French chef Alexis Galus. (Photo by Smithereens Mushroom)

A sommelier and chef head to northern B.C. to grow mushrooms

Mushroom growers turn personal consumption into commercial operation in Smithers, B.C.

French Canadian sommelier Marie-Eve Arseneault started Smithereens Mushrooms with her husband, French chef Alexis Galus. (Photo by Smithereens Mushroom)
Copper Mountain Lavender is located in Blewett, B.C., a village west of Nelson. (Photo by Rebecca Plaine)

A planting party outside of Nelson turns one lavender plant into 7,000

Rebecca Plaine of Copper Mountain Lavender says there’s no stress when smelling the fields

Copper Mountain Lavender is located in Blewett, B.C., a village west of Nelson. (Photo by Rebecca Plaine)
George Housty II (L), with his mother, Faye Housty, harvested kelp off the coast of Bella Bella, B.C. Herring also deposit their eggs on hemlock branches, pictured in this photo. (Photo by William Housty)

‘It’s like eating vitamins’: Kelp is harvested off of Bella Bella’s coast

William Housty from the Heiltsuk Nation harvests kelp with herring spawn

George Housty II (L), with his mother, Faye Housty, harvested kelp off the coast of Bella Bella, B.C. Herring also deposit their eggs on hemlock branches, pictured in this photo. (Photo by William Housty)
Goat gouda with spicy peppercorns and sweet red peppers from The Farm House Natural Cheeses. (Photo submitted)
Goat gouda with spicy peppercorns and sweet red peppers from The Farm House Natural Cheeses. (Photo submitted)
The original and still working solar panel system on the Bulkley Canyon Ranch put out 155 kWh each. (Photo submitted)

A couple in New Hazelton “harvests the sun” in a solar panel operated ranch

A life reliant on solar panels is tough, but Laurie Gallant and Bill Crosson have it figured out

The original and still working solar panel system on the Bulkley Canyon Ranch put out 155 kWh each. (Photo submitted)
Hinterland farm. (Caleb Beyers Photography)

Pender Island alpaca, llama sanctuary turns wool into yarn

Avid knitter, Hanahlie Beise, fell in love with alpacas and making yarn

Hinterland farm. (Caleb Beyers Photography)
Husband and wife duo, Jacob Beaton and Jessica Ouellette, the founders of Tea Creek. (Photo submitted)

Indigenous-led farm, Tea Creek, leads the way in food sovereignty

The Kitwanga farm also offers trades programs

Husband and wife duo, Jacob Beaton and Jessica Ouellette, the founders of Tea Creek. (Photo submitted)